Good First Tattoo Guide
Getting your first tattoo can be intimidating, and we have several concerns: the pain it causes, the irreversibility of this option, or the necessary care. To that end, we show you a little guide to getting your first tattoo that will give you all the necessary advice along the way in detail.
1. Find ideas and/or examples of tattoos you like
A tattoo is a personal choice, it is a piece that will be engraved on your skin. So it’s worth taking a moment to think about it, as you’ll often change your mind during the first few months. It’s a shame to stop appreciating a tattoo in the first place, you have to wear it proudly because it will stay with you for the rest of your life.
Find sources of inspiration
The sources of inspiration are varied. You can obtain information on the Internet through our website or through social networks such as Instagram or Pinterest.
Unique tattoo
Once you find your tattoo idea. Immerse yourself in this world of tattoos, for example go to google images, try to see the largest tattoo in your chosen style or pattern, try to see what the area is doing.
See if your tattoo is already worn by many people. By looking at tattoos over and over again, your eyes will become sharper, you will become more demanding, and you will become more aware of what you want. This may seem time-consuming, but will improve the quality of the tattoo.
The idea is to have a personal tattoo that is unique and most aesthetically pleasing, avoiding tattoos that are too “mainstream”.
All of these steps may seem redundant, but are crucial for you to finally get the tattoo you will love forever.
2. Where is the tattoo on the body?
For the first tattoo, it is recommended to get tattoos on areas of the body that are less painful. However, it all depends on what you want and the deeper meaning of your tattoo, so don’t limit yourself with the excuse that it will hurt.
If you plan to get multiple tattoos, start with the less painful parts and blindly get the idea.
Are the tattoos visible or not?
You also have to think about your career as in some professions tattoos make a difference, so make sure your tattoos will not cause problems for your current or future job and if so choose body parts no one can See.
3. Choose your tattoo artist
Artist selection is also a crucial step in the process. You have to take it seriously and don’t rush it. Never walk into a salon and ask someone you have no prior approval to get a tattoo.
First, check out the different tattoo artists you find on the internet, visit their galleries and ask yourself if their style and tattoo quality meet your expectations and requirements.
You can also go straight to the living room and see what the artists working there are doing. Once you’ve found an artist that meets your criteria, it’s time to be more thorough.
There are 3 criteria to evaluate a tattoo artist’s work to see if he can create a quality tattoo for you:
Quality of contours and lines
First, assess the quality of your tattoo artist’s lines: are they straight and regular?
This is called “Line Art”. In addition to its aesthetic effect, lines can also age the tattoo normally. Getting a tattoo is not an easy task. Therefore, it is not enough to just refer to the layers presented by the tattoo artist. So really pay attention to the lines before starting.
It’s a bit like trying to paint a picture when you were a kid. There are also bleeding, sweating, and painful postures that can damage the artist’s lines. Therefore, they must be carefully evaluated.
Shadows and Gradients
It is necessary to look at the quality of the shadows and gradients of the tattoo artist. So you have to pay attention to how the transition between dark and light parts happens: is it soft or violent? Good contrast gives life, depth and strength to the tattoo you want to stick to your skin.
You can use a simple trick: Squint almost closed and look at the tattoo in question. This will reduce our gaze at detail and make it focus more on contrast. This is an important step, especially if you want to get a realistic tattoo.
Intensity and Color Management
The same goes for color saturation: are they bright and vibrant? If you choose a colored tattoo, the ideal color is a vibrant color. On the other hand, when you choose dark colors (black, gray), we are looking for depth. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the intensity of the color. So always choose a tattoo artist who has mastered it.
After careful analysis of these 3 criteria. You should also look for reviews of tattoo artists online, check out reviews from past clients. If you come to the conclusion that the artist has responded negatively to one of your reviews, then go ahead. It’s better not to leave any chance, the tattoo is your work of art.
On the other hand, if your tattoo artist has passed all the selection stages, it is time to meet him.
4. Meet with the tattoo artist and prepare for the meeting
Now that you have chosen your tattoo and tattoo artist, all you have to do is make an appointment with the relevant artist. You will agree with him on all the details of the design, the direction of the turn, the area of the tattoo, the cost, etc.
He will then take some time to prepare your tattoo, make design suggestions for you, and you will improve or not improve depending on how satisfied you are with his advice. You will communicate with him several times via email or social networks to verify all this.
When everything is ready and verified, you will book a prestigious session with the tattoo artist.
5. To accompany or not to accompany?
If you are afraid of pain, or if you want to immortalize this unforgettable moment, you can be alone or in company. Companionship is an advantage as your guide will be able to ask questions that you wouldn’t think about because of stress or that you ignore because they seem obvious to you.
Also, having someone in the company will make the tattoo artist feel comfortable during work, as stress is accompanied by excessive sweating and involuntary movements. After so much effort, you definitely don’t want to miss out on getting a tattoo. So having someone with you is ideal, but not mandatory if you feel more comfortable being alone.
6. Nutrition and Communication with Tattoo Artists
If you arrive at the salon feeling tired, your body will naturally react badly to the pain it causes, and it won’t heal as easily. Therefore, getting a good night’s sleep the day before your date is essential. Avoid drinking alcohol or taking blood-thinning drugs (such as aspirin). Get ready for our tattoo, both mentally and physically!
You should avoid applying moisturizer to the skin, especially the area to be tattooed. Relax. Wear headphones if you feel more comfortable listening to music.
Likewise, if a discussion with a tattoo artist helps you relax, then don’t hesitate to start a discussion with the tattoo artist or your guide. If you want to take a break, let the tattoo artist know. But keep in mind that after a lot of rest, the artist will lose more of his ability to focus on his work.
Take care of your first tattoo
When handling the tattooed area, use clean hands. In particular, it is not recommended to touch the less dirty ones. There may be a hematoma. Therefore, it is useless to panic when a hematoma develops. Also, avoid bathing as this can have a bad effect on your tattoo. Most importantly, don’t scratch during the post-tattoo itching period and avoid exposure to the sun.
In conclusion, tattoos are simple. You just need to follow these steps.
You’ll keep this essential: a tattoo must be a personal choice. First, don’t make the tattoo look like anyone because it’s a big decision. Again, the design should appeal to you. The idea is not to please/impress others with tattoos on our own skin. When you’ve verified these two steps, you just need to follow the simple process described above, and good luck with your first tattoo!
