Choosing a Tattoo Parlor
Surprised? You were expecting me to talk about choosing a design first, weren’t you? We’ll get to that point in a bit but first, you want to research a few tattoo parlors and read up about their services. You wouldn’t just buy a car without researching it, would you? Nope. Your first tattoo and any more you get after that are investments. How?
Tattoos, for the most part, are permanent. It’s body art. You can change the way a design looks but always remember, the tattoo is on you for life.
What’s a Tattoo?
A tattoo is a type of body modification where you insert ink or colored dyes into the skin. Your skin has multiple layers and the ink in the tattoo is injected into your dermis. The dermis is the layer between the epidermis and subcutaneous tissue.
What to look for in a Tattoo Parlor?
When researching a tattoo parlor, it’s important to check their ratings, but it’s more important to go and make a visit. Consult with a few parlors first. You want to check for hygiene most importantly. Next, ask them about their products. Get to know the artists. Ask about their experience and always ask to see some of their work. It’s your first tattoo! Ask everything that you have in mind because you want it to be perfect. Don’t hold back. In my experience, I shopped around at a few places and asked for a price range. I asked to see if I could watch someone getting inked if possible. Some of the artists I spoke to had no interest in what I wanted and some were so involved that I walked out with so many ideas for my design!
Designing your first tattoo
Chances are, you’ve been thinking of your tattoo for a long time before you decided to get it. You have the perfect design in mind and you know exactly where to get it. So why is the artist telling you that it won’t work?
A tattoo is more than just a design that you like. When getting your first, it’s best to keep in mind that your design might need to be modified depending on where you want it. The type of design plays a factor as well. If you choose something very intricate, like a typical henna design, the artist might be hesitant because the ink will expand and your design will end up looking like a huge ink blob.
Don’t be closed off to design modifications. I had a copy of a tattoo that I wanted to replicate on my forearm. When my artist saw it, the first thing he asked me was, “Why do you want this? Are you bent on getting this specific design?”
My experience with the artist and his design of what I wanted, was outstanding! A good artist will listen to your story behind the tattoo and include the elements that you want in your design. You can give him the exact design you had in mind, but keep your mind open to any changes that might be necessary for your body type. You want your first tattoo to be perfect because there are no do-overs.
The tattoo process
Once the design is finalized, your artist will make a stencil of your tattoo. They position it onto your desired area and transfer it over. Then you strap in and start the process.
Because it’s your first, the anxiety is going to make the pain worse than it is. Oh trust me, there is pain depending on where you get yours done. My first tattoo is on my forearm and it spans the whole length of it. The close the artist got to the wrist, the more it hurt. But then came the shading.
Shading is so much more painful than the outline. The needle they use for shading looks more like a highlighter. The artist needs to go back and forth over the area to get it right Plus, if there’s an ombre effect needed in the shaded area, trust me, take the painkiller. The artist will use Vaseline to rub the area before they begin. You’ll notice that they sit with a tissue and wipe down the area as they work. That’s to wipe off any excess ink or blood that might have appeared.
While getting my first tattoo, I decided to get a smaller one the same day! Crazy? Not really. My artist recommended that if it’s a smaller one (which it was), then it’s better to do them on the same day so they heal better together. It makes it less cumbersome during the healing process.
The healing process
A tattoo usually takes a couple of weeks to heal. That’s the least amount of time because my artist recommended about 20 days to almost a month to be perfectly ok. It all comes down to the size. My first one is a pretty decent size, around 7 inches long. I was recommended not to work out for the first ten days. No sweating at all. None.
Your tattoo will be cleaned at taped up once it’s finished. It’s also going to feel like a bad carpet burn. The skin is going to swell up and be tender. The ink will bleed over the next few days and that’s normal. Your skin will push out any excess and it might sweat as well. This is normal. Don’t pick at the scabs and don’t be abrasive to it.
My artist has his set of guidelines to follow and I’m sure they’re the same for everyone. After a week you’ll remove the tape and clean the tattoo gently with a gentle foam wash. I was given an ointment that I’ll be using on mine for the next couple of weeks.
If you don’t receive any information from your artist, then please ask! It’s your first tattoo, so it’s best to follow everything your artist tells you to the letter! Everyone’s body heals differently so make sure you keep your artist updated with any changes you notice on the tattoo. You don’t want to have an infection.
If you have constant pain, redness, pus, or anything that looks off around the tattoo site, then it’s very important to tell your artist. A good artist will want to stay updated on your condition until your tattoo has healed. Don’t expect them to reach out to you, you have to reach out to them. It’s your first tattoo, not theirs.
Aftercare
In most cases, you’ll be given an ointment to use on your tattoo to keep it hydrated. You don’t want to use a pumice stone to exfoliate it, otherwise, the ink will start to fade. Once the tattoo heals completely (up to 4 weeks) then it’s safe to shave.
You also might want to purchase a good SPF sunblock to protect your tattoo from the sun. The skin will be more susceptible to sunburn and cause the ink to fade. Once the tattoo is fully healed, use sunscreen but until then, wear loose comfortable clothing that will keep the tattoo covered and protected.
Read more on aftercare on Healthline if you have any questions. And remember to keep in touch with your artist! This might be the start of more to come!
Sharing my experience is my way for you to get an idea of what to expect. I didn’t have that. The internet has so much information that it’s easy to drown in it. I’m not trying to dissuade you from getting a tattoo. I just want you to go in prepared.
