Getting your first tattoo is exciting! Because what can you expect? Is it going to hurt? And will you be happy with the final result? To reduce the tension, it is good to know a few things before you actually sit in the chair in the tattoo studio. These are our tips for getting your first tattoo.
Choose the right artist
Tattoo artists are all incredibly talented. But not every artist specializes in everything. If you know what kind of tattoo you want, you can look for an artist that matches this. For the best result, it is best to choose an artist who specializes in the style you want. You can look up artists on Instagram to see what kind of work they normally do. If you have any doubts, you can always approach them to ask what they think about it. Ultimately, your goal is the best result. Therefore, focus purely on the skills of the artist and less on the prices. You should probably walk around with that tattoo for the rest of your life!
Think carefully about the size and placement of your tattoo
Just before the tattoo is actually done, the artist will place a stencil on your skin. This is the time to decide where exactly the tattoo should go and how big you want it. Don’t be afraid to let the tattoo artist know if you want to make a small adjustment. Ultimately, you are the one who has to walk around with the tattoo, so it must be in the right place. Even if you only want it to be raised a millimeter, it doesn’t matter. The stencil can still be removed, but the final tattoo cannot.
Avoid alcohol before and after your appointment
Before your first tattoo appointment, you are probably nervous. We completely understand this. But we don’t recommend drinking a few glasses of wine the night before to ease your nerves. Drinking alcohol causes your blood to thin. And when your blood is thinner, you’re going to bleed more while you’re getting tattooed. This makes the tattoo artist’s work difficult because they are less able to see what they are doing. This can also make the process more painful. We also advise against drinking alcohol after getting the tattoo. This can affect the healing process. We recommend waiting at least 24 hours after your appointment.
Make sure you eat enough beforehand
You should actually view your tattoo appointment as a medical procedure. We recommend eating something at least half an hour before you have to leave. In any case, make sure you are not hungry during your appointment. You don’t know how you will react to getting the tattoo because you have never experienced it before. If you don’t eat beforehand, you may become light-headed and even faint. In addition, getting a tattoo can take quite a long time and taking a break to eat a sandwich is not always possible. So be well prepared.
Let your tattoo artist know that this is your first tattoo
Getting your first tattoo is exciting. Tattoo artists completely understand this because they regularly deal with people who are getting their first tattoo. So don’t be afraid to tell your tattoo artist that this is your first time. They will often also ask before your appointment. They do this so that they can take this into account. For example, they can start by placing a light spot so that you know what it feels like and can get used to it. For example, they will also offer to stop in between if you need it. So don’t worry about this. The tattoo artist knows how to help you.
