Getting your first tattoo can be very exciting, but it can also be nerve-wracking. If you don’t properly prepare for your first tattoo, then you might find the experience very uncomfortable. An uncomfortable first experience could deter you from getting a tattoo again in the future.
There are many ways that you can prepare for your first tattoo, from scheduling a consultation to not moisturizing your skin in the days leading up to your appointment.
This article will explain all of the things that you need to do to properly prepare for a tattoo:
Choosing A Design
The first step in getting your first tattoo is to choose a design. There are myriad designs to choose from online, and most tattoo parlours will have a book with popular designs for you to look through also. Instead of having an illustration tattooed on your body, you could also have a quote or go for infinity tattoos with names which is an amazingly unique tattoo to have. If you are going to have a quote tattooed on you, then you should choose one that’s meaningful and close to your heart.
A lot of people get silly quotes tattooed on their bodies, and then come to regret them.
Book A Consultation
Once you have chosen a design, you should book a consultation with a trained and professional tattoo artist. Just because your friend has a tattoo gun, that doesn’t mean that they are a professional. Make sure your first tattoo is in a shop that’s insured, with a licensed tattooist. If a licensed tattooist makes a mistake or injures you, you will be covered legally and will be entitled to compensation.
Additionally, they will be able to fix any mistakes that they make. An unlicensed and unqualified tattooist may not be able to do these things, and certainly won’t be able to compensate you for damages sustained.
Moisturizing Your Skin
You mustn’t moisturize your skin in the days leading up to your tattoo appointment. You may however want to consider investing in some tattoo numbing cream, which you can apply before your appointment. Many wonders, does tattoo numbing cream really work? And the answer is a firm yes. Tattoo numbing cream can prevent stinging, burning, the sensation of vibration, scratching, and dullness.
You should not apply moisturizer, however, because moisturizer can interfere with the tattooist’s stencil. Interference with the stencil can prevent tattooists from doing their job properly.
Staying Hydrated
Experts recommend staying hydrated and drinking lots of water in the days leading up to your tattoo appointment. This is because hydrated skin is clearer and easier for the tattooist to use as a canvas. When you are dehydrated, your skin is more likely to be dry and may react badly to the tattooist’s gun. Hydration is very important anyway, so if you don’t drink enough water, then you should start drinking more.
The average person needs at least two and a half liters of water a day. Some people need more.
Sleep Well
In addition to staying hydrated, you need to get enough sleep before your appointment. This is especially true if you are getting your first tattoo. If you aren’t well-rested, then you may find the tattooist’s gun more painful. In addition, you are more likely to experience anxiety before your appointment when you are tired. When you are well-rested, you will be more confident and will find getting a tattoo much easier to manage.
A lot of people experience extreme anxiety before getting a tattoo, which can be exacerbated massively by not getting enough sleep the night before.
Eat A Meal
Professionals, tattooists, all agree that you should eat a meal before your tattoo appointment. For some people, tattoos are very painful. Some people also react very badly to them and experience inflammation. Your body needs time to heal, and if you aren’t well-fed, then it will not be able to do this. This opens you up to infections and other bad reactions.
Make sure to eat a good meal before your appointment and bring lots of water and snacks to your appointment. Afterward, you should go home and get some rest, or another meal if you are still hungry. Keep yourself nourished.
Entertainment
Some people find that listening to music or a podcast helps them to take their minds off of the pain of getting their first tattoo. Your tattooist will appreciate it if you listen to music, while they focus on getting the job done. Talkative customers can be very distracting.
If you are getting your first tattoo, then you must prepare properly. If you follow this guide’s advice, then you should be fully prepared and ready for your first tattoo. And, if it goes well, it might be the first of many.