ADVICE
What Should I Know Before Getting My First Tattoo?
Advice from Someone Who Did Everything Wrong
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If you’re nervous about getting your first tattoo then you’re not alone. Putting something on your body permanently is a big decision. After always wanting a tattoo, I finally got around to getting my first tattoo last week just after my 25th birthday.
Honestly, I didn’t do anything right.
All the advice on the internet says to start with a small tattoo, in a place where it won’t hurt, and to bring a friend… My first tattoo was pretty big, partially in a painful area, and I was totally alone. And you know what?
I don’t regret it at all.
Everyone can tell you all sorts of things about getting a tattoo, but at the end of the day, it’s an individual experience. What works for others might not work for you. Still, I think there are a couple universal things you need to know before you go.
Pick Something Timeless
Daisies are my favourite flower, so I knew I wanted to get a tattoo of them for a long time. I also adopted a corn snake named Lexicon and knew when I saw her cute face that I wanted a tattoo of her.
For your first time, I would avoid getting a tattoo of something specific to a single point in your life. Again, you might have a different opinion, but I found it much easier to commit to a tattoo I knew would always be meaningful to me for a long time.
Prepare to Entertain Yourself
You’re going to be sitting for a while. My tattoo took 2.5 hours and I was suffering more from boredom than from pain. Thank god I had my phone and wifi to occupy myself.
Bring a book! Download a podcast! Listen to music! Depending on the size you could be there a while and staring at walls is torture.
Choose an Experienced Artist
Even a small, cheap tattoo is fairly expensive. Tattoo artists spend hours practicing and refining their skills and you should be paying them what they deserve. Don’t skimp on your tattoo.
