I’m a novice to the tattoo world. At the moment that I’m writing this, I’ve had my tattoo for approximately 74 hours, so take the advice I’m about to provide with a grain of salt.
My sister and I got tattoos together earlier this week. We’ve been talking about it for months and finally decided to just go for it. We couldn’t be happier with how they turned out! She now has a sun on her right foot and I have a moon on my left. There are a few things I wish I knew ahead of time, so here’s some advice from a non-expert!
Caption: There it is! I’m sorry in advance for the other pictures of feet that are to follow.
1. Do your research
Before you do anything, do your research! The best thing you can do is to go in prepared, so think about what you want a tattoo of and where you want it done. If you’re a little apprehensive about the pain (like I was), research where it hurts most to get tattooed. Typically, parts of the body with bone near the surface hurt the most (like the tops of your feet, for example), so go in with some knowledge of how much it will hurt.
The pain of getting tattooed was not at all what I expected. It was less about pain and more about discomfort. Honestly, it just felt weird. It was uncomfortable, and I definitely wasn’t smiling when it was happening, but the pain factor wasn’t enough for me to swear off tattoos forever.
Also, I know it sounds like something your mother would say, but think ahead. My sister and I both wanted something subtle that could be covered easily, so we opted for smaller tattoos just below the ankle bone. It’s simple enough to cover but it can still be seen easily if you want it to be. If that doesn’t matter to you, great! Your body is your canvas so do what you wish with it.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions
Your tattoo artist is a great resource for you: if you’re not sure about something, ask! What you’re doing is permanent (unless you plan on paying for really expensive and painful removal treatments), so be sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. There’s a lot of aftercare involved with tattoos, so definitely ask your artist what he or she recommends for your particular piece of art.
Every tattoo is different, so not all advice will apply. You aren’t necessarily supposed to rewrap tattoos, for example, but I need to for a few hours every day so I can wear certain shoes. If it can be avoided, you shouldn’t really rewrap but if it’s safer than the alternative option, do it. Obviously advice varies but if you do your research and ask, you should be fine!
3. Take someone with you
I know that this one seems pretty obvious, but bring somebody with you. Pretty much anything you do in life is better when someone you care about is there, and getting a tattoo is no exception.
If you’re still a little apprehensive about the whole tattoo thing, and the person with you is also getting tattooed, let them go first. Seeing my sister go first made it a lot less terrifying for me. I was able to see the entire process before getting my own done, so I knew exactly what was going to happen.
Caption: Thanks for going first, Sarah. You’re the real MVP.
4. Talk to your artist
One thing I loved about where Sarah and I went is that the artist kept us distracted. He turned the television to the news channel and we talked about the election, foreign policy, and watched a segment about some guy who was obsessed with flags. He talked about his daughter, asked us about school, and just kept us distracted and comfortable. It was honestly awesome, and for someone who was incredibly nervous going in, I felt so much more comfortable after hearing about his five-year-old getting her ears pierced.
Caption: I look a little distressed, but it actually wasn’t so bad!
5. Take care of it!
Whatever you do, take care of your tattoo in the days and weeks after getting it. You likely paid a fair amount of money to get your tattoo done, and you definitely don’t want it ruined right after it’s done. Follow your artist’s advice, look up aftercare instructions online, and go out and buy whatever you need to take proper care of your tattoo. It’s worth the money to take care of it correctly, so follow directions and take precautions!
Caption: The sun to my moon! I couldn’t be happier with how they turned out, and the end result was worth any pain.
Getting my first tattoo was an awesome experience and I have no regrets! I’m happy that I shared this experience with my sister, and I love knowing that no matter how far apart we may be one day, she’ll always be my sun.
Photo Credit: All photos are author’s own