Tattoos have become a popular item lately and it is no wonder why. It is quite beautiful and breath taking to be able to put an art piece on your body and engrave it there permanently. Tattoos represent a time in a person’s life and in my personal view are almost like a slide show on the human body! Here is my personal story about my first tattoo and what I felt! It should be noted these are based off of my personal feelings, experiences, and pain levels. These experiences are not the same for everyone and different parts of the body experience different levels of pain. First things first, when considering a tattoo, especially your first tattoo, it is important to pick a tattoo that you have thought quite a bit about because it is a piece of art that is permanently engraved in your skin. Picking a location is also important because as stated before different parts of the body have different pain levels and this can be a determining factor in where you would like to get your tattoo. In my personal experience I decided that I wanted a rose and I picked a location upon my hip because I knew that I wanted my tattoo to be something special that people wouldn’t see all the time and could be easily hidden. This particular spot is seen as a more painful spot since anything on a bone is particularly tender because of the lack of flesh and fat to use as a barrier.
I used a common shop in Phoenix and used not only personal friend reviews but also online reviews to ensure that the shop was safe, clean, and that the artists knew what they were doing. When I went in, I did bring a friend with me because I was terrified that it was going to be so painful that I might back out. I do suggest bringing someone with you, especially for you first tattoo, because it is nice to have someone to wait with you and talk you through it. My friend was very supportive and helped me feel more at ease by keeping my mind occupied before my tattoo as well as during the actual process.
When I was first brought back my tattoo artist Andy was very nice and easy going and he placed the template on my hip and had me lay completely flat on my back. He mentioned to me not to move as even just reaching for my phone could move my lower body and mess up my tattoo. Even though I knew this was something I really wanted, I was terrified. Once you realize that this is something that is going to be permanently there for the rest of your life you try your best not to move ensuring that your artist has every opportunity to make it absolutely perfect. When Andy first put the needle to my skin I was not breathing, out of nervousness of course. But after he began the process it honestly was not bad at all. The best way I could describe the pain is to compare it to someone drawing on you with a pen, only a very sharp pen with a little more pressure than one would normally use when writing. The part that hurt the most was when the needle cascaded over the tip of my hip bone, but honestly it just felt more like a carving of your skin. The process went by very quickly and honestly was not very painful! I suggest getting an artist that will make you feel at ease and can help distract you during the process. I love my tattoo and would do the entire process all over again. Picture Credit: Kayla Warren