Tattoos have always had an interesting history across many cultures – from technique to style to subject matter. Indigenous chieftains would get face tattoos representing their strength, or war veterans would get ones commemorating their service. But over time tattoos have become a new art form that people have started to use as self-expression.
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I got my first tattoo the day I turned 18. I had permission from my parents and I had planned it out for months. I remember it was a Sunday when I walked into the shop (I did my research because my mom wanted to make sure it was clean and safe where I decided to permanently ink my left shoulder blade) and handed my ideas to the tattoo artist. After about 15 minutes of back-and-forth with paperwork and placement, I was under the gun. Even though the whole experience was only 20 minutes it felt like 2 hours. You can never really be prepared for the pain of a tattoo because it’s different regarding everyone’s individual tolerance and where you decide to get tattooed. When I finally got to go home I was so excited to show everyone what I got and answer any questions they might have.
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So here’s a few words of advice from someone who’s seen her friends get tattoos and from a girl with some herself.
- You will have to take care of it. The first few weeks are crucial for you to wash and moisturize your new ink so it doesn’t get dry or infected. The better you take care of it the faster it will heal. And remember to always put sunscreen on it to prevent fading.
- You will get questions, so be prepared to answer them. Did it hurt? Do your parents know? How will you get a job? What does it mean? And those are just some of the common ones. If you can get through that it shows you are confident in your decision, especially if your tattoo is something that means a lot to you. There is still some stigma in society today surrounding tattoos so you’ll want to be articulate. Take it from someone who always gets questions from dubious adults, having good answers can really change someone’s viewpoint.
- Make sure you have planned everything. If you want it to look a certain way, search for artists and shops that can give you what you want. A lot of tattoo artists post their work on Instagram and you can email them to set up an appointment. Tattoos cost a lot of money – a lot of shops have a base price, and depending on size price can increase and you’ll want to tip the artist for their work also. So after figuring out the who and when, you’ll get to the what and where. What you want and where you want it. Placement is very important depending on your pain tolerance and certain styles and designs look better in certain places. So do your research since it is permanent and expensive.
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In my opinion, tattoos are so fun. They can be an extension of your personality, a permanent accessory if you will. Depending on where you get it, it can be visible or not and I’ve had many people comment on my ink. All have been positive reactions too so don’t be too worried if you have hesitation toward being judged. It is still your body so it is ultimately your decision. Getting tattoos has become a lot more mainstream and is super fun if you’re looking into getting something meaningful or just plain fun.
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