Here are 10 things to think about before getting inked!
1. Take your time deciding what you want
A good rule of thumb is once you have an idea, take 6 months before getting it. Tattoos are a lifetime commitment and you don’t want to end up regretting it.
2. Take your time finding the right artist and shop
Getting a tattoo is an experience, and finding the right artist and shop help in making it an awesome one. There are two parts to finding the right place. You really want to find an artist that you connect with. Having the right connection with the artist makes sitting in their chair less terrifying and it allows them to really open up their creativity and give you advice. Take a tip from Bridesmaids and Rebel Wilson and do not get a tattoo in a van on the side of the street. The cleaner, the better.
3. Proofread, Proofread, Proofread!
We have all seen the misspelled and embarrassing tattoos. If you want to get words or quotes, make sure everything from the spelling to punctuation is right. You don’t want to end up on the “20 Worst Tattoo Mistakes” lists.
4. Know what you are in for!
Tattoos hurt and certain places hurt more than others. If you want your tattoo on your foot, ribs, wrists or fingers, bring a friend who is willing to get their hand squeezed. The more skin and fat in an area means the least amount of pain. The closer the tattoo is to the bone the more pain you are going to feel.
5. Get inspired
Instagram and Pinterest are great tools for inspiration. It allows you to get an idea of what you like and allows for you to develop your own ideas. Be careful about getting an exact design from the web. If it’s on Pinterest that usually mean more than 10 people have it. If you want something unique, take the idea and change it.
6. Take care
Listen to your artist! Every artist has their own remedy for taking care of a fresh tattoo and preservation. As much as you’ll want to show off your new ink, keep it under wraps (or the bandage) for 4 hours to keep off all those airborne germs. Then give it a nice wash with some warm water. After that, most recommend a little polysporin and plastic wrap at nighttime. Once it’s done peeling, you are good to go!
7. Consider the future
Tattoos are becoming more and more accepted in society, but you still have to take into consideration future careers and opportunities. If you plan on running for President of the world, keep them small and hidden. If you plan on being a Rock Star, go nuts! Just keep your face out of it.
8. Get it in the winter/spring
Tattoos take about 2 weeks to heal. During that time you can’t expose it to a lot of sun and no water. So if you want to show it off with your bikini bod, you have to plan ahead. Get it around March or April. Once all is healed, get ready to show off your sexy new ink. To keep it sexy and avoid it fading you have to make sure that you still lather on the sunscreen in your time in the sun.
9. Drink a lot of juice and eat your sweets
Having a soda or a couple skittles about 30 minutes before your tattoo is key. This keeps your blood sugar nice and high. This helps make sure you won’t pass out. It also helps keep the shakes away and the anxiety down.
10. Don’t go cheap
Tattoos are usually charged in two ways: either by piece or by the hour. If you want a smaller tattoo go somewhere that pays by piece, because it usually will not take an hour. If you want a bigger piece, pay by the hour. Most tattoo shops have a minimum price. Which means that even if you get a small dot you will still pay around $60, which is about the average price for a small tattoo. Tattoos are worth the money you spend. You pay for talent, professionalism and cleanliness. So if you are going to do it, save up and splurge!