First time tattoo experience? How was yours?

Question

I am going for my first tattoo tomorrow. Please don't respond if you're going to say "just don't get one, you're going to regret it"- I am well aware that many people regret their tattoos. I am 19 and have wanted a tattoo since I was 9 or 10, I always loved the temporary ones and in the past couple of years I have flirted with the idea. I know exactly what I want and am very excited about this!

Now my question is, does it hurt a LOT? Doesn't matter either way, but I do want to be prepared. Should I take tylenol before or something? I went with my friend to get her tattoo and she didn't take any medicine. They just gave her a bandage and told her to keep it on for 2 hours and put vaseline on after so it could heal. If any of you have tips or personal tattoo stories I would like to hear them. Thanks.

haha what!? my friend (the one i went with to get her tattoo) has 4 of them, all are very well taken care of and 2 of the four are quite large. i am going to the same place she went for her last, a very well accredited place here in chicago. it is in a very nice area of the city.

i don't know what you are talking about 2 weeks for a bandage because i have talked to 2 different tattoo parlors and they both suggested two hours. i also have researched everything online and it states to take the bandages off after 2 hours and then keep it very moist.

thanks for the great answers. i've only had 1-2 with bad answers so far. thanks!

well I did it, my friend and i got ours together. it is beautiful! i did NOT take any medication or anything and the tattoo artist gave me A&D ointment. it hurt so much when it hit my spine but other than that it looks and feels great. i appreciate all of your answers so much.

Answer 1

I also got my first tattoo when I was 19. I got two more since then. I'm now 32 and hope to add a few more in the future. So, not everyone regrets them. I have no regrets at all.

My first tattoo did not really hurt. I got it on my upper breast and that is a fairly fleshy area. A good rule of thumb is the fleshier the area the less pain. The closer to bone, the more pain. Also, the more outlining they have to do the more painful it will be. When they outline they drag the needle. When they fill in color the needle bounces and hurts less. However, pain is relative. So, what one person says is painful another may not. I enjoyed the experience of every one of my tattoos. I thought it felt good. I have one on the back of my shoulder and one on my lower back.

I did experience a bit of light headedness after my tattoos, especially the first one. But I think this was due more to the adrenaline. After my first I went for ice cream so we made that a tradition of sorts and I went for ice cream after the next two. But it helps a lot if you have something in you before you go. Don't go on an empty stomach. A good artist will actually ask if you've eaten. The place I went for two of my tattoos actually kept a basket of candy on hand just in case. Also, they should be willing to take breaks if you need one.

I had one tattoo artist tell me that in all his years of working he has never had a woman get sick or pass out on him while doing a tattoo but he has had at least one man per week pass out or become ill.

I never took medicine with mine. Like I said, I enjoyed the pain and I didn't find them at all painful while healing.

Good luck!!

Answer 2

First Tattoo Experience

Answer 3

Whoa. You need to research this a bit better!

DO NOT go where your friend went because the advice she got was so bogus it's unbelieveable! Aftercare is soooo important, and if your friend never got infected it's only luck or God that saved her.

First of all, I doubt Tylenol or Advil or anything would really help at all because it HURTS ALOT (!!!!!!!!!), no matter what anyone says. Booze is also a really bad idea because it thins the blood and can interfere with the clotting neccessary for the scabbing over to take place for the tatoo to "heal".

Any real tattoo artist will turn away anyone who has been drinking at all anyway.

Elma cream is a topical anastetic, and if applied a few hours before the proceedeure in the area you plan to tatoo, it may help to take the edge off.

Location on you body can also change the amount of pain you'll be in. Fleshy parts seem less tender than joint or bony areas.

And try to choose somewhere it won't show if you go for a job interview.

But really, 2 hours? A bandage should be worn for about 2 weeks! Vasaline? No way!!!! Polysporin is a much better way to go.

Where'd she get tattooed? Prison?

See a doctor at the first sign of infection.

And make sure the needle is clean! (I didn't need to tell you that part, did I? You must know a dirty needle can give you any kind of infection....usually the incurable kind...)

Do your homework on this okay? I hope it isn't too late.

Best of luck.

Answer 4

The pain level depends on where you are getting it done. Don't take any pain killers before it as it could cause you to bleed out more ink. I was nervous before my first one too. I now have five, six if you count the one that I had covered up. It is addictive!!!

Yes, keep the bandage on as they say. Instead of Vaseline, use Vitamin A & D ointment on it. It helps the skin heal better. Make sure the skin stays well lubed with that stuff, I don't mean a big gob, but a thin coat of it. Do that for the first 4-6 days. Then, moisturize it for at least to weeks with a fragrant and dye free lotion. Also, you cannot take a bath or go swimming for two weeks after the tattoo, some say a month. You take a shower instead. Make sure you keep it clean. Dab it dry after your shower. If you rub, you can pull the ink and scabs from your skin. Don't itch at it, for the same reason as dabbing with a towel to dry. The trick my brother taught me was to slap it when it itched, which it will once it starts healing.

Let's see am I forgetting anything? Oh, yeah, show it off once the bandage is off.

Answer 5

Depends on your pain tolerance. I got my first one on my lower back, a big celtic cross. It hurt a lot, but I kept the pain to myself.
The second one on my lower right arm (from wrist to elbow, a rose through a heart with angelwings) honestly did NOT hurt. It felt very hot and sometimes like being cut by a hot knife.
The third one on my stomach (a kind of tribal butterfly design my friend drew up, underneath my belly button), didn`t hurt that much either, but then again, I gave birth without drugs (the second time around) so....
Tylenol won`t help you. Ask the tattooist what ointment to put on, my boyfriend and I always use A&D. DO NOT USE NEOSPORIN!! Also don`t pick at it once it starts healing. It will also itch, do NOT scratch it!!! It should start peeling a few days after you get it and will be healed about 2 weeks after that or so.
Good luck to ya!
PS: I`ve never heard of a bandage after a tattoo being worn for 2 weeks, do you even have any tattoos mithril?

Answer 6

yes they hurt... anyone that tells you different is a liar..lol as to how much it depends on your level of pain tolerance. I got my first tattoo at age 19 ... went all by myself and got my lizard on my forearm. The pain was not bad at all.. didnt cry or anything (cant say the same for the guy that was in there at the same time...lol) and then I was hooked. So 13 1/2 years and 14 more tattoos later here I am. I dont think taking tylenol would help much... my advice on that is go at it stone cold sober.
As for after care Ive heard a 1000 different things. My husband and I do this: when you get home take off the bandage and wash the tattoo gently with antibacterial soap... pat dry and put lubriderm on it... I usually wash it 2-3 times a day and put the lotion on when it feels dry.
What are you planning on getting and where?

* I saw you are going someplace in Chicago? where? I hope not jade dragon...

Answer 7

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/34305656/

when I went, I researched a bunch of places, and asked around in some communities for some good tattoo parlors in my area.

I went one evening with my brother, his girlfriend, and a friend.

I looked around for their autoclave, (which is a very very important cleaning tool, don't go to a parlor without one.) and looked at their books of actual pieces they've done on people.

It didn't hurt that much for the first 10 minutes or so, but after a while it hurt a it, and it made my fingers tingle. It took about an hour or so, and when it was done it looked awesome. I waited and when I took a shower let the bandage fall off naturally.

don't wear shirts you care about, cause they'll get messed up!

when there is flaking don't freak out, its natural!

It seems like you've thought about it for a long time, so I hope youre happy with the choice, and I hope you have a good experience!

Answer 8

I've heard the ankle hurts but when I got mine there, it wasn't bad at all. I was talking to my friend while it was being done so it probably helped so I didn't think about the pain.
You should put Neosporin on it afterwards and something to help keep the colors bright is to keep sunscreen on it whenever you're in the sun.
If you've wanted a tattoo for a while, go for it! I wanted one for over 15 years and finally got it and plan on getting another one. I haven't regretted it and don't think I ever will. Good luck!

Answer 9

hi! good for you, if you want it then do it, I went for one and now have 3! I have to say the first one did hurt a little but wan't as bad as I thought it would in fact when I went for the second one I was more scared as I knew what the pain was going to be like but it was a lot less painful that the first. It is like something sharp scraping in to your skin and it kind of burns but honestly if it was that bad people wouldn't be getting them done! Becareful with vaseline on the tattoo with clothes as the ink and vaseline can stain if they get on clothes and try not to leave the bandage on longer than the tattooist says as the air will help heal it and also you dont want the bandage to get stuck to the tattoo. Also the tattooist probably sells some stuff for helping it ti heal and keep the colour nice but vaseline works just as well as some of the ones fromt he tattooists can sting and vaseline dosent. Hope it goes well.

Answer 10

Hey have fun, don't take aspirin, because it will thin out your blood, and you will bleed more, You will defiantly get nervous, but trust the tattoo artist, I hope he isn't a friend who is hooking you up, because most of the time you regret those, but it will hurt but your body's endorphins will take over in a few minutes, and it wont hurt as bad, just relax, and breath, listen to the artist, they will guide you,
Oh also buy the stuff they sell to help heal the tattoo it's way better than Vaseline, Have fun