What advice would you give a person getting their first tattoo?

Question

What sort of advice would you give me if i wanted to get my first tattoo?

Answer 1

Think hard about what you want to get. I suggest against names, current fads, or pre-made designs. Get custom work.

Don't necessarily go to the first shop you set foot in. Check that they're clean, talk to the artists, ask to see their portfolio. Shop around. Don't take the lowest bidder (you get what you pay for).

Take good care of it. Follow your aftercare instructions, and always wear sunscreen on it to prevent fading.

Answer 2

*the MOST important thing when getting a tattoo is the artist you pick. in order to be truly happy with your tattoo you need to research artists and their work until you see work that truly impresses you. not all tattoo artists are even "artists" and many aren't talented. if you need help finding an artist i'd be happy to help.
* be original. get something that represents you or the thought / emotion that you want to convey. don't walk into a shop and point to generic / random flash on the wall and get it. those tattoos are the ones that are usually regretted later in life. (i speak from experience)
* in order to get the best original tattoo possible you should go to a custom tattoo artist, that is one who designs freehand tattoos for customers. they'll take a picture or an idea and improve it.
*take care of your tattoo while it is healing and afterward! follow all instructions given by your artist and after it is healed keep it out of the sun!! sun damages the tattoo ink and over time will break it down and it will look like crap (sunscreen does not protect the ink). if you don't care that you'll have a crappy tattoo then that's fine but you have to chose one or the other.
*don't shop around for the best price. you really do get what you pay for and who wants a tattoo that looks like you got it at a bargain place?

good luck!!!

Answer 3

My advice would be

1 Know what you want to get and make sure that it is meaningul to you.

2 Search around town and find a tattoo artist that you like

3. Think about were you want to get the tattoo and consider that you may want to put it some place were you can easily hide it for work

4 when you want to find out how much tattoos hurt just use the search function here first

5 Tattoos don't hurt and don't be nervous about it. (The majority of the process actually feels pretty good)

6 Make sure to eat a good meal and process bring a soda with you for extra sugar

7 Wait three months or so after picking out a design ot make sure that you really do want it

Answer 4

There's already some good advice here - but I'll add a little more. . . .

Check tattoo magazines for more ideas
Get a temporary tattoo in that place & wear it for at least a week or two
Get your first one in a spot that you can hide if you decide to wear something off the shoulder or a shorter skirt
Don't get too much detail - as you get older the detail fades and it looks more blotchy
Ask people you know for a reference to a tattoo artist they know, use, & like
Don't get one on some place that will stretch with age, like your stomach
Check out his/her work in their photo book
Talk to the artist about your concerns & thoughts - if they blow you off or you don't love them - LEAVE
and don't forget to TAKE YOUR TIME - there's nothing worse than regreting a tattoo - you have the rest of your life to get one so make sure you LOVE IT!!!!

Answer 5

Hi, What sure you know what tattoo you want to get and it is nice if the tattoo fits your personality and tell a story. That is what my 6 tattoo do they tell the story of who iam and where i come from. I love all 6 of mind. I almost forgot,you will not beable to stop on just 1 tattoo. That is what happen to be and i think all the other people into tattoos too.
Welcome to the World of Tattoos. You will become one of us and you will Love it. Lol A Friend.
poppy1

Answer 6

Since you're just in the thinking about it stage, here are my personal, fairly subjective preferences. Keep in mind they are suggestions, not requirements.

I prefer something with personal meaning; this isn't everyone's choice, but for me it was the surest way for me to make sure it would be something I'd like long term.

Don't go on the cheap; cheap art ain't good, and good art ain't cheap.

I prefer imagery, but if you do go with script don't use the name of a boyfriend or husband. Kids, parents, blood relatives are okay. There's no risk of divorcing your 5 year old, after all.

Don't go for the flash on the wall. Find a theme you'd like and speak with the artist. A good one will happily draw you something custom.

Make sure the shop is clean, they have disposable (or autoclaved) needles, disposable ink caps, certificates as required of your area, and such, on display. The good shops prominently show these - they are acutely aware of the stereotypes and biases people have.

Check through artist portfolios to see what their preferred styles and subtextual work looks like. I chose my artist because she was really, really good - but then, the whole shop was - and also because I liked the sense of whimsy & motion I saw in a lot of her art.

If you can, speak with others that have work with a given artist. They might have some insight - so & so does wonderful idyllic scenes, another artist has a great grasp of dynamic scenes, etc.

Do make sure you're getting it for no one but yourself. In the end, you're the only person guaranteed to be living the rest of life with yourself.

Answer 7

hmm...I'd say don't get a butterfly..or a dolphin..or some heart-and-stuff design tht doesnt mean anythin to u..
those things are waaaaaaay overdone now..and ud want ur tattoo to be different..

think of something that really means something to you.. any tattoo you get, ull prolly regret when u r 60..so don't think of it that way..but thikn of it like tht:
you want a unique tattoo...with a personal meaning that people would ask you what it means and you'll have a rlly cool answer..and you wanna not regret it in 10 15 years(dont think of further thn that cuz i dont think ud want any tattoos when u r old and wrinkly! lol)..and last..u wanna be able to hide it whenever you need..like in a job interview or in your wedding...so get it somewhere where u can either hide or show it!

and enjoy ur tattoo girl! =)

Answer 8

I find it interesting that the tattoo naysayers are always trying to tell you what YOU will feel years from now... seems rather pretentious to me. Most people hardly know how they will feel tomorrow - I don't see why these same people insist on telling someone else how they will feel 10 years from now.

Answer 9

Do your homework on the shop or artist...... talk to people who you see and you love their work.
Make sure you know what you want, and where...... you will have it for the rest of your life, you always want to love it.

Remember that a few places are more sensitive than others, so if pain is an issue for you, talk to your artist about location.

Good Luck!

Answer 10

make sure you know specificall what you want, get a drawing of it in the exact place you want it and leave it there for like a week if it lasts (some people regret it after or dont like it later on), then if you decide to get one, go to a longtime artist (not a newby just because he/she may be cheaper, just remember you get what you pay for), ask questions to the artist, they are pros and know the pros and cons of tattos