I'm getting a tattoo. What do I have to expect?

Question

I'm getting it on the upper left arm. It's not a big tattoo, just a small symbol.

What should I expect while I'm getting it, and how do I care for it after? Will my whole arm be sore? Is my skin going to have scars, or open wounds? Can I sleep without hurting my arm?

If you have had a tattoo before just tell me the whole process.

Answer 1

uh well it will hurt at first but then you will get used to it. my dad got a tat and he had to put lotion on it and stuff so you should buy some lotion

Answer 2

They put the outline on your arm, then break out the needles and ink. The acutal outline of most tattooes hurts the most, as the fill-in coloring goes much faster. Don't let anyone fool you, it does hurt. The longer that neelde is on your arm, the more it hurts. The wonderful thing is that an experienced artist takes many short breaks, and washes the area in that delightful soap stuff that feels like heaven after each of those needle strokes. You will learn to love the squirt bottle.

Actual care depends on which artist you go to, but there are some common themes. The skin that has the new ink is an open wound, and is covered with something, usually saran wrap, for at least two hours afterwards. Then comes the care. After the two hours is up, wash GENLTY with antibacterial soap. Liquid Dial is my fave. You do not scrub, just give a light rinse. Avoid Lever 2000, bad stuff on tattooes. It will be tender to the touch for about a day or two, then the itching kicks in. Do not scratch, as the skin has not healed and you could pick your nice ink right out of your skin. The skin needs to be regularly coated lightly with an antibacterial ointment, whichever brand is suggested by your artist. One that gets a lot of mention is Tattoo Goo. After a few days, the thin top layer of your skin at the tattoo site might start to peel. Do NOT help it along. Let it flake off on it's own, or once again you might just lose some of your ink. After the skin has healed, a few days of moisturizers are nice. I personally use Panama Jack Green Ice for the afterwards dry skin. (It's an aloe gel based sunburn goo)

The worst part is the outline. As it will be a small patch of ink, you'll only notice it if someone slaps you on that part of your skin or bump into a wall or door frame. Sleeping should be no problem, I have a wing on my back, and it gave me no problems after a few hours from the chair.

Answer 3

Well the most painful part is when they do the outline. Once they are done with it then they fill it in with the color and at first it is a little uncomfortable, but eventually it doesn't hurt. To care for it use what ever the artist gives you and follow the directions. Your whole arm will not be sore and the tatoo shouldn't be that sore either. You shouldn't have any scars. You will still bleed a little bit at first until the tattoo scabs up. You can sleep normally and don't have to worry about hurting your arm. The tattoo will leave ink on your sheets tho, but dont worry it will wash out. Hope this helps and good luck.

Answer 4

I just got my first tattoo on my upper arm, and it was not as painful as I was scared it would be. lol

It helped that I had a friend there with me to talk to that kept me distracted from the pain. It kind of feels like someone pressing down with a knife just a little bit into the skin. The outline is the more painful part, and the longer the needle is on the skin, the more it hurts, so they take frequent breaks with outlining. A few seconds on, then stop and the pain stops immediately.

When she was done with all the work, she covered my tattoo with saran wrap to protect it for two hours, then she had me wash it with a mild soap and begin to moisturize with "Tattoo Magick" (kind of like a lip balm), and to keep that on at all times.

It was a little sore for the first few hours, but I could barely feel anything by the next day. Three weeks later, I went in so she could check the color, and she says it is completely healed.

Be sure to follow the aftercare instructions, keep it moist while it is healing, or you can get scabs and lose some of the ink. All, in all, I was surprised at how easy it all was, and I am already designing more to get later!

Answer 5

If you are getting color in the tattoo it doesn't hurt as much, the sensation that you'll feel is like when you clench your teeth and hum(if that explains it at all). Any outlining like in black hurts alittle more because they have to go alittle deeper into the skin, but you get used to it pretty quickly. it feels like a constant cat scratch. Don't look while the artist is working otherwise you'll freak yourself out and it'll hurt more than it actually does. When I got my tattoos they gave me this stuff called TATTOO GOO.Unfortunately I don't remember what is all in it, but it's specially formulated to protect the fresh tattooed skin and it keeps the skin soft. If they don't have that they will tell you what to put on it and how to talk care of it. FOLLOW their directions. Just like scabs, don't pick at it if you bleed at all, which you might.Just leave it alone. keep it covered for as long as they tell you to. It's just like any other OPEN wound and it can get infected.don't be afraid to ask the artist Questions.Also BEFORE you get the tattoo make sure they sterilize their equipment using an autoclave(a medical grade machine used in the medical industry to sterilize medical tools)...if they DON'T then don't have them do the tattoo.

Answer 6

I got a tattoo on 07/07/07.
The outline of the tattoo hurt the most and the filling in just felt like a little scratch over and over.
You shouldn't get scars if it's done right.
I had mine on my back and I found it hard to sleep and lean back on chair but on the arm shouldn't be a problem.
After I had mine done they suggested using a cream called "bepanthen" cream. It's used for nappy rash. I put it on twice a day (in the morning and before bed) and it healed in a week. I hope that helps <:o)
Click the link below to see my blog about my tattoo (and a pic)

Answer 7

That spot should not hurt too much. They open the different paints all individually packaged. They do an outline first, then color it in. They may give you some lotion. If not buy A&D ointment. It was originally for babies, but it is the best for tatoos. You should only have minimum bleeding, unless you are a bleeder. They will give you instructions, but trust ME on the A&D ointment!! Your arm may be a little sore, but nothing very uncomfortable. Good Luck!

Answer 8

Not much. You just sit there and the artist puts it on. It will hurt a little, but you soon numb up and before you know it, it's done. A small symbol can't take more than 15 minutes.
Afterwards, you can just keep lotion on it or A&D ointment. I just always used lotion. Hope that helps.

Answer 9

Are you sure that is what you really want or are you acting out of impulse? Will tattoo tarnish your image as not being a stable guy to rely on? I've heard of too many stories. Some have regretted getting it and some continues to have more. The choice is yours, you decide.

Answer 10

I'm sure plenty of people here will answer this in great detail, so I will forgo that route.
What I will mention to you that they may neglect, is that while it is healing, you can put rubbing alcohol on it to prevent infection, but for the love of God, DO NOT put Hydrogen Peroxide on it!!!
I was told it will literally bleach the ink right out of your skin before it heals.
After it heals, you can put it on, but not during the healing process.

Good luck.

Answer 11

Don't worry.
little pain, no sore at all, you will use some antibiotic oiment on the tatto for few days just to avoid infection and thats all!