Five Things To Do Before Getting Tattooed
Everyone you know has probably already warned you about not getting a tattoo done, saying that any design you choose will be on your body forever. Unlike how you may imagine it, getting a tattoo is never a spontaneous act. Even if you love the idea of carrying a piece of art on your body, people around you may be hinting you to work on several aspects very seriously before putting indelible ink on your body.
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If you have decided you want to get tatted for life, here are 5 things you must consider to ensure that it will be a good experience:
1. Artist’s Credibility
The first step is researching about which tattoo artist you would want to get inked by. Before settling on any specific tattoo artist, make sure that you did research on his or her portfolio. You can follow one or more tattoo artists on social media to see their work and popularity and check the feedback and reviews they have received on social media pages, Google or other available forums. Asking friends who have good and healthy looking tattoos for referrals is a good idea when scouting for a trusted tattoo artist, as they can guide you about the process and help you get in contact with their artist.
Once you research about which tattoo artist / tattoo studio you can consider, it is recommended that you personally visit the tattoo parlour and check out the hygiene standards and comfort level being provided. This will give you an idea about their safety and sterilization practices whether the artist unwraps new, single-use sterile needles and gloves in front of you and prepares fresh ink for each client.
Also, you get to meet the tattoo artist who will be working on you, and ask him/her questions about what to expect, clarify your doubts and even discuss the idea behind what design you re planning to go for. Not only will you feel comfortable, in a rapport and able to trust the tattoo artist, but also they will be able to further guide you on when you can get it done and precautions you need to take before the appointment.
2. Calculating the Cost
Getting a tattoo is an expensive investment. A tattoo’s cost is calculated by the artist based on the size, color, complexity and placement of tattoo, that he/she may decide on hourly basis and how many sittings the tattoo may need.
However you should not negotiate or consider other places who may do it for cheaper price, because the lower the price the cheaper the quality of ink and inking procedure will be, and you may even have to spend money you saved in getting the tattoo fixed later, or in dealing with the after-effects on your skin. In the tattoo culture, it is rightfully believed that “You get what you Pay for”, because you are ultimately paying an artist to work on your most priced possession to the best of his/her abilities. It is rather a common practice to tip the artists for their work once the tattoo is done.
Thus, it is suggested that you ask the tattoo artist beforehand how much the tattoo will cost so that you are prepared to invest that much money, and tweaking upon the design size and placement based on your budget.
It is also important to consider that you will have to invest in particular tattoo aftercare products, depending on your artist’s recommendation, so that the healing process of the tatted skin goes smoothly.
Also, usually a touch up is required within the first six months of getting the tattoo, specially if it is placed in areas that tend to be regularly exposed to sun, soaking in water or rapid cell regeneration, like hands and wrist area. The tattoo artist will do the touch up either for free or with a nominal charge, however it is best to stay informed about the overall cost it may incur.
3. Design: What & Where?
“While getting inked might seem like a fun thing to do with your friends in school or graduation, getting a spur-of-the-moment tattoo is probably not a great idea” says Dr. Cameron Rokhsar, a renowned cosmetic dermatologist who deals with tattoo removal, which is known to be a very painful and expensive procedure.
When planning to get a tattoo, the first pint of consideration is What design you want. You can go for meaningful words, phrases, pictures or symbols that represent something significant in your life, or that you won’t regret, or something you will always be proud of. You can look for inspiration on Instagram, Pinterest, or Google, copy a friend’s tattoo design, or even get your own customized.
Whether or not you have an idea of what design you may want, it is recommended that you discuss your ideas with the tattoo artist to help you first see on paper what may go as it is on your skin. It will also help in finalizing the design you want, so that you can both be mentally prepared for your tattoo appointment.
Deciding Where you want the tattoo placed goes hand-in-hand with picking the design, such that the size and nature of the design may be best suited for specific body parts.
While getting tattooed, different body parts will produce different levels of pain. For example, getting tattooed in an area muscle or fat will hurt less than getting inked where there are bones, The sides of your torso, rib-cage, undersides of arm, and inner thigh is also very sensitive areas of your body. Therefore, taking the help of your tattoo artist as well as being aware of your own pain threshold are both important when deciding these details.
Before getting a tattoo, also make sure that it is not a result of peer pressure, or proving your affection for someone. Also the placement of the tattoo should be well thought so that it will not hurt your job prospects in certain fields of work.
4. Before & After Tattoo Care
You maybe waiting to get a beautiful design embossed on your skin, but a tattoo will still be an open wound, that you should be prepared to contain in advance as well as tend responsibly to allow the healing process to happen smoothly.
One of the most common mistakes is neglecting proper aftercare and rather flaunting it in the open, where it may be exposed to sun or water bodies.
A tattoo needs care, just as importantly as the wounded skin it is embedded on. In fact, this skin care regime starts before the tattoo appointment.
Before your Tattoo appointment, you will be expected to avoid sun burn or tanning, cleanse, avoid alcohol or coffee, shave and moisturize your skin, get a good sleep, and healthy meal on the morning of the tattoo appointment to avoid any complications during the inking procedure.
After the tattoo is completed, you will need to follow your tattoo artist’s instructions, strictly, to take care of the tatted body part. You would be required to wash it twice a day with an antibacterial soap and very little amount of lukewarm water, avoid exposure to sun or prolonged soaking in water for proper healing and avoiding skin irritations, over a period of 2-3 weeks after getting tattoo-ed.
You will also need to need to regularly apply thin layer of healing ointment or specifically formulated aftercare products like tattoo wax or balm to keep the area moisturized, so that you can fight the urge to rub or scratch the skin when scabbing starts happening on the tattoo.
5. Consult your Dermatologist
If you already have a skin allergy, even a minor one, it must be ensured that you consult a doctor first to decide whether getting a tattoo would be a good idea, since having needles pierced and chemicals put into your skin may potentially trigger an allergy. If the doctor doesn’t allow, but you still want the tattoo, you should inform your tattoo artist to make the call as well as take full responsibility in case of exacerbation of the allergy.
There are bound to be different skin reactions in the healing period, even if you don’t have a history of allergies. Mostly, there maybe minor itchiness, swelling, rashes or skin irritation that is natural and manageable by using aftercare products formulated with ingredients with natural healing and nourishing properties, or prescribed hydrocortisone creams. Some people maybe allergic to the ink being used, and therefore it is suggested that you may get a test whereby ink is put into your skin to look for any possible signs of irritation.
Getting a tattoo is a matter of taking responsibility and making a permanent investment. Therefore, these five essential guidelines have been compiled to make sure you are able to take proper care of yourself when you plan to get tattoo-ed.