Have Your Design Ready
You probably already have some sort of idea of what you want tattooed on your body. If so, you need to have this drawn up, so you can show it to your tattoo artist. Some artists will draw it out a month or week in advance and others will do it the night before. Be sure to look it over to ensure it meets your standards and is what you really want.
Clean and Moisturize Your Skin
It is important to make sure to clean the area that is getting tattooed and moisturize it before you go in for your appointment with your tattoo artist. This will make it easier for the area being tattooed. In addition, it’s good to stay hydrated so drink plenty of water before your appointment as well. We recommend that you take a multi-vitamin to ensure your immune system is in good condition. Also, keep in mind that a tattoo is a scar that needs to heal, so the better your immune system the quicker it will heal. Plus, it will assist with keeping infections at bay.
Pick a Day Your Schedule is Clear
When getting your first tattoo, you don’t want to feel rushed and neither should your tattoo artist. This will only increase the changes of getting a mediocre tattoo job. When you are finally scheduling your appointment, choose a day when you know you will have plenty of free time to ensure you are not rushed and more relaxed and worry-free.
Listen to Your Tattoo Artist
You have ideas and expectations of what you want the tattoo and your first tattoo experience to be. You should absolutely advocate for what you want, and be upfront about what you are looking for. However, if you have chosen a great tattoo artist, they will be a season pro and will know what works well, and what doesn’t. If your tattoo artist expresses concern about your design or its placement, it is important to take their opinion into account. They know what they are doing and they want you to be as happy as possible with your piece — both on the day you receive your first tattoo and many years down the road.
Aftercare is Crucial
A good tattoo artist will have at least one conversation with you about tattoo aftercare. You will want to gently wash the new tattoo a few times each day, but don’t submerge it in the water. Let the tattoo breathe, and lightly moisturize it with unscented lotion a couple of times a day. If you do all of this in the first week, you should be good to go. Failing to take care of your new ink could potentially mess up the piece, and you will have to go back under the needle for touch-ups. The worst case scenario: if you don’t take care of your tattoo, it might become infected. Treat your tattoo kindly and it will do the same for you!
These are just a few of the many tips for those getting their first tattoo for the New Year. Contact Tattoo Consortium with the link below or to schedule your appointment today!
