So you've finally sat down long enough or got drunk enough to consider getting a tattoo. Congratulations. You are now in a state of limbo that could change your life forever. This could be a beautiful thing or you could be making a huge mistake. You must consider many things.
First things first, a tattoo is permanant even those ones that last 5-7 years are still pretty permanant. If you are drunk or under the influence of any drugs sober up before making the final decision. You will want to tackle this idea with a clear head.
Second, you probably have a design in mind or saw something really cool in a parlor or magazine. Before making your design permanant ask yourself if this a symbol of you or of pop culture. Is it a fad? This tattoo will represent who you are at the time that you got it. Do you like the person you are now? Will you look back at it and be angry, sad or resentful? This is why it is advised that you never get names put on your body anywhere. Friends and lovers come and go but tattoos are forever.
Lastly, you have to remember that sometimes tattoos hurt when you get them and wouldn't it look really stupid to have half an outline because you couldn't gut it out. Keep in mind that the more details and filling in that has to be done the more irritated the area will be. Also different parts of the body are more sensitive than others. Those areas are the ones with lots of nerves and nerve endings. Consult friends that have ink and your artist on good placement.
My suggestion is to think over any design for a year before getting it done permanantly. Exspecially for your first one.
Well you've done all the thinking you need and it's time to go get it done. What you need now is an artist. Be kind and patronize the businesses in your area. The actual shops. Don't go to someone's basement or living room. Find out if the shop you are thinking of is licensed and ask to view some of the artists work. See what his talents are. Find out if new needles are used on every customer and if there is an autoclave on sight. Check for use of rubber/latex gloves and the ink being put in their own little cups.
Don't be afraid to get to know your artist. Ask questions about whatever you are worried about, be it disease or allergic reactions to the ink. The artist should be more than willing to answer any questions you have. After getting comfortable with your artist make and appointment.
You've made your appointment and now you have no clue what to do. First of all eat healthy and sleep well. Don't get sick. It makes the experience much more pleasant. Drink and eat things with lots of Vitamin C. If you have hair in the area you want tattooed shave it off. The artist would do that but you'll save embarrassment if you do it yourself. Make sure you don't knick yourself.
Don't do drugs, drink or get sick. Those can all affect how much you bleed and how quickly your endorphins kick in. Trust me you want those endorphins to kick in. Not only to they make you feel high but they are your body's natural pain killers. You don't want to bleed much because that's an artist's hell. The ink doesn't want to stay in the skin if you bleed much.
You finally get to the parlor and you are seated ready to go. The artist has prepped you: antibiotic, anit-perspirant deoderant, vaseline. The fear has kicked in by now. Be prepared for the noise the needle makes. It's loud and annoying. The feeling you'll feel is a burny scratchy thing. Some places it feels more like a razor at times. Nothing too major.
Relax while your getting inked. Don't move or jerk around. That can cause mistakes and undo pain.
Your artist will have instructions on how to care for your new tattoo and the more you get the more you amend the instructions. For your first follow them to the letter and if you have any questions about them call your artist up and check what to do. Most likely your artist will tell you the following:
Have fun with your new art but take no offence if not everyone wants to see it. Some people aren't into tattoos. For some people it's against their morals or religion. Don't take it personally.