Thinking of Getting Your First Tattoo? What You Should Know

If you want fine lines, for example, you don’t want to end up in a shop that specializes in old-school Americana. If you want a colorful tattoo, you should probably avoid going to someone who specializes in black and grey work. And if you want a portrait of someone done, you’re going to need to exercise extra caution — that is a very particular specialty that could, in the wrong hands, go very, very wrong.

If you have darker skin, you may also want to look for an artist with a demonstrable record of skillfully tattooing melanated skin.

Finding the right artist can then be an arduous slog through the artist galleries of every tattoo shop in your vicinity, or it can be as easy as seeing great art on someone else and asking them where they got it.

A slight exception: If all you want is some basic lettering or a simple symbol, your research doesn’t need to be exhaustive. You can basically pick an artist in any reputable shop in your area and be fine. (Tattoo artists learn lines and letters before anything else. Anyone decent can handle these kinds of pieces.)

Be prepared to wait for in-demand artists. I know you want the tattoo right this minute, but waiting a few months (or even a year) is worth it to get the piece you want done right. Follow your artist-to-be on social media — that’s where they’ll post if they have a last-minute cancelation. Instagram in particular is a popular platform for tattoo artists.

Work out how much you need to spend

Tattoo artists usually charge by the hour, as opposed to by the piece. And their rates can vary wildly, depending on how in demand they are. If you are getting something small that takes less than an hour to make, you will be charged the shop minimum — usually around the $100 mark.

The ideal approach to getting a tattoo you actually want is to find the right artist, get an estimate for what it’s going to cost, and then scrape together the appropriate amount of money to pay for it —  factoring in a tip of 15-20% on top of that.

It once took me an entire year to finish half an arm because I would save for one session, get two hours of work done and then have to take a break while I saved enough money for the next session. Did I look like a partially finished coloring book for months on end? Sure! Was it worth it? Absolutely. Because the artist was exactly who I wanted.

In contrast, if you want a tattoo artist to talk to you through gritted teeth while stifling an eye roll, walk into a shop and ask: “What can I get for [x number of] dollars?” This question tells them that not only have you not thought this tattoo through at all, but you also might be the kind of person who calls the shop complaining in a few weeks because you’ve decided you don’t actually like the thing that fit your budget.

If you really do have a fixed budget in your mind that you’re unwilling to waver from, and you’re only in this for the experience of getting a tattoo? Your best option is to find a tattoo shop with a “Get What You Get” gumball machine on the front desk. Shops that offer this service will accept a flat rate for anything in the machine. The catch is you can’t see what you’re getting in advance.

(If you are a heavily tattooed person, going the Get What You Get route is a fun thing to do. If it’s your first tattoo, this is a fairly unhinged way to start your body art journey. Still, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention it.)

If you want a low price but a say in what you’re getting, follow all of your good local tattoo shops on social media and wait for them to hold special events. Shops regularly host themed flash days that are usually linked to holidays like Valentine’s Day or Halloween, or even just a Friday the 13th. That day, artists will give clients a choice of art from one or two flash sheets at a fixed rate, usually to be applied to arms and legs only. If this idea appeals to you, get to the shop very early on the day of the event. (Probably before it even opens. These affairs are usually incredibly busy.)

Making your tattoo appointment

Some artists like to be contacted directly on social media. Others will ask that you call the shop and come by for a quick consultation. Either way, they will want a fairly detailed description of what you want before it’s time for your appointment.

Provide images to help illustrate your idea, and be as specific as possible. If you do an in-person consultation, the artist might trace the area of your body you want the tattoo on, so they can draw the design based on the exact size of the area. (This takes literally seconds — don’t worry.)

If everyone is happy to move forward, you will make an appointment and be asked for a deposit that will ultimately be subtracted from the final cost of the tattoo. How to provide that payment — and how to pay on the day — will depend entirely on the preference of the artist. They will let you know. A lot of tattoo shops are still cash-only businesses, but they usually have an ATM on the premises that you can use. Don’t forget: Even if a tattoo shop accepts credit cards, it is always better to tip in cash. 

If you’ve never been tattooed before and you don’t know your limits, do not make a super-long appointment. As an experienced tattoo receiver, I try not to ever sit for longer than two and a half hours if I can help it. Not only is that the point that my endorphins stop working and I start getting antsy, but I also find my tattoos heal better if I don’t sit for an overly long time.

As with everything else in life, don’t feel pressured to do anything you’re not comfortable with.

Some do’s and don’ts for the day itself

Before your appointment:

Don’t drink alcohol the night before your appointment. You don’t want to be hungover while getting tattooed, particularly if you have a long session ahead of you. (TRUST ME.)

Don’t drink alcohol the day of your appointment. It thins the blood. (Do not get high either — it is essential that you can clearly communicate with your artist.)

Do eat a meal before you go. Also, pack snacks and a large bottle of water for the duration of the tattoo. Hydration is your friend!

Do take ibuprofen before your appointment if it’s a long session. It won’t make much difference to your pain levels, but it helps to minimize swelling.

Do bring something to read (or listen to via headphones) in case you find yourself with a tattoo artist who doesn’t want to talk during the session. Having something to focus on that isn’t painful will help your entire appointment move a lot faster.

At your appointment:

Don’t walk into your appointment and ask if getting tattooed hurts. The answer is yes, but to varying degrees depending on the tattoo’s location on your body, the length of the session, and your physical health. Everyone is different, so the question is moot (and a little annoying).

Do take the advice of your tattoo artist. They have studied the ways that bodies move more than most of us, so they usually know the best positions for certain work. They will also tell you when to size up a little so text or small details in the work don’t get lost later. They know better than you, so listen to them.

Do feel free to express delight when the tattoo is not as painful as you thought it was going to be.

Do also feel free to speak up if the pain you are in is becoming overwhelming. Your artist should check in with an occasional “You doing OK?” throughout, but if you’re struggling, let them know immediately. It’s better to stop and catch your breath than for you to pass out in the chair.

Do remember to breathe. The best advice I ever got from a tattoo artist was to focus on taking deep, slow breaths during particularly painful portions. This helps to take the edge off, whereas clenching your teeth and tensing up does not.

Aftercare for your new tattoo

Stay out of the sun and do not swim until you’re healed. Period. Avoid chlorine like it’s going to burn you alive. (Because that’s actually what it will feel like right before it destroys your new tattoo.)

On the third or fourth day, when your tattoo starts flaking, try not to pick at it or pull at the skin. (This one is easier said than done.) Trying to hurry along the healing process this way raises the chance of you creating holes in the tattoo and needing to go back to the shop for a re-inking.

Outside of these basic rules, no two tattooed people care for their tattoos in the exact same way. If it’s your first tattoo, feel free to follow whatever instructions your artist gives you. (I am skeptical about the benefits of expensive, tattoo-specific ointments sold in some shops, but you do you.) Honestly, the basic principle is pretty simple: Keep it clean, but don’t over-wash it to the point that it dries out.

Here’s my personal post-tattoo routine, for those of you who want an example:

• After I’ve been tattooed, I keep it wrapped overnight.
• Once the bandage is off, the tattoo gets a warm wash in the morning and again before I go to bed. I use very diluted Dr. Bronner’s liquid mint soap (a lot of people like unscented Soft Soap) to gently clean it.
• Then I pat the tattoo dry with a clean towel and put A&D Ointment — a diaper rash ointment that seals out wetness and forms a protective barrier on skin — over it. A lot of folks swear by Aquaphor Healing Ointment, but I personally find it overly greasy.

Instead of traditional bandages, a lot of artists are now using Tegaderm — a sticky “second skin” that holds fast for about three days, even if you shower daily. Tegaderm is specifically designed to help wounds heal and will save you from sticking to an aftercare routine for the first few days.

For some, this is a magical, low-maintenance solution to tattoo care. For others (including me) Tegaderm is more hassle than it’s worth. I’ve used it twice and on both occasions, the sticky edges of the bandage pulled against my skin and left me with a significant amount of red irritation around the edges that felt worse than the new tattoo did. If you have sensitive skin, you may consider skipping Tegaderm for this reason.

If you have an allergic reaction to your tattoo

I have over 50 tattoos (I can’t figure out the exact number), and I’ve only ever had an allergic reaction to ink twice. Even so,  it’s best that you know what to do in the event that an allergic reaction occurs.

During the session, an allergy to a type of ink is not usually immediately obvious. It generally rears its head later during the healing process. If you are having a reaction, you will notice that, while the rest of the tattoo is healing normally, one specific color is rising up into thick scabs and stinging to high heaven. Your body is doing its best to get the thing it doesn’t like out of your skin.

Taking antihistamines and ibuprofen will take the edge off but, to some degree, you just have to ride it out. If you’re dealing with a minor reaction of this kind, one way to speed up the healing process is to use a hot compress on the affected area a few times a day, followed by healing ointment. It goes without saying that, as with all matters relating to your health, if you’re seriously concerned about any bodily reaction you should consult a health care professional as soon as possible.

Having an allergic reaction may well affect how your finished tattoo looks. Don’t panic. You can fix it later, once the area has completely healed. Ask your artist what shade and type of ink they used in those spots, so you can avoid it in the future.

Finally…

Be prepared to want more. Tattoos are addictive, and you might find that your first one turns into a full-blown habit.

Stay safe, and have fun!