Tattoo Tips
I am occasionally on a website where people ask a lot of questions, usually the same ones over and over and over about tattoos. I thought I’d post some answers to often asked questions by non-tattooed people contemplating getting a tattoo.
1. Yes, tattoos hurt. There are the rare few who say it doesn’t hurt at all, or they are the ones trying to sound tough - maybe they just have a tiny rose on their rear. But in general, especially the longer you’ve been sitting there in one session, tattoos hurt. I have never gone “numb” after a while. I will admit my touch up was a different experience, but to say it’s pleasant….sorry, but no.
2. Think long and hard about what to get. I am not a believer that tattoos have to have some deep, personal meaning. I think those tattoo shows have made people think they need to come up with some amazing, tear jerker story about their tattoo. Many times they end up attaching some ridiculous story to a common tattoo. My philosophy is, if you like it and have thought long and hard about it (especially placement if you are young), then go for it. It may not be anything I like or would pick, but as long as you love it and will continue to love it, then who cares what I, or anyone else thinks for that matter. I can’t stand tattoo snobs. Tattooed people get enough grief from non-tattooed people. They don’t need to get it from those who should understand.
3. Be prepared for stares and comments. I’ve shocked many a person. I have never had anyone have the guts to come up to me and make a negative comment. I have had people come up to me and ask questions (the most common being - you guessed it - “Did that hurt?”).
4. Aftercare - do what YOUR artist told you to do. Not what you friend did, etc. I also think the climate you live in dictates your aftercare somewhat. So if you live in the desert, what your pal in Florida did might not be what you should do.
5. Touch ups. Eventually your tattoo will probably need touching up. They do fade over time. But do your best to protect your investment. Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen!
You may also need touching up right after you just got your tattoo. Sometimes the healing may not have gone as well as planned. Heavy scabbing can sometimes lead to ink being pulled out along with the scab. If this happens, good artists/shops will do the touch up for free. You will need to wait until it is fully healed to really get a good idea of what will need to be done. That usually is about a month.
Solid black many times will need touch up right away because it can be very hard to get right the first time. I wouldn’t recommend waiting too long though (as I did) or you may need the entire thing redone.
6. Cost is usually a factor of how long it will take. Many people just want to show someone a picture and get them to say how much it might cost. Your artist is the best person to give an estimate, and frankly, draw something original up for you.
7. And on that note - use the expertise of your artist. If you are really thinking long and hard about what tattoo you want, instead of coming up with something generic, why not have your tattoo artist draw out something original for you? Tattoo artists take pride in their work. They’d much rather do an original piece than something picked from a book.
8. When it’s all said and done, tip your artist! I don’t even know why this is up for debate sometimes. We tip waiters, valets, hair stylist, the bellman - I would think tipping the person who has put permanent art on your body would rank up there pretty high. Not to mention, having an artist happy to see you come in the door is a good thing - they will bend over backwards for you if you are a good tipper.
9. Be prepared that tattoos are like chips - some can stop at one. Many start down the road to addiction!
