Some artists offer color tests, too. During a consultation, they will tattoo small lines or dots of different hues you're interested in getting tattooed to see how they heal on your skin before making final decisions. The artist's form or email is a good place to request one. Depending on the design you have in mind, New York City-based tattoo artist Doreen Garner says you may need to go to the studio for a quick, in-person consultation before your appointment.
Some of her clients also come in for a consultation so she can get a general idea of what type of shapes they are drawn to and what part of the body they work on, so "the tattoo can complement that part the best," Garner adds. Most of the tattoo artists we talked to compared preparations for the actual tattoo appointment to that of a medical procedure.
Be sure to get a good night's sleep, don't drink the night before, stay hydrated, and eat something before arriving at the tattoo studio. You can also bring snacks to have while getting tattooed.
If you happen to have any skin conditions like eczema that affect the area where you're hoping to get tattooed, Garner says to let your tattoo artist know ahead of time. If you're having a flare-up, you may have to delay your appointment. Try to avoid getting any cuts or tans on the area you're hoping to get tattooed, too, Wei adds.
When you first arrive at the tattoo studio, you'll start off by washing your hands before filling out consent forms. Be sure to have your photo ID handy, and "come at your scheduled time in order to give the artist time to prepare, clean up, and avoid overlap with other clients — especially to comply with COVID safety guidelines ," Kang says.
After your consent forms are filled out, your tattoo artist will show you the design they mocked up for you. If you want to make any adjustments to it, all the tattoo artists we talked to agree you shouldn't be afraid to speak up, as the art is about to be on your body for the rest of your life. However, make sure your feedback is respectful. Also, keep in mind that not all tattoos can be as tiny as you want them to be. Some lettering may need to be enlarged so they can be legible over time.
And if you're hoping for it to be on the smaller side because you think it'll be easy to start with, "that's totally fine, but the tattoo is not going to hurt any less," Garner says.
I think that's a mistake people often make in the beginning. From there, a stencil will be made and placed onto your body where you want the tattoo to be. Again, the placement can definitely be changed — just let your artist know. Fergus mentions they've redone a stencil placement up to five times for a client because they'd been thinking about their first tattoo for years.
A major thing to consider for placement is how the image could be distorted when you move the part of the body that it's on. Abad adds she usually recommends having her clients walk around in front of the mirror to "see how their tattoo will move with their body in normal life.
When it's time for your actual tattooing to commence, you may notice your artist taking time to set up their supplies. Fergus says they do this for their clients to see everything is clean, sterile, and coming out of new packages. While they do that, your artist will probably tell you where to sit or lay, so make yourself comfortable in that position.
Once the tattooist turns on their machine and gets going, try to stay as still as possible. If you start feeling lightheaded, uncomfortable, or need a break to stretch, just say so. The artist will probably do the same. The first moments of getting your tattoo will probably be the most painful.
Don't worry — that feeling won't be as intense the whole time. Once you get used to the situation, you can gauge whether your artist is into chatting. Depending on the size and detail of your piece, "some artists are comfortable with making small talk throughout the tattoo process, others prefer to concentrate on their work and find long conversations potentially distracting," Kang says.
Remember, all colors — including black — will fade over time. You can search online for examples of tattoo appearance over time to get an idea of how yours may look one to five years from now.
Speaking of fading, outlines and shapes may look sharp and slick at first, but over time, these can fade or even blur.
It all depends on the size and location of your tattoo. Often, location alone can determine your tattoo size. Ask your friends to see if they can refer you to a specific shop, or let Google or Instagram point you in the right direction. Most reputable shops smell like disinfectant and have spotless workstations and floors. If it smells like month-old gym socks, immediately turn tail and head to the next place on your list.
Artists are required to use single-use needles and ink to avoid cross contamination. This also applies to gloves, bandages, swabs, razors — anything that your artist might use must be new. You want the artist to be as excited as you, or at least understand your passion. Just be sure to thank the artist for their time before you see your way out. If you have any lingering questions, ask before you leave the shop. One of the best times to get them answered is when your artist is wrapping your skin.
But how much it hurts depends on your pain tolerance, size, and location. Tattoos tend to hurt more around sensitive areas that have more nerves and less flesh. This is especially true if you opted for a meatier location, like your bicep or thigh.
If the area in question is prone to pain, this will be a great time to get in touch with your meditative side and practice some deep breathing techniques. If at any point the pain becomes too much, let your artist know. A good artist will get to a stopping point and allow you to take a breather.
Use this time to get your head back in the game. A general rule of thumb is to keep the dressing on for a few hours — especially if you plan on spending the rest of the day out and about.
When you get home, be sure to wash your hands before you remove the dressing. Remember, a fresh tattoo is an open wound.
Dirt or bacteria can damage it or slow the healing process. You should avoid using any soap with fragrances or alcohol, as these ingredients can cause irritation. After you wash, gently pat the area dry with a clean towel.
Rubbing can pull at the skin and may cause ink fallout. As with the cleanser, you should avoid using anything with irritants like fragrance or alcohol. Most artists will give you a verbal rundown of how to take care of your new ink and send you home with a handout to reference later. This is a normal part of the healing process, and it usually only lasts through the end of the first week.
Skimping on care can delay the healing process and also affect how your tattoo looks in the long term. Practicing good hygiene is the only way to reduce your risk for infection. See your doctor right away if you begin experiencing:. In addition to keeping the tattoo clean, you want to keep it fresh and hydrated. Exposing the tattoo to direct sunlight can cause the colors to fade, so invest in a quality sunscreen or SPF clothing.
Dry skin can also cause a tattoo or the ink to look dull. Take a nice, slow, deep breath and try to relax. The first minute or so will be the roughest. After that, your skin will kind of get used to it and the pain will begin to subside.
Once all the linework is done, your artist can breathe a little bit easier knowing that they won't have to worry about the transfer anymore. Now it's time to get creative with a little shading and possibly color. Depending on the size of your tattoo, your artist may switch to a different set of needles called magnums or mags which are designed for coloring and shading.
They may even switch tattoo machines altogether. The shading and coloring can go along quite quickly, and before you know it, you've got a complete tattoo. Your artist may like a picture of your tattoo for their portfolio. They'll clean it up and sometimes even apply a hot towel to it first.
Then they'll take a picture, and this is a good time for you to get a shot, too. Taking a photo after the protective ointment is applied causes a glare, so it is best to do it now. If for any reason you do not want the artist to take a photo, just say so. You are not under obligation to let them.
Now that your tattoo is finished and clean, it needs to be treated just like a wound. Then a bandage will be applied, and it will be taped up to make sure it is secure. It is important that you keep this bandage on for the amount of time your artist instructs, which brings us to our last step: aftercare. Your artist will now give you aftercare instructions. These should be given both verbally, and on a piece of paper for you to take home with you.
It is important that you listen and follow the instructions you are given. From this point on, it is your responsibility to make sure your tattoo is well taken care of. The artist cannot be blamed if you get an infection because you didn't follow directions.
Prevent your tattoo from fading by wearing a daily sunscreen and avoiding prolonged sun exposure. Sensitive skin and the influence of female hormone fluctuations: results from a cross-sectional digital survey in the Dutch population. Eur J Dermatol. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Cleveland Clinic. What to expect when you get a tattoo. Updated October 2, Thank you [email] for signing up. Please enter a valid email address.
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