It seems lately everyone is getting tattoos. Before you jump into getting one, there are many things you should consider. After all, it’s going to be on you for life!

            When you think of a tattoo you want, you should really take time to think it through. Ask yourself, will you still want it when you’re older? What’s the significance of it? Do you really want it? Having a good reasoning or meaning behind your tattoo is always a good idea. That way it’s special, and regretting it isn’t very likely. Taking your time, planning it out, and knowing exactly what you want will help ensure that regret will be out of the question. Many people who jump to get a tattoo without thinking and planning enough often regret it.

            Once your idea is perfect and you’re completely confident, the next step is choosing your artist. It’s a good idea to go to someone whose work you’ve seen before, and that you like the way they tattoo. Always go to someone who is a professional and uses sterile tools and new needles every time. Once you’ve chosen your artist, they’ll draw up your design. There’s nothing I can emphasize more: DO NOT be afraid to tell your artist if you don’t like their drawing. Even if there is one small detail that is important to you; you should voice your opinion on. It’s their job to please you, and you don’t want to regret not speaking up.

            Placement is another very important factor in getting a tattoo. There are many things to consider when deciding where to get your tattoo, such as job opportunities, clothing or shoes, aging, pregnancy (stretching), fading, etc. Also, once you choose your spot, you want to make sure it “moves well.” That is, when you move, your tattoo doesn’t stretch or skew in a way that looks weird or awkward.

            Size is very important. For first tattoos, it’s a smart idea to start off small, because for many people, the pain is a lot harder than they initially think. For my tattoo, it was fairly large for a first one, and in a very painful spot. It took three hours total. I had no idea what I was in for, and honestly, starting off small is a good idea so you can get a feel for the pain.

            Once your tattoo is finished, caring for it is extremely important. Many artists have different recommendations for how to care for a tattoo. Some say to use A & D, or Tattoo Goo, others don’t. What I did was shower in the hottest water I could stand, directly on my tattoo for 5 minutes, then switched it to freezing cold water for 30 seconds, and then patted it dry. This is supposed to get all the ink and gross stuff out of your pores, and to clean it out well. I could shower normally and just washed it off with regular soap. Once I noticed it got dry, I put unscented moisturizer on it daily until it stopped peeling.

            Do NOT scratch or peel the skin off your tattoo. You could peel the ink off and have to have it redone. Let it heal on its own and keep your hands off. That way, you may not even need to go for a touch up. Occasionally going in for a touch up is common to keep your tattoo looking good.