Tips for Getting a Tattoo

Woman with short hair and a tattoo in her neck
Photo: SeventyFour/Shutterstock
Britney Spears, Victoria Beckham, Alyssa Milano and Angelina Jolie have it. Your best girl friend also sports it and now you want it. Well tattoos are one of the most hot and happening ‘in’ things today. This body art is not only decorative, but also portrays your personality. Tattoos can make you look cute, sexy, trendy, and tough. Many people even commemorate special events and loved ones through tattoos.
 
More and more people are becoming more open to the idea of getting tattoos done. Getting a tattoo can be a very exciting experience and you need to be prepared on what to expect. Be prepared for some pain as having a tattoo involves being poked with a needle multiple times, and it might feel like being stung by hundreds of bees.
 
The pain factor also depends on how experienced the tattoo artist is and also the area that you have chosen to get your tattoo. Another thing to keep in mind is that every person has different pain thresholds. What is painful to one may not be same for the other.
 
So, before you start on getting a tattoo, you need to check the following checklist:
 
• Have you zeroed in on the tattoo artist?
 
• Have you checked on the credentials of the artist?
 
• Have you selected the art work?
 
• Have you decided where on your body you will have your tattoo?
 
How to Pick a Tattoo Artist
 
When zeroing in on a tattoo artist, it is very important to see the artist’s previous work. Visit several studios and see the photographs of an artist’s work before selecting one.
 
Always check to see if the lines of the tattoos in the photographs are smooth and clean or jagged. You would definitely want to have a tattoo with a smooth and clean finishing rather than a jagged one.
 
Take your time to shop around to decide if your and the artist’s style match or not. A good tattoo artist will take time to sit with you and go through your expectations and give you suggestions and solutions to create that special work of art for you. Also check if the tattoo artist has his or her license in place.
 
When picking the tattoo artist, it is also very important to see if the studio complies with the safety and health standards. A good studio will have an autoclave, a machine that kills viruses and bacteria from the instruments. Check if the studio has germicidal soaps, needle buckets, sterilized gauze in sealed packages, disposable gloves, proper disposal arrangement, and general cleanliness.
 
Preparation Before Getting a Tattoo
 
Before going to get your tattoo, you need to keep the following in mind:
 
• Have proper food and rest before going to get your tattoo. You might feel dizzy, nauseated, or faint if you go on an empty stomach.
 
• Avoid taking any painkillers like aspirin or ibuprofen, or any anesthetic as these might cause increased bleeding or other complications.
 
• Don’t get tattooed if you are under the influence of alcohol.
 
• Do not get a tattoo if you are not well. It is better to go for a tattoo only when you are healthy and feeling better.
 
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