What You Need To Know Before You Get Inked

Want to get a tattoo? Here's what you need to know and do before you get one.
1.Research your aesthetic. What type of tattoo do you want? Are you going for the minimal aesthetic or a text or nature inspired tattoo (among others)? The tattoo is going to be permanent, so its vibe should match yours.

2.Briefly outline your tattoo's elements in your mind. You should have a slight idea of what are some key elements that you want in your tattoo. Your tattoo artist can later help you put them together, which brings me to the next point.

3.Research your tattoo artist. Do not just walk into a tattoo parlour and expect the best results. You should look up some tattoo artists and parlours online, check out their portfolio, their reviews, and find a suitable one.

4.Be absolutely sure that you want that tattoo. This is commitment level A1 people. Be absolutely 100% sure you want it. Most tattoo artists will not mind if you want them to draw on the design on your desired location with a marker, so that you can get a feel for it and decide if you want to go for it or not.

5.Decide the location of the tattoo. Do you want to keep the tattoo a secret? Do you want to show it off? Look at charts that show how much it hurts on which part of the body (tattoos hurt the most when made directly on top of bones and hurt the least in fleshy areas). Research about where tattoos fade the most (they tend to fade on the fingers).

6.Make sure that your tattoo artist and the shop is clean and hygienic. They should be using gloves and seat covers and fresh needles and clean any other tools required.

7.Be ready for at least a little pain. No matter where you get it done, it will hurt at least a tiny bit.

8.If you’re allergic to dyes (like hair dye), let the artist know.
9.Do not compromise quality for money. Cheap tattoos are cheap for a reason. The artists may not be experienced and their tools might not be of the best quality.

10.Listen to your tattoo artist. Get a proper set of after-care instructions and follow them.

11.Talk to people who have tattoos. Get tips from them, take their advice.
12.Do not be drunk when you decide ot get a tattoo. Before getting a tattoo, have a good night's sleep, a proper meal and be hydrated.

13.It is your tattoo. You do not need to care what others think of it. It does not have to be deep and philosophical. If you think it's pretty, get it. Do not overthink it. Have fun with it.