Nearly three years ago, I got my first tattoo. An abstract face on my ribs (a very impulsive decision). A year later, I got my second: my mom’s handwriting on my ankle. A few weeks ago, I got my third (a three-hour stick-and-poke dedicated to my favorite book character).
Though I have binged nearly every season of Ink Master, watched numerous YouTube videos, and read many Reddit threads, there are still a couple of things that I wish I knew before getting a tattoo.
- A Tattoo Shop is Definitely Intimidating.
Every tattoo shop I have been inside, whether to be pierced or tattooed, has been intimidating. Even the tattoo shop I went to that was painted pink was intimidating (shoutout to SlowPoke). I think this is because getting a tattoo is already super scary– you’re there to get something inked on you forever.
There are very few places I know where employees can have explicit art in their office and shout out bad words from across the workplace. A tattoo shop is one of these places. When I got my second tattoo, the artist had a human skull on display (which he claimed was real). He also had a taxidermy goat next to the table I laid on. Many of the tattoo artists look super intimidating, covered with tattoos and cool clothes, but once you get to talk to them you realize that they are most likely super kind!
- Small Talk While Getting a Needle Jammed is Hard.
The best part of getting my tattoos (besides the tattoos themselves) has been the conversations I have had with my artists. From talking about a mutual love for Ink Master to their biggest fears and aspirations, every artist has a different vibe and brings different conversations. But sometimes it’s hard to talk about your favorite TV show when there’s a needle continuously poking one spot.
- Your Tattoo will Probably Itch and Peel
My first tattoo started to itch a couple of days after I got it. There was no redness, but I was scared I had gotten an infection. A few days after that, it began to peel. This is very normal. Just keep it hydrated and don’t scrub your tattoo with any exfoliators. Aquaphor is great to keep on hand, but listen to your artist for any specific instructions.
- Yeah, it hurts.
For me, getting my tattoos with an automatic needle felt like small cat scratches or paper cuts. A little “ouch” feeling and then it disappears when the needle moves to a new spot. However, the more an artist adds shading and ink to an area, the more it hurts.
When I got my stick and poke, it felt like nothing at first. For the first 45 minutes, it just felt like the artist was pushing on my skin. By the end of hour two, it did start to hurt quite a bit. My leg was twitching, and I had to switch positions a couple of times. Getting poked in the same 2×2 area for hours definitely isn’t comfortable. It took over three hours for the artist to complete my tattoo. When it was finished and I got to see it up close in the mirror, I realized that the pain was very much worth it.
- People will have Opinions about Your Tattoo
Some people will think your tattoo is super cool. Others might think it’s ugly or badly done or a stupid choice. My advice for this is super simple– if it makes you happy, that’s all that matters. All my tattoos give me joy, and I love getting to talk about them. They all remind me of a very distinct point in my life, and the swirls of emotions I had when I got them. I love them.
If people express any bad opinions, remind them that it’s your body, not theirs.