Getting a Small Tattoo: A Step by Step

Getting your first tattoo is both a fun and nerve-wracking process, especially if you have no friends or family who has gotten a tattoo before. You’re worried about three things: the permanence of the design, the skill of the artist and (of course) the pain involved in getting a tattoo. However, there is a step by step that you can accomplish so that you’re a bit calmer about the whole thing:

STEP 1: CHOOSE YOUR DESIGN

Never ever get a tattoo done without being 100% sure of the design. There are so many people out there who regret having a tattoo because they were pressured, unsure or (the worse reason!) drunk when they got a tattoo. Check around tattoo design websites around the net, rifle through tattoo magazines or ask a tattoo artist what design is good for you. If this is your first time to get a tattoo, and you’re nervous, it’s best to choose a small tattoo design first. You’ll pay less, spend less time under the needle, and if ever the design doesn’t work out for you, you’ll be able to hide to easier.

STEP 2: CHOOSE YOUR ARTIST

Getting a tattoo artist is a process somewhat akin to finding a good dentist. You’re going to let someone close to your body and start poking around in sensitive places with sharp objects, so you’d better find a really good one! Ask around your friends, if there are some of them who have already gotten a tattoo, and see if they can refer a good, knowledgable tattoo artist. If they can, you can ask for a rough estimate of the length of the tattooing process and the cost of your desired design. You can also go online or check local listings for a tattoo artist in your area, and see if you can dig up a testimonial or two. Otherwise, if you’re in the mood for it, drive around your place and see if you can chance upon the local tattoo shop. If there are people around the place, it looks professional and clean, then you may enter. Otherwise, floor it and get away from there!

STEP 3: GET YOURSELF READY

Getting yourself drunk because you think that it will help lessen the pain of tattooing is not a good idea. If anything, getting your body more on the edge will result in more pain. Make sure you have enough rest and fluids the night before getting a tattoo, and before going to the shop, take a hot bath so that your skin will become soften and easier to tattoo. Then, it’s time to grit your teeth, close your eyes and just wait it out!