FIRST TATTOO

First Tattoo

It can take you awhile to decide on getting your first tattoo, and there aren't many places where you can find an honest "what to expect" account of the first tattoo process.

Choosing Your Tattoo

Do not enter into getting a tattoo lightly, as you will be stuck with it for years. Laser removal is 10 times more painful and expensive than getting a tattoo initially. Will the tattoo be big? Will it be small? Do you want it black and shaded or full color? These are questions your tattoo artist will ask you.

The Tattoo Featured

The tattoo featured here is a first tattoo and is inspired by the new Friday the 13th movie. The inner right forearm is the location that was decided on. This inner forearm is a good location for a tattoo despite the size. A small tattoo is easily hidden and a larger one can be partially seen at all times but still hidden if need be. Ultimately the decision is yours.

Going to the Tattoo Shop

These days you need to make an appointment several weeks in advance and be ready to answer a few questions about the work you want done. If you have a piece in mind, then take the art with you. It is helpful if you supply a color copy (if you want color) and a black and white one.

Between the time you visit the shop to turn in your design and your appointment the artist can do one of two things with it:

• Scan it and create line art removing all color or;
• Redraw the entire designs.

What to Expect From Your First Tattoo

It is now the day of your tattoo and you're going to be nervous. Having this sort of fear is natural because it's sort of a fight or flight response. You will be sat down and given a release form. If you aren't given one then you may not have found the right shop. The same applies if they aren't wearing gloves, spraying surfaces with alcohol and covering with plastic wrap. It is important that the shop you go to adheres to health codes.

Final Design and Preparation

The artist will present you with your design as line art to test the size and fitting. Now you have to decide where you want the tattoo and decide, ultimately, how large you want it. Once everything is decided upon the design will be made into a transfer.

The Area you want Tattooed

The area you want tattooed will be shaved (if needed) and you should expect to be wiped down with alcohol then have the transfer set and sprayed, patted down then removed to create a temporary tattoo or stencil. Any areas that haven't transferred over may be filled in with a permanent marker. The artist will apply A&D Ointment prior to putting needle to skin. It's important to continually apply alcohol and A&D to keep the area sterile and moisturized.

One special note: Make sure you eat before getting your tattoo. It's important to keep your blood sugar up as your body's reaction to the process can cause some people to feel ill.

The Inking Process

Now that the transfer is completed it's time to begin the actual tattooing process. Think of it like coloring a cartoon and you start those by outlining the project. The same applies to the tattoo. This particular piece was outlined entirely in black using a "1-wide" or single needle. This was the longest portion of time. The pain was really not that bad.