So, youve decided you wantyour first tattoo.
Welcome to the club!
At that meeting, youll walk through your vision for the tattoo with the artist.
Cristina Cianci
In that case, youll have to set up a separate time to come back and get tattooed.
Im 42 years old, and the stuff I wanted two years ago, I wouldnt get today.
Instagram can be great for this.
The next step is to meet your artist.
Santibanez advises, Pay attention to their vibe.
Are they happy to answer your questions?
Its important to find an artist youre comfortable around so that you feel good about communicating during the process.
How a shop looks and feels to you will impact how comfortable you are with the experience.
But what matters most is that its hygienic.
Look to see if the place is clean, and look at the tables youd get tattooed on.
you could always ask your artist or parlor for any of these licenses or documents.
Any shop should be using single-use needles and medical-grade tubes, Santibanez tells SELF.
Many states actually require that your artist unpackages their equipment in front of their customer.
Tattoo costs vary depending on the size of the artwork and how intricate it is.
I would wait until I had $600, says Zilber.
Theyll clean and shave the skin where the tattoo will go before making the transfer.
confirm youre happy with the placement and size.
check that you do this until youre sure youre happy with the way it looks and feels.
And, oh yeah, its going to hurt.
Youre getting repeatedly stabbed by a needle, after all.
Some of the more sensitive places include the face, lower back, ankles, and feet.
Theres also a chance you may bleed.
Generally, artists will tattoo the outline first, and then continue by filling in and adding detail.
Its gonna be painful, says Robert Anolik, M.D., a board-certified celebrity dermatologist tells SELF.
As for the myth that fatty areas of the body are less painfulnot necessarily true.
People with dermatologic conditions like psoriasis and vitiligo should consult their dermatologist before getting tattoos.
Dyes can be very allergenictheyre one of the most common allergens that people encounter.
Sometimes we end up cutting the whole tattoo out surgically.
Getting a tattoo is an invasive procedure, says Dr. Bard.
Theres multiple stab wounds to the skin, theres multiple trauma.
The skin is open.
Dr. Bard recommends using Vasoline on the wound.
Zilber agrees: Put on a very thin coat of ointment.
The first couple days are the most important.
it’s possible for you to put the plastic wrap over the Vasoline.
Dr. Bard warns against using over-the-counter antibiotic ointment, which can be highly allergenic.
