- Of course you need a new tattoo design or at least an idea - See later posts about how to get ideas for a new tattoo design.
- You need to choose a great tattoo artist - More information on this in later posts.
- Make an appointment with the artist. If you already have a design, go into the shop and get a quote and meet the artist. If you don't have a tattoo design already but have an idea, go in and work with the artist to create a design you love. It is usually bad form to haggle with the artist about price. A great tattoo artist is worth the price, like commissioning a piece of art. If you can't afford it, smoke less crack and save that money or go somewhere else. Just remember, you usually get what you pay for.
- Get the tattoo design! Depending on where on your body you get the tattoo and your skin sensitivity, it will hurt to varying degrees. For me it was a pretty painful experience. If you have a very low threshold for pain, I would suggest that you get a small tattoo with limited coloring. It took about 45 minutes for my design, but the pain was worth it.
- If you really like the job the tattoo artist did, you should tip them of course. How much you tip depends on how much you like it and your financial situation. In any case, you should verbally express your satisfaction (if you like the tattoo).
- Follow your tattoo artists suggestions on how to care for the tattoo. The instructions will vary from artist to artist but it usually entails putting an antiseptic cream on it for a couple of weeks and keeping it out of the water or sunlight until it heals. It will probably itch because it is a healing wound, so don't scratch it! Gently slap it or move the skin around to relieve the itch.
- Design another tattoo!
Tuesday
What to expect when you get a new tattoo design
If you already have a tattoo, you can skip this post entirely. However, if you are thinking about a design for your first tattoo and are a little apprehensive about the process this is what you can expect:
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