Your First Tattoo – What Should You Know?
A first tattoo is something that inked-up people look back on fondly. For many, it’s a rite of passage, and for good reason.
However, it can also be a pretty nerve-wracking experience. You’ll be sure to think about your first tattoo as a landmark occasion, so having millions of questions racing through your head is totally normal.
How do you take care of a fresh tattoo? Does my first tattoo have to mean anything? How can I find a good tattoo artist? What should my first tattoo even look like?
These questions are critical, but they can send you spiraling without any answers.
Lucky for you, we’ve got answers. So let’s tackle everything you’ll need to know before getting inked up for the first time.
Research, Research, Research
Tattoos are permanent. This may seem obvious, but it’s vital to reiterate; once you’ve got your first tattoo, it’s not coming off.
This aspect makes getting tattoos totally exhilarating…but also slightly scary. You have the chance to create a lifetime memory, but you understandably don’t want to botch it. What do you do?
Well, the best place to start is with research. Which local tattoo artist/shop to go to, where you want the tattoo placed, and what style of tattoo are the most important questions to ask yourself.
Sticking w/ What’s Most Meaningful
Your first tattoo may seem like nothing more than a gateway to getting more tattoos, so you might want it done quick and dirty; nothing special, just a cool design.
While this isn’t a terrible idea, we’d definitely encourage any newcomers to the tattoo world to pick out the artwork for their first one carefully. Your first is always your most memorable, so try to find something with sentimental value.
It should reflect an aspect of who you are, whether it’s one of your interests, something from a friend or family member, or a part of your personality.
Once again, the choice is yours but having your first tattoo mean something special makes the occasion all the better (you can save the ones that are just for fun later on).
Choosing the Absolute Best Tattoo Artists
Now that you’ve gotten your design and everything picked out, it’s time to find an artist whose style you like.
Picking out a good tattoo artist takes time and patience. It’s also the kind of relationship where it can be helpful to build actual trust with your chosen artist.
Like a good barber or tailor, a tattoo artist should become somebody you have a solid connection with.
One of the best ways to start looking for some of the best local artists is through Spokane.Tattoo. Our online directory features the best Spokane tattoo shops in the area.
Finding a great local artist is easier than ever with our platform. Once you’ve found a shop you’re interested in, it’s all about seeing a portfolio of their resident artists’ work.
One final tip we’d also recommend is to ensure that your tattoo artist’s work looks just as good healed as it does fresh.
Tattoos become a part of your body, changing over time, just like you do. Lines will begin to fade a little bit, and details can become less distinct.
If the artist you’ve selected has great images of both new and old tattoos, that’s a good sign that you’ve found your final choice.
Your Very First Appointment
All right, you’ve got your design picked out, found an awesome Spokane tattoo shop, and now you just need to set up an appointment. So what’s the best way to go about this?
Truth be told, tattoo shops can be pretty picky about handling new appointments. Of course, this doesn’t have to be an issue, just something to be aware of.
Some Spokane tattoo shops prefer appointments to be set up online, and some like you to call. Others might want you to reach out to individual artists over Instagram, and some might just want you to walk in and schedule a session then.
Whatever their preferred method, we’d recommend starting by calling first and, from there, getting more info on what their process is. As we said, it can differ from shop to shop, but that certainly doesn’t have to be a problem.
When scheduling your first appointment, make sure to have a good idea of the kind of style you want your tattoo done in (Americana, realism, blackwork, etc.), what the actual design is, where you want it placed, and how big or small you want it to be.
These details will help your artist figure out how much they’ll be charging you and when they can schedule you.
The Big Day
Once you’ve scheduled your appointment, you’re off to the races! Now you get to count down the days until you get your first-ever tattoo.
A couple of final tips for your first tattoo: avoid drinking any alcohol the night before. Alcohol thins your blood, which can make your first appointment messy and pretty gross.
It’s also a good idea to eat a filling meal beforehand and stay properly hydrated, so you don’t feel lightheaded during your session.
Finally, if you happen to have any preexisting skin conditions, keep your artist informed. If you have a flare-up that day or your skin starts to react during the appointment, you could need to reschedule.
As we said, getting your first tattoo is an incredible experience, and it’s made all the better by finding the best Spokane tattoo shops.
Spokane.Tattoo is the easiest way to find the top-rated tattoo shops and artists in the Spokane area. Check out our online directory now to find a shop perfect for you! Or, if you’re having trouble finding inspiration for your first tattoo, check out Inked Magazine for some ideas.
