So you want to get a tattoo?


At least a month before:

    Start thinking about what you want and where you want it. Stand naked in front of the mirror and visualize what you want. Take size into consideration. Should it complement the body or change the way it looks? Should it be hidden or show?

    Think about why you want this tattoo.

A month before:

    Start scoping tattoo parlors. Look for:

        *a clean and neat facility

        *autoclave sterilization

        *no-pressure help

        *certificates of training

        *open year-round

    Compare and contrast each parlor.

        Does the artist encourage giving the tattoo a personal touch?

        Does he or she charge a fee for drawing something up?

        Does he or she charge by the hour or by the piece

        Does the artist's personal portfolio present a style you want?

        Does he or she encourage questions?

One to two weeks before:

    Pick an artist:

        What is his or her experience?

        Are you comfortable with him or her?

        Is he or she enthusiastic about your piece?

        Have your tattoo drawn up (Warning: Some places charge a non-refundable deposit for this service.)

        If you don't love it, have it re-drawn (If the artist won't, or asks for more money, go somewhere else.)

        Make final decisions about size and color. (Warning: Some people react to red dyes - if you want red, make sure you have a test site done, usually a dot behind the ear.)

About a week before:

    Schedule an appointment. The length of time it takes can vary, so don't make plans immediately after.

    Try to schedule time when someone can come with you - it's a lot less painful with someone to distract you.

    How extensive is the tattoo? Most people can't last for more than a couple hours per sitting.

The night before:

    Get a good night's sleep - getting tattooed can be exhausting. If you're hairy, shave the entire area getting tattooed. (Discuss this with your tattoo artist first.)

The day of your tattoo:

    Eat, eat, eat! One of the biggest problems for tattoo artists is clients with low blood sugar. Low blood sugar can cause nausea, trembling (which results in wobbly lines) and even blackouts. Make sure to eat before going in and bring a soda or something to help maintain your sugar balance. Your body metabolizes very quickly when under stress, so don't underestimate your caloric needs. If you start to feel shaky, queasy or lightheaded, take a break and EAT SOMETHING.

    Wear loose clothing - tight clothes will abrade the tattoo and be very painful. Expect to wear loose clothing for at least several days afterward. Note: Dye smears and stains, so don't wear your favorite clothes. Black is good.

    DON'T STRESS. Being relaxed is the key to a good experience.


The Tattoo:

    1. The transfer: The tattooist will wipe your skin down with disinfectant and transfer the outline for your tattoo to your skin. If the tattoo is not where you want it SPEAK UP. It can't be moved after the artist starts tattooing.

    2. The prep: The artist takes out his or her tools and pours the ink. Make sure you watch the needle being unpacked from a sterile package and that the ink being used is new. Check every time the artist changes color to make sure that every drop is new ink. Make sure the artist uses surgical gloves the whole time.

    3. The outline: This is by far the most painful part of the tattoo. The amount of pain you feel will depend on the sensitivity of the skin being worked on, the underlying skeletal structure and your personal threshold for pain. Most people compare the sensation to a cat scratch, although it can vary widely. Over bone, the needle may cause the muscle to ache dully. Over sensitive areas, the sensation is often tiny intermittent shocks (like static electricity). Over less-sensitive areas, the needle may feel like a blunt toothpick being dragged over the skin. People with a singular fear of needles shouldn't have any problems. (It's nothing like a shot.)

    Note: Pain-numbing endorphins produced by the body should kick in after about 15 to 30 minutes. Unfortunately, they only last for a couple of hours at the most. After that, the skin has swollen so much that it doesn't matter. So enjoy the endorphins while you can.

    4. The shading: This portion is much less painful than the single-needle outlines. When the outline is allowed to heal before shading is applied, the needle sensation can be a pleasant buzzing. As long as the entire outline is completed, shading can be done at any time. So if you've had all you can stand, take a couple days off.

    5. The Bandaging: The tattoo will be cleaned with disinfectant and the excess ink and blood (Yes, it will bleed, but only about as much as a paper cut of that size would.) is wiped off. This will sting like crazy. Then antibiotic ointment of some sort will be applied. This is a good time to check out how cool your new tattoo looks. Then a bandage or sheet of plastic wrap will be stretched over the tattoo and taped down. Only after it is securely fastened should you pull your clothes back over the area.

    6. The healing process: Right after the tattoo is bandaged, it will start to get sore and stiff. This should continue for the rest of the day. If the tattoo is large or very detailed, your system may go into shock soon afterward. After all, your body's very busy dealing with this new injury. Take it easy, eat something and maybe take a nap. Keep yourself hydrated. Don't take the plastic off for an hour or two. When you do, follow TO THE LETTER the instructions given to you by the artist. If you don't, your tattoo could fade, scar or become infected. Don't take chances - you don't want to have to have it re-done.

    7. Retouching: See if your tattoo artist offers free retouching. Often, slight imperfections in the dye application appear only after the tattoo heals. If retouching is free, take advantage of it. Your tattoo should look the best it can.

Other notes:

    Remember to breathe. Holding your breath intensifies the pain, and hyperventilating causes you to pass out. Sing if you have to - just remember to breathe.

    Arrive early if you can. Give yourself a chance to get acquainted with your surroundings. Go to the bathroom if you have to.

    Remember: You are not under contract for anything. If you don't like something, don't do it. If you get uncomfortable, you can always leave. Don't let anyone pressure you - this is your body.

    Always ask people with tattoos to recommend a place. Go to places where people had good experiences.

    Preserve your sense of humor. The more you can laugh about it, the better your experience will be.

    Take your time. This is a lifelong addition to yourself. It is not something to be done on a whim or because your friends have tattoos. Every tattoo should be a well-considered personal choice.

    Think twice before getting your boyfriend or girlfriend's name tattooed anywhere. Tattoo artists cover up 50 percent of the names clients have done. Those aren't good odds.

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