Things you should know before getting a new tattoo

Three years ago, I got my first set of tattoos (a wrist and hand tattoo). To be honest, I did not read much about it. I knew it would hurt and that was it.

It did hurt, not something I would not handle, but it did hurt!

I wish I knew:

The location of the tattoo affects the level of pain. My rib tattoo was more painful than my wrist tattoo. The most painful tattoos are in regions where there is naturally less body fat (ribcage, shoulder blade, ankles, collarbone), more nerve endings (armpit, groin), or extremities (toes, fingers, face, head).

The location also affects how often the retouch sessions should be. I got a tiny tattoo on my hand, (a love, life, cross tattoo,) it was so close to my palm that it kept fading. Tattoos in such locations, palms, and sores of the feet fade faster than those on the rib, chest, etc.

Your tattoo artist should be your friend. Okay, let me rephrase that, your tattoo artist should be warm and friendly. You will be sitting in pain for a couple of minutes, it helps if the person inflicting the pain is warm or funny. My rib tattoo took over an hour and I can attest it was easier since the artist was my friend. My sister, Bella, has 4 tattoos and she cosigns this, “getting a tattoo from someone you know makes it easy to ask questions and you won’t be afraid to ask for small breaks.”

The tattoo artist should be hygienic. Ensure the place is clean and they use new, fresh-of-the-paper, needles.

Although I am yet to use it, numbing cream exists. I prefer taking the pain as a champ. However, if I ever have a long tattoo session 3 hours plus, maybe then, I will consider numbing cream.

Before booking that appointment, have an idea of what you are looking for: do you want a small or large tattoo, what part of your body will you tattoo, is it a flower or a quote, and the amount of time you have. After, you will discuss the finer details with your tattoo artist.

As mentioned, I did not research before getting my hand and wrist tattoos. Therefore, I did not know that tattoos need aftercare. It becomes a tat when ink is injected into the skin. Meaning it leaves a wound, that would should be taken care of.

Tattoo aftercare includes:

Immediately after cover the area. After the tattoo appointment, the tattoo artist will cover this fresh wound. It is covered to prevent dirt and bacteria which slows down the healing process and would lead to infections.

Use a cleanser recommended by the artist. It should be unscented and gentle. Avoid soaps with alcohol, and fragrances as these can irritate the skin.

Do not rub. Do not exfoliate your skin. Avoid any form of friction on this part. Pat your skin dry after washing. Any form of friction could result in the ink falling out.

A couple of days after getting my tattoos, the area becomes itchy. When this happened, I used a thin layer of my artist’s recommended lotion or ointments. After the itchiness comes the flake and peel. This is normal, but do not exfoliate or pick it. Picking it would lead to your ink falling out thus ruining your art.

I think taking care of your tattoo is easy. If you choose a clean and hygienic artist, cover it, and do not rub on it, you will be good to go. However, sometimes these things go south. Watch out for the following:

• Burning sensation
• Swelling after the first few weeks
• Foul odor
• Yellow or green pus
• Warm and tender skin

In case they happen, call your tattoo artist ASAP.

Tattoo ink sacks

A tattoo ink sack is a build-up of ink-stained plasma fluid beneath the clear protective sheet (Saniderm) your tattoo artist applied. I did not experience this but my sister did. It looks like a big blister, but it is not. You should only be alarmed if the tattoo bleeds red when no red or pink ink.

Now, that you know what to expect, when will you be getting that new ink?

Looking to get a new piercing? Read the next article, Things I wish I knew before getting piercings.

Read: things you should do know getting a piercing