Planning to get a tattoo? There are many things that you must carefully consider first before getting a tattoo. To help you make the right decision and save yourself from unnecessary pain, we have come up with few things to do before getting a tattoo.
Getting a tattoo is an important decision in one’s life. Tattoos have important meanings for people getting them, and they are imprinted on your skin forever. You certainly do not want to end up with a tattoo which you will end up regretting in the future. Therefore, you need to thoroughly think about it before getting one, two, or as many as you want.
Things to Do Before Getting a Tattoo
Pain- Getting inked is a painful procedure. Anyone who says the opposite is misleading you. The process is basically about needles piercing your skin to embed the ink. The more complex design you select, the more pain you will experience. The position of the tattoo is an important factor as far as pain is concerned. So, if you have a disliking towards blood or needles, or you cannot handle much pain, then it is always better to think twice before going for it.
Design- Do not choose any random tattoo design. The tattoo artist will show you many tattoo designs but choose after doing your research. You can check different tattoo ideas on the internet and choose one that suits your requirement and choice. You can even get a tattoo artist who can help you to choose the best tattoo.
It is seen that people most of the time go for meaningful tattoo designs. Like names of loved ones, Bible verses, personal mantras, and symbols that symbolize their lives. But it is not mandatory to go the meaningful route. The most important thing is to go choose a tattoo design that you will not regret later or will not be ashamed of having it on the body.
In short, choose one you can be proud of. No matter if it is a copied design. Let us admit it, there are good designs that already exist on other people’s skins, easily available on Google. So, if you find an already tattooed design that you like, go for it. If you want, you can even ask the artist to do some sort of customizations to make it look slightly different.
Still, whenever possible, go for a real and more personal design. It does not have to make any sense to others. It is meaningful for you, then do not think about any other options. Again, do not be scared to ask artists for suggestions when it comes to tattoo designs. They will be more than happy to help you out.
Placing of the tattoo- One of the important things to do before getting a tattoo is to decide the location. There are individual designs that are best suited for certain gender and specific parts of the body, like tattoos for girls, wrist tattoos, tattoos for women, tattoos for men, etc. The size of the tattoo design plays a significant role in determining the place of the tattoo. For example, a landscape looks better on the upper back, whereas a portrait of someone will look beautiful on the chest.
If you want to keep your tattoo personal and do not want relatives to ask you questions during different family functions, then get inked in areas that are usually covered in clothes. In the meantime, if you want everyone to see and admire your tattoos, ensure to have them on the visible areas like arms, wrists, etc. Most significantly, various areas induce various levels of pain. Generally, getting a tattoo in an area with fat or muscle will be less painful compared to bony areas.
Skin sensitivities- Another one in the list of things to do before getting a tattoo is to check whether you have any kind of skin allergies or not. If you have any kind of skin allergies, no matter how small it is, make sure you consult a doctor before getting a tattoo. You never know how your skin will react to being drilled with so many needles and having chemicals inserted into your skin. If your doctor says no, but still you want to do a tattoo, then you should take full responsibility if anything goes wrong.
There can be various allergic reactions to tattoos. Some produce minor itchiness or skin irritation. Some can even cause swelling and rashes. It can also cause small lumps around the tattooed area. Even if you do not have a history of skin diseases, it would be better to pay attention to find out how your body reacts while getting inked. Stop as soon as you feel something odd. And, if necessary, do not hesitate to change your mind.
What to eat and drink before and after your Tattoo appointment
When a tattoo is being done, several small needles pierce the skin. This can sometimes create unwanted bleeding. To avoid excessive bleeding and any kind of damage:
- Do not drink alcohol at least 24 to 48 hours before your session
- Do not consume coffee
- Do not take any pain relief medicine as such medicines can increase the bleeding
Increase consumption of foods that contain Vitamin C, like citrus fruits and sweet veggies, i.e. cauliflowers, broccoli, and sweet potato. This naturally occurring medicine from Mother Nature helps the body’s tissue repair and in the tissue recovery procedure. Drink a lot of fluids like:
- Soup
- Water
- Herbal teas
- Juices
It is important to keep your fluid levels high while you are getting a tattoo, as dehydration may increase the discomfort, cause headaches, and make you feel ill.
Do not skip your meal before doing a tattoo. Offer your body a lot of sustenance and fuel to last a good few hours on the tattoo table. Before the day you are getting tattooed, sleep well. Once your tattoo is done, consume as much garlic and onion as you can. Several naturalists believe that they help in healing as they have anti-microbial properties.
- Dairy products like cheese, milk, cream
- Sugar
- Processed foods
This is so because these foods can slow down the body’s healing procedure.
How to Prepare your Body for Getting Inked
During your tattoo making session, you are your artist are going to be getting up in each other’s personal space for a few hours. Make the effort to be a considerate and clean client. Do not be a stinking customer. So, before you go for a tattoo, make sure you:
- Brush your teeth
- Shower using soap
- Wear clean and fresh clothes
- Do not overdo perfumes, colognes, or deodorants
- Tie up your hair in a ponytail
- If your feet have a bad smell, do not take off your shoes
Aftercare is also important
One of the most common mistakes newly tattooed people do is they neglect aftercare. Many spend their time in flaunting it under the glare of the sun than caring about it. A tattoo is an open wound that needs proper aftercare to get it fully healed.
You must wash it several times a day using anti-bacterial soap, mainly an unscented one to avoid any kind of skin irritation. Daily, you must apply healing ointment and moisturizer on it.
These are some of the important things that artists tell their customers after getting a tattoo to ensure it heals the right way and looks perfect. If you think you all this aftercare is not possible from your end, then getting a tattoo is a bad idea for you.