First Tattoo: Five Things Every Beginner Should Consider Before Getting Inked

A minimal wanderlust quote on your ankle or a fiery dragon spread across your back, many of us have a tattoo fantasy that we have been dying to achieve. The desire is there, but for some or the other reasons, most of us are yet to take the plunge. It can be due to some obvious doubts that every beginner has, such as where should I get the tattoo? Will it pain a lot? How much will it cost? If these are the questions in your mind as well, it’s time that you receive answers from a professional. Hz spoke to a celebrity tattoo artist and founder of Body Canvas Tattoos, Vikas Malani and he is here to help you out.

“Good tattoos with good values can be a great reminder of the right virtues you want to keep with you. Just like your first-time bungee jumping or even a first date, your first tattoo will always hold a special place in your life. So, make sure that this first is just the beginning of many more tattoos to follow,” said Vikas. Now, if you have decided to take the plunge and get inked, he suggested starting your tattoo journey by considering these five things before you finally get your first tattoo:

Try The 6 Days Rule

Most of us have a vague idea of a tattoo design we want on our body, however, it is wise to wait rather than get a tattoo of the first design that pops in your head. “In my experience, if you really want a tattoo that will make you proud whether you’re 20 or 60 years old, think about a design for a few days and if you still feel the same way about it, get it inked,” advised Vikas, who has over a decade of inking experience.

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Find Your Mr /Miss Right Tattoo Artist

Do not randomly choose any artist and get inked. The key is to build rapport with your chosen artist and speak frankly about your design so that he/she can help you get the best version of your design. “Do not rely only on referrals, check out the artist’s portfolio for yourself on their website or social media handles. Some artist may be good at doing intricate big religious tattoos, but may not be able to do a small, dainty minimal tattoo. So, choose wisely according to your design,” said the celebrity tattoo artist.

A Good Tattoo Isn't Cheap, & A Cheap Tattoo Isn't Good

Just like all good things in life, a great piece of body art is not cheap and you should not expect it to be so either. While some artists charge according to the size of the art, some have a fixed price and others operate on vibes of their customers and may even give you a great discount or give you free touchups on the tattoo for life– everybody is different. So, do your homework, find your budget, and save accordingly.

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Patience, Patience & Some More

The pain will be the least of your concerns when getting inked. Everyone has a different pain threshold and so do your body parts. Most likely you'll feel the pain lesser after about 15 minutes. Also, tattoos take time, so it is advisable not to be in a hurry to get it over with. “Do not be afraid to ask your tattoo artist for short breaks in between. This will also give you time to check out your tattoo’s progress and suggest improvements if any,” said Vikas.

Be Ready For Post-Care Commitment

Once you’re all tatted up, the worst is over but you will still require a little more of your patience. As your gorgeous art heals, it will form very not-so-pretty scabs that will flake, itch, and will require lots of moisturising. So, “keep the area clean, do not pick on your scabs, or scratch it. In a week or two, you would be ready to flaunt your body art to the rest of the world,” concluded Vikas. And just like everybody with good skin says, drink lots of water to hydrate yourself.

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