6 Tips – A beginner’s guide to inking!

Planning to get inked, but wary of the process? Yo! Vizag has a few tips and guidelines for the tattoo virgins out there.

#1 A good tattoo artist

Finding a good tattoo artist is half the job done, so search for a reputed tattoo artist, preferably recommended. Hygiene, skill of the artist and the ability to create the tattoo of your dreams is worth the expense, especially since you are altering your body for life! Just as you would search for the best surgeon, ask around for the best tattoo artist.

#2 Avoid haggling

Keeping the equipment clean and sterile costs money, so when you’ve chosen a good tattoo artist, avoid bargaining.

#3 The design

The design that you’ll carry for a long time to come is important, so choose it wisely, along with what body-part it will adorn and the health aspects. Start small. If unsure, opt for a small tattoo in a comparatively obscure part of your body, give yourself a chance to learn the process, how your skin takes ink, and how your body heals.

#4 Tattoos hurt

Yes, permanent tattoos do hurt, but just a little. The more confident and relaxed you are, the lesser is the pain you’ll feel. In fact, the pain is actually relative and also depends on the skill of the tattoo artist.

#5 Avoid

Names of lovers and anniversaries; what seems perfect now can be a painful reminder later. Be 100% sure that you can stand behind your choice of the tattoo for the rest of your life. Give yourself some time to be sure you are happy with the choices — design, placement, artist. Also avoid direct sunlight on your tattoo during the healing process. Tattoo ink is made up of pigments that can fade easily when exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Give your tattoo a chance to set in and heal by covering it up till then.

#6 Ignore

Ignore the rest of the world – you are the one who has to live with the tattoo of your choice for the rest of your life. So if you want it for yourself, indulge!