How to Mentally Prepare for Your First Tattoo

I always saw tattoos as pieces of art on a body canvas. However, as an indecisive individual, the idea of getting a tattoo was nerve-wracking. How cool would it be if I got one, I would think to myself. And yet the fear of permanence made the concept of getting a tattoo distant and nearly impossible. When I went to college I started expressing myself through my hair, my fashion, and my makeup. However, even at that point, I still had reservations. (SPOILER: I finally got one in case it wasn’t obvious and I’m going to talk about it because it makes me happy.) In today’s post, I will share some of my tips on how to mentally prepare for your first tattoo.

Allow Yourself Time

Allow yourself time to think about a tattoo. I took about 5 years to come to the decision of getting one and I’m grateful I did so because the design changed a lot. I went from wanting a heartbeat line (a reminder to keep going while I’m alive) to a pine tree (a dedication to my grandmother).

The waiting period increased my desire to get one. If you are still considering a tattoo after a while, that probably means that it’s something that you truly want.

Consider what you want, where you want it, and perhaps why you want it.

Know What You Want

Make sure you are set on a design. I felt a lot more comfortable when I was prepared ahead of time. I researched various designs online and finally found one that I completely fell in love with. The feeling was like finding the perfect dress to prom. Finding the exact design you want will make the process of getting one more thrilling and less anxious.

Know Your Placement

Another idea that took the stress off my shoulders was deciding where I wanted my tattoo ahead of time. Originally, I was thinking of having the tattoo on my right shoulder blade, but upon further deliberation, I realized that I didn’t want to crane my neck to look at it in the mirror. I wanted the pine tree to be somewhere where I could see every day, so I decided to put it on the inside of my right arm.

Other things to keep in mind:

• Placement can be sensitive when it comes to certain work environments. If it’s going to be an issue, you can choose to place it out of sight, where your clothes can cover it.
• When it comes to the beginning of the healing process, you may want to consider placement carefully. I.E. Keeping it out of the sunlight and not wearing any tight clothing over it.
• Pain tolerance. Do you have a high pain tolerance? If so, then you probably won’t have many restrictions on placement. If not, perhaps consider places that are known to be less painful, such as biceps and the back. Here’s an article with more details: https://www.tattoo.com/blog/10-least-painful-tattoos-placement/

Research

Look up tattoo artists, check out their portfolios, and see if your design falls in their repertoire. I think this is especially important if you are particular on what you want and your tattoo requires a lot of detail.

Research price ranges for tattoos. This varies from artist to artist, but it’ll help you get an idea of what your budget will look like.

I also recommend looking into the healing process, which is something I did not do. I knew the basics: don’t go swimming, keep it clean, moisturize. But it is way more meticulous than that. Getting familiar with the healing procedure will help you to mentally process the follow-up steps of maintaining your tattoo. It can be overwhelming, but it’s simply a temporary habit.

Here are some details of the healing procedure: https://www.inkdoneright.com/tattoo-aftercare/

Those are my tips on how to mentally prepare for your first tattoo. Honestly, as long as you are getting the tattoo for the right reasons: because it is something you love and cherish, you will be a-okay! Bring a friend to support you and a sense of confidence mixed with adventure!

If you have a tattoo or multiple tattoos, feel free to share your experiences or suggestions in the comments down below!

Good luck on your journey,

Harumi