So my longtime dream of getting a permanent tattoo finally comes true. Before I got inked, several people tried to scare and mislead me out of it and so I decided to create a document that will help people who want to get a tattoo but are afraid to go forward with their plan because of various misconceptions and fears that they presently have.
There are 3 ways of getting the perfect tattoo. Research, research and more research. Boring as it sounds, only proper research can ensure that you have a tattoo that you will cherish for a lifetime. Given below is a highly personalized experience of me getting inked for the first time.
The first and most important step to getting a tattoo is deciding on the design. Do not choose a design just because it is jazzy or in fashion. It is highly likely that you will soon get bored of it and remember that tattoo removal will not only cost you a fortune but even the best laser tattoo removal process cannot erase a tattoo completely.
So how did I decide on my design? After I found a design that I liked, I asked myself 3 questions-
1. Does this tattoo mean anything to me?
The only way to ensure that you don't get bored with your design is to make sure that it means something to you and its importance will not decrease over time.
2. Will this design suit me in all possible attire?
I imagined myself in casuals, formals, ethnic and all sorts of clothes with the tattoo on my skin.
3. Will I like it even after 40 years?
I imagined myself, a woman of 65 years, taking a walk in the park holding hands of her grandchildren and has a tattoo on her skin.
Only when the answer to all these questions were in affirmative, did I sanction this design.
The second part of the procedure is choosing the right artist.
Do not tattoo yourself. Do not let a inexperienced friend experiment his newly bought tattoo kit on you. Ask for the tattoo artist's portfolio. Study his work closely. Are the lines smooth or jagged? Are the circles round or are they oval? If the online pictures are not clear visit his parlor and ask to see HD photographs. This link might be of some help:
http://tattooartistmagazineblog.com/2011/08/11/guen-douglas-how-to-properly-examine-a-tattoo-portfolio/
Remember that you will be stuck with his art for the rest of your life so do not hesitate to ask for clarifications on any doubt that you have.
Visit the tattoo shop once before the D-day because you don't want any undue surprises. Ensure that all apparatus is sterilized and the place is clean. It is better to get inked in a tattoo shop and not at a friend's place because although the former is more expensive, it follows the health standards set down by the government and you are not at risk of getting infected by deadly diseases just to save a little money. If you see a dirty tattoo shop that doesn't seem to care much for hygiene, turn around and run and don't look back again. Ever.
I got inked at Lizard's Skin Tattoos and I chose them after a good amount of research through portfolios, customer reviews and peer recommendation.
On the day of getting inked, make sure the part of your body that will adorn your much-awaited tattoo is washed and clean-shaven. It is important to be mentally prepared before the process. What I did was read up online about the tattoo procedure as much as I could. Remember: the more you know, the less afraid you will be. Of all the videos I watched, this was the most helpful:
http://9gag.tv/p/a5dEl6/watching-a-tattoo-needle-in-slow-motion-reveals-the-physics-of-getting-inked?ref=fbl9
Almost all the people who have seen my tattoo asked me this one basic question, "Did it hurt?"
The answer is pretty straightforward. Yes, it did.
And this is the biggest reason why choosing a design that means something to you is so vital. The design you choose must be important enough for you to go through all the pain.
Another popular question is "How much did it hurt?"
Now this is a tricky question because each of us has a different level of endurance of pain. I have seen big, sturdy men groaning in pain while getting a tattoo and I have also seen young girls smiling their way through the process. I am blessed with a good level of pain endurance so I got through the session without wincing a muscle but if you are not so fortunate as I am, you might consider getting inked at a body part that is less painful. Here's a picture that I found on Pinterest that can guide you:
The procedure of getting my tattoo was like this: First, I had to sign a legal document stating-
1. I am not under any prescriptive drugs/alcohol.
2. I am not diabetic.
3.I am not carrying any communicable disease.
4. I am not pregnant.
I was also asked to check that the apparatus that were going to be used for the tattooing process are properly sterilized (processed with ethylene oxide) and have not crossed their date of expiry.
The artist then sketched the design on carbon paper and placed the stencil firmly on my skin with the help of glue. This is how it looked:
The artist then started to fill ink along the lines till the final design emerged beautifully and then sent me home with my arm wrapped in plastic.
Now that the tattoo is done and you are beaming with happiness and can't wait to flaunt its pictures online, hold on! Your tattoo experience has just begun.
The real test of getting inked starts after the inking process has ended. Your tattoo artist will guide you about the elaborate rules and regulations regarding the tattoo after-care. The newly formed tattoo is nothing but a good looking scar and the real tattoo- the one you will be carrying for the rest of your life, is the one that will be left on your skin after the healing process. So you must follow your artist's guidelines strictly so that all this pain that you underwent may not go in vain. Do not go for after-care instructions written online. Do not listen to your friend who has 5 tattoos. Your artist is your only friend when it comes to the taking care of your tattoo.
The after-care that my artist suggested is:
1. Keep the plastic wrap on for about 12 hours.
2. On removal of the wrap (which must be done very carefully) wash the tattoo with Dettol anti-bacterial soap and lukewarm water. Do not bring the soap in direct contact with the skin. Rub the soap in your hands and with the lather formed, gently remove any leaking ink and blood particles that have oozed out till the tattoo becomes matte and the initial shine disappears.
3. Do not pour water on the tattoo until it heals completely. Pat off any water that comes in contact with it with a soft towel/ tissue paper.
4. Apply 2-3 drops of Johnson & Johnson baby lotion on the tattoo not more than 4 times a day.
5. When it itches, do not scratch. Slap the skin repeatedly till the itch subsides.
6. Do not wear clothes that rub against the tattoo. Let it breathe.
7. Refrain from eating sour food for about a week.
8. Do not put cosmetic products on the tattoo including hair-removal cremes and wax.
The tattoo will go through an elaborate healing process- it will scab, the scabs will fall off, there will be gray and shiny scale-like skin, the skin will flake and there will be several other stages before the final tattoo is formed. So one should not judge a tattoo before at least 1 month has surpassed.
Here are a few pictures of how my tattoo evolved over time. Notice how the scabs formed, then fell off and healed slowly.
I hope this note of mine will solve some of the doubts and queries that people have about getting tattoos. Thanks for reading this!
P.S. Here's a picture of mine with the artist (on the left) Dipjyoti Paul.
