How to Prepare Yourself For Your First Tattoo

If you’ve never had a tattoo before, it can be hard to imagine how it feels and how your body is going to react to the needles. How on earth can you prepare yourself properly for this nerve wracking procedure?

There are some simple steps to take to make sure that you’re adequately prepared for a tattoo- and that’s what we will be taking a look at today. In this post, we’ll be taking a look at the best ways to prepare yourself for your first tattoo.

Of course, it’s worth noting that every studio and artist will have different pre-tattoo and post-tattoo care solutions. This blog post is only our suggestions based on our own experiences; make sure you consult your artist before making any drastic choices.

Pick a studio that you’re comfortable with

To start off with, you’re going to want to make sure that you have a great studio to go to for your first tattoo. Don’t just opt for the closest studio or the cheapest one- make sure that you’ve found one that’s accommodating, friendly and experienced.

The best way to do this is to check out some reviews from other people. Have a look on social media or google, and see what other clients have been saying. This’ll be the best way to see whether the atmosphere and the staff are good, not just the art.

Make sure that you can get to and from the studio comfortably, if you need to travel to get there. Sure, it may be a nice hour walk there- but taking an hour walk back with a brand new leg tattoo may be less pleasant. Sort out any travel requirements before the day.

Get a consultation before booking

We’re always happy to do consultations, and we’d especially recommend getting one before your tattoo. Not only does this help sort out a great design, it also gives you the chance to meet your artist and ask any questions that you might have.

Perform any required pre-tattoo care

This will vary from artist to artist, and is another reason why consultations are so vital. If you’ve been asked to shave, moisturize or apply a cream before your tattoo, make sure you do it. Your artist will have their reasons.

On the flip side, if you haven’t been asked to do anything in particular, make sure you ask your artist anyway. This could make the process faster and more comfortable for you, and help to build up some rapport with your artist as well.

Make sure you eat and drink enough

You’d be surprised at how many people miss this step out. When artists tell you that you need to eat and drink a good amount before getting tattooed, we mean it.If you haven’t eaten or drunk anything, you’re going to have an uncomfortable time in most cases.

Getting tattooed does take a lot out of you, and your body is going to be burning a lot of energy. Not having any food or drink to fall back on means that you’re going to be running on empty quickly, and you run the risk of being in pain, feeling sick or even passing out.

We’d recommend bringing a snack or two with you, as well as a bottle of water. You’re going to want to keep your energy levels up throughout the day, and having something to eat immediately after is good too.

Don’t drink, do drugs or take painkillers

Now, when we say ‘drink before a tattoo’, please note that we mean water or soft drinks. Before you get your first tattoo, please make sure that you haven’t had alcohol, drugs or painkillers.

Drinking alcohol or doing drugs can make the process unpleasant for both you and your artist, and even result in you being sent home from the studio. Just try and picture tattooing a drunk person- they’d never sit still.

Painkillers aren’t a good idea either, as most standard painkillers are blood thinning and can make a tattoo much more unpleasant. If you’re really worried about the pain, send your artist a quick email and let them know this. Good artists will have effective pain control techniques to hand, and will help calm your nerves.

Wear something comfortable and practical

This is both for your comfort and for your artists. Make sure that you wear something that you’re going to be comfortable in, and able to wear in front of other people. Try to bring a hoodie or a jacket, just in case you get cold during your tattoo.

You’re also going to need to make sure that your clothes make the position of your desired tattoo accessible to your artist. If you’re going in for an upper thigh piece, there’s not much point in wearing skin tight jeans to your appointment.

Prepare any questions you might have

A final thing to remember is that there are no stupid questions when it comes to tattooing, especially if you’re getting your first tattoo.

If you’re worrying about anything or are uncomfortable, make sure to speak up and voice your concerns to your artist. Your comfort and safety always come first in a professional tattoo studio.

Why you should come to NYC Tattoo Shop to get your first tattoo

Here at NYC Tattoo Shop, we’re always honored to do people’s first tattoos. It’s such a great experience knowing that someone trusts you enough to do their first piece of ink, and we take every precaution to make sure that it’s as relaxing for people as possible.

If you’re looking to get your first tattoo, we’d be more than happy to help you out. Our experienced team cover a wealth of styles, and our studio is a great place to relax and learn more about the process.

Want to find out more about the tattoo process? Are you looking to find a great artist to work with? Feel free to take a look at our website to find out more, or get in touch with a member of our team today.