Tattoos - What you should know before you get inked
Are you thinking about getting tattoos? I got the first of my six tattoos nearly seventeen years ago at the age of nineteen. It was something that my best friend and I discussed for quite a while. Finally, one day, out of boredom, we decided to go for it. We went to the local tattoo artist with another friend in tow and got our first tattoos. We had heard horror stories about the pain, which at the time I thought were highly overrated. My friend made me go first, and the pain was nothing like I imagined it would be. The first of my tattoos is a rose and heart on my right shoulder.
At the time that I got my first tattoo, I didn’t know that much about it. So how exactly do you get tattoos? Someone who is not familiar with the world of tattooing may not realize that needles are used to inject ink into the second layer of skin. These needles are contained in an electrically powered instrument, which makes a somewhat irritating buzzing noise. I think this noise makes the pain worse than what it is actually is. A single needle is used to do the outline of your design.
It is important to give your tattoos the proper care. You should keep your tattoo clean and moisturized until it has completely healed. A “fresh” tattoo will bleed so you should keep it covered overnight with a gauze pad for the first night. Wash the tattoo with antibacterial soap, rinse and dry. Do not use alcohol or anything that will dry out the tattoo. Apply a coat of antibiotic ointment such as Bacetracin or Neosporin at least three times a day. Do not apply Vaseline. The scab should stay soft and not get hard. Your tattoo will itch, but avoid the temptation to scratch. Within ten days, your tattoo should stop feeling tender and you can stop applying the ointment. For the next two weeks apply a gentle, perfume-free lotion. Stay out of direct sunlight, and always use sunscreen of at least 30 SPF. During the time that your tattoo is healing, do not swim in a pool or use a hot tub.
There are millions of designs for tattoos out there on the Internet and at tattoo shops. A lot of people choose designs that have personal meaning, others are just for fun. Some people create their own art to use as a design. This is something you will live with for the rest of your life (unless you choose to have it removed) so choosing the right design is important. However, even more important than choosing a design is choosing a tattoo artist. It is important to use an artist who is sterile and clean. Getting tattoos from artists who are not use sterile equipment could cause you to contract Hepatitis C. Some artists will actually come to your home and do parties. My husband and I have done this a couple of times. Simply schedule the artist to come, they set up their equipment, you invite friends who want tattoos, and the artist goes to work.
I’m not quite sure if I’m done getting tattoos, but I can’t imagine not having them. They have been on my body and a part of me for so long, I don’t give them a second thought. If you are thinking of adding color to your life and making tattoos part of you, consider all the factors before you get inked.