Firsts are always memorable, and your first tattoo is no different. Think about your first piercing or the first time you had a professional do your hair/nails/makeup. Its kind of like that, only times 1,000 because its usually pretty permanent.Thats why doing your homework to make sure youre prepared for the occasion is so important. Remember, youre putting a piece of art on your body thats going to be with you for a long time. Thats worth more than a few minutes of serious thought.INSIDER rounded up all of the things you need to know before getting your first piece of tattooed art.Don't make any tattoo decisions lightly.Its best to think long and hard about what design you want to get before you sit in that chair. A beautiful design can bring you joy forever, but youd better be extremely sure about putting any persons name on your body. Youll probably love your mom and your kids forever but think twice about inking the name of anyone else. Cover-up tattoos are a thing for a reason. Tattoo removal can be done as wellbut it can also be expensive and painful. Wouldnt you rather take the time now to carefully decide on a design that you know will delight you for years to come'Research, research, research.Ask your friend with the ink you love who their artist is and how to contact them. Or try scoping out tattoo artists whose work truly moves you on Instagram to get a feel for what you want.Tattoo artist Horitomo of State of Grace Tattoo in San Jose, CA told INSIDER that people should always come armed with a few basic questions:"Is the style of the artist and the tattoo compatible with each other' Meaning, is that something the artist is willing to take on' How does he/she work' Are there any deposits required' What is the cancellation policy'"In-demand artists will be booked for months, so the sooner you figure out who youd like to ink you, the better.A talented tattoo artist will listen to your description of what you want, then propose a design before setting your appointment(s). Do enough research beforehand that you know you love that artists interpretations. Both you and your tattoo artist will be happy, and your design will be exactly what you want. Please note: Elaborate and/or very large designs will likely take more than one session, so plan accordingly.Make sure both your tattoo artist and the shop have your safety in mind.Different states have different requirements for tattoo artists. Some require individual artists to have licenses, while others only require that shops be licensed by the local health department. States may or may not require that tattoo artists pass a bloodborne pathogens training certification, as well. Some cities, such as New York City, might have requirements of their ownon top of any state requirements.Besides checking that any shop youre considering complies with local laws, you should also take a good look at the facilities themselves. Are they sparkling clean and full of non-porous surfaces' You want a place with good sanitation, where your artist unwraps new, single-use needles in front of you and prepares fresh ink that hasnt been used before. Remember, a new tattoo is essentially a very beautiful open wound."A porous surface, like rock and marble, would not be something that your tattoo station should be made of. It should be stainless steel, or [another] sterilizable material,"celebrity tattoo artist Bang Bang McCurdy told Seventeen.See the rest of the story at Business Insider
Click here to read full news..
