Never rush in! Your tattoo is a lifelong investment

Getting a new tattoo is exciting! But even if it's your first tattoo or 28th tattoo, never rush in. Trust me, I have and wished I had not.

 

1. DESIGN

Having a personal connection with your tattoo design should take precedence. Choose a design and style you Love! What may seem like a cool tattoo design now, may not feel or look so cool years later. And always take a long hard look to the future before tattooing anyone's name on your body. Unless it's family which may be ok.

Before visiting the tattoo shop or artist, always research your design ideas ahead of time. Your tattoo artist will greatly appreciate it if you provide them with as many design references as necessary. This will give your tattoo artist what they need to see your vision and create your custom tattoo.

 

2. PLACEMENT

Be confident about where you want your new tattoo inked onto your skin. Again, always think ahead and never rush in. Visibility could be an issue. Ask yourself, what you may be doing in 5-10 years for employment. Unfortunately, tattoo stigma is still relevant today as it was years ago. Anywhere that you can cover up should be fine.

On the day of getting inked, take time to approve its placement before the needle hits the skin. After your tattoo stencil is on your skin canvas, look in the mirror. Is it straight? Should it be higher or lower? Is it too big or too small for the area? If you're not happy, make sure to speak up.

If your artist resets the tattoo stencil placement, do not settle until you are 100% confident in how it will look. Remember it's your body, you make the final approval decision. And on that note, always consider the advice of your tattoo artist. You may think that the area for placement is best, but your tattoo artist from their extensive experience, may have some suggestions on a better placement on your body, based on the tattoo size and design. 

Also, consider the pain factor. Some areas of your body will be more painful than other areas. For some folks, this may be a detriment where they decide to get their tattoo. But in the end, the temporary discomfort is worth it. 

 

3. TATTOO SHOP

Finding the right tattoo shop and tattoo artist may take some time, never rush in.

When choosing a tattoo shop, reading their online reviews, and checking out their social media is always a great way to start your investigation. And if there's anyone you know that has tattoos you admire; get their feedback on the tattoo shop or artist they chose to ink their skin.

Now after you make your decision on a tattoo shop, always confirm their policies, including bookings, deposits, and cancellations. 

And never ever choose a tattoo shop based on how cheap the pricing is. Remember "you always get what you pay for"! If the deal sounds too good to be true, there's good reason.

Last but not least, make sure their tattoo shop looks clean. Tattoo shops should look and be as sterile as a hospital if not more, to ensure your health and safety for you, not leaving with an infected tattoo.

 

4. TATTOO ARTIST

If you don't have an artist, do your homework, which can be done from home by reviewing their social media accounts. There should be plenty of posts showing off their artistic skills.

You must find a tattoo artist who gets your style and wants to work with you. You also want to find a tattoo artist that does tattoo work that matches the style or tattoo idea you are looking for. Every tattoo artist will interpret your design idea differently. And some artists have a particular style that they prefer to do.

Here are some popular tattoo styles that you will want to consider:

Black & Grey

Traditional Old School

Tribal

Blackwork

Fine line

Chicano

Realism

Portrait 

Neo-Traditional

Dotwork

Abstract

Minimalist

Script & Lettering

Japanese

Watercolor 

New School 

 

After you find a shop and artist, next would be to schedule a consultation to meet them. Now, remember, they are tattooing you, so treat it like an interview.

Questions to ask yourself during the tattoo consultation:

• Is the artist polite, personable, and professional?
• Are they excited to work with you in doing your tattoo? Or does it seem like they have little interest and enthusiasm?
• Do they want to work with your design idea, or push you to create something different? A good tattoo artist will not rush you into choosing a design that you're not 100% comfortable with. Before the tattoo design is finalized, make sure that you are happy and that it's exactly what you want. Never settle, just for the sake of getting it done. Remember, speak up, it's your body and they are working for you.
• Are you comfortable in the shop, and with the tattoo artist? Do you feel rushed or pressured? If so, that could be a good sign to reschedule or find someone or somewhere else to get inked.
• How soon are they scheduling and booking appointments? You may find the perfect tattoo artist but be ready that most in-demand tattoo artists can be booked solid up for many months or even years.

 

5. TIMING

When planning to get a tattoo, you should consider the timing or scheduling. Post-recovery tattoo aftercare is very important for the longevity of how your tattoo will look. As per the above, the scheduled appointments available may not work best for you.

Consider the following points for timing when to get inked:

• Tattoo placement. What does this have to do with timing you ask? Everything has to do with post-tattoo recovery. Your work and personal schedules can be a factor that can hinder proper recovery. Will your new tattoo be exposed to the excessive sun during work or travel? Or unclean conditions in the workplace? Or would your tattoo need to be hidden for employment reasons?
• Will your new ink be on an area of your body like your back or chest, that you need to be uncovered for healing? One way around this would be if you applied an adhesive medical wrap like Saniderm.
• Do you have a job that requires excessive physical labor? Or can you miss going to the gym for a week or two depending on the tattoo placement?
• Are you feeling ill or have recently recovered from an illness? A fresh tattoo is an open wound, which places your immune system into overdrive. If you're recovering from any illness, reschedule until your immune system is 100%. The same if you're feeling under the weather even with a simple cold, before your appointment. Consider rescheduling until you are fully recovered.

Never rush in just because it's the only time you can schedule an appointment with your artist of choice. Your tattoo will thank you after it's healed.

 

6. TATTOO AFTERCARE

There are a lot of tattoo aftercare products that you can use for post-tattoo recovery. Some great, some good, and some not so good. Always read the ingredients and try to stay away from anything that has petrolatum, mineral oil, and any strong fragrances. You can learn more about these nasty ingredients in another blog 6 Things to never use on your tattoos.

When it comes to post-tattoo recovery, your artists should give you their instructions, but if they don't, make sure to ask. Because too many times I've seen people leave the shop, both unsure and guessing on how to best heal their new tattoo properly.

If you want to learn more about post-tattoo recovery, then read our 17 Best Aftercare Tips For Your New Tattoos blog that will help you. 

Now, if your artist recommends any tattoo aftercare products, remember to always read the ingredients list first before buying. There are a lot of tattoo artists recommending tattoo care products with questionable ingredients when they should be recommending much better and cleaner options.  

Choosing a high-quality aftercare product can make the world of a difference in how your tattoo recovers, and be safer for your skin and body. 

Over the years, I have tried and tested many different aftercare products, but in the end, Inked Ritual serum has healed my tattoos the quickest, while reducing, inflammation, irritation, infections, or itchiness. This is why we formulated this product so that my tattoos would heal better, faster and look awesome for years. 

 

Always make sure you have an aftercare product ready for when you come home after your tattoo session.

 

7. PRE TATTOO SKIN PREP

Last but not least, start a pre-tattoo skin preparation plan. This may be new for many people to consider. But the healthier your skin is before getting inked, it can make the world of a difference in the tattoo procedure and post-tattoo recovery. Healthy skin = bold vibrant tattoos for life.

The last thing you want to do is to get tattooed on dry dehydrated and unhealthy skin. Follow these simple tips at least 2-6 before your tattoo session, to get your skin healthy, strong, and ready for that new tattoo:

• Stay well hydrated. Drink a least 8 glasses of water daily.
• Cut back on all sugars and junk food. They wreak havoc on your immune system, which also takes a toll on your skin's health, and prematurely ages your skin.
• The same for alcohol. Reduce your alcohol consumption. Not only does alcohol run down your immunity, but it also prematurely ages and dehydrates your skin.
• Eat clean foods like vegetables, proteins, and essential fats.
• Boost your immune system by taking the following vitamins and antioxidants every day to prime your skin for faster post-tattoo recovery:

Vitamin-C, 2-15 grams

Vitamin-A, 1000 iu

Vitamin-E, 1200-1600 iu

Vitamin-D, 2000-10,000 iu

Zinc, 25-50 mg

NAC, 4-8 grams

Quercetin, 4-8 grams

 

BONUS TATTO AFTERCARE TIP:

Nourish your skin health from the outside in. Inked Ritual Serum is formulated with advanced bio-active ingredients like peptides and amino acids that nourish and rejuvenate your skin.

Before getting any more tattoos, I begin to apply some Inked Ritual Tattoo Serum 1-2 times daily on where my new tattoo is going. This preps your skin to be healthier for when the artists begin their work. This tattoo prep ritual starts at least a week before my tattoo session. 

Overall, for the best tattoo outcome, follow the above points and never rush in. The results of your finished and healed tattoo may not be what you wanted or expected.

I hate to admit that it took getting tattooed 6 times before I was wise enough to follow these tattoo recovery tips. Now 28 tattoos later and counting, I'm super confident in how all my new ink looks once fully healed, especially when using Inked Ritual Serum. 

And on that note, I think it's time to work on my next tattoo design!

Mike - founder