What to do (and not to do) before your first tattoo

“For me, tattoos are like a timeline of my life. When I watch one, I immediately remember why I did it and when I decided to do it,” says rapper Tyga. “I am a canvas of my experiences. My story is etched in lines and shadows, and you can read it on my arms, legs, shoulders and abdomen,” adds Kat Von D, tattoo artist and TV host.

There are many more. “Usually I get tattooed at the good times in life. A tattoo is a permanent reminder of self-discovery or a conclusion you’ve come to,” says actress and director Angelina Jolie. “Tattoos exude both pain and pleasure,” the late Linkin Park singer Chester Benington once said.

Just as there are countless beautiful and inspiring phrases regarding the beauty and symbolism of tattooing, there are also a good number of entirely reasonable arguments as to why it might not be such a good idea to draw the dermis – the layer of skin that is under the epidermis — permanently inked.

For the millions of people around the world who, right now, look happy, excited and maybe a little shaky at the new tattoo they just got, there are also many who are going into the clinics undergo very expensive and painful erasing processes tattoos .

It is impossible to know this date exactly, but it is likely that for every tattoo that is done on the planet, a tattoo is done at the same time. blastover Is Cover, two ways to “fix” a tattoo that a person is unhappy with or regrets. In simple terms, blastover consists of making a tattoo on top of another, using elements from the first design that are supplemented by the new design. the Coveron the other hand, consists directly of making a new tattoo over the one you no longer want or which is too old.

The fact is that the naughty and elusive balance of being satisfied with every tattoo worn is very difficult to achieve, almost as unlikely as the millions of symbols. Yin-Yang made in the 90s and today, for the most part, live under new, cooler tattoos and less cringe.

What to know, or at least consider, when crossing the threshold between being a person keen and a tattooed person? Is there such a threshold? Is there a way back? What are the things that irritate tattoo artists and should you avoid doing them?

We consulted three people with extensive experience in the world of tattoo so that they reveal their secrets to us and tell us little things about which tattoo artists usually remain silent.

We said it: the reasons to get a tattoo are impossible to list, but so are the reasons not to. But the desire to draw can range from very deep things, like a religious idea or symbol, to more mundane things, like a cartoon that you find funny. The truth is, for these purposes, it doesn’t matter.

Some studies that have been made in this regard show that for many people tattooing helps them to feel safer, more attractive and to prove to themselves that they can cope with painful processes. Others simply love it, from its looks to the art and culture associated with it.

The likelihood, yes, that your first tattoo will be a one-way street to several others is high. Although this is something of a myth — there is no literature associated with tattoo addiction — two things are certain: when the body receives the impact of the machine and feels how it produces this beautiful colored wound — the one that hurts enough, let’s not let anyone tell you the opposite…, the brain releases a significant amount of adrenaline and endorphins. This high, like sport, can indeed become addictive.

Or maybe you just love it. May the ritual of choosing an image, finding a place to place it on your body, talking to your tattoo artist, and submitting to pain do you good. If you have the time, the means, and it doesn’t interfere too much with your life, what’s the problem?

What I mean is that what you want to get tattooed and why is up to you as much as the very body you are going to be working on. However, there are some things that are best kept in mind.

“The most common mistake I see in people is that they are looking for a good price. They want something cheap and after a few years they start thinking about how to cover these things,” says Mauricio Vargas , better known as Mephisto tattoo artist since 1991.

In the same vein, he believes that it is important to position oneself in relation to expectations. “Sometimes people come up with ultra-detailed photo realism, European tattoos done on completely different skin in the first place, and designs that cost thousands of dollars. But they want to hopefully pay a hundred lucas,” Mephisto says laughing.

“Impulsivity is a bad guide.” The phrase, which serves both for life and for tattoos, says so Jose Tomas Buitron tattoo artist since 2015.

“A lot of people want to get things tattooed to show off, but later regret it.” He advises to think carefully not only about what you want to do in particular and where – undoubtedly very important points – but also what is the visual, aesthetic and cultural style that suits you best. “Knowing this lets us know which artist is the most appropriate,” he says.

Bea Others He has been tattooing since 2016 and feels that the most important thing is to know the work of the tattoo artist beforehand, to look at the things he has done and to make sure that the studio is suitable in terms of hygiene, tools and materials, which must be sterilized and disposable.

“On the other hand, he adds, it’s important to know what you really want to get tattooed. If that 100% security is not there, the likelihood of regret and future cover-up is high,” he warns.

Regarding the styles, Mefisto specifies that “there are two well-defined styles: the classics and the new ones. Among the classics are the American, Japanese and Tribal traditionals, which are Polynesian. The most recent are black and gray, realism and new school”.

“Currently, the 90s, the tribal, the cartoons, ignorant , pointillism or more delicate things, which look cooler. But the tradition is something you always see quite a bit in the world of tattoo artists,” says Buitrón.

Mefisto proposes to bet on clear and not far-fetched ideas. “Too much creativity can play tricks on you,” he says.

You are already there, about to receive this exquisite injection of pain and color. What to do and what things should you avoid doing?

Mephisto is adamant. He believes it is essential to be on time, without rushing. And never on an empty stomach, it is important to have eaten a few hours before. “It’s also good not to use marijuana or alcohol beforehand, as it can cause healing problems or cause low blood pressure. Under the influence of other drugs, without counting: there, I decline gently, ”he says.

Tattoo artists are quite similar to a or a psychologist. At least in the listening part of the “patient”. “There are people who are happy with the birth of their son and who want to get a tattoo. Another does it because she is going through a duel. Some because they are in love and others because they have been betrayed,” says Mefisto.

José Tomás has other advice, in addition to agreeing that it is strongly recommended not to do it on an empty stomach or while intoxicated. “I think it’s good to avoid asking the tattoo artist for personal things, sometimes that’s not the case. About tattoos yes, whatever you want. Another thing that’s ugly and boring , these are the people who start to say bad things about other tattoo artists,” he says.

Regarding the company, it is variable, but it all depends on the patience of the person who will accompany you. If she has little, or the tattoos give her as much nerve as watching a colonoscopy, it can make her uncomfortable, an energy that will inevitably run through you. For this reason, Bea advises attending alone. He also doesn’t recommend going with boys or girls, because they’ll probably get bored and it will cause anxiety for them, for you and for the tattoo artist, which goes against the tranquility that the process requires.

The machine turns off. They pass you a paper towel with water and green soap, and the feeling is fresh and simply spectacular. However, the process is not complete. In fact, we can only say that you are halfway there.

“The biggest mistake is not taking care of your tattoo. This is serious because sometimes people want to get a tattoo, see it as soon as possible and skip the healing. But this step is very important, for a reason it has its time”, explains José Tomás.

“Like impulsiveness, anxiety is a bad companion,” he says patiently. “There is a very common mistake and that is wanting to relax quickly,” he says.

“Care is very important. In this sense, you must always pay attention, and literally, to what your tattoo artist advises you. They will know which treatment is best for your skin and the tattoo they have done for you. Today, there are patches and creams that are very effective in terms of wound healing,” explains Bea.

These new patches can be used for as long as the tattoo heals, so you don’t have to constantly change it like with conventional plastic wrap. There are places, yes, where this method is still used. As Bea says, every artist knows how to take care of their work, so it’s important to be obedient.

Among the creams that exist today and which have supplanted the old Bepanthol —which, according to Mefisto, dulls the colors—, he recommends several: Vital Tone, Pro Tatto or Matikomp. You can find a complete guide to tattoo care here.

“Today there are even vegan products for self-care, but I recommend Eucerin Aquaphor cream. When it comes to patches, a lot of advancements have been made in products that help with scarring and at the same time keep it away from the rubbing of clothing. The most important thing is that after removing the patch, you should wash the tattoo about three times a day, always applying cream at the end,” concludes Jose Tomás.

*Prices for products in this item are updated as of May 25, 2022. Values ​​and availability may change.