After years of wanting to get inked, you have finally decided the time is right for your first tattoo. You are excited and maybe a little nervous, and that is a good thing. Everyone has heard the horror stories about regrettable ink, and a healthy respect for the process is exactly what leads to a tattoo you will love for life. The tips below walk you through what to do (and what to avoid) before your appointment so the whole experience is as enjoyable as it should be.

What should I know before getting my first tattoo?

Start by doing your research. Finding the right artist and the right style for the tattoo that suits you takes time, and that time is well spent. For a first piece, it makes sense to choose a design that is personally relevant to you. You want to be able to look down at it in years to come and still feel happy about what it means. Avoid chasing trends, and make sure your artist is creating a custom design just for you. Once you have a collection going, grabbing flash on a whim can be fun, but you will be happier in the long run if your first tattoo is genuinely meaningful.

Where should you put your first tattoo?

When you get new ink, you have to decide how visible you want it to be. Is it just for you, tucked somewhere hidden? Or do you want it on display? The important thing to remember is that you have to live with your tattoo and wear it in your daily environment. Even though tattoos are increasingly popular and accepted (almost three in ten Americans have tattoos), there are still some job stoppers. Plenty of successful professionals have full sleeves under their suits, but not everyone has the same freedom or job security.

Make sure your tattoo does not limit your career possibilities or change how people interact with you. For example, if you work as a nurse, a grim reaper on your forearm might not be ideal when you are caring for sick patients; a placement like the thigh or back could serve you better. A good artist can advise you on which part of your body suits a given design. There is also the pain factor to weigh, since some places on the body hurt more to get tattooed than others.

Do you love your artist’s work?

You should, and it matters more than almost anything else. Most Tattoo Artists use social media to promote their work, and Instagram is a great place to start your research. You want your tattoo done by someone genuinely invested in giving you a great result, so make sure you love their art and that it fits what you actually want. If you are obsessed with bold, thick lines and a graffiti street-art look, but the artist you are eyeing has a portfolio full of photo-realistic grey-shaded pet portraits, ask yourself whether someone else might be the better fit. Hashtags are your friend here.

What questions should you ask the tattoo artist?

Ask every question you can think of. The key to a good relationship with your Tattoo Artist is communication, and this is an important event for you. If the artist is unfriendly or acts as though tattooing you is a favour, take your skin and your money somewhere else. A good Tattoo Artist will happily talk through your idea, because they want to create work they are proud of and satisfied clients who recommend them to others.

Have you booked a consultation yet?

Nearly everyone is nervous the first time. A great way to calm those nerves is to book a consultation, meet the artist in person, and talk through the design you want. Here is how a good consultation tends to flow:

The deposit is worth understanding. Your artist is creating a unique piece based on your ideas, which takes real time and technical skill. Paying up front respects their talent and confirms you are committed, so they are glad to spend the hours refining it.

Take these tips to heart before your first appointment and you are on track for a memorable tattoo experience. Want to know how we understand so much about making tattooing a special experience? We have been training Tattoo Artists who excel at world-class customer service for years.