Getting Your First Tattoo

Once you've decided that you're gonna get inked, you need to decide on design, location & size.

Remember, a tattoo is for life, you're still gonna have this when you're 30, 40, 50 and older. So choosing a cute design is all very well, but you may well regret your choice of the latest fad, that'll be forgotten in a couple of years time.

This is probably why women are choosing classic designs & symbols with some meaning, as these will continue to have appeal once the initial fun has worn off.

Wondering how old you must be to get a tattoo? That'll depend where you live - in the UK it's 18, whereas, depending what state you live in, in the USA, it's anything from 18-21, with three states having no minimum age at all. You may be able to get a tatoo under those ages if you have parental consent.

Choosing A Design

With the big decision to get a tattoo made, your next decision is which design to choose.

Many girls choose a small design for their first tattoo - though if you've been thinking about what you want for months and are positive, then go for whatever is on your mind. As with all works of art, body art is a truly personal choice & preference.

You may wish to design your tattoo yourself, which you can do for free, then get the parlor to work it up into a flash . This makes it possible to interpret and work with more than one design or add lettering for a truly personalised unique image.

Bear in mind, as you've probably seen how badly some tattoo removals can look, the possibility that one day you may need a cover up design.

Here's a few pictures of girls tattoos to give you an idea of the range of styles & designs:-

Tribal design on shoulder	Butterfly design on lower back	Floral body art on back

Once you've chosen something, live with it for a week or two, if it's right you'll still love it - if not, you've had time to change your mind and opt for something that you'll appreciate in a more lasting way.

Just Where Are You Gonna Get Tattooed ?

This is something that's down to personal preference but may also be influenced by your job.

Not everyone wants their tatt on show when they're working - in which case, a shoulder, stomach, lower back, between the shoulder blades, breasts or buttocks, even a toe tattoo could work for you.

The lowerback and stomach are ideal as you can cover them up at work but show them off on warm summer days!

If you really want to show off your body art, then how getting tattooed on your neck, wrist or arm ?

Remember also that the level of pain experienced in tattooing is related to the amount of padding that there is, so bony places or those where there's little fat covering will hurt more, so choose wisely!

Does Size Really Matter ?

Once you've chosen the design and the area of your body, then the actual size will almost take care of itself.  

Small tattoos - tend to be on the feet, hands, neck, toe & wrist

Large designs - perfect for the shoulders, arms, lower or full back, also full sleeve, which is traditionally worn by men 

If you want something that's currently a small cute flash on an area traditionally reserved for large designs, then work with your tattoo artist to create something that is just perfect for you.

What To Expect From Your Tattoo Artist or Parlor

Wondering, does it hurt?  A word of warning, have you seen any of those T-shirts for tattooed men & women that say "Yes, it hurts!" on them - that's your simple answer to the question you wanna ask, but aren't sure whether you oughta ask it.

You'll probably need to make an advance appointment with any good artist - especially if you want them to create a customised flash for you. 

When you arrive, you'll be welcomed in and shown the flash they've created or check the design that you've chosen.

The artist will be using different needles for outline & color - initially you may not feel much discomfort, though later or afterwards you may experience a light burning sensation, like sunburn.

There'll be plenty of opportunity to chat while they're working, finding out some of their stories and they may want to hear some of yours too.

Once they're finished, the process is only part way through - you need to be really careful with the after care for the next few weeks to ensure that the design doesn't get messed up and that your skin stays in good condition.   Make sure you know what you need to do to care for your new tattoo - what creams you need and what hygiene you need to follow.

You'll also need to avoid swimming pools with chlorine for a while too as this can also have a bad effect on new tattoos.

Finally, be prepared to answer those people who ask why did you get a tattoo and what does it mean? There may even be some people who'll find it a little strange, but the reality is that they're the ones behind the times - after all, what celebrity do you know who doesn't have ink somewhere on their body?

Recommended Resources

Cool Back Tattoos - the hottest flash for lower & mid back 

Floral Designs - inspiration from nature, with chinese, japanese, cherry blossom, orchids & roses