4 Things to Consider Before Getting a Tattoo

There’s no denying that tattoos are pretty trendy these days. And it’s not hard to see why: they can liven things up, allow people to show off their personality, and we’ll be darned if they don’t also look pretty good too. But of course, part of the appeal of tattoos is that not everybody has one. They are exclusive. And for this reason, there’s much to consider before getting one yourself. Below, we take a look at a number of the key considerations to mull over before getting inked.

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Whether You Can Handle The Pain

It’s highly likely that you’ve never intentionally subjected yourself to pain, but that’s just what you’ll be doing when you get a tattoo. There’s no pain-free way to get ink onto your skin, after all. If you’re planning anything bigger than an inch, then you’ll want to think about the pain aspect. Even some of the toughest people around have made comments about the pain they experienced when they were getting their tattoo. The pain won’t last forever, but it is something that you’ll have to endure when you’re actually getting the tattoo. 

What’s the Design?

There’s some pretty good advice about how you should decide what the design of your tattoo will be. They say that you should hang the design up on your wall, and if you’re not sick of it after six months (or longer), then you’ll know that it’s the right option. At the very least, be sure not to jump into anything -- an idea needs space to breathe. You can’t come up with an idea and then put it into practice straightaway. Well, you can, but you’ll be greatly increasing the chance that you end up regretting it. Remember: your tattoo will be forever!

A Reputable Tattoo Artist

Just as with any other profession, there are good and bad tattoo artists. Unlike other professions, it’s greatly important that you pick a talented artist who really knows what they’re doing. There are good and bad chefs, but the only thing you’ll end up with if you choose a bad one is a bad meal. If you pick a bad tattoo artist, you’ll be wearing their lack of talent on your body for the rest of your life. Get recommendations, and ask to see their previous work. As well as their artistic talents, look at their professionalism. Do they use a high-quality needle cleaner? Does it look like they are running a professional operation? Don’t have any doubts. This isn’t something that you want to take any chances with!

The Right Time

You’ll also want to pick the right time to get your tattoo. Your tattoo will need care once it has been put on your body, so it’s best to choose a period when you don’t have much on (and especially nothing that could knock your tattoo). Because new tattoos can be vulnerable to sunlight, you may want to consider getting it during the winter months -- which is also an especially good time to lay low.