There are many forms of body decoration, including tattoos. More and more people are choosing this, often at a younger age. But you can’t just remove a tattoo, so what should you pay attention to before having it done?
- The design & its location on your body
- Finding a good tattoo artist
- The price
- How long does it take?
- The pain
- Preparations
- Aftercare
The design & its location on your body
The most important thing about your tattoo is of course the design. But sometimes the design is tied to the place on your body where you want the tattoo. There is simply much less room on your foot than on your back. It is important to think carefully about where you want to get the tattoo; Some professions do not allow visible tattoos and many others do not appreciate them. Maybe you don’t want everyone to immediately see that you have a tattoo.
For the design, you can simply walk into a so-called tattoo shop and have a look around, but it is wiser to start looking at home. Don’t choose a design because you really want a tattoo; get a tattoo because the design means something to you. Even if you have found a good design or idea, keep looking, you never know what you will come across.
Finding a good tattoo artist
Once you know approximately what kind of tattoo you want and where it should go, you can start looking for a tattoo artist. In any case, make sure that he or she has a permit from the GGD: this means that everything is done hygienically and safely. There are tattoo artists who do not have this and are cheaper, but you then run a greater risk of infections or poorly done tattoos, and you want to avoid that. People’s experiences about different tattoo shops can often be found online. Also walk into a place and see what everything looks like and (if possible) how a tattoo is done on someone else. Always trust your feelings!
The price
The price of a tattoo can vary enormously. This depends on the design, colors, location on your body, and the quality of the tattoo artist. A minimum price of 50-70 euros is often used for the costs incurred. You can get a small tattoo for 60 euros, while a tattoo over your entire back can easily cost 1000 euros.
How long does it take?
Getting a tattoo generally does not take very long. With a small design you can be ready in half an hour. Obviously it will take longer if you want multiple colors or have a larger design.
The pain
Getting a tattoo hurts. The amount of pain depends on the location and of course on your own pain threshold. A place that is relatively insensitive is the upper arm, so the pain is not that bad here. Very painful areas are areas where the skin is close to the bone, such as on your foot and ankle, your ribs, but also on your knee and elbow. And it goes without saying that the intimate zones, and the area close to them, are also very sensitive.
Preparations
Make sure you eat and drink well beforehand, otherwise you run the risk of becoming dizzy and faint. Choose comfortable clothing, especially where the tattoo will be. Choose something that fits loosely and certainly does not pinch. Also consider when you want to get the tattoo: in the beginning you are not allowed to swim or sunbathe, so just before your summer holiday is not ideal. You can also arrange transportation if you prefer.
Aftercare
Once the tattoo has been done, a protective spray is often sprayed over it, or transparent foil is stuck over it. The spray disappears automatically, you should remove the foil after a few hours. The tattoo artist will probably give you some ointment – if not, ask about it! Some use a greasy ointment such as Vaseline or udder ointment, others use Bepantène for example. Apply a very thin layer to the tattoo a few times a day. It is intended to keep the skin supple, but there should not be a thick layer on it! After a few days, scabs will form on the tattoo and will fall off on their own. Don’t pull them off.
Once all those scabs are off, the tattoo is healed. This usually takes about 2 weeks. Until then, your tattoo should not come into contact with sunlight and water for a long time. Also avoid tight-fitting clothing.
Think carefully about all this information and never make a hasty decision. Although tattoos can now be removed neatly, this is of course not the intention and it costs a lot of money. Give yourself time to think about it calmly, and then you will soon have a piece of jewelry that you will be happy with for the rest of your life!