I’m a tattoo artist & these are the eight biggest mistakes first-time clients make
GETTING your first tattoo can be a somewhat daunting experience, even for those who go on to end up covered in them.
Well professional tattoo artist Alissa Jung has spoken to Insider, revealing the mistakes first-time clients often make, and just how these can be avoided.
Not preparing the skin
First-time tattoo clients may be unaware that the process can be made a lot simpler, for both themselves and their artist, if they prepare their skin in advance.
Alissa suggests moisturising the area you’re getting tattooed for a couple of weeks prior to your appointment.
You should also make sure to drink plenty of water in the days prior, and avoid anything that might irritate your skin.
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Asking for an exact copy of another artist’s design
This is a huge no, as many artists will consider this stealing. Alissa adds that it’s unfair to both the original artist, who spent hours designing something unique, and to the client who thought they would have a one-of-a-kind tattoo.
Instead, Alissa says: “find a tattooer whose work you love and trust them to design a custom piece for you. It’s OK to use another’s work as a reference to give them an idea of what you’re looking for.”
While a unique design shouldn’t be copied, pop culture references and famous artworks can be replicated.
Using numbing cream, without discussing it with the artist first
Any tattoo will likely be painful, but your first one even more so as you won’t know what to expect.
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However, despite this Alissa says that you should hold off on the numbing cream, adding that it can leave the skin in a rubbery or leather-like state.
She adds: “Every artist has their own thoughts on numbing cream — some use Bactine to help numb the skin throughout — so make sure to ask before applying it.”
Not bringing something to do
Many seasoned tattoo clients may bring a book to read, or music to listen to, to pass the time while getting tattooed, however, first timers are less likely to consider doing this.
The ink-redible ancient history of body art
Scientists have discovered the world's oldest tattoos on the arm of a 5,000-year-old Egyptian mummy on display at the British Museum.
The mummy, known as Gebelein Man A, pushes back evidence of figurative tattoos by 1,000 years.
The oldest tattoos were once thought to belong to a South American Chinchorro mummy who had a moustache-like design inked on his face.
It was initially thought he died in 4,000BC but in 2015 researchers found he is in fact younger than 5,200-year-old frozen mummy Ötzi the Iceman.
Ötzi was found by walkers preserved in a glacier on the Italy-Austria border in 1991.
Imaging using various wavelengths revealed a total of 61 tattoos: Geometric designs of dots, crosses and parallel lines.
Ötzi would have done lots of walking im the Alps and it is thought the tattoos may have been a kind of acupuncture to ease joint pains.
There is evidence of tattooing on mummies found in the Taklamakan Desert in China dating from 1,200 BC.
Modern tattoos of the kind sported by David Beckham are thought to have developed in Polynesian cultures over centuries.
The name comes from the phrase tatatau, meaning to hit or strike, which the British sailor James Cook heard when he reached Tahiti in 1769.
But bringing something else to focus on can help distract from the pain, especially for tattoos that will take a long time.
Scheduling a tattoo just before, or after, a holiday
“After your tattoo, you’ll need to avoid exposing it to the sun, exercising, and swimming for at least two weeks while it heals,” says Alissa.
So if you’re planning to do any of these activities on your holiday, you may want to hold off on booking an appointment until your return.
And if you book an appointment for the days after your return, you may end up needing to reschedule if you’ve ended up with sunburn.
Not asking for a break
While first timers may feel rather awkward, it’s still important to ask for a breather if you feel as though you need one.
So for whether you need the toilet, something to drink, or just need a minute don’t be afraid to ask your artist for a ten minute break.
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Coming in sick, drunk or hungover
Alissa says that it’s important to be healthy and hydrated when getting a tattoo, adding that “ it’s best not to drink alcohol at least 24 hours prior to your appointment.”
This is because alcohol is a blood thinner, and can cause excess bleeding, and can hinder the healing process.
Not eating before the appointment
“Getting a tattoo on an empty stomach can make you feel faint, lightheaded, or nauseous,” says Alissa.
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Having a protein-rich meal two hours before your appointment can help calm your nerves and get your body prepped.
You may also wish to bring water and snacks to your appointment, especially if it will be a long one.