What to Expect from Your First Tattoo
Tattoos are becoming more and more popular with people from all walks of life. Once you’ve decided to get a tattoo, there are some things you might find useful to know. This article mentions some of the most common questions and concerns that people have.
When getting a tattoo, you can expect to feel pain. The needle is small and it only pierces about 1/32 of an inch below the surface of the skin. The ink is deposited within the second layer of skin. It can still be a painful process however because the skin gets agitated repeatedly.
Some places on the body are more painful to receive a tattoo than others. Knees and elbows for example can be very painful because the nerve endings are so close to the surface of the skin.
The sensation can feel like your skin is getting hot or cold, like a burning feeling. Your skin will also tend to feel numb. It’s important that if you feel faint during the process, let the artist know to stop the procedure immediately.
Many tattoos have to be done in multiple sessions. It depends on the size of the tattoo and the individual’s tolerance to pain. Some people may have a tattooing limit of two hours while others may go for five without any problem.
There is also likely to be some blood during the tattooing process. This also is dependent on each individual. It is important not to drink alcohol because this tends to thin your blood and make the bleeding worse. Some people think alcohol will help with the pain but it usually only leads to more problems with bleeding.
When the tattoo artist first starts your tattoo, they use a stencil that is applied to your skin for which they can do an outline. Typically, the artist will do thin dark “line work” that will later be filled in with color. Plenty of petroleum jelly is used to cover the skin area and is an aid in the outlining process.
Once your tattoo is finished, it is important to take proper care of the tattoo. The artist will provide you with a list of instructions. These usually involve keeping it covered with gauze and applying some type of healing solution.
Typically, the healing time takes about 2 weeks or so. Listen to the advice that your artist gives you to maintain the best longevity for your tattoo.
Your skin is constantly changing over time so your tattoo will change a little in appearance. Pigments will fade slightly from the age of the ink and your body breaking down the pigments. You always have options available to you that can restore your tattoo to it’s original look.
In conclusion, the answers to the most common questions that first time tattoo receivers have are pretty simple. Hopefully this article gives you some idea of what is involved in the process. Knowing what you’re getting into can help ease some of the initial discomfort of getting a tattoo and make the process more enjoyable.