What Not to Do When Getting Your First Tattoo

Getting your first tattoo should be an amazing experience, but it can also be scary and intimidating. You walk into a parlor filled with ink-covered artists, machines buzzing like wasps, and a receptionist whose “can I help you?” might as well be “what the hell are you doing here?” Still, the tattoo-shop vibe is something you'll have to come to appreciate if your have your heart set on permanently embedding ink under your skin. And while it may seem frightening to first walk through the door, most respectable parlors actually want your business and will be happy to answer any questions you have, believe it or not. That said, there are still some things you should know about tattoos to make yourself more comfortable and to help your tattooist do his or her job. If you intend to get stabbed thousands of times with a tiny needle, you should at least know the basics.

Being communicative is key to having a pleasant experience. Asking questions about needles, ink, hygiene—anything you can think of, really, is totally appropriate and encouraged. Getting a tattoo is a scary thing, so knowing as much information about the process can help put you at ease. Communication is also key if you start feeling faint or too much pain while under the needle. Let your artist know how you're feeling before you projectile-vomit all over the shop floor. Believe me, they would much rather take a break than have a passed-out or sick customer on their hands.

If you have a specific artist in mind, it could take a long from when you decide to get a tattoo to when the appointment actually takes place. In-demand tattooists are often booked months in advance. Some travel the world, scheduling appointments as they go. You'll likely have to book a consultation (or two) before you actually go in for the real thing. Don't let this deter you; if you want high-quality art, you should be prepared to wait for it. That said, there's also something special about just walking into a parlour and choosing an image from the wall. Lots of well-respected shops take walk-ins, so if you don't care about getting custom work, tattoos can also be a fun snap decision (for better or worse).

This one has become a bigger issue in recent years as tattoos have gotten more mainstream. With Rihanna tattooing her hands and rappers tattooing their faces, it may seem like a good idea to get your first tattoo in the most visible place you can think of. Don't. It's cool if that's what you really, really want (and hey, sometimes unusual placement can be amazing), but chances are that your aesthetic preferences will evolve over the years. If you keep getting tattoos and want something on your hands or neck the more power to you—it just might be better to get your tenth tattoo someplace highly visible rather than your first.

"You get what you pay for" has never been more of a truism than in the world of tattoos. The entire idea of a "budget tattoo" does't make much sense to begin with: You're getting an image on your skin for the rest of your life, after all. Saving a couple hundred dollars isn't something you should be worrying about. If that means delaying a tattoo a few weeks (or even months) instead of walking into a scummy shop in Venice Beach or St. Mark's, then so be it. In addition, make sure that you tip your tattoo artist for their services and bring cash to your appointment—tattoo shops don't usually take Amex.

You should be entirely satisfied with the tattoo you are about to get, but also trust that your artist knows how tattoos work a lot better than you do. If they think that a design won't look good for one reason or another, trust that they know what they're talking about. Tattooists have seen a lot of ink in their lifetimes—they know how it heals, what placements look best, and what will turn out right. If a tattooist suggests a small change, then know it's probably for the best. After all, you chose this person because you like their work: Let them do what they do best, and you'll probably be happier with the result.

If you go in for a consultation and the artist comes back with a design that you don't like, don't be afraid to let them know you want it changed. This image is going to be on your body for a very long time (like, forever) so you want to be entirely happy with it. Artists shouldn't have a problem working with you until they get the art exactly how you imagined. You are paying them for a service, after all, and you should be completely cool with your tattoo before it's too late.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it happens all the time. Even if you find something you love on the Internet and want a similar tattoo, don't ask for the same exact thing. Most tattoo artists care deeply about the images they create. If you ask for a tattoo to be replicated, it's the same thing as asking a writer to plagiarize. Have some imagination and work with your artist to create a design that's something you can be proud of. That said, this rule doesn't apply to flash (a.k.a. the tattoo art you can choose off a shop's wall). If you are getting a classic Sailor Jerry design, then of course you'll be choosing something that countless others have also had tattooed (that's sort of the point!). But if you want custom art, make sure it's just that—custom.

This may sound pretentious, but serious tattooists will almost always balk if you call a tattoo machine a "tattoo gun." It's slang that has become popularized over the years outside tattoo culture, but tattooists in general think of their machine as a tool for creating art—not a weapon. Calling a machine a gun is unprofessional, and brings to mind something that most tattooists would rather not be associated with. If you want to show that you respect the culture and the skill behind creating a tattoo, just call it a tattoo machine. Easy enough.

If you're getting a high-quality tattoo, you'll likely go in for a consultation before it's time to get permanently inked. If you have an image in mind—be it traditional irezumi, a 17th century woodblock print, or an homage to your dog—you should bring printed references to the shop. Even if you plan on letting the artist create art of their own, having some sort of visual guide is a necessity. It's nearly impossible to describe something that you have imagined in your head just using words. Having images do the explaining for you is invaluable.

More than any other decision, choosing your artist carefully is the most important thing to consider when getting a tattoo. Even if you have very something specific in mind, the way a tattoo is executed will vary greatly based on who is doing the job. Instagram is a fantastic resource for searching for right tattooist, as is Tumblr—many tattoo artists post pictures of their best work, which should give you an idea of their style and what you'll be getting with your own piece. Even if you plan on walking into a parlor and choosing flash from the wall, it could look completely different based on who is actually doing the tattoo. Do your research and choose wisely.