First tattoo next week! Any tips?

[MysticMary]

I've heard I should avoid caffeine beforehand and drink plenty of water. Is there anything else I should know? Also, is it customary to tip the artist in this country or is that just something I've seen the Americans do? 😄

The 1990s called, they want your doctor friend back...

I suppose people who follow styles you do like are also sheep? And that you yourself don't follow fashion at all, never have done. You're super original in every way, and heck, don't even own a pair of jeans. You plougher of your own furrow, you.

It is bizarre. I know people who don't have tattoos but they don't have the irrationally angry tone posters on here seem to, just say it's not for them. There's things about peoples appearances I dislike, but hey, if they're happy, it's their body 🤷🏻‍♀️

Also recommend being 199% sure with placement as mine is slightly at a different angle than Id like

I just think these people aren't getting laid atm to spit and snarl on the internet over such a little thing me.

How long is the appointment for?

If you are taking snacks, make sure they aren’t ‘smelly’ ones like cheese and onion crisps or twiglets 🤣 The artist gets so close, it’s just manners I think!! If it’s hours and hours I take earphones and listen to something to break up the time.
Enjoy it :)

Your doctor friend sounds like a misogynistic pig. I'd rather be mates with Sharon the cleaner than your doctor mate who talks about women disrespectfully.

Anyone who calls people "sheep" is likely a massive twat.

Don't turn up.

Can we see it after ? Please

Don't really have any tips - it's painful but you kind of want to do it again -
I one of mine done at a tattoo festival so had people walking by watching ...

Bepanthen for after care - they do a tattoo one now don't know if that's got anything extra to the normal one

Yet another pointless comment.

This.

Deffo start saving - they're addictive

Zzzzzzz

Oh and for healing don't soak in the shower/bath, pat dry and don't slather loads of lotion on
I used small amounts of tattoo goo and mine still look really good years on. I heal tattoos brilliantly but not piercings

My tattooist said that Bepanthen isn't suitable anymore as they changed the formula. She recommended unscented cocoa butter.

Bepanthen is very thick and hard to apply thinly. I used tattoo goo (both the cleanser and the cream).

Christ, can you imagine the lives these sad little women live to make sly digs at what another woman chooses to do!! They're not even amusing!

@MRSMTO oh I know... only on Mumsnet eh! I was expecting a few of them (though surprised how many), but I'm only interested in the helpful answers - of which there are also many

Hard to say. I've got loads, women always tend to sit better than men. I've never prepared as such. I personally don't find them painful (although placement is a huge factor in this) I find them an annoying, uncomfortable scratching sensation.

Oh and to those being snides? Don't fkn get one. Nobody is arsed.

Hydrate, eat something at least two hours before and I always take a snack just in case my blood sugar drops.

Ask the artist if they mind chatting if you’re a chatter. Some don’t like to. One of my regular artists puts his headphones on start to finish.

Try to sit still. Let your artist know if you need a break, need to stretch or need to change position.

I always tip. And also remember a good tattoo isn’t cheap and a cheap tattoo isn’t good.

Use Palmers fragrance free cocoa butter for healing/to moisturise it afterwards for a few weeks. I highly recommend it, it's the best I've used and it's very light on the skin. Don't use too much so it can still breathe, but enough so it's moisturised. If it starts to feel a bit dry and tight between applications, apply some more.

Don't soak it for too long for a couple of weeks (while it's scabbed especially). And don't use anything fragranced on it. I always used a gentle antibac soap for the tattoo until it has fully healed.

Don't pick at it when it starts to scab and flake off or you could pull the ink out and leave it patchy, and then you'd have to pay for a touch up. Let it fall off naturally.

Try not to knock it for a few weeks - you don't want to cause it to blow out.

Try not to scratch it when it's itchy, haha. It's hard, but important not to. (VERY) gently tapping it or blowing on it helps

I've got about 12 tattoos, some hidden some very obvious and regret them all.

I'm in the Don't Do It camp too. Sorry!

Think again.

Give it some thought, I sat next to a girl in a clinic waiting room on Monday who was having hers lasered off - slow and painful and expensive she said

All these posters saying don’t do it.
I assume they've either had a tattoo they regret or just enjoy spending time judging other people's skin. Bore off. They can do what they like with their own, they don’t know you from Adam so it's a big leap to go oh no tattoos for any other person based on their own hang ups. Sad really.
If you're happy with your design and happy with your tattooist then enjoy.
I myself am pretty much covered in them. Have been for over 20 years and I haven't spent a second worrying how all of it will look when I’m old. If anything, getting sponge baths in the nursing home will be more of a talking point for the people doing it. Saggy wrinkly skin might look a little better with a bit of ink than blank hanging skin. You can always get them to stretch it out to show the original design
Go with whatever your tattooist recommends for aftercare. Mine used to advise bepanthen but now it's palmers cocoa butter and I have seen a difference.
Best of luck, I hope you enjoy every bit of it