What's your advice for a first tattoo?

[Cupio]

After a long time of discussing with myself, I've decided to get a tattoo, and I've got a few designs in mind - all representing different meanings for me.

However, I'd like to get some advice from others on what to consider and dos and don'ts.

[God_of_Thunder]

When I got my first tattoo, I only had 2 rules:

1) Make sure it's something you can live with forever.

2) Make sure it's easily covered up, if necessary.

The first rule is more important. You don't want to get something that you're going to get sick of, or grow out of, 10 years down the road.

The second rule is just a personal thing for me. At 18 (when I got my first one), I still hadn't figured out what I wanted to do with my life, and I didn't want a visible tattoo to make it more difficult to get a job later. I now have multiple tattoos, and as long as I'm wearing at least a short sleeve shirt, none of them are visible.

[mortonc57]

I'm sure you have a lot of advice, but the biggest one I would pass on is that *you can always leave w/out a tattoo*

I'll repeat.

*you can always leave w/out a tattoo*

A good tattoo artist knows the client, esp. a first timer, and should work with you, as long as it takes, to make sure you are getting the right tattoo for you.

I learned the hard way, and just wanted to get the tattoo that day... regardless. But had I stepped away and slept overnight on it, I can guarantee I would not have the tattoos I eventually got... esp in such a visible location

[mooky06]

Well the hardest part is done (you know that you want a tattoo).

I would do some research on tattoo artist's in your city that do your specified design. Whether it’s realistic, black and white, coloured etc check out there portfolio. Find one that suits you

[abc--123]

When choosing your first tattoo it's very easy to just choose a design and get it done but I would suggest thinking about whether you will want other tattoos in the future and how will that tie in with the designs and can it be made into a bigger design. For example, You can always tell the difference between a sleeve tattoo that's been thought out and one that comprises of lots of little tattoos then they had no idea how to combine them and just added filler in between them.

[KamikazeBadger]

One bit of advice I heard is to print out the design and stick it somewhere you will see it all the time, leave it for about 3-6 months, this way you will know if you really want it.

[Smallboobsgotohell]

Don't forget that to remove ur tattoos it costs u 5 times more money and pain

[Smallboobsgotohell]

And time

[Smallboobsgotohell]

Sometimes it takes *10

[Nikki1989]

Go real small for your first one.

[Bluethinker456]

How many tatoos do you have?

[Nikki1989]

@Bluethinker456 I have 4

[Bluethinker456]

Are they big or small tattoos?

[Nikki1989]

@Bluethinker456 Small

[Bluethinker456]

Are you looking into doing big tattoos?

[Nikki1989]

@Bluethinker456 Nope

[AviatorTom]

Save your money and don't get one.

[dreamstar72]

Get a “why” tattoo.