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From the practical to the spiritual, you have to make sure you're good in all ways before you get inked.

If you've been reading Tattoosday every week, you've probably noticed a trend recently. Rather than interviewing some awesome artists (that'll likely return next week), we've been writing up lists to try to help people be smarter about getting a tattoo. While the tattoo community might prefer to read interviews with industry legends and tattooing royalty, we also all have that tattoo (or few) that we got before we knew much anything about tattooing.

For (possibly) the last entry in our attempt to educate the masses before they get jacked up tattoos, we look at the Top 8 questions you should be asking yourself on that nerve-wracking ride to the tattoo shop (or once you're already there).

 

"When's the last time I ate?"

There's a reason this is one of the questions most tattooers will ask a client before beginning to tattoo them. Getting tattooed is surprisingly physically demanding, and having low blood sugar can lead to losing consciousness. Also, it seems to hurt a lot more when you're hungry, but that might just be mental.

 

"Do I have enough money for a tip?"

 

You (hopefully) wouldn't stiff a waiter on a tip, so there's no reason not to give a tattoo artist an additional 20-25 percent for their time and effort. You presumably chose them, and they're presumably trying to give you some of their best work, so show your gratitude. You'll also notice that you have a much easier time getting in with the same tattooer in the future if you leave a healthy tip.

 

"Am I sure the design is exactly what I want?"

This can break down into a number of questions. Is it going to be something that you always like? Is everything spelled correctly? Is it something you want to look at every day for the rest of your life? If you can answer all those questions affirmatively, you're probably good. It may not be exactly how you saw it in your head (tattoos do still have some limitations), but it can still be everything you wanted.

 

"Did I drink enough water/sleep beforehand?"

Seriously, hydration and sleep are two of the things that can really make or break a tattoo experience. Unlike food, you're probably not going to pass out due to either of these unless it's an extreme situation, but it'll make things a whole lot more miserable if you're low on them. Again, getting tattooed can be a long and strenuous experience, so don't take your physical well-being lightly.

 

"Am I comfortable with any lasting repercussions of getting this tattoo?"

 

Every person will have a different story of the impact their tattoos have held on their lives. Getting a heart tattooed on your butt won't get you nearly as many stares as something profane on your forehead, but it could still change things for you. Your family might be cool with them, your job might be cool with them, your friends might be cool with them, but just as easily, anyone you encounter could be highly opposed to tattoos. In some religions and cultures, it's still not terribly allowed, so remember that before you just jump into one.

 

"Do I trust my choice of artist/shop completely?"

Possibly the biggest question you can ask yourself when going in for a tattoo. You should feel like the tattoo artist you chose is the absolute best person to do it and that the shop is the absolute right place to get it done. Sometimes, you'll have to put up with a less-than-stellar atmosphere to get worked on by the artist of your dreams, but you should never stoop to going into a dirty or sketchy-seeming shop. Bloodborne pathogens and infections are very real, and not nearly as uncommon of an occurrence as you might think.

 

"Do I know what (if anything) the tattoo means/represents?"

Sometimes, you get a tattoo that means a lot to you. That's great, as long as that meaning isn't going to change for the worse years down the line. Other times, you get a tattoo just because you think it looks cool without checking out the meaning behind the design beforehand. If the artist came up with the design themselves, then just ask them what it means or what their understanding of it is in tattooing's history and folklore. If it's a custom image that you provided references for, use the magical powers of the internet to find out what the all-knowing Google has to say about the design. You can probably also ask your tattooer about it.

 

"Will I want this in a decade or five?"

The tattoos you get now aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Forget how they'll age (that's a whole topic for another time), just ask yourself if you're really going to want that tattoo when you're a parent or a grandparent.

 

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