Any tips for someone hoping to get their first tattoo soon?
for sure!! my biggest advice is honestly:
research your artist well. don't just go by price, go by healed work, line quality, and whether their style actually matches what you want.
eat beforehand and bring water / something sugary just in case. even if you think you'll be fine, your body might disagree halfway through.
do NOT be scared to speak up if you need a break, want the stencil adjusted, or something feels off. it's going on your body.
follow aftercare exactly. the tattoo isn't “done” when you leave the shop, healing is part of the whole process.
personally i have a pretty high pain tolerance, so i always kind of look forward to my appointments lol. for me it's more exciting than scary. but even if you're nervous, that's totally normal too. the anticipation is usually worse than the actual tattoo.
first tattoos are such a fun experience though. pick something you really love, go to someone you trust, and enjoy the whole ritual of it.
