Before getting a permanent tattoo, it’s important to be well informed on the subject. Here are our tips and tricks so that this important and decisive moment (because yes, it’s for life!) remains engraved in your memory, in addition to your skin.
Tattoo is a Tahitian word that means “drawing of the mind”. A word that tells you not to rush and get a tattoo on a whim!
Before you do it, read our tips and advice to live this unforgettable moment as serenely as possible.
Why get a tattoo ?
Think carefully about what you want to do to make sure you don’t regret it. Why do you get a tattoo ? To follow the trend? Move on. To mark an important step in your life, a memory ? You are on the right track…
What design do you want to wear ? Don’t hesitate to draw your own tattoo (no one will judge your drawing, not everyone is called Michelangelo) or to find examples on the Internet, in a book or tattoos of stars…
The goal? Express your desire clearly to your tattoo artist who will modify the design to your liking to make it truly unique.
What are the most sensitive areas for a tattoo ?
Remember that some areas are much more sensitive than others. In other words, at the time of tattooing, you may grind your teeth…
For your information, the least painful areas are the outside of the arms, the upper back avoiding the spine, the shoulders, the calves or even… the buttocks!
The most painful areas? The ribs, the neck, the armpits, the feet and the hands. Here is a diagram to better understand… The green areas are the least painful, those in red the most sensitive!
If you are afraid of pain, there are anesthetic creams. However, they modify the structure of the skin and are not recommended! The tattoo could be less precise or distorted. Conclusion: courage! It’s not so bad to get a tattoo and the result is worth it…
Ask yourself: will this be a hindrance to getting a job? If so, choose an area that you can easily hide at work. Also think about the areas that are likely to be deformed like the belly if you want to have children…
The best advice? Take your time! To think about a design that fits you perfectly but also to choose the right tattoo artist.
Don’t hesitate to ask your friends and family who have already been tattooed, to get information on forums… or even to go to the Mondial du Tatouage! The show takes place every year and gathers the best tattoo artists in the world. You will be able to ask them all the necessary questions and even take the opportunity to pass between their expert hands.
The days before your appointment: physical and mental preparation
Prepare yourself mentally: a tattoo is an important step, you must be aware of it. But it should also remain a happy memory, so try to de-stress as much as possible!
Prepare yourself physically: there are food supplements that will prepare you as well as possible. Talk to your doctor about homeopathy, zinc or vitamin C. He or she will help you find the ideal solution for your needs.
The days before your tattoo appointment, adopt a healthy lifestyle. Eat a balanced diet and reduce your alcohol intake. Avoid blood-thinning medications (such as aspirin) and remember to moisturize your skin in the area.
Be careful: a tired body is less able to withstand pain: the skin swells, bleeds much more and rejects the tattoo more easily. So avoid doing an all-nighter the night before (postpone your crazy night until the day after).
The D-day : the good reflexes
Make yourself a real breakfast to avoid hypoglycemia or low blood pressure.
Listen carefully to your tattoo artist to follow his precious advice and have someone close to you accompany you, 100% effective soothing effect!
Don’t forget, even if your tattoo is hot (we don’t doubt it), it is above all an open wound that you have to take good care of.
The healing phase lasts two to three weeks (approximately), during which time your tattoo will peel and scabs may appear. Don’t panic, it’s not serious and even quite normal!
Twice to four times a day, it is important to clean and moisturize your tattoo. It is necessary to use the good products for that:
- An antiseptic cleanser that respects your skin’s PH (intimate hygiene soaps are perfect). The best thing? That it contains active ingredients that help healing, such as hemostats or emollients.
- A moisturizing and healing cream that helps prevent inflammation. For example, Cicaplast cream from La Roche Posay, which is not greasy.
Apply some cream generously on your tattoo and massage it gently to make it penetrate!
Now you’re ready to take the plunge!
