by J. van der Gaag

Created on: December 30, 2009   Last Updated: January 02, 2010

Surviving your first tattoo starts long before those inky needles touch skin.  It doesn’t even start on the day you get your tattoo.  When it should start is days, weeks, or even months before you receive your personal work of art.

Everyone knows that a tattoo is a lifetime commitment, one of the few things that is likely to stay with you until the day you die.  It will become an integral part of your personal narrative, a record of who you were and what you felt was important, beautiful, or just plain cool – if you do it right.  By following the steps below you will be well on your way to surviving (and enjoying) your first tattoo.

Before the Big Day

* Planning.  The number one rule for a successful tattoo is planning.  It can be broken down into:  

1 – Research your design.  Do yourself a favor and put some serious thought into your tattoo design.  You might fall in love with some flashon the studio wall, but you risk having the same tattoo as a lot of other people.  Even flash can be customized.  The Internet, magazines, artist portfolios and looking at tattooed people are good sources of ideas, however, no one likes a copycat - think up something original.  Not all ideas will translate well to a tattoo, but an experienced artist can work with you to create a clean, satisfying image. 

Also consider size and placement.  Some body parts are easier to tattoo (i.e. less painful, take ink better) than others.  If you have a low pain threshold a giant tattoo on your bony little ribs might not be the best idea for a first tattoo. Work with your natural anatomy and don’t put a “postage stamp” in the middle of a large area or cram too much detail into a tiny tattoo.  Consider if the tattoo can be easily hidden under clothing, if necessary.

2 – Research your artist.  Your artist must be technically competent, which you can judge by their portfolio or talking to people who wear their work.  Hopefully he or she will also be artistically talented.  Some artists prefer to work in a particular style and if they don’t feel comfortable doing what you want, they may be able to refer you to someone else.  If you want a delicate greywash portrait of your mom you might not want someone who prefers to work with bold lines and crazy colors. 

3 – Research the shop.  Chances

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