There are as many reasons to get a tattoo as there are people getting them, but it’s not always easy to find the right artist. The wrong artist or rather go to socal tattoo artists can completely ruin your experience, and that’s why we want you to avoid this top 10 list of mistakes.
1) Not waiting long enough before letting someone in the room with you:
If you get a tattoo and then proceed directly into public or social situations like hugging or shaking hands, don’t be surprised when it begins to bleed under your clothes or come off on another person. If this happens, then we recommend cleaning up the mess with rubbing alcohol and bandages so that no one else picks up any of your germs (or gets any ink on them). You should not be in a public area until your tattoo is fully healed, which can take a few weeks depending on the size and location of your tattoo.
2) Not asking what kind of soap they use:
Some people like to moisturize their skin with a particular brand of body wash or lotion and will assume that the artist uses that type of soap as well. Before you get your tattoo, make sure you know what kind of soap your artist uses so that you don’t automatically get out of the chair with ink-tainted skin. The last thing you want is to leave the shop carrying lots of their germs or chemicals on your skin.
3) Going to a tattoo parlor that is known for fast and cheap work:
If you are looking for a tattoo artist, do your research. Try to find someone who has been in business for a while and gets great reviews from previous clients. Before you get into the chair, make sure they are using sterilized needles that have never been used before on anyone else. You should also be sure they have hand hygiene practices in place – and then actually follow them!
4) Sitting too long:
You should sit as long as you can stand it but not longer than 20 or 30 minutes, or else your tattoo could bleed – which means it will look blotchy and might not heal as nicely or last as long. Sometimes it can take up to a day for a tattoo to get really dry and scabbed over.
5) Wearing tight clothing:
It’s important that your skin is completely loose and that no clothes are rubbing against your freshly-inked skin. This will thin out the ink and limit how long you can leave the area open before it starts fading back into the background of your skin. You don’t want to stain your clothes or other things with the color, so wear loose fitting clothing to make sure nothing else gets tagged with that color as well.
6) Not washing up:
When you get your tattoo, you might not feel that you need to wash it for several days. However, that’s because it is actually bleeding and leaving a trail of ink on your skin. It’s important that you wash the area with antibacterial soap and water until it has scabbed over. Once the scabs have fallen off and the color has faded, then you can use baby oil or any other oil-based products on your new tattoo.
7) Getting ink on the jewelry you wear:
If you are going to get a tattoo, then you should also consider getting a ring or necklaces in the same color. Otherwise, your jewelry will be covered with jagged edges that can snag on clothing, bedding, and other things. If you do wear traditional jewelry, then make sure that it is completely cleaned and sterilized before you put it back on after getting a new tattoo.
8) Exposing it to the sun for too long:
It’s recommended that you stay out of direct sunlight for at least the first three days after having your tattoo done because this will fade the color quickly. If you must go out in the sun, then make sure you have some sunblock on your tattoo so it doesn’t become damaged. Also, wearing loose-fitting clothing is a good idea so that your skin can breathe and stay cool.
9) Taking Ibuprofen (or other medications):
Ibuprofen interferes with healing because it decreases the blood flow to the area. It can also cause allergic reactions in some people and ruin any ink that has been applied to your skin.
10) Mixing ink colors:
It’s not good to mix different brands of ink together to make your tattoo look more realistic. It will cause your skin to break out and bleed, and it will also reduce the life of the ink by exposing it to different chemicals.
If you follow this list and take care of your new tattoo right, then you should be able to enjoy the color for a long time. However, if you do get any questions about these things or about getting a tattoo in general, don’t be afraid to ask! There really is no such thing as an unforgivable mistake when you’ve found the right artist for you!
