SPECIAL ADS SPACE

First time tattoo experience? How was yours?

  • I am going for my first tattoo tomorrow. Please don't respond if you're going to say "just don't get one, you're going to regret it"- I am well aware that many people regret their tattoos. I am 19 and have wanted a tattoo since I was 9 or 10, I always loved the temporary ones and in the past couple of years I have flirted with the idea. I know exactly what I want and am very excited about this!

    Now my question is, does it hurt a LOT? Doesn't matter either way, but I do want to be prepared. Should I take tylenol before or something? I went with my friend to get her tattoo and she didn't take any medicine. They just gave her a bandage and told her to keep it on for 2 hours and put vaseline on after so it could heal. If any of you have tips or personal tattoo stories I would like to hear them. Thanks.


  • i have to dolphins kissing under my navel and it reallly wasnt that bad but the closer to the bone the more it will hurt but really its not that bad


  • I've heard the ankle hurts but when I got mine there, it wasn't bad at all. I was talking to my friend while it was being done so it probably helped so I didn't think about the pain.
    You should put Neosporin on it afterwards and something to help keep the colors bright is to keep sunscreen on it whenever you're in the sun.
    If you've wanted a tattoo for a while, go for it! I wanted one for over 15 years and finally got it and plan on getting another one. I haven't regretted it and don't think I ever will. Good luck!


  • I also got my first tattoo when I was 19. I got two more since then. I'm now 32 and hope to add a few more in the future. So, not everyone regrets them. I have no regrets at all.

    My first tattoo did not really hurt. I got it on my upper breast and that is a fairly fleshy area. A good rule of thumb is the fleshier the area the less pain. The closer to bone, the more pain. Also, the more outlining they have to do the more painful it will be. When they outline they drag the needle. When they fill in color the needle bounces and hurts less. However, pain is relative. So, what one person says is painful another may not. I enjoyed the experience of every one of my tattoos. I thought it felt good. I have one on the back of my shoulder and one on my lower back.

    I did experience a bit of light headedness after my tattoos, especially the first one. But I think this was due more to the adrenaline. After my first I went for ice cream so we made that a tradition of sorts and I went for ice cream after the next two. But it helps a lot if you have something in you before you go. Don't go on an empty stomach. A good artist will actually ask if you've eaten. The place I went for two of my tattoos actually kept a basket of candy on hand just in case. Also, they should be willing to take breaks if you need one.

    I had one tattoo artist tell me that in all his years of working he has never had a woman get sick or pass out on him while doing a tattoo but he has had at least one man per week pass out or become ill.

    I never took medicine with mine. Like I said, I enjoyed the pain and I didn't find them at all painful while healing.

    Good luck!!


  • I have 5. I always get a bit nervous before getting it done, but none of mine have ever really hurt. Kinda feels like taking your fingernail and scratching it back and fourth for a long time. Don't worry... you'll be just fine :) Good luck!


  • i got mine when i was 19 (im 23 now) and yes it did hurt, a lot. it felt like i had a huge cut and someone kept poking it with needles....it was small, so it only lasted for 20 minutes. its worth it though, i still love mine!


  • http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/3430...

    when I went, I researched a bunch of places, and asked around in some communities for some good tattoo parlors in my area.

    I went one evening with my brother, his girlfriend, and a friend.

    I looked around for their autoclave, (which is a very very important cleaning tool, don't go to a parlor without one.) and looked at their books of actual pieces they've done on people.

    It didn't hurt that much for the first 10 minutes or so, but after a while it hurt a it, and it made my fingers tingle. It took about an hour or so, and when it was done it looked awesome. I waited and when I took a shower let the bandage fall off naturally.

    don't wear shirts you care about, cause they'll get messed up!

    when there is flaking don't freak out, its natural!

    It seems like you've thought about it for a long time, so I hope youre happy with the choice, and I hope you have a good experience!


  • Hey have fun, don't take aspirin, because it will thin out your blood, and you will bleed more, You will defiantly get nervous, but trust the tattoo artist, I hope he isn't a friend who is hooking you up, because most of the time you regret those, but it will hurt but your body's endorphins will take over in a few minutes, and it wont hurt as bad, just relax, and breath, listen to the artist, they will guide you,
    Oh also buy the stuff they sell to help heal the tattoo it's way better than Vaseline, Have fun


  • It all depends on your pain threshold. Mine didn't hurt at all - the only problem was that my arm fell asleep and I had to listen to shitty music.


  • I like you am gonna go get a tattoo and you should probably go by your judgement rather than everyone elses because it varies but I check out this website alot and it really helps!!! www.bmezine.com

    Good Luck!!!


  • It hurts. It's on for life. I had one removed last year and it hurt more to have it removed than the original tattoo. I got one because my friends and I decided it was cool. Believe me it's not. Just a passing a fad. You're just a shell until you decide to rebel. Just a shell until you decide to rebel.


  • it hurts a lot, but the outline hurts more than anything ,


  • My first one was not bad. I did not take anything before or after. You will be fine and Congrats on the tat.


  • The outline feels like a razor cut, but the vibration of the needle(s) actually numbs it a bit, and after a while, it can only hurt so much. I have two, if it were so bad, I wouldn't have done it a second time.


  • i got a tattoo on my shoulder, it didn't hurt much until it came time to do over the bone, the tattooist said if it starts to hurt pinch your leg or somewhere abit sensitive and you wont notice the pain in the tattoo, it works so just try it and you will be fine! good luck and don't let yourself think it will hurt lots or you will think it hurts more then it does! Just be calm and ready!


  • Get one its worth it...i got mine on my foot it hurt way bad but its not bad enough to want to stop! It sort of feels like a really bad sunburn that someone keeps scratcing...you will love it though


  • When I got my tattoos most felt like a be stinging me, one hurt like hell. A lot of it depends on your tolerance for pain and where you get the tattoo at. Certain places hurt worse then others. Just remember to breath deep through the pain, that helps a lot. Oh and A&D ointment is a lot better than vasiline.

    It sounds like you have put a lot of thought into this tattoo, I applaud you for that, most people who want their tattoos removed ether did not put a lot of thought into them or they went to someone who did a crappy job.

    Good luck, and I hope you enjoy your tattoo for the rest of your life.


  • the pain factor depends on where you decide to get it. i got mine on my lower back. the artist told me it would feel like a bee sting from time to time. famous last words! try a hornet's nest coming at you at once! if there is any equivalent to 'external labor', that would be it.


  • It depends on where you get it. I got mine on my lower back and it took what seems like forever. Yeah it did hurt especially cause of the shading and the fact that the lines are thick so they kept going over it. Good luck and hopefully it's not too bad. Oh yeah they usually have some lotion stuff they charge a little more but it helps to numb it as they do the tattoo.


  • The pain level depends on where you are getting it done. Don't take any pain killers before it as it could cause you to bleed out more ink. I was nervous before my first one too. I now have five, six if you count the one that I had covered up. It is addictive!!!

    Yes, keep the bandage on as they say. Instead of Vaseline, use Vitamin A & D ointment on it. It helps the skin heal better. Make sure the skin stays well lubed with that stuff, I don't mean a big gob, but a thin coat of it. Do that for the first 4-6 days. Then, moisturize it for at least to weeks with a fragrant and dye free lotion. Also, you cannot take a bath or go swimming for two weeks after the tattoo, some say a month. You take a shower instead. Make sure you keep it clean. Dab it dry after your shower. If you rub, you can pull the ink and scabs from your skin. Don't itch at it, for the same reason as dabbing with a towel to dry. The trick my brother taught me was to slap it when it itched, which it will once it starts healing.

    Let's see am I forgetting anything? Oh, yeah, show it off once the bandage is off.


  • Depends on your pain tolerance. I got my first one on my lower back, a big celtic cross. It hurt a lot, but I kept the pain to myself.
    The second one on my lower right arm (from wrist to elbow, a rose through a heart with angelwings) honestly did NOT hurt. It felt very hot and sometimes like being cut by a hot knife.
    The third one on my stomach (a kind of tribal butterfly design my friend drew up, underneath my belly button), didn`t hurt that much either, but then again, I gave birth without drugs (the second time around) so....
    Tylenol won`t help you. Ask the tattooist what ointment to put on, my boyfriend and I always use A&D. DO NOT USE NEOSPORIN!! Also don`t pick at it once it starts healing. It will also itch, do NOT scratch it!!! It should start peeling a few days after you get it and will be healed about 2 weeks after that or so.
    Good luck to ya!
    PS: I`ve never heard of a bandage after a tattoo being worn for 2 weeks, do you even have any tattoos mithril?


  • hi! good for you, if you want it then do it, I went for one and now have 3! I have to say the first one did hurt a little but wan't as bad as I thought it would in fact when I went for the second one I was more scared as I knew what the pain was going to be like but it was a lot less painful that the first. It is like something sharp scraping in to your skin and it kind of burns but honestly if it was that bad people wouldn't be getting them done! Becareful with vaseline on the tattoo with clothes as the ink and vaseline can stain if they get on clothes and try not to leave the bandage on longer than the tattooist says as the air will help heal it and also you dont want the bandage to get stuck to the tattoo. Also the tattooist probably sells some stuff for helping it ti heal and keep the colour nice but vaseline works just as well as some of the ones fromt he tattooists can sting and vaseline dosent. Hope it goes well.


  • first one is an awesome experience. of course it will hurt you got a needle constantly poking in your skin but think about worse pains people go through and you will be just fine. just go normal tylenol will thin your blood as alcohol will which will make you bleed more so thats not good for you or the artist. enjoy.


  • i considered for about 20 years, just to get my 1st tattoo last year (at 33 years old) :p
    my reservations was, what if i regret the design?
    i tattooed 'om mani padme hum' in tibetan characters, on my arms...
    i'm going for another tattoo next month, my family name, in archaic chinese charater. it took me for 12 months to find a suitable one (because in chinese characters, calligraphy has many ways of writing it...)
    i finally settled for the the word that dated 2200 b.c....
    so there!


  • I have two tats, One on my right arm and one on my left the one in my Right is of a dragon, and the one my my right is a tiger. I am planning on getting background work done on them so when i cross my arms it looks like the ever famous yin and yang with the dragon and tiger facing each other ready to strike. !!!
    I abso lutly love them. As for pain my first tat took about 4 and a half hours and my second one took only 3 hours, but i didn't really feel anything, if anything i enjoyed the whole experience, i can;t wait to go back.
    The only suggestion i can give you be to drink a few liquids b4 u go OJ, or maybe some apple juice. To keep from getting lightheaded and stuff. as for keeping the bandage on for 2 weeks, i don;t know, ihad to keep mine on for 24 hours. I guess it all depends on the place you go. But i wouldn;t trde these suckas for the worlds. lol happy tattooing. !! after you get yours done if you post a pic somewhere let me know i would love to see it.


  • Honest to goodness, I was so scared my first time getting inked...but it wasn't that bad. Don't get me wrong, it did hurt some, but very bearable. When the guy first started on the first line, I was like, "Oh, that's all it is?" It's not that bad...good luck.


  • I have about 20 Tats they are no big deal . yes it'll hurt but no worse than a bad scrape or sunburn after its done. once the outline is finished it'll hurt less because your endorphins will have kicked in. keep it covered for about an hour, than wash it with soap and water, pat dry, keep a thin coat of triple antibiotic ointment on it for a few days, than a hand lotion till its completely healed. you want to keep it from drying out. don't pick it scab. let it come off by it self...Good Luck on the first of many


  • I got one between my shoulder blades and it didnt hurt. I guess it just depends on your ability to handle or not handle pain. I love peircings and tats.


  • yes they hurt... anyone that tells you different is a liar..lol as to how much it depends on your level of pain tolerance. I got my first tattoo at age 19 ... went all by myself and got my lizard on my forearm. The pain was not bad at all.. didnt cry or anything (cant say the same for the guy that was in there at the same time...lol) and then I was hooked. So 13 1/2 years and 14 more tattoos later here I am. I dont think taking tylenol would help much... my advice on that is go at it stone cold sober.
    As for after care Ive heard a 1000 different things. My husband and I do this: when you get home take off the bandage and wash the tattoo gently with antibacterial soap... pat dry and put lubriderm on it... I usually wash it 2-3 times a day and put the lotion on when it feels dry.
    What are you planning on getting and where?

    * I saw you are going someplace in Chicago? where? I hope not jade dragon...


  • it kinda feels like dry ice, it "stingles" stings and tingles. very addicting.


  • Whoa. You need to research this a bit better!

    DO NOT go where your friend went because the advice she got was so bogus it's unbelieveable! Aftercare is soooo important, and if your friend never got infected it's only luck or God that saved her.

    First of all, I doubt Tylenol or Advil or anything would really help at all because it HURTS ALOT (!!!!!!!!!), no matter what anyone says. Booze is also a really bad idea because it thins the blood and can interfere with the clotting neccessary for the scabbing over to take place for the tatoo to "heal".

    Any real tattoo artist will turn away anyone who has been drinking at all anyway.

    Elma cream is a topical anastetic, and if applied a few hours before the proceedeure in the area you plan to tatoo, it may help to take the edge off.

    Location on you body can also change the amount of pain you'll be in. Fleshy parts seem less tender than joint or bony areas.

    And try to choose somewhere it won't show if you go for a job interview.

    But really, 2 hours? A bandage should be worn for about 2 weeks! Vasaline? No way!!!! Polysporin is a much better way to go.

    Where'd she get tattooed? Prison?

    See a doctor at the first sign of infection.

    And make sure the needle is clean! (I didn't need to tell you that part, did I? You must know a dirty needle can give you any kind of infection....usually the incurable kind...)

    Do your homework on this okay? I hope it isn't too late.

    Best of luck.


  • first do not use vaseline use a&d onitment adn it doesnt hurt a lot it just stings because the needle cuttin into the skin if u r getiing something big then after going over it over and over it gonna get numb but if its small then its gonna be over very quickly...







  • #If you have any other info about this subject , Please add it free.#
    Your name:
    E-mail:
    Telphone:

    Your comments:


    If you have any other info about First time tattoo experience? How was yours? , Please add it free.
    edit