Step by Step guide to your first tattoo

If you are considering getting your very first tattoo and are a bit hesitant or are full of anticipation, rests assure it is a common feeling that most all people go through their first time. Not knowing what is going to happen can often hold us back from getting the tattoo. This 5 step guide below should help you turn your anticipation into excitement.

1. Plan your design

Do not panic if you are not an artist. You will find many tattoo artists that can help you plan a terrific design that will work for your skin. You can also search on the Internet or through magazines for images and photos for reference, like at thetattooshop.co.uk for instance. Decide what you like and dislike on each photo. You can sketch out your design or have it sketched out based on your selections.

2. Research Your Artist

Ask friends and family who have already gotten their first tattoo to recommend a place for you to go. You can also check with the BBB to see the establishment's record, see if there are any complaints and things like that. Make sure they are licensed for your state when you call for an appointment. Take a look around when you do arrive for your appointment. Check to see how clean the facility is and if the artist is well groomed and clean. What is their experience? Check out some work examples. Keep in mind this tattoo will be on your skin for life, so make sure you really check them out well. Experienced artists with immaculate facilities are the way to go.

3. Prep Yourself

Moisturize your skin thoroughly during the week before your appointment. The healthier your skin is prior to your appointment, the better and easier it will go. Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated since hydrated skin is better to work with too. Refrain from drinking any alcohol 24 hours prior to your appointment. Alcohol thins the blood and can cause bleeding.

4. Arrive to Appointment Early

Arrive a few minutes earlier than your schedule appointment when it is your first tattoo. This way, you can go to the restroom, fill out any necessary paperwork like a release form and have your questions answered before it is time to get inked. Do not be hesitant about asking any questions and let the artist know of any concerns like if there will be pain, what tattoo machines they use or other concerns.

5. After Care

Once your tattoo is finished, the artist will likely wash it down with an antibacterial soap and add some Vaseline on it. They will then cover it with a sterile dressing which absorbs drainage. This drainage is normal. It is your body's way of sending off white blood cells that will ward off infection. Be sure to follow your tattoo artist's recommendations for after care properly.

Author Bio:
The author of this post, Maria is a professional writer. She excels in writing articles related to fashion and beauty. If you are interested to have a tattoo and looking for tattoo machines,I think you don't need to go anywhere. Stop by www.thetattooshop.co.uk and find your tattoo kits and ink here.

Love Tattoo: What to do when the ink lasts longer than the 'I Do'

It was an epic romance of pop culture legend. She threw a bottle at his head across a crowded MTV stage, and dates were Jean Paul Gaultier fashion shows; love songs about Teenage Dreams sold millions, film premieres in complementary colour palettes were schmoozed at, and inevitably the ultimate public declaration of them all followed: Russell Brand and Katy Perry got matching tattoos.

But then the fairy tale exploded like a Firework in one of the pop star's songs, and the Sanskrit inking on their respective upper arms outlasted the marriage vows. With the divorce finalised this week- Perry signed off on the papers with a smiley face, truly happy, it seems, to wave the funnyman goodbye- the question on everybody's lips is: will those tats be wiped from record too, just like their doomed relationship?

It's a common dilemma. So common, in fact, that the tattoo removal is tipped as becoming the next billion dollar industry- ink lovers are flocking in droves to remove cheating boyfriend's names that were endured in happier, more idealistic, times, and ex-wives initials are being stripped from arms and torsos. Tattoos, like marriages, are becoming increasingly temporary.

So how is it done?

Well, with relative ease. Laser removal sees a qualified technician using a handheld device to apply powerful pulses of energy to your unwanted design. The heat penetrates through the top layer of your skin, shattering the tattoo ink into tiny fragments- an apt metaphor for that broken heart. Your body's immune system then absorbs these fragmented pigments until the tattoo disappears- a sort of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless (Tattoo-free) Body.

Sometimes it takes more than one session to achieve best results- but it's an outpatient procedure, and risks are minimal, especially compared to other traditional methods such as dermabrasion or painful excision.

An experienced and qualified professional should be more than willing to discuss your concerns during the consultation process. Be smart: your questions need to include queries on the risks, including of infection- a good technician will always provide staunch post-treatment instructions for aftercare to minimise discomfort. Some patients can experience a little temporary swelling, bruising, or superficial flaking- the sort of thing you'll be familiar with if you've ever suffered from too much sun on holiday- but customer satisfaction is usually high.

As Brand and Perry's marriage demonstrates, success can never be guaranteed. Whether that's in films, pop songs, or with love tattoos, the only thing that can be certain is this: nothing, thankfully, has to be forever.

(Dr Patrick Bowler, co-founder of the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors and has featured on TV programs such as 10 Years Younger. His company is Court House Clinics)

By Bassmah Hassay