What does a tattoo look like? A Beginner's Guide to First Tattoo and Expected Feelings

Have you ever just sat in your room and wondered what certain things are like? For example, what it's like to skydive, ski down a steep hill, pet a lion, travel the world on a bike and much more. Some things are new to most people, so it's no wonder we all keep imagining we're doing these incredibly amazing things.

One of the things that people also tend to wonder about is tattoos. People who have never had tattoos often ask those who have tattoos; What does it look like? Or does it hurt a lot? It is natural to be interested in such things; after all, more people are getting tattoos, so it's only natural to start wondering what it would be like to get a tattoo for yourself.

In the following paragraphs, we will try to describe all the sensations you can expect when it comes to getting a tattoo. We will try to get it as close as possible to beginners so you can be fully prepared when the time comes for you to finally get a tattoo. So, without further ado, let's get started!

What a Tattoo is Like: Getting a Tattoo and Expected Feelings

General Tattoo Process/Procedure

Before we get into the details, we need to first go through the general procedure for getting a tattoo and what it looks like. So, you will be in the tattoo studio and a reputable professional tattoo artist will set you up on a tattoo chair/table with all the necessary specialized equipment. From this point on, the procedure develops as follows;

• The area where the tattoo will be applied must be clean and shaved. If you haven't shaved this area, the tattoo artist will do it for you. The tattoo artist will be very careful and gentle to avoid being cut with a razor. The area will then be cleaned and sterilized with alcohol. It should not cause pain or discomfort; this is a pretty simple first step.
• The tattoo artist will then take a stencil of your tattoo design and transfer it to the indicated area of ​​the tattoo on your body. To do this, they will need to apply it with water/moisture if you may not like the placement and the tattoo artist needs to clean the skin and place the stencil elsewhere. At this point, you may feel a slight tickle, but that's about it.
• Once the placement is approved and ready, the tattoo artist will begin to outline the tattoo. At this point, you will feel a slight tingling, burning, or tingling sensation. It shouldn't hurt too much; tattoo artists are very gentle and careful with this part, especially if it's your first time. They will take breaks when needed. The best thing you can do is take a deep breath and relax.
• Once the outline is done, if your tattoo doesn't need any extra work, you're pretty much done too. However, your tattoo requires coloring and shading, you will have to linger a little longer. Shading and coloring are done in the same way as contouring, but with different, more specialized tattoo needles. Many argue that shading and coloring cause much less pain than tracing a tattoo.
• Once the shading and coloring is complete, your tattoo is ready to be cleaned and covered. The tattoo artist will apply a thin layer of ointment to the tattoo and then apply a plastic coating or a special tattoo bandage.
• From here, you will enter the "aftercare" process for your tattoo experience. This is the period during which you must take care of your tattoo while it heals. You will experience mild pain for the first 2-3 days, as well as general discomfort. However, as the tattoo heals, correctly, of course, the pain should subside and disappear. However, skin scabs will cause some itching, which you should ignore. NEVER scratch an itchy tattoo, as you can introduce bacteria and dirt onto your skin, causing a tattoo infection.
• The healing period should last up to one month. Over time, you will feel less discomfort regarding the tattoo. After complete healing, the skin will be like new.

Specific expectations for tattoo pain

The previous paragraphs have described some of the common tattoo procedures and sensations you can expect. Of course, personal experience is always different, mainly because each of us has a different pain tolerance. However, when it comes to tattoo pain, we can all agree that certain parts of the body hurt significantly more due to a tattoo than others.

This is due to the fact that if the skin is thinner or has more nerve endings, it will most likely hurt more during tattooing than other, thicker areas of the skin / body. For example, a tattoo on the forehead will cause significantly more pain than a tattoo on the buttocks. So let's also talk about specific tattoo pain expectations so you can be fully prepared for your first ink experience;

• The most painful parts of the body for tattoos - Chest, head, private parts, ankles, shins, knees (both front and back of knees), chest and inner shoulders.

Since these body parts have the thinnest skin on the body, millions of nerve endings, and also cover the bones, they are definitely a problem for a tattoo. They hurt the most, no doubt. Not much flesh to cushion the needle and hum of the machine. The pain can be really severe, to the point where some tattoo artists don't even tattoo those parts of the body. If you are a beginner, we definitely do NOT recommend that you get a tattoo on any of these body parts; the pain is just too much to handle.

• More tolerant body parts for tattoos that can still be quite painful - feet, fingers, toes, hands, thighs, center back

Now these body parts hurt when it comes to tattoos, according to the public opinion, they hurt significantly less compared to the previous group. These parts of the body are covered with thin layers of skin, over bones, with numerous nerve endings; it usually equates to pain. However, some manage to go through such tattoo sessions. Others experience intense pain and even spasms in response to the pain. We still would not advise beginners to get tattoos anywhere on these parts of the body, as the level of pain, although a little more tolerable, is still high.

• Parts of the body with low to moderate levels of pain - outer thighs, outer arms, biceps, upper and lower back, forearms, calves, buttocks

Since the skin is much thicker in these areas and does not directly cover the bones, the pain that can be expected during tattooing is usually mild to moderate. Of course, this again varies from one person to another.

But generally, you can expect less pain because the needle will not go into the bone due to the thicker skin and fat buildup in those parts of the body. If this is your first time getting a tattoo, we strongly recommend that you get one of these body parts and then gradually move on to more difficult and painful areas.

Factors affecting the level of pain

As we mentioned earlier, not everyone experiences the same pain during a tattoo, and this is completely normal. Some people have a higher tolerance for pain, others do not. In some cases, our pain tolerance is influenced by simple laws of biology, or simple things like the lifestyle we lead or even our general health can cause us to feel more or less pain. Therefore, let's discuss the main factors that can affect the level of pain during a tattoo session;

• Tattoo experience - without a doubt, your first tattoo will be the most painful. Since you have no previous experience and don't know what to expect, your psychological attitude towards new experiences can make you more alert and sensitive to the general sensations you are about to experience. The more tattoos you get, the less painful the procedure will be.
• Tattoo artist experience Getting a tattoo by a professional tattoo artist is important on many levels. A qualified tattoo artist will use their experience and techniques to make the tattoo as enjoyable as possible. They will be gentle, take necessary breaks, and monitor your reaction to the overall situation. They will also handle your tattoo with the utmost care, using disinfected, clean tools and working in a disinfected and clean environment.
• your mental state - People who come to a tattoo session in a state of stress and anxiety are more likely to experience severe pain compared to those who are slightly nervous or completely chilled. Stress and anxiety suppress your body's natural pain coping mechanism, which is why you're more likely to experience pain in situations that shouldn't be painful at all. So, before the tattoo session, try to relax; take a few deep breaths, shake off the anxiety, and just enjoy the experience for as long as you can.
• What's your gender - despite the debate for such a long time, the topic that women and men experience pain differently has not just become part of the general conversation. Some studies have shown that women experience higher levels of pain after certain invasive procedures compared to men. We are not saying that you, as a woman, will feel more or less pain than a man during a tattoo. But these factors can definitely affect your overall pain tolerance.

Post-tattoo - what to expect after the procedure?

Once your tattoo is done and beautifully covered, you will receive a set of care instructions provided by your tattoo artist. These instructions will guide you through the next period during which your tattoo needs to heal. You will be instructed on how to clean the tattoo, how often to wash it, what products to use, what clothes to wear, etc.

The tattoo artist will also talk about the possible adverse effects of getting a tattoo or not properly caring for it, such as tattoo infection, tattoo swelling, leakage, allergic reaction to ink, etc.

Now your first two days after the tattoo should look like this; the tattoo will bleed and ooze (ink and plasma) for a day or two and then it will stop. At this point, you will need to lightly wash/clean the tattoo and either reapply the bandage or leave it open to dry.

In any case, you should not apply any ointments or creams until your tattoo starts to close up and is dry; no discharge or bleeding. It should all be fairly painless, but a certain level of discomfort is normal. Many describe the initial stage of healing as a sunburn.

After a few days, the tattooed skin will settle down and begin to close up, after which you can start cleaning the tattoo and using ointments up to twice a day. As the scabs begin to form, you will feel intense itching. It is extremely important to refrain from scratching the tattoo! Otherwise, you can introduce bacteria and dirt onto the tattoo and inadvertently cause a rather painful tattoo infection.

Now, if your tattoos continue to bleed and ooze for more than 2 days, or if the initial pain continues to get worse even days after the procedure, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible. You may have an allergic reaction to the ink or a tattoo infection. Remember to also contact your tattoo artist and explain the situation. You will be examined by a doctor and will likely receive a course of antibiotics to calm the infection. Now, there is a chance that your tattoo could be ruined once the infection subsides, so always make sure the tattoo is done by an experienced professional.

Final thoughts

When getting a tattoo, you can expect to experience at least some degree of pain; after all, this is a procedure in which a tattoo needle pierces your skin at up to 3000 times per minute. A new tattoo is not considered a wound for no reason; your body is actually going through some trauma, and it will respond to that with some degree of pain. But when a tattoo is done by a professional tattoo artist, you can expect it to be very delicate, especially if you are doing it for the first time.

We strongly recommend that you consider the site of the tattoo, your own sensitivity to pain, the sensitivity of your skin, as well as your mental state when getting the tattoo. All of these can affect your pain tolerance. But don't despair; after all, your tattoo will be done quickly and you will be happy to see an incredible piece of art right on your body. And then you think: “Well, it was worth it!”.