getting my first tatt; lessons learnt

Since poly days, I've always wanted to get inked and when I started working, I immediately wanted to get it done and I did 🥲 Looking back, I really should've done more research and not rush into it. So for anyone reading this and you are considering getting a tattoo, this is what I will tell myself the day before i got my first tatt done :(

#1 : THINK, THINK & THINK before getting your first ink 🤔

DYOR! Be it the artist, the style, the price or the design... evaluate your options, don't be impulsive. Go on pinterest, tiktok, ig, twitter and look for inspiration and know the style that you are going for. Different artists have their own niche and styles that they are better at (realism, neo-trad, cybersigilism etc). Think of how it will look on your body in terms of proportion and position. I wanted to get a snake but my friends asked me if it was an earthworm... hehe 🤪 it got to the point i did not even want to show it (pretty self explanatory why) but i have embraced it since then 🥸

#2 : Find a GOOD artist: experienced/well-known =/= good ❌

I got mine done by an artist with 10 years experience, i went to the session based on trust and told the artist i wanted to do a snake and had no prior design in mind (this was on me though). But I should have known because on the day of the session, the artist no showed and only contacted me 3 hours after the time of appointment 🚩, BUT because i was not willing to let go of the deposit, despite multiple warning from my friends and colleagues, we scheduled another session and got it done. Initially I thought it was alright... then as days passed, it felt really lacklustre and the whole session actually only took about an hour.

Had to eventually find another artist that did his best to try to make it resemble a snake as much as possible and its probably one of the better rework that could've been done to it (see last slide for before and after)

#3 : PROPER CARE IS VERY IMPORTANT 🧼

See if you are allergic to the second-skin (protective cling-wrap used for newly done tatts). I left mine on as instructed for 2-3 days and even it started itching quite badly (see 3rd slide). I didn't remove them and just tahan-ed through the itch LOL. after removing it, i noticed there were bumps and the itch got so bad i started scratching it EXCESSIVELY. eventually, the bumps turned into pimples with white heads and just felt really gross as if my earthworm really came to life… 🪱 everyone has different reactions to ink so definitely take note of the tell-tale signs from your body.

As of me and the subsequent sessions, i only leave the wrap on for about 6 hours before peeling it off and I have not gotten any rashes or reactions since then.

tldr: think a lot, research a lot, ask around esp friends & family with tatts already for advice before getting one! this is one painful lesson for me but it will not stop me from getting more, cause now i am ever more wary and doing more research before getting anything new on my body❗️hope this helps for anyone thats thinking of getting their first ink! 🫡

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#Lemon8SG #firsttattoo #tattoo #regrets #sgtattoo