As I limped out of the tattooing room at my local parlour a few days ago with a freshly inked and bleeding buttcheek, a lady stepped out of the group of onlookers who had been intently watching my butt for the last 2 hours and asked: “did it hurt?”

Pain

For someone who has never gotten a tattoo before, it’s hard to explain the pain – some describe it as a hot scratching, others find it unbearable and have to bail out after just a couple of minutes. Personally, i think that if you want something bad enough, you can put up with the pain. it also depends where on your body the tattoing is taking place – obviously the hands, feet, face and neck are trouble spots, but the most painful tatto i’ve ever gotten was on my ankle. A close second was the one on my butt – i figured there was plenty of cushioning there so i would hardly feel it, but you’d be surprised how sensitive it is >< anyway, the bottom line is that it’s not pleasant, but it is definitely BEARABLE. It’s an experience that will probably teach you that you can handle a lot more than you thought you could. i read somewhere that hardly anyone has “a tattoo”, they have their “first tattoo”. people keep going back for more, so the decision whether or not to get a tattoo shouldn’t be influenced by fear of pain. One thing to remember is that most people who pass out during a tattoo do so because of low blood sugar, not pain. So make sure you have something to eat first and stay hydrated.

How long will it take to heal?

The tattoo will bleed and leak clear fluid for a few hours, then be slightly tender for the next couple of days. A few days after getting the tattoo, the skin will harden and become crusty and raised. After about a week the top layers of ink and skin will flake off of their own accord – do NOT scratch or pick at the scab! After that, the skin will be perfectly smooth of course, the exact times differ for everyone, so don’t stress~

How long will it take?

That all depends on what you’re having done. A very small tattoo only a few centimetres big will probably take less than half an hour, while a full sleeve will takes weeks, maybe even months of appointments. It’s best not to attempt too much in one session – know your limits.

What does aftercare involve?

Avoid constricting clothes over the tattoo

avoid saunas, baths and swimming – chlorine and salt water can damage the image’s integrity

apply an aniseptic and moisturising cream like Bepanthen or Paraderm.

Don’t try to use other methods to heal your tattoo, like oils or gels.

Avoid any excessive exercise that may cause sweating

avoid too much sun exposure in the first week, and always protect your tattoo with sunscreen.