To get things started I have three piercings,nose,navel,and lower lip. So it isn't like i'm scared of needles or anything. I first decided I wanted a tattoo when I was about 10 years old. You see i've always been around tattoos due to the fact that my parents both have at least more then 2. But when I was 10 I went with my Mom and Dad while they got tattoos on their wedding fingers. Anyway i've always been interested with the concept of body modifications, and seeing my parents get tattoos made me that much more interested. When I first asked my parents if I could get a tattoo I was shocked that my Dad was the first to say yes( He had a bit of trouble accepting my piercings). So without much hesitation I had the approval of my parents.
At A Glance Author Angel When It just happened I decided to wait and think about the design I wanted instead of just rushing out that day and getting my tattoo. Because unlike a piercing you have a tattoo for the rest of your life!
Which was very hard to me to do considering that i'm very impatient. So I began tossing around ideas of what I wanted and where I wanted it. From the beginning I knew I wanted some type of flower. The end result of all my thinking about my tattoo was that I would get 1-3 flowers on a vine on my shoulder to start with. Then if down the road I wanted anything more or bigger I could always add on to what I already had. So let's fast forward to my actual tattoo day (which was yesterday!).
I started the day with butterflies in my stomach. I was thinking "Oh my goodness i'm actually going to do this". The tattoo studio I went to didn't open until 1:00pm so I had some time to kill before going. Anyway when the time finally came to actually go I wasn't really nervous anymore and was kid of getting eager to just get it done. When I got to the tattoo studio I was with my Mom,Dad,Sister,Best Friend,Aunt,and Cousin. I first had to put my name on a list which had only one other person before me. I started to look at the designs on the wall of the studio. The sound of the tattoo gun was horrible and I started to get scared. I watched a guy get his name on his arm and he looked like he was going to cry! Next it was my turn, my Mom showed the Tattoo artist my birth certificate and school ID, plus my Moms ID, and I paid $75 bucks.
I sat down in the chair and showed the artist where I wanted my tattoo. He drew a circle around the area and made sure the placement was correct. Then he stenciled my design and transfered that onto my shoulder. He then proceeded to clean my shoulder with rubbing alcohol. He then took needles out of a sealed package and inserted them into the gun. My Mom and I both asked a lot of questions and made sure everything was new and clean. That is the most important thing to be sure about! The tattoo artist then put the ink into little disposable paper cups and then dipped the gun into the ink. I decided on pink and purple. The only way I can describe the feeling of when the needle hit my skin is a slight pinch and then heat. It honestly felt like someone was digging into my skin with a razor. But to be totally truthful it wasn't all that bad. The outline of my tattoo didn't take too long about 2 minutes. Everyone said that was the worst part but really it wasn't that bad. The only parts I could really feel were when he hit my shoulder bone and believe me I could feel it!
So in the end my tattoo only took about 8 minutes and it wasn't a horrible 8 minutes. I was talking and smiling through the whole thing holding my Mommy's hand. When the tattoo artist was finished he put clear wrap around my shoulder and a napkin with some cloth tape. He clearly told me not to touch it for 10 days he said that about 4 times and to use any medicine I would put on a normal cut for 10 days. Also not to pick at the scab when it began to heal. So I thanked the man and I was on my way! I really love my tattoo and plan on taking very good care of it. I can't wait until the weather gets warmer so I can show it off! The only advice I have for anyone getting a tattoo is to make sure everything is clean and just do it! Don't let the pain factor stop you because it's way worth it!