Top tips for your first tattoo
🎯 Tips for Getting Your First Tattoo
1. Do Your Research (Studio & Artist)
Look for a studio with a strong portfolio you like. Check that their past work includes the styles you’re drawn to (fine line, botanical, illustrative, blackwork, etc.).
Visit the studio (or its social media) to see how clean the space looks, how well they present their work, and how the artists interact with clients.
At The Good Fight Tattoo, for example, artists are photographed in the studio context — this gives a real sense of how they work and their vibe.
Ask about hygiene, sterilization, and licensing — you deserve safety as much as great art.
2. Prepare Your Idea, But Be Flexible
Bring references: images, sketches, ideas of placement.
But be open to the artist’s suggestions — good tattooers will help you adjust scale, line weight, or detail so the tattoo ages well.
Understand that your skin is not a flat sheet of paper — they’ll adapt design to your body’s natural curves.
3. Pick the Right Placement & Size
Some areas (hands, feet, ribs) are more painful or heal differently.
Fine line work especially demands enough space — tiny detail in a cramped area may blur over time.
Think about how the tattoo will sit with movement (bending, stretching) and wardrobe.
4. Take Care of Your Body Beforehand
Get a good night's sleep.
Eat a decent meal before your appointment.
Don’t come hungover or dehydrated.
Wear comfortable, easy-to-remove clothing so the area is accessible without stress.
5. Ask Questions During Your Consultation
What needles or line weights will they use?
How many sessions might it take?
What aftercare products do they recommend? (And what to avoid: e.g. heavy creams, sun exposure)
How will it heal, and what signs of complication should you watch for?
6. During the Tattoo — Be Present
Stay as still as you can.
Breathe.
Use breaks if the artist offers them.
Signal if it’s too much — good artists will check in.
Trust the process: quality takes patience.
7. Aftercare & Healing
Follow the artist’s instructions exactly — clean gently, apply recommended ointment, avoid sun, avoid soaking (pools, baths) for a while.
Don’t pick at scabs or peeling skin — let it do its job.
Expect some fading or slight imperfections early on — the perfect healed result takes time.
8. Be Prepared for Touch-ups
Even a well-executed tattoo might need minor touch-ups months later.
Fine line work especially can lose crispness over time, so touch-ups are part of the journey.
Getting your first tattoo is more than getting inked — it’s starting a lifelong piece of art and memory. Be curious, patient, and choose with your head and your heart.