October 6, 2019
You've planned it all out and you think you are finally ready to put that deposit down on your new tattoo. Whether it’s your first, second, or even tenth tattoo, you might be nervous about the placement of your new-to-be tat.
Many say that the worst place to get a tattoo is on your rib cage.
With the needle grinding in-and-out of your skin hovering over your rib cage, of course it’s not going to be painless. However, with experience I can say it’s all about your tolerance for pain, how well you prepare, and your mindset during the time you are on the tattoo ink bed.
Here are some helpful tips and tricks to prepare for your tattoo:
· Get a good night’s rest. Sure, this may seem obvious... but you never know when those late-night nerves might start to creep up on you. Getting a good night’s rest will help you to stay healthy and alert when getting your tattoo, and assist in a strong mindset when getting your tattoo.
· Eat a healthy breakfast. Once again, this may be a duh moment. Eating a fulfilling breakfast is always a good idea, but especially on the day of your tattoo appointment. There is nothing worse than a grumbling stomach while a needle is digging holes in your skin. Yikes.
· Drink more water than usual the day before you get your tattoo. Staying hydrated is important to prepare your skin for the procedure and allows your skin to better absorb the ink. It is also reported that drinking water will help your skin during the healing process. Water works wonders, ya’ll!
· Bring comfort items (listed below). Bring items with you that are going to either distract or make you feel comfortable when you are getting your tattoo. Remember that low blood sugar and an empty stomach will not aid in calming your nerves, and/or pain tolerance.
-Small pillow If your tattoo takes as long as mine, you will be laying on your side for around two hours. Typically, a tattoo artist provides a small cushion to place under your side, however bringing a small pillow for your head will make your experience 100x more comfortable.
-Headphones Bring those tunes, baby! Time seems to fly by when jamming out to your favorite songs.
-Your favorite soda or energy drink Getting a tattoo is hard on your body. During the process, blood sugar tends to drop. To keep your blood sugar up, drinking a energy or sugary-drink before and at intervals throughout the process will help.
So, you got your tattoo… and now you’re heading home thinking about that fire tattoo picture you’re about to upload to the ‘gram. What next?
Besides any special directions from your tattoo artist, typically you are going to need unscented lotion or a healing ointment. I like to use AQUAPHOR healing ointment or Lubriderm unscented lotion. When you go to wash your fresh ink, you will want to use fragrance-free soap, and pat it dry with a paper towel (as regular bath towels harbor bacteria). For the first 2-3 days, you will want to wash it 2-3 times a day, and apply either unscented lotion or healing ointment each time. On the 3rd or 4th day, you can reduce this process to only 1-2 times a day.
With any tattoo, your tattoo with flake, itch and possibly scab while healing. Never scratch or pick at the scabs.
Last, but not least… the pain. Did it hurt?
Well, it doesn’t feel nice but I firmly believe if it’s something you really want, you will love it and bear it. Having distractions such as music served as a wonderful aid in relieving the pain. Go in with an excited mindset but be careful not to overdo it. Working yourself up will only cause you to catch “nerves,” and will not help when trying to be relaxed as possible. When getting my rib tattoo (which took about 2 hours), the pain was maybe a 7.5/10. Totally bearable. However if anything, it sort-of tickled. Ha-ha.
My best advice… remember that it is only temporary pain, for something that will bring you long-term happiness. Happy tattooing!
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