You want to get a tattoo? Lets get some information first - Facts for teens

You have seen it in movies, in pictures, on strangers, maybe on your friends and your parents have it and you also want a tattoo.  

There is nothing wrong with it, tattoos can be beautiful and expressive, but before you go and get one lets look at some information that you are informed.

                        

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Getting a tattoo is like using your body as a canvass and doing art on it. Tattoos are permanent and is done by using needless and injecting ink and dyes under the skin.  

So you need to understand that if you do not want something permanently on your body, do not want to go through the hassle of removing it once you are bored with it or scared of needles, you would want to re-think the idea of getting a tattoo.

Once you have made up your mind to get a tattoo, you need to make sure of the following.  First of all that you had all your 'shots', especially Hepatitis B and if you have any medical problems like a heart disease or any skin problems or are a 'bleeder' you would want to first talk to you doctor to hear if it is in order to go ahead getting a tattoo.

Read here for more information on the risks of getting a tattoo.

 Even though tattoos are generally accepted, having one may hurt your chances of getting a job or advancing your career. If you get a tattoo, career coaches recommend you get one that's easy to cover with work clothes. 

This can unfortunately be true, since some people still 'judge the book by its cover' and if they see tattoos, they automatically assume you are a 'bad' or uncommitted person - which can be very far from the truth.

It is very easy to get an infection from getting a tattoo and that can be really bad, so it is very important that you choose a tattoo artist or parlor which is clean and hygienic.  Make sure that all of the needless and gloves that they used are sterilized or new - you do not want to contract an infection that was carried over from another person.

Most states don't allow minors (people younger than 18 years) to get a tattoo without a parent's permission, and some require that a parent be present during the tattooing. In some states, minors are not allowed to get tattoos. 

If you go to a specific parlor and you do not feel comfortable or it looks unhygienic, leave and find a better place.  If you know people who has tattoos, speak to them and find out where they did their tattoos.  If they are satisfied and did not get an infection, it is a good indication.

Depending on where you plan to get the tattoo, it can hurt.  Some areas are more sensitive and will hurt more.  If you are somebody that cannot handle pain, you will either have to forget about a tattoo or have it done in session.

So what can you expect when you get to the tattoo parlor?  What is the process? Have a look at the video so that you will be prepared on what to expect.

Once you are done and you are now very excited to show off your tattoo, you need to remember that 'aftercare' is very important.  This will make sure that the tattoo heals quickly and there is no infection and you can start showing it off.

• cover the tattoo with a bandage for at least 24 hours
• after this time you can remove the bandage and leave the tattoo open so that it dries
• in the same way that a scab will form over a cut, scabs will start forming on your tattoo - it will be tempting to remove the scabs or touch the tattoo, but do not do it.  The body needs to heal by itself, not with you interfering.
• you can use water and soap to clean the tattoo and do not rub it hard to dry it off with a towel, just pat it lightly to dry it
• buy a good antibiotic ointment that you can apply to the area a few times a week until it is totally healed.
• do not swim or soak in a bath while you still have a tattoo that is busy healing.

Tattoos usually take about 2 weeks to heal. Even after it's fully healed, wear a sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 30. This not only protects your skin, but can help keep the tattoo from fading. 

Remember the most important thing, a tattoo is permanent, so be sure that it is what you want, not something that you think you must do to get accepted by your friends or to be 'cool'.  It has to be a personal decision.

 Completely removing a tattoo can be difficult depending on your skin type, how big and complex the design is, and the types and colors of inks that were used. It can take several treatments over months, and results are not guaranteed. Treatment can cause darkening or lightening of the skin, and scarring. It also can be expensive.

Now, you have the facts, you watched the videos, you gathered the information and you are ready for this.  If you are sure, go for it.  Now all that is left is to choose your design and where on your body you would like to get your tattoo.