INKEDblog takes you beneath the skin of today's tattoo culture. Our mission is to celebrate tattooing as a modern art form which incorporates art, fashion, style, and pop culture. While paying homage and respect to the past, we look to present a contemporary take on the present and future of skin art.

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Monday Jun 20, 2005

"Ten Things to Do After You Get Your First Tat"

You did it! You got inked, you survived the needle, you feel like the biggest rock star ever… Now what?

1. Thank the artist and leave a tip. Don’t let your euphoria get in the way of forging a sweet relationship. Shoot, they may do it cheaper next time!

2. Get a drink with your friends. Some might argue me on this point, but after the buzz buzz stops; you’re okay to party.

3. Look at your tat obsessively all night long. Yep. It’s permanent. That’s an oddly hard concept to grasp until it happens to you…

4. Enjoy the glow. It feels good to get a tattoo. That’s something no one can really explain to you unless you understand from experience. It’s your very own little inky high.

5. Listen really carefully to the instructions from the artist. They know what they’re doing. If they say leave the bandage on for an hour, leave it on for an hour. Christ, you’re a rock star, but you don’t want to screw it up…

6. Don’t pull off the bandage and go swimming. No, I’m serious. I bet you think that you wouldn’t but I know this chick who partied a little too hard, forgot she had just gotten a tat, and now the thorny rose on her hip looks more like a bruise. Yikes.

7. Put the recommended ointment on your tat every day. It makes it look good, but also keeps it from peeling which can make the lines less even.

8. Show everyone you know: your boss, your mom, your girlfriend… Just don’t do it obviously. It’s a lot cooler. Trust me, you’ll start to know which clothes show it off and which don’t. Peek-a-boo…

9. As it heals, check and make sure your tattoo is filled in correctly. If it needs a touch up, which is not uncommon, the artist will probably do it for free or for a very reasonable rate. (Particularly if you tipped them!)

10. Start planning your next one. This kind of fun don’t never have to end…

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