A Tattoo Artist's Guide to Your First Tattoo (2024)

Getting your first tattoo can be intimidating. Whether you just turned 18 and have been waiting for years or are older and seizing a moment, the excitement of picking out art can be complicated by worrying about the safety hazards of the process. After all, there’s a lot that can go wrong with a tattoo. But taking steps to make sure you’re working with an artist who can give you the piece you want and knows how to protect you from infection or a bad healing process is key to make sure your first tattoo isn’t your last.

Teen Vogue spoke with Myra Brodsky, an artist with 11 years of experience who works at Red Rocket Tattoo in Manhattan. Brodsky gave us the rundown on all the things you should have in mind when it comes to your first tattoo, from what to get to what to look for when it comes to a safe, clean session.

Artistry & Design

There’s all kinds of tattoos to choose from. Aside from your design itself, you can seek out specific styles from artists. A good place to start is with an artist’s portfolio, which is often a physical book in their shop or available online. An artist’s Instagram account is a great place to start, too. (Brodsky’s Instagram features both finished tattoos she’s done and designs that haven’t been used yet.)

“As your first tattoo, I would definitely pick someone who's a real professional,” Brodsky advises. She says to look for an artist who has work similar to the design you want, so you can know what the elements might look like when they’re finished. If you want a specific flower, look for someone who’s done that flower in a way that you like.

If you’re short on ideas but are eager for some artwork, Brodsky says certain trends never seem to go out of style. Ten minutes before our interview, an 18-year-old customer had just gotten a small rose tattoo done by Brodsky. She says flowers, animals, and New York souvenir tattoos are all popular at her shop in Manhattan. But when it comes to design, Brodsky says nothing substitutes for a personal touch.

“I would always say that people are happiest when they get something personalized. I mean, you can, as well, pick something from the book,” she explains. “I like doing things from the book, too.”

“It's easy, and it's small, so you will probably not regret it,” she says of picking something simple from an artist’s portfolio. “But in the end, it's just something from the book. It's just something all the other people have, too. It's nothing that really defines you.”

“Find something you can identify with, something you can relate to,” she advises. She’ll talk with her clients about what means the most to them — hobbies or work or other interests — and then try to bring that to life through illustration. “That's actually quite fun because there are always new things you can try out, and then it's gonna be something really special, something personal, something unique no one else has because I make the drawing especially for these people, so no one else has it.”

“I think that's really what makes these people like this, what makes them not regret what they just got.”

Hygiene and Safety

Tattoos can be dangerous — they’re open wounds, after all! That’s why there are safety regulations in place to make sure you get your ink in a safe and hygienic way. Brodsky says they are a few key things you should be on the lookout for as your artist sets up shop.

She says that the entire set-up should be done wearing gloves. Sealed needles and sealed tubes are important for safety — that way you know those parts of that tattoo gun you’ll be exposed to are sterile. She also says to make sure your artist has disinfected the surface of the tattoo station, whether it’s an arm rest or a full massage bed you lay out on.

“Some people have machine bags,” she explains, referring to a plastic wrap for the entire tattooing device. In general, she says, look for lots of plastic wraps and bags: “Everything they touch has to be wrapped in plastic.” That includes the squirt bottle containing a mix of distilled water and soap that’s used to keep the tattoo clean during the session.

Aside from all the plastic wrap and clean gear, Brodsky says there’s another essential item every tattoo station should have: Vaseline, the only thing she recommends should be used as a skin moisturizer during the session.

Dr Joshua Zeichner, Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research at The Mount Sinai Hospital adds, "The way you care for your skin before, during, and after a tattoo can significantly impact your outcome. Make sure that your skin is thoroughly cleaned before getting a tattoo. Soap and water followed by rubbing alcohol should suffice, but I actually recommend surgical grade cleansers like Hibiclens to be safe. Any bacteria on the skin could lead to an infection if it tracks into open areas from the tattoo."

Pain & Placement

Tattoos hurt. The process of getting inked has been compared to stinging, burning, and even cat scratches, but Brodsky says it’s hard to explain.

“I don't have any experience with waxing, but some people compare it to waxing,” she explains. “I would just say there's nothing you can do about the pain.”

“It really depends on you as an individual,” she says. “Not everyone feels the same way. Some people say lines hurt more. Some people say shading hurts more. Some people say it's all the same. Some people say nothing hurts. Some people say, like, everything hurts, and then they move a lot. It really depends on the person.”

“You really have to try out first to really get to feel how it's like,” she elaborates. “I cannot tell you if it hurts because I don't know.” She had just explained this to the 18-year-old client who got a rose before we spoke. When it comes to dealing with pain during the session, not moving, Brodsky stressed, is very important.

If you’re worried about how you’ll deal with the pain, it’s good to test your first tattoo out on the legs or arms, where Brodsky says the pain can be less intense, especially if it’s a fleshier part of your body. While upper arms, forearms, thighs, and calves are all great locations, Brodsky says elbow and knee tattooing can be “kind of spicy, but it's still doable.” Tattoos on the torso hurt worse, she explains, because the skin is softer and lighter.

There may be lingering pain, soreness, or sensitivity after a tattoo, which can feel similar to sunburn or a bruise. Dr. Zeichner explains, "Warning signs to look out for is significant tenderness or pain. Mild redness is normal, but any swelling or beefy red skin may signify infection or a poor reaction. If there is any pus, or if you have a fever or feel systemically unwell, make sure to visit your dermatologist."

Aftercare & Healing

A tattoo is an open wound, and it should be treated like one. There are a lot of different guides out there on how to take care of fresh ink, and each one may vary a little. Brodsky shared her go-to product for clients when she sends them home from a session.

“When it's fresh, I always give them a little bit of Vaseline and cover them up in a little patch so it's safe,” she says. “They can keep the patch on for two to three hours and then remove it.”

“Just don't rewrap it,” she warns. “Don't put any plastic on because that's gonna eventually slow down the healing. If you use cling film from a kitchen, it's not necessarily made for your skin, so some people just get a rash or hives or whatever.” If you're worried about fresh ink getting blood on your bed sheets, Brodsky says dry bandages can be used overnight. But after any bleeding stops, the most important thing to do is let the area air out to heal.

“As you get home, you can just have a shower,” she continues. “You can wash it clean with antibacterial soap, and then you can start using Aquaphor for two or three days, two to three times a day, but only like a very thin layer. Just, don't go too crazy because it's really rich.” If you’re worried you’ve overdone it Aquaphor, dab some off with a clean paper towel.”

Brodsky says that after three days of healing with Aquaphor, any simple moisturizer will keep the skin from getting too dry through the next process of peeling. It’s common for tattoos to itch as the skin heals, and Brodsky says you should use plenty of moisturizers and avoid wearing anything that will rub the area. You should never scratch a healing tattoo — but that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything about the itch.

“Whenever it gets itchy, you don't scratch it. I always just slap it,” she shares. “It's better than scratching.”

Also, you should always wear sunscreen, especially on your tattoo. Dr. Zeichner says, "Make sure to apply sunscreen to all of your skin, but that’s the best thing to tattoos. UV light can cross tattoos to fade. I personally recommend using mineral-based sunscreen to Freshly healed tattoos they are less likely to cause any skin irritation. Plus, zinc oxide both offer is UV light protection and helps soothe the skin barrier."

Cover-ups & Laser Removal

Sometimes, a tattoo doesn’t go the way you imagined it. Brodsky says that it’s a matter of the client not liking the design when it heals, there’s not much she can do, but she does free touch-ups, including for anyone who might not have healed well.

“If you really hate it — if it’s like, I don’t know, your ex-boyfriend, ex-girlfriend’s name, and you start hating that person, then you can cover it up or get it lasered [off],” she says. Brodsky says cover-ups are common for her, explaining, “I can cover it up, but it has to be a lot bigger than the existing [tattoo] and it has to be a lot darker most of the time.”

While a cover-up can be a good way to change a tattoo, it’s not necessarily 100% effective, Brosky warns: “No matter what we do as a cover-up, you will always see what’s underneath.”

Brosky herself says she would never cover up any of her many, many tattoos — especially given that she appreciates the charm of even the less-than-perfect artwork.

“I think I have so many sh/*tty things and so many unfinished ones, and I just love them,” she says. “I think they’re part of the whole thing. So cover-ups or laser methods would never be an option for me.”

Forever & Ever

Brodsky started tattooing 11 years ago when she suddenly found herself in art school without parental support after the death of her father and disappearance of her mother. What had been a hobby turned into a way for her to pay for her own schooling. Brodsky started tattooing as a lark. Over a decade later, she still cherishes every single piece of ink she has, and it’s evident that even the silly ones have a special place in her heart.

The personality evident in many of Brodsky’s tattoos is a testament to the art form’s power. While it can be daunting to think about making a permanent change to your body, working with an artist who understands the forever factor is vital. Just as impactful can be working with an artist who understands you.

Every person has their own story; tattoos are a fun way to tell it. Their permanent nature means they shouldn’t be entered into lightly — but it also means they’ll grow and change with you, especially if you continue to add more ink as you age. Even though the ink stays in the same spot forever, you don’t have to. The best tattoos often remind us of times we’ve lived, places we’ve been, how far we’ve come, and how to keep going.

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