Do's

Do go to a pro
Health Canada require different licenses for the shop, the artist, or both. Don’t see any licenses displayed? Ask to see them before seeing any needles!

Do your research
Bring in various pics or illustrations (check tattoodles.com) of what you want. If you love butterflies, explain what you like about each image. The artist can customize a unique design. It may take a few days if your request is intricate.

Do know it will hurt
Getting a tattoo is painful, especially on areas with a lot of nerves, like your torso and lower back. The bigger and more intricate the design, the longer it takes (and it might even take multiple sessions). Small tattoos usually take an hour or two.

Do be original
If you must get a tattoo dedicated to your guy, be elusive. If the first flower he got you was a daisy, get a daisy tattoo. That way, if you do break up you won’t have “Josh” on your arm forever.

Do be strategic
When picking a location for a tattoo, think about how you might not always want to show it off. You can rock a small back tattoo in your bikini at the beach, but you can easily cover it up too.

Do take care of your tattoo
To avoid infections, wash your tattoo with warm water and antibacterial soap, and cover it with a healing cream, like A+d ointment. After the first week, it’ll peel like a sunburn. Don’t swim or expose it to the sun for at least two weeks.

Do ask about “removable” ink
There’s a new ink available that can be lasered off in one session instead of the usual three to 15 (go to freedom2ink.com for shops that carry it). Laser removal can cause scarring, plus it’s painful, even with local anesthesia, and expensive.

DON'TS

Don’t forget to ask questions
Tattoo shops can be intimidating, but you can’t be scared to speak up — it’s your body! Make sure you see them take the needles from a fresh package (dirty needles could expose you to hepatitis, HIV, and other infections). Alert your artist if you know you’re allergic to red ink, since you could get a painful, itchy, and potentially permanent rash from the pigments.

Don’t get one illegally
If someone is taking the risk to tattoo you if you’re underage, chances are they’re putting you at risk too. It’s worth the wait to get a tattoo done properly by a pro. Otherwise, you could end up with complications, like raised scar tissue — or worse, an infection.







Written by: Editor