To get a tattoo is a fantastic way to decorate your body. But it is going to be there for the rest of your life, so you better be sure of what you choose before you get tattooed. A question I get all the time is: "what when you get old?" But I don't want to get old and regret all the things I didn't do, and I am going to get old anyway.... I hope. But...it's never too late to get a tattoo!  

Choosing a design is half the work!

A mistake many people do, including me, is choosing a motif that is too small the first time. You are unsecure if you are going to regret later an to be safe you choose a small one. This is the biggest regret later... Think a little bit bigger than you actually wanted.

When you are going to get a tattoo, choose a size that looks good on your body. Pick a motif that feels right for you, don't listen to friends and wannabees. The tattoo is going to be on your body, so you choose! Take your time to deside, there is no rush. And if you have an idee, the tattooist may help you with a drawing.

Go to several different studios and choose the one that you like the best. Tattooist are like artists, they have different styles in their work. Look at pictures and talk to the tattooist. Choose the artist you like the best. You can ask the tattooist if he/she can make a drawing for you, but don't make the artist choose for you. The final choice is yours. But listen to tips about size and placement, the tattooist has experience. Don't be afraid to ask, no questions are stupid.

There are no law in Norway of age for getting a tattoo. A law that is used is; after the age of 15 you can buy whatever you want with your own money. But at the serious studioes you have to be 18 to get tattooed, with good reason. Most people changes a lot from the age of 15 to 18. So the motif you chose at 15 may not be as cool at 18. And at this age you are growing and the skin is changing. Even though your mother and father says yes it is still your body that gets the tattoo, and at the age of 25 the tattoo is starting to look old.

If you order an appointment at a studio; be there on time! If you change your mind, let the studio know. If you don't tell the tattooist are waiting for you... When you get to the appointment take your time to find a good place and size for the tattoo. Don't choose a place you think is going to hurt less. Most likely it doesn't hurt as much as you think and you really wanted the tattoo somewhere else. Most motifs can be adjusted to the body, ask your tattooist for advice. But be sure to approve the size and placement before it is too late.

How much it hurts is impossible to say. It depends on the person and the place. But it does hurt, you are getting a needle in your skin. But the pain is part of getting a tattoo. It should be a boundary to cross. And the feeling you get when you are done is great!

You get information on how to take care of your tattoo from the tattooist. You might get different advice from different studios. For the first 14 days you should avoid sun, bathtubs, public baths, bathing in lakes and sea, sauna, because of bacteria level. Don't scratch your tattoo, it can loose pigment and get an infection. Rub the tattoo with a cream that you get recommended at least twice a day. Shower as normal, but use a soap without perfume. Treat your tattoo like a wound that you don't want an infection in. And ask your tattooist if something happens.