My first ever tattoo I built myself up for the worst possible thing I could possibly imagine and then I ended up having no sleep, no food nothing felt really on edge, went into the studio nerves started to really kick in and he started…within 5-10 minutes sweat just started pouring down my face, my mother came with me and fortunately had a couple of £ spare, went few doors up and got an energy drink, drank some of it, relaxed and fine.

Now when I go in for one I bloody love it, my artist and I have a lot in common so time goes nowhere and it keeps your mind off the actual whole “a needle is stabbing me” type of attitude or thinking.

When I start on my right arm (getting sleeve) I’ll probably bring an MP3 player…the pain doesn’t bother me in the slightest, decent night kip, bite to eat and a drink before going in — bobs your uncle it’s fine.

Saying that, everyone is different.

telling him that will keep him relaxed.

the needling hurt differently in different areas (no sh*t, David) but no matter the discomfort I’ve found that the whole “take a deep breath, let it out slowly and relax as you exhale” thing actually will change the sensation from terrible to tolerable. What I can’t relax my way out of is a tattooist that dry wipes the inked skin! A dry paper towel feels just like sandpaper after a couple hours.

Now having done my 1st tattoo I truly know the meaning of “earning your tattoo”. It was worth the pain/annoyance/whatever you want to call it to be happy with the end result that will hopefully look good for decades to come.

A little trick I picked up on my own during my apprenticeship in 2006, not only do I use “What I consider to be the very best transfer gel” but I will also use a spray made by the same company. I hope it’s cool to mention a brand name, anyway it’s called “Spray Stuff” and its from the same makers as my transfer gel. After I put my stencil on I dry it really well for 2-3 minutes with a hair dryer as it will set the stencil AWESOME, THEN spray it with the spray, then another 2-3 minutes with the hair dryer. Ask your artist if he will do this method. don’t be afraid to bring a hair dryer with you (As most artists don’t have them.) What this will do is make your stencil SUPER resistant to “Wet-Wiping” with G.Soap on the paper towel rather than dry wiping, which we ALL know hurts. I mean who knows maybe he will give it a try for you and be able to dry wipe much less and at the same time pick himself up a handy little useful tip. LET ME STRESS, IF YOU ARE NOT A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL DO NOT USE ANY ADVICE AS A WAY TO LEARN TO TATTOO, THEIR IS MORE THAN YOU COULD POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND AT THIS POINT THAT IS VITAL TO THIS INDUSTRY THAT YOU WILL *****NEVER***** LEARN FROM SOME FRICKING WEBSITE OR VIDEO OR TV, OR “TATTOO SCHOOL SCAM”, If you are indeed talented do things the correct way don’t look for the quick fix because you will NEVER be looked at with any kind of respect by the Professional Tattoo Community!!!! and that is a fact!!!