Tattoo artist Noemi Barajas applies a stencil onto the arm of her client, Brittany Mena, at her studio in Orange, Calif. Jessica Pons for NPR hide caption
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Jessica Pons for NPR
Tattoo artist Noemi Barajas applies a stencil onto the arm of her client, Brittany Mena, at her studio in Orange, Calif.
Jessica Pons for NPR
Thinking about getting a tattoo but not sure what to expect in the process?
Noemi Barajas has some advice. She's been tattooing since she was 16 — and has inked over a thousand people in the two decades she's been an artist.
It helps to think of your body as a "walking canvas," she says. When she gets tattoos, she sees herself as "an art collector of artists who put their blood, sweat and tears into their craft. I carry a part of them through their work."
Barajas, who works at The Original Goodfellas Tattoo and Piercing in Orange, Calif., shares 10 things she'd like first-timers to know before sitting in a tattoo chair.
1. Don't get a tattoo if you're not ready. Really. "If you're unsure about doing it, don't do it," says Barajas. "Tattoos are a permanent and life-long decision." Getting one covered up or removed with laser treatments can be expensive and painful.
Some of Barajas' original tattoo design sketches are pinned to the wall at her studio. Jessica Pons for NPR hide caption
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Jessica Pons for NPR
2. Know your styles. Before you get inked, get a sense of what kind of tattoo look you're going for, says Barajas. She shares a few common types:
- American traditional. "These are bold-line tattoos with solid colors in them," she says. Think old-school sailor tattoos like ships, nautical stars, daggers, eagles and hearts.
- Neo-traditional. These are "a rendition of traditional tattoos, except they include small fine-line tattooing," she says. They also have more complex color palettes. Popular motifs include faces, flowers and animals.
- Realism. These "include shadows, highlights and midtones to mimic real-life images. These are the most eye-catching styles and are more respected in the industry through their craft and artistry," says Barajas.
Barajas sketches out tattoo designs at her studio. Jessica Pons for NPR hide caption
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Jessica Pons for NPR
3. Trust the artist. Check out the artist's portfolio to see if their aesthetic matches your vibe. If you like what you see, consider giving them "artistic rights to just draw whatever for you," says Barajas. "A tattoo is unique when it's the artist's original work, not something from Pinterest or Google." So give your artist a few concepts and have them run with it.
Barajas herself inks a variety of styles. She's drawn Disney characters, hyper-realistic butterflies, black and gray tattoos that almost look 3-D and pieces that look like watercolor paintings. But she personally loves doing traditional tattoos the most. "The classic style always looks good on the skin, it's timeless and it's hard to regret."
Barajas holds up some of her tattoo designs to her client's arm. "I always print out my designs. I cut them out and tell my client: 'go stand in front of the mirror, put [a cutout] on your body and play around with where you want it because that's kind of what [the tattoo is] going to look like," she says. Jessica Pons for NPR hide caption
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Jessica Pons for NPR
Barajas holds up some of her tattoo designs to her client's arm. "I always print out my designs. I cut them out and tell my client: 'go stand in front of the mirror, put [a cutout] on your body and play around with where you want it because that's kind of what [the tattoo is] going to look like," she says.
Jessica Pons for NPR
4. A tiny tat is a good place to start. If you've decided that yes, you want a tattoo, get a small one to start, says Barajas — "in case you regret it later."
You can't go wrong with an image from nature, like a flower, a leaf or a bird, she says. Think twice about getting someone's name — especially if it's someone who you've been "dating for like, three months."
5. It's OK to get a piece just because you think it looks cool. Barajas says people get tattoos for three main reasons: to memorialize a person or event, to follow a fashion trend or because they like the aesthetics. Sometimes people want something "artistic with no meaning" — and that is totally fine.
Barajas prepares her tattoo supplies as she gets ready for a client. When you visit a tattoo artist, she says, "make sure they're clean." Check their workspace. The machines should be wrapped in plastic to help prevent blood-borne diseases. Jessica Pons for NPR hide caption
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Jessica Pons for NPR
6. Don't be afraid to walk into a tattoo parlor. Some people are "scared to come in" because the tattoo artists look intimidating, says Barajas. But she promises that "we're cool, we're fun and we're interesting" — and the people inside genuinely want to help you find a piece that fits your needs. Plus, how else will you meet an artist with a style you like?
7. Consider your pain tolerance. Getting inked "feels like someone's scratching on a sunburn," says Barajas. And it might be more painful depending on the placement of your tattoo. The inner parts of your body and places where you have a lot of nerves, like the palm of your hand, tend to be more sensitive than other areas of the body.
But don't worry too much about the pain, she adds. The most common thing people tell her after a tattoo session is "oh, it's not as bad as I thought it would be."
Barajas' tattoo workstation. Jessica Pons for NPR hide caption
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Jessica Pons for NPR
8. Please don't bring your entourage with you. "Artists hate it when you bring more than two people to your session," says Barajas. "It causes people to laugh and move. Bring only one person if needed, but don't be afraid to connect and talk to your artist. I always say we're not just tattooers, we're therapists."
9. Eat a big meal before your session. Especially "high-calorie foods like a giant burger," says Barajas. "You want your energy up and we don't want someone to pass out on us." Staying full and hydrated can help keep up your blood sugar levels and prevent you from feeling woozy during a session, which can last between a few minutes and several hours over several days, depending on the size of your tattoo.
Barajas tattoos a design onto the arm of her client, Brittany Mena. She says people often tell her that the pain is "not as bad as I thought it would be" after a session. Photo by Jessica Pons for NPR hide caption
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Photo by Jessica Pons for NPR
10. The tattoo journey doesn't end in the chair. Once your tattoo is inked, take care of your skin, says Barajas. Your artist will wrap your tattoo in plastic. "Leave that on for an hour or two until you stop bleeding," she says.
Then wash your tattoo gently with antibacterial soap, keep the area clean and avoid irritating it (for example, don't scrub it with a loofah). Moisturize it with unscented lotion. Keep it covered up to avoid sunburn. It'll take about a month to fully heal, says Barajas. Then go ahead and show it off.
For more tattoo advice, including placement, color and size, listen to our podcast episode.
The audio portion of this episode was produced by Sylvie Douglis. The digital story was edited by Clare Marie Schneider. The visual editor is Beck Harlan. We'd love to hear from you. Leave us a voicemail at 202-216-9823, or email us at LifeKit@npr.org.
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