This past February break, I did a lot. I saw a movie, went bowling, turned 18, got a Real ID, and, you guessed it, got a tattoo. 

Now, this wasn’t any rash decision. I’d been thinking about it for months, with an exact idea of my future tattoo’s design, placement, size, and color in my mind. 

I planned it all out with my father, someone I knew I could trust to help with any tattoo troubles (he has two full sleeves). 

The day after my birthday, quite literally as soon as I got my ID set up, I went to the local tattoo artist, located in Cape Cod where I’d been staying for my break. 

The “Spilt Milk Tattoo” in West Yarmouth was a great choice for my first tattoo. The environment and general ambiance of the building was very calming, and any of the nerves I had about the tattoo were immediately soothed. 

As soon as my tattoo artist arrived, that was when the real fun started. 

The Beginning

First, the artist, whose name I think was Diego, printed out the tattoo design on a special type of stencil paper. He shaved the peach fuzz off of my shoulder, and wiped it down with what smelled like alcohol. 

Then, he pressed the stencil paper onto my shoulder and held it there for a few seconds— almost like a temporary tattoo that a little kid would get. 

After checking to be sure that the tattoo was of proper sizing and placement per my requests, Diego had me sit down on a chair. 

This chair was very similar to the one you’d find at a dentist’s office. The only difference was that Diego provided me with a pillow, and gave me a TV remote to listen to some music. 

I panicked and typed “Jazz” into the YouTube search bar. 

The Meat and Potatoes

There was no turning back. I was getting a tattoo. 

The biggest thing I was nervous about was the pain. Even though the shoulder is generally a light-pain area because of the increased muscle mass, I still had no idea what to expect. 

These days, tattoos are done with some kind of needle gun. I never really got a good look at it, because I typically choose not to look directly at needles as they are inserted into me. 

It was loud.

The noise of the vibration was the focus for me, to the point where the pain of the tattoo was secondary. 

Don’t get me wrong— it most definitely hurt, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as I’d anticipated. The pain level of the tattoo gun at any given point was probably less than the pain I’ve gotten from a flu shot. 

It almost felt like I was getting attacked with a chainsaw, but the chainsaw was being wielded by a mosquito. 

I had figured that at some point, my shoulder would go numb from the repeated pain of the tattoo gun, but it never went away. I’d say I got used to it, but it definitely still hurts regardless. 

The tattoo, which runs from the middle of my shoulder to a few inches above my elbow, took about 1 ½ to 2 hours to complete. Because I refused to look at the tattoo as it was being made, I never really had an idea of how much longer it would take. 

There were multiple moments where I thought Diego was finally done with the tattoo, but the gun would turn right back on and he’d keep going. 

Eventually, though, the tattoo was complete. 

The Aftercare

Every day since I’ve gotten my tattoo, I’ve put a good amount of effort into keeping the tattoo clean, so that it won’t get infected. 

Morning and night, I wash the tattoo with warm water and antibacterial soap. 

Then, I pat the tattoo dry, preferably with something clean like a paper towel or tissue. 

I’ve been using Aquaphor ointment to help the tattoo heal up, but now that the old skin has almost fully flaked off (totally normal!), it’s about time to switch to a regular scentless lotion. 

After my tattoo fully heals up, I’ll have to start using a strong SPF sunscreen to help with its longevity, especially for the upcoming summer. 

Tattoos may be permanent, but a lot of work still has to be done to keep them in good condition. 

The Cost — Was It Worth It?

The full cost of the tattoo was $600: $100 for the appointment’s down-payment, $400 for the tattoo itself, and a $100 tip.

That’s definitely the most I’ve ever spent on anything.. 

Luckily, the tattoo was something of a birthday present, in the way that the $200 from my grandparents went towards it.

I never knew tattoos were so expensive, but after getting one I can definitely see the reason why. The amount of dedication and time that a tattoo artist puts into their work could only demand such a hefty cost. 

That being said, I still think it’s wild that tattoo artists get paid $200-$250 an hour for what they do. Here I was, thinking my new job that pays $21.50 an hour was a lot!

Knowing that tattoos are so expensive, I’m really glad that I put so much planning into it. A tattoo definitely isn’t something you’d want to get on an impulse– not just because of the permanence of the tattoo, but also because it’s a large out-of-pocket expense. 

Because of all of the planning I put into the tattoo, I’d say it was 1000% worth it. I had a vision in my mind, and the artist made it happen. I would’ve paid him more if I could. 

This tattoo may have been my very first, but judging on my experiences I highly doubt it’ll be my last. Maybe in the future, I’ll be able to save up some more money for another one.