The decision to get a tattoo is a big one - particularly if it's your first; you might have questions about selecting tattoo designs, and more. Here at Renaissance Tattoo our tattooists are here to help you through the process and help you make the decision that's best for you.

One of the most frequent questions we encounter at Renaissance Tattoo Studio is, "This is my first tattoo and I’m a little nervous. What should I know?"

First, you should be well rested and we suggest you eat within 4 hours of getting your tattoo. If you are tired or your blood sugar is low, you may experience a higher level of discomfort than you normally would. We will not tattoo you if you have been drinking alcohol. It causes you to become dehydrated and it will also cause you to bleed more and consequently have a negative effect on your new tattoo.

There may be a small amount of blood. The amount varies with each person, but usually it is about what you would expect from a scraped knee or rug burn. The pain also varies from person to person but most people don't find it unbearable. The best thing to do is just accept the discomfort and relax. Fighting or tensing will only increase your discomfort. The best description we have found for the feeling is to compare it to being scratched. It is a feeling that is more annoying than painful.

If you start to feel faint or lightheaded, tell your artist right away. Please don’t try to tough it out. There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking a break. Our artists are prepared for this sort of thing and know how to handle it. If you need to change position, stretch, go to the bathroom, sneeze, wiggle, or fart, let your artist know BEFORE you do it. A sneeze can be really bad for a tattoo artist’s steady hand .

Feel free to head over to the FAQ section - it's very informative and chances are your question(s) has been addressed there.  You are always welcomed to contact us as well via the Contact Us link or by phone!