Planning your first tattoo: Tips on choice, placement & style - PMT|SKetch
Your first tattoo: Between excitement and panic – How to make the right decision
Congratulations! You're considering getting your first piece of art tattooed on your skin. It's exciting, a little scary, and usually raises a thousand questions. "What if I don't like it anymore?" or "Where should it even go?" are perfectly normal thoughts. Read more about various topics HERE to help ease your mind.
To ensure your first visit to the studio doesn't end in a "tattoo fail", we've put together a little roadmap for you.
1. The golden rule: If you have doubts, wait.
Getting a tattoo isn't an impulse buy like a new pair of sneakers. If you're not 100% sure about the design or the timing: Take your time.
The "monthly check": When you have an idea, print it out or save it as your phone's wallpaper. If, after three, six, or even twelve months, you still smile every time you see the picture—then it's the right design. A tattoo that can "wait" is a tattoo you won't regret.
2. The ranking: Where do you start?
While there is no objectively "perfect" job, there are strategically smart decisions for newcomers.
Avoid the “job stoppers”
Even though tattoos are socially accepted today, we strongly advise against the following areas for first-timers:
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Face & Neck
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Hands & Fingers
Why? They're not called "job-stoppers" for nothing. Furthermore, the skin on the hands is very thin, and healing is often more complicated.
Our recommendation for getting started
Take it slow. For your first time, choose an area you can easily cover (e.g., upper arm, ribs, or thigh). This will give you the opportunity to get used to the feeling of having color on your skin without it being immediately noticeable to everyone upon first meeting you.
3. The “common thread”: Style before spontaneity
A common mistake: You see a beautiful mandala, a week later a cool traditional design, and then a realistic skull. Each one is great on its own – but together on one body it often looks like a random sticker album.
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A consistent look: Think about the direction you want to take your artwork beforehand. Do you prefer fine lines, something classic (old school), or dark blackwork?
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Aesthetics: A body appears more harmonious when the tattoos are in a similar style. This creates an aesthetically pleasing overall look that appears seamless.
4. The artist's handwriting
Every tattoo artist has their own style – their own personal signature. If you like an artist's work, it's best to stick with them (at least for a larger project or body part).
Why having a regular tattoo artist makes sense:
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Consistency: The lines, shading, and color saturation remain the same.
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Trust: He or she knows your skin and how it reacts to the color.
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Flow: An artist can better adapt new designs to existing works that he has engraved himself.
Your first tattoo should feel right, not rushed. Take your time to find your style, choose a thoughtful location, and trust your tattoo artist's expertise. A tattoo is an investment in yourself – and quality and patience will pay off for a lifetime.
Read more
A tattoo is a decision for life. Why I consciously choose uncompromising quality over mass production – and how I debunk the myth of poorly healing fineline tattoos.
Fineline and micro-realism leave no room for error. Read here how I found my way to these demanding techniques without a mentor and why stagnation is not an option for me.