Most nerves before a first tattoo come from not knowing what will happen. Here is a typical session from the moment you walk in to the moment you leave, including what is going on in your skin.
You will show photo ID and sign a consent form. It usually asks about health conditions, medication, allergies, pregnancy and alcohol — answer honestly; it is about your safety, not a test. Tell the artist if you take blood thinners, have diabetes or a heart condition, or have a skin condition in the area. Can I get a tattoo if…?
The artist shows the final design and prints it as a stencil. After cleaning and, if needed, shaving the area, they press the stencil onto your skin. Stand up, look in a full-length mirror, move around. This is the moment to ask for it to be moved, turned or resized — it is easy now and impossible later. Design and changes.
In a professional studio you should see new gloves, needles opened from sealed single-use packaging, fresh ink poured into disposable caps, and surfaces covered with barrier film. What a clean studio looks like.
The machine moves a group of fine needles up and down very quickly, placing ink below the surface layer of the skin (the epidermis) into the layer underneath, the dermis. The top layer sheds and renews itself constantly; the dermis doesn’t, which is why a tattoo stays. That is also why depth matters: too shallow and the ink heals out, too deep and it can spread into a blurry “blowout”.
“The tattooing should be carried out by trained personnel, so that the pigment is placed in the proper depth.”
In plain terms: getting the depth right is a matter of skill and training — one reason the artist matters more than the price.
Some blood and clear fluid during tattooing are expected. Dermatologist Nicolas Kluger describes it this way:
“Transient bleeding during tattooing inevitably occurs as the needles puncture the papillary dermis. During the procedure, the tattooist wipes out the suffusion of blood, and the bleeding usually stops rapidly.”
In plain terms: a little bleeding is part of the process and stops quickly. Alcohol the night before and some medicines can make it heavier — which is why artists ask about both.
Most people describe a sustained scratch or sting, sharper over bone. Outlines tend to feel sharper, shading more like a burn. It usually becomes more bearable after the first few minutes, then more tiring after a couple of hours. Ask for breaks whenever you need them; eat something sugary if you feel light-headed. Long sessions, stress and bleeding make it feel worse. Pain by placement.
The artist cleans the tattoo, often applies a thin layer of ointment, and covers it — with cling film for a few hours, or with a clear adhesive film (“second skin”) that stays on for a few days. You will get aftercare instructions; ask for them in writing. Follow your artist’s instructions on when to remove the cover. Aftercare.
You pay the balance (minus your deposit). Where tipping is customary, this is when it happens. Before you leave, check: aftercare in writing, how to contact the artist if something looks wrong, and whether a touch-up is included. Tipping and etiquette.
Fact-checked against the sources above · last reviewed September 30, 2026. Quotations are taken word for word from the dermatologists’ published work; they have not reviewed this page. Who we quote and why →
General information, not medical advice. Your artist’s instructions come first for aftercare; signs of infection or an allergic reaction — or any health condition or medication you are unsure about — are a reason to talk to a doctor.