Are you planning to get a tattoo as a Nigerian? Will it be a great choice to tattoo any part of your body? This question is very personal, but we can help you make the right decision.
There are so many things you should consider before you get a tattoo. These include Personality, Religion, Education, Employment, Children, Lifestyle, Tattoo Artist, Risks, Pain Threshold, and Finances.
So let’s do an in-depth analysis that will help you make the right choice on whether you should get a tattoo in Nigeria.
Will A Tattoo Interfere With My Educational Pursuit?
The reason why most guys go for a tattoo is to celebrate a significant event in life. For instance, someone might want to ink his body because he is celebrating his secondary school graduation.
If you plan to have a tattoo in Nigeria, you need to consider your education. A tattoo on your skin may cause you many problems in most public universities, especially if it is visible.
Read: Best Tattoo Artists in America
Will Getting a Tattoo to interfere with my religion?
Before getting a tattoo, you must consider your religious belief, especially if you are a frequent churchgoer. Many religions in Nigeria discourage tattoo and body arts, including Muslim and some Christian denominations. Getting a tattoo may cause you to be barred from certain religious activities.
Are there competent Tattoo Parlors in My Vicinity?
A tattoo should be inked by a tattoo artist who is not only professional but certified and experienced. You can find tattoo parlors in major cities in Nigeria. You have to research the tattoo parlor in your area. This will guide you in picking the best available.
What Is The Lifespan And Upkeep Of My Tattoo?
As you grow older, your skin sags and wrinkles. If you ink your tattoo on a body part that is vulnerable to wrinkles and sag, it will lose its beauty and distort over time. Tattoos are also likely to fade in a long while, so consider the fact that you will need a lot of fresh ink touch-ups as you grow older. This will require additional expenses and time.
Read: Male Arm Tattoo Drawings
Consider the Design, Location, And Size of the tattoo.
A tattoo in one part of your body may hurt more than another. A large-sized tattoo may take a very long time to finish. Ensure you have the cash, stamina, and time to invest if you choose a large and well-detailed tattoo.
You will also consider pertinent questions like: Do you want an obvious tattoo or one that isn’t too visible? Do you want a tattoo area that is less likely to be seen by others?
Tattoo Pain
Tattoos can hurt very badly, especially in body parts, including the neck, rib cage and feet. One fact is that a body or nerve-concentrated area of the body hurts worse.
If you want a picturesque or large-sized tattoo, it will take a longer time and hurt more.
Our bodies react to pain differently, so it is difficult to predict if inking your skin will hurt you. Everyone’s pain threshold is not the same. A lot of persons have high pain sensitivity. Getting a tattoo is akin to pricks from a pencil. But for most with a low tolerance for pain, it may seem like an unbearable insect sting.
Can A Tattoo Affect My Employment Opportunities?
A pertinent question you should ask yourself is: will tattoos limit your chances of clinching a job? In contrast to European countries, Nigerian employers tend to frown on piercing, tattoos, hair coloring and the likes.
You might have to think if the visibility of a tattoo could limit your chances of gaining employment.
What Does A Tattoo Cost?
Some types of tattoos can be costly and labor-consuming. They can cost as much as 20,000 to 500,000 Naira. Will you be able to afford it?
You will also have to consider the maintenance and upkeep costs. Your tattoo will need a touch-up as your skin ages.
Will What Others Think About My Tattoo Bother Me?
Nigeria is a very judgemental society. Friends, neighbors, lovers, colleagues at work, kids and even passersby might react differently to your tattoo.
The initial thought is my body, my life, right? How about a situation where your fiancee’s parents disapprove of your tattoo? How about the fact that people will be quick to assume some untrue things about you just because they see your tattoo?
Start saving
Prepare to spend some money because good tattoos aren’t cheap, and cheap tattoos are usually horrible. The cost of a tattoo is usually calculated by the hour and according to the complexity of the design. Small tattoos are more expensive due to the non-transferable equipment required, such as needles, wipes, and gloves.
Interact with Your Artist
Please make an effort to learn as much as possible about your artist’s skills and reputation by engaging him or her in a conversation.
Go With Company
Because the first time is usually stressful, going alongside somebody who encourages you is important. Find some friends and then visit the tattoo parlor together so you can get a second opinion on the place and have some fun while the artist works.
Tattoo Care
A newly-inked tattoo would need extra care and attention for at least a week. A professional tattoo parlor will give you information on how to care for your tattoo in the days ahead and may even provide you with an ointment. If they don’t, go to a drugstore and get a bottle of Bepanthen. It’s an excellent diaper rash treatment that’s also popular for tattoos.
Side Effects/Reaction
Like everything else in life, tattooing can negatively affect some people. It’s not good to get a tattoo if you have keloids. Others have an allergic reaction to the ink, which causes severe itching and discomfort in the affected area. It’s not common, but it can occur, and it’s important to remember this.
Removing Tattoos
Tattoos last a lifetime, or almost. There are a variety of options for getting rid of them now. Intense pulsed light, surgical excision, dermabrasion, and at-home therapies are all available options for tattoo removal. Laser Tattoo Removal is the newest, most reliable, and least time-consuming technique. This therapy eliminates tattoos totally without leaving scars. The laser light breaks up the tattoo ink.
This procedure is equally as excruciating as tattooing and is far more expensive, but it will have you looking and feeling brand new in 3 to 7 days. However, I am not aware of anyone who provides this service in Nigeria.
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