@themindfultattooist: People ask me often: what was your first tattoo? I'm always kind of embarrassed to share, but here you go. And it's a great illustration of three things NOT TO DO when getting your #firsttattoo! If you've got a first tattoo story as ridiculous as mine, would love to hear it. ;) Things were different 26 years ago for sure! #tattooartist #rosesandrivets805 #santapaula
I always tell people: start small, simple and pick an easy, less painful spot. Sure there are people out there that can go big right away, but most people should start small.
2026-02-18 19:46:24
345
JesBolton :
Well, my first tattoo wasnt even at a shop. Somebody’s kitchen and we were drunk. So there’s that lol
2026-02-09 03:18:11
185
Noah ★彡 :
Question! Im deeply terrified of needles and im scared im not gonna be able to handle the pain. (But I still really want to try!!) If its too much after the first line, what happens?
2026-06-26 20:28:19
0
missalyssaaa :
I started getting tattoos when I was 16. I got 3 in the same year (thankfully they were meaningful and still are) I’m glad I didn’t get the tattoos I wanted when I was 18. I have 16 tattoos now. I only regret one of them. The one i regret and want to get covered up was a quote from a YouTuber i use to idolize and now I don’t like her (Cue the ukulele and “toxic gossip train”, if anybody knows who I’m talking about 😂)
2026-02-08 05:07:31
38
❥ Miz. Alicia ✧⋆ ˙ :
First tattoo at 46. Waited 28 years to decide. No meaning just something cute ornamental that I liked. It has meaning because it was my first!
2026-02-11 16:08:37
54
Allegra ✨ Side Hustles ✨ :
In my 20s I really wanted a Harry Potter tattoo...glad I didn't go through with that 😳
2026-02-12 04:17:43
27
Feral Goblin :
Excuse me. I think you mathed wrong 2000 was only a couple of years ago. I counted.
2026-03-28 09:44:03
7
simply_cj :
First tattoo at 51 on vacation. Walked into a shop with my daughter, and we both got our firsts. I now have 4, and she has 10. It is the most special one to me.
2026-02-14 02:42:00
8
aly55a_4lifee :
I’m getting my first tattoo next month and I’m so nervous…….😩😩
2026-02-23 14:39:47
6
Anita :
You’re leaving us hanging!!! Where’s the picture? Lol.
2026-02-08 03:24:01
29
𓆩♱𓆪ᴊᴇꜱꜱᴇ 𓆩♱𓆪 :
I’m getting my first tattoo in about 6 hours 😛
2026-03-10 04:36:25
2
Blahhhhh :
I was born the same year you started tattooing 😂
2026-02-11 23:59:56
6
Audrey8824 :
This was my first! Thought about it for a couple years and I had my artist picked out for even longer
2026-03-23 23:54:14
6
CBrawlerSr :
My first has to be San Diego, Navy….huge time in my life. SD was the beginning of a huge transition in my life. But many visits an more memories. Mission Beach, Mex food, home of Buds, Submarine base blah blah blah
2026-02-21 19:09:10
1
Queen Erica :
My first tattoo is meaningful. I got the word resilient on my arm in my dads hand writing
2026-02-10 07:38:16
5
Adam :
My first was by an artist that did my mom n dad when I was a kid, he retired doing tattoos but came outta retirement for me!
2026-02-22 06:32:18
8
Ryno Mite :
I recommend not getting your first tattoo on a place you will see all the time.
2026-03-16 03:06:07
8
🔮the_plant_mage 🔮 :
I got my first tattoo in 2023 - I had already thought about it for a year once I knew what I wanted. Within 2 years, I had 13 tattoos - mostly bigger lol
2026-03-23 22:35:22
2
sykopoet (Lisa) :
My first tattoo was a Pisces symbol! It was for my 21st birthday and I was not in an altered state but I decided to get it on my wrist which is really skinny so it was basically on bone. Probably not the best idea for a first.
2026-02-18 23:26:00
4
🎀aia :
The way your mouth moves and the way you talk is absolutely mesmerising
2026-03-18 06:55:57
2
witchyblindgirl :
Something else important is make sure you eat before you go in preferably something carb heavy and also make sure you are hydrated the more hydrated. You are the better. Your skin will hold the ink and the less it will hurt. And when I say hydrated, I mean water not Mountain Dew.
2026-02-09 19:23:28
3
NoKRic69 :
Not, Color Me Bad 🤦🏽🤦🏽🤦🏽 🤣
2026-02-16 14:50:36
2
🦯 Erica P. Christie 📚Author :
love this lore 😆
2026-03-06 02:21:53
1
at_st4 :
I didn’t get my first tattoo until I was 40 at the tattoo archive in Berkeley CA. I’ll be honest it’s not terribly meaningful. It’s a small tropical fish because I love swimming. I only have one other tattoo. It’s not my children’s names, but it represents them. I didn’t do it at the same job because he had already moved to North Carolina.
2026-02-08 18:22:28
2
kayla :
were very lucky here to have a great studio and artists down the road
2026-02-08 10:48:32
2
To see more videos from user @themindfultattooist, please go to the Tikwm
homepage.