How to Get a Dragon Tattoo

Tattoos are often deeply personal. People select specific images, writings or designs in order to show who they are, as well as say something about themselves. A dragon, for example, is thought to be a symbol of strength, pride, honor and good fortune. Many tattoo enthusiasts find dragons to be among the most intricate tattoos as well, making them a mark of particular accomplishment.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Healing ointments
• Bandages
• Dragon design
• Tattoo artist

Get a Dragon Tattoo

1. Contact a tattoo artist or artists to get a consultation regarding designs you are interested in (see Resources below). With their input you can figure out what colors to use, as well as practical considerations like time and cost.
2. Choose which type of dragon you are interested in having as a tattoo. Eastern dragons are known for being symbolic of wisdom and good fortune, while Western dragons are known for being powerful and demanding of respect.
3. Choose where on your body you wish to get your dragon tattoo. This will determine its potential size and shape. Getting a dragon tattoo on your hand will be a lot smaller than getting one on your back, and this will also affect the level of detail available to your design.
4. Make an appointment to get the tattoo. It should be noted that depending on the size of the tattoo it might be necessary to book several sessions. Outlining is often done in one session, and coloring is usually done in one or two additional visits. If the tattoo is going to be simple black, they can often be completed in a single session (though this could take several hours).
5. Relax while you are in the artist's chair and during the process. This is critical: if you are jumping and shifting while the artist is working you can make it difficult for the artist to follow the outline or, worse, mess up the design altogether.
6. Take care of your tattoo while it heals. You will be required to keep it covered with a bandage as well as apply healing ointments to it in order to prevent infection or damage as a result of wear.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose to get a dragon tattoo in an area that is not immediately visible if you're worried about its exposure in a work environment. The back, the top of the arm or even on the leg are examples of great places to get an inconspicuous dragon tattoo.
• Do not get a dragon tattoo or any other tattoos from an artist without a solid reputation. There are many tattoo artists in the world, but for something like a dragon tattoo you're going to want the best.
• Make sure your tattoo artist uses only clean needles and wears latex gloves. Failure to do so is not only a health hazard, but a violation of the health codes of nearly every state.

Who Can Help:

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