The One That Started It All: My First Tattoo

If you’ve spent time at the studio, you’ve likely heard this story… but if not, here it is.

I spent an entire year trying to plan out the perfect first tattoo. Did I want a sentimental piece? Something funny? A bold traditional design or a lighter piece packed with color? I went back and forth thinking it had to be something meaningful, something “me.”

Truth be told… I still had no idea what I wanted when I walked into that shop. I didn’t even really know who I was at that time.

So what did all that planning and overthinking lead me to? A tribal star on my ankle… straight out of a flash book.

I remember being nervous up until the moment he started. Then I realized it actually felt similar to when I accidentally cut myself shaving. He, of course..could not relate 🤣

Before it was done, I already knew I wanted another. That tiny star didn’t just mark my skin; it marked the beginning of a deep appreciation for tattoos and body art that would eventually grow into the career I have now and genuinely love.

Sometimes, when I smell green soap in the studio, I’m 19 again… heart pounding, nerves through the roof, sitting in that chair while the needle traces the lines into my skin. The colors have faded a bit now, but the memory hasn’t and it reminds me how much that first experience shaped the path I’m on today.

It’s funny to think that a tiny flash tattoo could lead to all of this…the studio, the clients, the work I love. But here we are, and I’m grateful for that moment, that memory, and that little spark that started it all.

Your first tattoo comes with all the nerves and excitement, and maybe some thoughts that it has to mean something or that it has to “define” you. The truth is, it doesn’t. That first piece isn’t about perfection or making some grand statement about who you are; it’s about showing up for yourself, trusting yourself (even if you’re nervous) and letting the experience leave its mark. It becomes part of your story, a memory you carry, and a reminder that it’s okay for a moment, or a choice…to just be what it is without overthinking it.

So if you’re sitting in the chair wondering whether a design is too trendy or if you’ll regret it someday, remember: what matters is your experience and how it makes you feel. At the end of the day, even a simple tattoo gives you a story, a memory, and a little spark of confidence that you did something just for you.

And in my case…it gave me a funny story I love to tell.

Keep what feels right, let the rest go and always Ink with Intention <3

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