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The journal

Learn from each other, one story at a time

Basics posts

Gloved tattooer starting the linework over a purple stencil on a shoulder

Basics · 2 min read

Your first tattoo, from idea to booking

A loose idea is a fine place to start. Here is how to turn it into a design, find the right artist and walk into your first session calm and ready.

M.D Cost, Copywriter, DyeDem · 14 Oct 2026

  • Freshly finished small lizard tattoo on a wrist, shining with ointment

    Basics · 2 min read

    Aftercare: the first 30 days of a new tattoo

    What to expect day by day as a tattoo heals, what helps, what to avoid and when it's worth asking your artist (or a doctor) for advice.

    M.D Cost · 8 Oct 2026

  • Client lying on a padded bench while a tattooer in blue gloves works on the back of her leg

    Basics · 2 min read

    Does it hurt? A guide to pain and placement

    Why some spots sting and others barely register, which placements are kindest for a first tattoo, and a few honest ways to make a long session easier.

    M.D Cost · 1 Oct 2026

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