Getting your first tattoo is no throw away situation. Actually, it's kind of a big deal. We heard they're permanent or something...

Which is why you should go into the situation with all the information you need to totally nail your first tattoo and live the rest of your days regret-free.

Whether you're going for a super cute animal tattoo, or a fan of the more minimal ink ideas, getting a tattoo without getting clued up is just plain old silly.

We caught up with the A-list's go-to tattoo artists and the pros responsible for everyone from Cara and Bella, to Ariana Grande and Rihanna's seriously beaut inks, GirlKnewYork, Bang Bang and JonBoy, to get the lowdown on everything you need to know before you take the plunge.

Don't even think about getting inked before you read this. That's an order.

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How should you prepare for your getting a tattoo?

GirlKnewYork: 'I love when people come and they’ve eaten a meal recently, they’re fed and hydrated.

'Avoid alcohol even thought it's quite tempting and can be a nice lubricant on bravery!

'Avoid bringing more than one person with you - too many cooks in the kitchen can cloud your vision a little.'

How long should you consider the design of your tattoo before going through with it?

JonBoy: 'Commitment to the design varies between each individual. Some people just want a tattoo in general and decide on the design the day of, and then others have been thinking about a design their whole life.'

Bang Bang: 'I would say that's relative to the person. I am being tattooed right now, and I decided what I was going to get about 2 hours ago. Some people need to really know for a long time, others can commit very quickly. The general rule for me — if someone is unsure, make the decision and then wait a year. At that point, if you're still excited about the design and ready to get tattooed, it's probably a decision that you'd be comfortable with being on your body for the rest of your life.'

Should you bring a design with you or work with the tattoo artist on creating one?

JonBoy: 'A professional tattooer knows how to approach a tattoo for the sake of its longevity. So whether you have a design you have been thinking about for a long time, or if the tattooer is creating it from scratch, it is good to at least have an idea from a reference image for the design you would like. Reference images help portray the design in your head to the tattooer creating the design for you.'

Bang Bang: 'You should bring a design if you know exactly what you want tattooed. Tattoo artists will not always agree to design a tattoo exactly as you want. Frankly, clients are not professional tattoo designers, they haven't spent their professional career developing the skills needed to design a great tattoo. Luckily, we (tattoo artists) have, so you are in great hands.

'Find a tattoo artist you trust to make a one-of-a-kind design just for your body (that fits with your idea and the artist's style). Artists often want to make a design for you, great artists will insist on creating an original design for you.'

What kind of fine line tattoos can you get?

GirlKnewYork: 'There's three specific categories within fine line tattooing which is the style I would say is most popular with women at the moment.

'1. Geometric fine line tattoos - these can be repeated patterns using super straight lines, like the ones Zoe Kravitz has on her hands.

'2. Ornamental fine line tattoos - these are specific decorative images that aren't too abstract.

'3. Accurate fine line tattoos - these are often more scientific designs that are really accurate and perfect - botanical diagrams or animals.'

What should you look for in a good tattoo studio?

JonBoy: 'A good tattoo studio begins with the staff at the front. They should be attentive and be able to answer all questions to the best of their ability. From there, you want to make sure that the shop is clean & sterile. Your artist should be using a brand new, single use needle and the set up should change after every single client. Don't be afraid to ask questions along the way and if anyone disregards your questions, this is a red flag that the shop is not up to code.'

Bang Bang: 'A great tattoo studio should be very clean, professional and welcoming. They should be eager to answer any questions you have. They should not expect you to be a professional and have all the answers. We want to provide those answers for you.

'The first thing I would look for is a company or group of people wanting to work with me, communicate with me, and answer my questions in a way that makes me feel comfortable.

'Secondly, they should have great artists. A large group of extremely talented artists working together in one studio is a great indication that something is going right behind the scenes.

'Warning signs are what you would expect. If you look around a studio and see something not clean enough to be in a hospital, it is probably not a clean enough environment. If you are not in a friendly, informative, and extremely clean studio filled with some of the best tattoo artists in the world, that may be another indication you should keep looking.'

How much does getting a tattoo hurt?

JonBoy: 'There are so many factors that go into how much a tattoo hurts while getting it done. The pain of a tattoo all depends on where you are getting the design, the tattooer doing the design (whether they are light handed or heavy handed), and how much time goes into the tattoo before trauma starts to induce on the skin.'

Bang Bang: 'I think pain is relative to the person being tattooed. Some people say it hurts a lot, some people say not so much. Some people even quite enjoy it! I am not one of those people.

'Certain body parts are far more sensitive, with many more nerves. For example, your hands and your feet are far more sensitive than your back. The feet need to be sensitive to help you keep your balance and the hands offer you the sense of touch. The upper back or shoulder blades don't need nearly as much sensitivity. So, in my opinion the nerve-sensitive areas can be a bit more painful.'

How long does getting a tattoo take?

JonBoy: 'The time it takes to do a tattoo varies on size, location, and design. A lot of time is taken on design and placement. The actual tattooing can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 15 hours depending on these factors.'

Bang Bang: 'This is actually a difficult question to answer broadly. The detail and complexity of the design, along with a number of other variables will dictate the total amount of time needed. How still the client sits or how easily the skin is being tattooed (by our machines, needles, and ink) are a few of the many, many variables. Sometimes it happens very fluidly, other times I have to give a bit more effort to achieve the success we are going for. Generally speaking, large tattoos require more time than small tattoos.'

Where should you get a tattoo?

GirlKnewYork: 'Placement is one of the most fun parts of getting a tattoo. It all depends on your lifestyle, so if your job is a bit more conservative I'd suggest places like your ribcage or your inner arm, they can both be really discreet.

'But if you’re not concerned about that, then placement depends on the person, the shape of the muscle, the imagery etc.'

What clothes should you wear to get a tattoo? Does this differ depending on where you get your tattoo?

JonBoy: 'When you're placing the tattoo design you don't want clothes in the way, but I would say each individual should asses that their tattooer is being professional in how they conduct themselves, then go from there. Sometimes a shirt and bra need to be removed for a rib tattoo and sometimes trousers need to be removed for a thigh tattoo. These can be vulnerable points and you must ensure that you are working with a tattooer that makes you feel comfortable.'

Bang Bang: 'You would be surprised, people will sometimes forget what attire to wear. If you are getting a thigh tattoo, it is probably not best to wear skin tight jeans. Chalk this one up to common sense — make sure we can access the area you want tattooed or you will be walking around the studio naked.'

How long does a tattoo take to heal?

JonBoy: 'It typically takes 3-4 weeks for a tattoo to heal.'

Bang Bang: 'Many variables factor into the length of time needed for a tattoo to completely heal. Often, tattoos heal in about two weeks, at least to the point where they are healed enough to not require constant daily care. Keep in mind, it takes nearly six months for the skin to fully re-generate.'

What after care should you do for a tattoo?

JonBoy: 'Every artist has their own after care due to their different approach in tattooing. The aftercare can vary depending on an array of factors that are unique to each tattooer. Everyone should listen to their artist and their instructions upon completion of the tattoo.'

Bang Bang: 'Follow the advice given by your tattoo artist. You should follow their after-care instructions. Tattoo artists generally make these recommendations based on their style of work, as well as their history and personal experience. Often, the tattoo artist will have a different set of instructions from the artist they are tattooing next to.'

How much does a tattoo cost?

JonBoy: 'Tattoos are on you forever and you essentially you get what you pay for. Good tattoos aren't cheap and cheap tattoos aren't good. Prices will vary between different cities, shops, and artists. Do your research to ensure you are going to the best, not just the least expensive.'

Bang Bang: 'The best way to inquire about pricing is to contact the artist or studio you wish to work with directly. Tattoos at Bang Bang start at $400. They range from that minimum price to an hourly rate of $400 and up. Remember, each artist may have a different billing structure.'

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