Considering the advancements made in tattoo removal technology, many would-be tattoo customers mistakenly believe that they can always change their minds later, and cover up or entirely remove a tattoo at will. Unfortunately, this is just not the case. Laser removal is unreliable at present, leaving differing colors in differing degrees of fading, and scarring is very common. So while you might be eager to get your new ink, take your time and make and an informed, lifelong decision.
1) First and foremost, do your research. Don't even bother looking for a tattoo artist until you find a reputable parlor. These days, this is simpler than it sounds, thanks to our favorite online research and rating tools. Plus, you're not looking for the best parlor yet -- just eliminating the worst.
2) Ask around. Chances are that your friends and acquaintances have tattoos and you can ask about their experiences. Of course, if their tattoos are awful, don't bother asking! Surprisingly, even strangers are open to talking about their tattoos. After all, they are visible, so their owners want them to be noticed, and they're impersonal enough that few people take offense to questions. And it's a great way to meet people to boot.
Once you have personal recommendations, do some web searches for each of the specific parlor names. Search for phrases like "tattoo-shop-name complaints," "tattoo-shop-name sucks," etc.
Your local independent paper is another good source of referrals. Tattoo shops very often advertise to these audiences, and if the ads are recurring, odds are very high that the shop is favored in the community.
3) Do your safety checks. Now that you have a shortlist of potential providers, visit each of the shops. You're looking at safety and cleanliness at this point.
* Are the tattoo artists wearing gloves? * Do they wash their hands between tattoos? * Is smoking prohibited in the studio? * Is the parlor licensed? * Is the parlor clean? * Do the artists pull their needles from the autoclave (sterilizing equipment) prior to each tattoo? * Are single-use supplies used during a session? For example, look for things like disposable ink cups, fresh needles, and the like? * Do the artists shave and disinfect each client? Are plastic bags present and wrapped around hand-held equipment? This helps prevent cross-contamination.
4) Find an artist. While many people don't do this for fear that they'll offend the tattoo artists, you can and should request an artist you feel most comfortable with if their style suits your tastes better. This is your tattoo, and it will be with you for a lifetime, so if one artist does better black and white work, or if one artist has a large book of designs you like, you might be more satisfied with the work that they do for you. Don't be afraid to look through the art present to see who makes a good fit for you.
When you meet the tattoo artist, they should be friendly and helpful. They get a lot of window shoppers, so don't expect them to be bubbly and excited to meet you, but they should still be accommodating. They should never try to talk you into getting larger or more intricate tattoos. Any artist who has been in business knows that the most satisfied clients are informed clients. Experienced tattoo artists will usually offer their opinions and guide the process, they should never push you.
If you feel that you are being pushed into something that you don't like, or if the artist is dismissive of your questions, you might need to move on. Many experienced artists prefer working on intricate, large designs, so you might just fall under their radar. It's nothing to worry about: there is someone out there perfect for your tattoo.
5) Don't price it. Never, ever, under any circumstance, comparison shop for prices. The cost of your tattoo is the absolute last consideration that should enter your mind. This tattoo will be with you for a lifetime. Trust it only to the best shop you can find and don't let price affect your decision.
6) Choose your location. Sensitive areas and areas closer to bone tend to be more painful, but you shouldn't let pain determine your tattoo's location. Hip tattoos are very popular, as well as lower-back and shoulder tattoos. Growing in popularity are hand tattoos and foot tattoos, while the old standbys like arm tattoos are still going strong.
7) Choose your design. Similar to pricing your tattoo, don't settle for any old design you find in their books. With the abundance of tattoo designs available in online galleries, there is no reason you can't find the perfect tattoo for your skin. Your best option is to make use of a quality tattoo finder to browse designs. You'll be able to find and download artwork, and see real life pictures of what the tattoos look like on people.
1) First and foremost, do your research. Don't even bother looking for a tattoo artist until you find a reputable parlor. These days, this is simpler than it sounds, thanks to our favorite online research and rating tools. Plus, you're not looking for the best parlor yet -- just eliminating the worst.
2) Ask around. Chances are that your friends and acquaintances have tattoos and you can ask about their experiences. Of course, if their tattoos are awful, don't bother asking! Surprisingly, even strangers are open to talking about their tattoos. After all, they are visible, so their owners want them to be noticed, and they're impersonal enough that few people take offense to questions. And it's a great way to meet people to boot.
Once you have personal recommendations, do some web searches for each of the specific parlor names. Search for phrases like "tattoo-shop-name complaints," "tattoo-shop-name sucks," etc.
Your local independent paper is another good source of referrals. Tattoo shops very often advertise to these audiences, and if the ads are recurring, odds are very high that the shop is favored in the community.
3) Do your safety checks. Now that you have a shortlist of potential providers, visit each of the shops. You're looking at safety and cleanliness at this point.
* Are the tattoo artists wearing gloves? * Do they wash their hands between tattoos? * Is smoking prohibited in the studio? * Is the parlor licensed? * Is the parlor clean? * Do the artists pull their needles from the autoclave (sterilizing equipment) prior to each tattoo? * Are single-use supplies used during a session? For example, look for things like disposable ink cups, fresh needles, and the like? * Do the artists shave and disinfect each client? Are plastic bags present and wrapped around hand-held equipment? This helps prevent cross-contamination.
4) Find an artist. While many people don't do this for fear that they'll offend the tattoo artists, you can and should request an artist you feel most comfortable with if their style suits your tastes better. This is your tattoo, and it will be with you for a lifetime, so if one artist does better black and white work, or if one artist has a large book of designs you like, you might be more satisfied with the work that they do for you. Don't be afraid to look through the art present to see who makes a good fit for you.
When you meet the tattoo artist, they should be friendly and helpful. They get a lot of window shoppers, so don't expect them to be bubbly and excited to meet you, but they should still be accommodating. They should never try to talk you into getting larger or more intricate tattoos. Any artist who has been in business knows that the most satisfied clients are informed clients. Experienced tattoo artists will usually offer their opinions and guide the process, they should never push you.
If you feel that you are being pushed into something that you don't like, or if the artist is dismissive of your questions, you might need to move on. Many experienced artists prefer working on intricate, large designs, so you might just fall under their radar. It's nothing to worry about: there is someone out there perfect for your tattoo.
5) Don't price it. Never, ever, under any circumstance, comparison shop for prices. The cost of your tattoo is the absolute last consideration that should enter your mind. This tattoo will be with you for a lifetime. Trust it only to the best shop you can find and don't let price affect your decision.
6) Choose your location. Sensitive areas and areas closer to bone tend to be more painful, but you shouldn't let pain determine your tattoo's location. Hip tattoos are very popular, as well as lower-back and shoulder tattoos. Growing in popularity are hand tattoos and foot tattoos, while the old standbys like arm tattoos are still going strong.
7) Choose your design. Similar to pricing your tattoo, don't settle for any old design you find in their books. With the abundance of tattoo designs available in online galleries, there is no reason you can't find the perfect tattoo for your skin. Your best option is to make use of a quality tattoo finder to browse designs. You'll be able to find and download artwork, and see real life pictures of what the tattoos look like on people.
About the Author:
Ben has a growing collection of body art and helps match people with their perfect tattoos. If you're looking for a high-quality tattoo finder, visit Ben's site for access to the largest collection of pictures of tattoos on the web! You'll find hip tattoos, shoulder tattoos, foot tattoos, tattoo crosses, sleeve tattoos, lower back tattoo designs, and more.
