Let’s say that you’ve considered all the effects of having tattoo. You KNOW that it’ll be a lifelong commitment and is a permanent mark on the body, unless you have it surgically removed. You know what type of design you’d like to have created. You know exactly where on the body you’d like it imprinted. Now, you’ve got to find a good place to have it done.
Think about it…one mistake by an ‘artist’ who got a little to drunk last night, and you’re sporting it for the rest of your life!
The first thing to do is some research. Ask friends and family members who currently have tattoos where they got theirs done. Find out what their experiences were like. Ask if it was a clean environment, if it was comfortable and if the designs turned out to their satisfaction. Many times, tattoo parlors will be able to refer names of customers who can recommend their services.
While word of mouth is typically the best advertisement, you can also simply try opening the phone book. Locate local tattoo parlors and give them a call. They should be more than willing to answer any questions you might have. At best they should allow you to come and visit the facility to become comfortable with the surroundings prior to committing to becoming tattooed.
Allow you, HELL! Go whether they suggest it or not!
During a tattoo parlor visit, first determine the cleanliness of the facility. Make sure tools are sterilized between each customer and disposable and single use needles are indeed disposed of after each use. General cleanliness is just as important; if care isn’t taken with building upkeep, then it can be believed that care won’t be taken elsewhere in the business.
Chat with the tattoo artists and the staff members. If you don’t feel comfortable asking any questions or expressing concerns with them, chances are you won’t feel comfortable having them put a permanent mark on your body. You should feel completely at ease as it’s possible that a large amount of time may be spent with them.
Check the designs of particular tattoo parlors. One very helpful tip is to compare art with an actual tattoo to compare how closely the tattoo resembles the tattoo itself. It’s wise to inspect what kind of design range the tattoo artist is capable of. One might have a hundred different photos of skulls and crosses but it can be very different than having a butterfly, rose or a name tattooed on. Be sure the artist is very flexible.
The Internet can be a very useful too when it comes to business searching. Simply type in “tattoos” and the name of your geographical location into any search engine and you should be given a list of choices for places to check out. The Internet can also prove helpful to get opinions on certain tattoo parlors through blogs, forums and chat rooms. Information obtained from the Internet should always be double checked and checked again for confirmation as opinions will widely vary.
When finding a tattoo artist in your area, it’s important to always be comfortable with your decision. While it is understood that the tattoo will be a permanent mark on the body and great thought should be put into the design and the location on the body in which it will be placed, it is also imperative to be sure you are completely comfortable with the tattoo artist. After all, you’ll want to be positive that this lifelong design will be done accurately and correctly.
Take these simple steps, and you’ll end up with body art that you can be proud of for the rest of your life!
Jim James
