Guide To Getting A Tattoo
Planning a new tattoo can be a bit daunting at first, especially if it is your first tattoo and you don’t really know where to start. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the process of getting a tattoo from start to finish.
The two main things to start thinking about at the beginning are the design and body area that you would like to ink. I recommend that you look at as many top quality tattoo designs as possible and start brainstorming ideas. Think about the design itself, the size and colours you like, as well as where on your body you would like to ink your new tattoo. Great starting points for ideas are the Tattoo Designs, Body Areas, Tattoos for Girls, and Tattoos For Men sections of this website. Please take your time to browse, and make notes as you go.
Choosing a tattoo design to ink is probably the most daunting task when planning a new tattoo. I recommend that you really think long and hard about the sort of designs that you like, and take your time browsing through as many top quality tattoo designs as possible. There are a number of excellent online Tattoo Design Galleries that you can browse from the comfort of home. Two that I am particularly fond of are Chopper Tattoo and Tattoo Me Now. Both of these galleries contain thousands of top quality tattoo designs that can either be inked directly, or used as a basis for a custom design.
Another method is to buy some tattoo books, or browse the designs in some local tattoo shops. I personally prefer to use online galleries as their databases are constantly being updated with new artwork, they can be browsed from the comfort of home, and the thousands of tattoo designs that they contain tend to be of an excellent quality. I don’t recommend using search engines to look for free designs as the designs that you will find using this method tend to be poor quality in terms of artwork, and will also be really common among the population. I highly recommend that you take your time to choose a design that you really love and has real significance to you and your life. Most people who end up regretting their tattoo didn’t take the time to think and browse lots of designs.
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Once you have some ideas for the design and where you want to ink it the next step is to start looking for a tattoo artist and tattoo shop to have your design inked. Ideally you want to find an artist/shop with an excellent reputation for both workmanship and safety. A good place to start is online. Look for a local tattoo forum and see which artists and establishment people there recommend. Another fantastic resource for locating reputable tattoo artists is the Tattoo Me Now tattoo studio directory. This directory lists over 10,000 tattoo parlours around the world, and comes complete with reviews written by other Tattoo Me Now members. If want to put together a list of all of the tattoo shops in your area and visit them all, then the best way is to flick though your local telephone directory and yellow pages directory.
Once you have the addresses of some tattoo shops and artists, the next step is to go and pay them a visit. It’s worth calling ahead so that when you visit you can have their undivided attention and ask lots of questions. In addition to asking about the tattoo design itself, you should also ask about estimated costs, as well as their health and safety procedures. It’s very important to feel comfortable asking your tattoo artist questions, and to build a good relationship with them. Your artist should have no problem answering any of your questions, especially relating to safety aspects. If they can’t answer any of your questions about safety, or don’t want to take the time to speak to you, simply look for another artist. Further information about costs and safety can be found on the Tattoo Costs and Tattoo Safety pages of the Premium Tattoo Designs website. Before committing to any artist of shop, you should ask to see examples of the artists previous work to check that they can provide you with the tattoo design that you really want.
When you think you have found the right tattoo parlour and artist, the next step is to have a proper consultation with them. Make sure that you take some designs you like along with you. Ask your artists advice on your design ideas, as well as how your design will fit on your chosen body area. Your artist should help you develop you tattoo design ideas, and shouldn’t attempt to push any designs on you. If you want a totally unique tattoo design then you can ask them if they can design you a custom tattoo. By showing them examples of tattoo designs that you like, they will be better able to get a feel for the sort of artwork that you are looking for. Please note that getting a custom tattoo designed for you will put the cost up.
Before going ahead with anything, it’s very important to find out the total cost of your tattoo. Make sure that you can afford the work that you really want. If not then I believe it is better to wait until you have extra cash rather than compromising too much on your tattoo design. Your tattoo will be with you for life, so it really is worth spending a few extra bucks to make sure you get a design that you really love. If you have any doubts at any stage along the way, stop, take a step back, and allow yourself more time to think. Tattoos should never be rushed in to. You can easily go back to the drawing board and start planning your tattoo again, but removing a tattoo that you later decide you don’t like is an expensive and drawn out affair.
When you finally go to get you tattoo inked, try to be relaxed. Never go to get a tattoo while drunk or on any form of drugs. Getting tattooed may hurt a little, but it is something that has to be endured (please see Tattoo Pain section for more information about the pain associated with getting a tattoo). Your artist should make you feel at ease and will be more than happy to give you a break when you wish. If you have followed the guidelines for selecting a tattoo artist and shop in this article, as well as the advice in the Tattoo Safety article, then you should come away from the shop with a fantastic new tattoo that has been inked safely.
Your tattoo artist should send you away with a bandage over your new tattoo, as well as detailed instructions of how to properly care for your tattoo while it heals. While I recommend following their advice, I also recommend that you visit the Tattoo Care page of this website for further information about how to properly look after a tattoo. If you do experience any excessive redness, swelling, or any other symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.
