Introduction
Whether you're looking for your first tattoo because all your friends are getting one, you're going on vacation and want something to remember your fun time forever, or you're planning out your next large custom piece, your goal is the same: getting the perfect tattoo. To get the perfect tattoo, essentially all you need to do is match the perfect tattoo design with the perfect tattoo artist--but it's not really that simple.
Getting a tattoo is not something to be taken lightly, unless you have already done your homework and have a thorough knowledge of tattoos. While the mantra 'tattoos last forever' is a great thing to keep in mind when making your decision, it is not completely accurate: they only last until you move on to the next world, silly... or until you cover them up with new ones, or get them removed with laser surgery--but that's a whole other article. Tattoos may be painful to get, but they are even more painful to remove. Suffice it to say, the decision you make now will affect you, in some way, for the rest of your life.
The 'proper' way to get the perfect tattoo is to do a few years of researching tattoos as well as the art world in general in order to develop a taste for artistic tattoos, before choosing a tattoo artist, not after. Visit some tattoo conventions, surf the Internet for hours, email and talk with tattooed people you know, check out the landscape, and learn about it before jumping in.
It should be mentioned here that if you are going to try talking with heavily tattooed people about tattoos outside of a studio or convention environment, that you should approach the subject with caution. Many heavily tattooed people put up with minor public hassles like staring, whispers and comments as they walk by, and people who have the attitude that because someone has many tattoos, that they are automatically on display for strangers' amusement, like a circus sideshow performer. Many heavily tattooed people, and particularly women (who generally appear less intimidating and more approachable than tattooed males), complain of people they don't know reaching out and touching or grabbing their tattooed skin in awe or wonder. This can be very threatening, even if people do not mean anything harmful by it. Therefore, remember to make sure someone is willing to talk about their tattoos and/or show them to you, before engaging them at random. They will usually appreciate your politeness and tattoo etiquette and be that much more willing to share some of their knowledge with you. Some basic human respect and dignity can go a long way in this and any other area of life.
So, the first rule to getting the perfect tattoo, like almost anything in life, is to be patient and really learn about this fantastic art form before taking action. In this information age of knowledge sharing, there is no reason to enter the world of tattoos without doing it the right way. Sure, most of us heavily tattooed people did not follow the advice being given in this article, but that’s because we were young and dumb. Now that we have learned all these lessons the hard way (and our dumbness is still debatable) and are sharing them with you, you don’t have any excuse for making bad tattoo decisions. If you end up on a website like badtattoos.com, or as the butt of your friends' jokes, don’t say we didn’t try to warn you.
The Perfect Artist
Finding the perfect tattoo artist is more important than finding the right design, though many clients don’t realize this. After all, if you find the right tattoo artist they will make sure you get the perfect design, whether you have it in your hand to begin with or not. If you only have a vague idea, a capable tattoo artist will be able to work with you to make that idea a reality. On the other hand, you could have a perfect tattoo design executed poorly by an incapable artist! To avoid this, here are some qualities to look for in a tattoo artist:
• Clean and sanitary
• Technical ability to apply good tattoos
• Artistic talent
• A professional demeanor
• A good reputation
Finding a good tattoo artist will taketime and effort. Although you trust yourfriends, their opinion alone may not beadequate. Get as many good referencesabout a tattooer as you can. It’s worthrepeating that every phase of the tattooprocess involves being patient.
Clean and Sterile
Tattooing can be considered minor surgery: it involves the puncturing of the skin with a foreign object. Therefore, tattoo artists must always keep their work area clean, and be trained to avoid contamination from blood-borne pathogens. Here are some things to look for in your artist’s studio:
• Neat and clean appearance
• Autoclave and ultrasonic cleaner*
• Clearly labeled sharps container for needle disposal
• Plastic barriers on all tattooing equipment
• Instruments that are taken out of autoclave pouches with proper sterility indicator
*If a studio uses all disposable supplies, an autoclave and ultrasonic aren’t needed to maintain safety and cleanliness. In this scenario, ask to see sealed, dated, single-use packaging on all needles and tubes (see figure x and y).
Talk with your chosen tattooist, and ask questions about these things before any tattooing begins. A responsible tattooist will know the safety concerns of their craft, and should be happy answering some basic precautionary questions. If they answer your questions clearly and show a genuine concern for safety, then you’re probably in good hands. No tattoo artist should ever be annoyed that you are asking about your safety, because it’s also about their safety. They don’t want to contract a disease from the tattoo process any more than you do.
Artistic Talent
Often tattoo clients don’t realize that tattoo artists vary drastically in artistic ability. Some specialize in creating complex and unique works of art on skin, while others prefer merely to copy simple pre-made designs. Each approach has its merits, and can be appropriate for different situations. Having some entry level art knowledge will help you recognize the artistic talent level of the tattooer you’re approaching. Are they the right person for the job?
Selecting a tattoo artist can be compared to shopping for a car. With a bit of background knowledge, you can easily recognize the difference between an old, beat up Chevy and a fancy new Mercedes.
Technical Ability
Artistic talent alone does not make a good tattoo. Tattoo artists need to combine their visual talents with precise technical ability. These are two distinct areas of expertise. Here are some ways to gauge the technical ability of a tattoo artist when viewing their portfolio:
• Crisp, consistent outlines
• Evenly saturated color
• Smooth blending and shading
WARNING SIGNS OF POOR
TATTOOING ABILITY:
• Blurry, inconsistent outlines
• Faded, patchy colors
• Choppy, irregular blending and shading
• Obvious scarring
Remember: Good art does not guarantee a good tattoo, and a good tattoo does not mean that it’s good art.
Tattoo artists come in all temperaments. We recommend finding an artist who is honest, courteous, and behaves professionally. A quality tattoo artist should be honored that you want their artwork on your body for the rest of your life. You are giving them the ultimate compliment by requesting their artwork and letting them use your skin as a canvas. If an artist doesn’t treat you well, luckily nowadays you have many choices. Of course, you also owe it to your tattoo artist to be honest about your expectations. For example, it’s a matter of courtesy not to make an artist draw for hours, then skip your appointments, or to make one artist draw something and take it to another tattooer. A healthy tattoo relationship is one based on trust, respect, and commitment that goes both ways.
Artist Loyalty vs. Collection
It’s common for tattoo artists and clients to form a bond. After all, you’re spending time in their chair, talking, and having them change your skin forever. Despite this, you should never feel like you owe your skin to a tattoo artist. Any decision you make about your own body is completely your own to make, including mistakes. Many people like to have a diverse collection of body art. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with sticking to one tattoo artist if you’re happy with their work and the bond you form with them is just right.
Despite the connection that many tattooers form with their clients, a tattoo artist has no ‘right’ to your skin. If you choose to work with another tattooist, make sure they meet the same or higher standards as your original choice. Many people end up with tattoos that are being finished or reworked by a different artist than the one who started them. The reworking and covering up of older tattoos is a large aspect of the tattooing art-form, so there’s no need to feel ashamed or angry if you end up in that situation yourself. Just be sure to go about it in a polite and respectful way.
The Perfect Design
Only you can know what the perfect design is for you, and it’s an extremely important decision to make about your tattoo. Most tattoo artists will put whatever you want on your skin to the best of their ability, because it’s their job. Of course, many artists are so sought after that they can pick which client requests they choose to work on. These artists may pass on doing tattoos they know will come out poorly. Often it’s necessary to find a compromise between your idea and your chosen artist’s vision. Be prepared for a little give and take during the consultation process. It’s often helpful to state your goals, thoughts and concerns about the tattoo, and then let the artist take it from there.
Good Tattoo Artists Know Better
While you know what you want to see on your body, tattoo artists have expertise about how tattoos look on the human body. There is a “ flow” to the body based on its shapes, proportions and anatomy, which can determine how successfully certain designs work with various body parts. An expert tattoo artist knows best how to size and shape your tattoo, the best placement for it, what colors will work
best, and how it will age.
One common issue between a tattoo artist and a first-time tattoo client is the size of
their tattoo. Often people will make the decision to get a very small tattoo in order to test the waters. However, small tattoos usually can’t hold much detail and stand a greater chance of deteriorating over time,
due to the aging of the skin. Trust your tattoo artist’s advice when it comes to small tattoo designs.
Reference Material
To get the best tattoo, you may need to find and bring some reference material to the tattoo artist. He or she can look at your reference in order to incorporate the images into their own drawing style. The more choices you give the artist as reference, the more likely they are to design the perfect tattoo for you.
You can use a variety of reference materials to communicate your idea. These may include:
• Tattoo Flash
• Photographs
• Original Artwork
• Movie Stills
• Sculptures
• Your own sketch or Written description
Copying Other
Tattoos
Many people learning about tattoos try to find other tattoos upon which to base their own design or idea. When browsing tattoo portfolios, it’s most helpful to look at the quality of the artist’s work rather than the designs themselves. Copying other people’s tattoos is considered disrespectful to the wearer of the tattoo, and to the artist who designed and tattooed it.
Many tattoos are reproductions of popular photographs or famous artwork. This is widely accepted, as long as the artist is referring to the original image, and not a tattoo of that photograph or painting.
Allergic Reactions
A very small percentage of people develop allergic reactions to some of the pigments used in tattoo inks. In recent years as the quality of tattooing supplies has risen, allergic reactions have declined. Your tattoo artist should have a basic understanding of pigment issues and be able to show you a bottle of what they will be tattooing into your skin. If you think you may be allergic to a certain pigment, you can ask your artist to tattoo of a small amount of pigment somewhere inconspicuous on your body. Then after a few weeks, have your tattooer examine the test area of skin to make an assessment. For questions about specific pigments
contained in the tattoo ink, you can request a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) from the manufacturer.
A second common allergy is to latex products. If you’re allergic to latex, you can request that your artist wear nitrile gloves during your tattoo process.
Distance, Patience and Commitment
If you’re considering a larger tattoo, be prepared for a longer process involving multiple sessions over a span of weeks, months, or even years. You may also find that your preferred tattoo artist is not located very close to you. You may have to make arrangements to travel to your artist once it’s time for your appointment. Travel is a relatively small inconvenience to endure considering the permanent nature of a tattoo. Dedicated tattoo collectors and enthusiasts often fly or drive long distances to get their perfect tattoo.
Age and Maturity
In the U.S. the legal age to get a tattoo without parental consent is 18. However, teenage years are often a time of rapid growth, change, and discovery. Thus many teenage tattoo decisions are often regretted later in life. It bears repeating that patience is vitally important to getting quality tattoos.
Projecting a Self Image
Another consideration is the image of yourself that your tattoo will portray to your family, friends, workplace colleagues, and anyone else you may interact with. Just like a painting is meant to affect the viewer, your tattoos will affect their viewers, even though you may have gotten them solely for your own enjoyment. Images of death and destruction are very powerful, as are those of beauty, but the former may lead other people to stereotype you in a negative way. Give the proper thought to the images you choose to adorn your body with for the rest of your life, and be sure that you can live with any foreseeable consequences.
Pain Management
Yes, getting tattooed hurts. People are affected in different ways, based on their individual anatomy, placement of the tattoo, techniques of the artist, and most importantly, their attitude. Relaxation and meditation techniques, such as controlled deep breathing, can help you endure the discomfort. If all else fails, remember that the art is permanent, and the pain is temporary.
Money
Getting a tattoo is nothing like shopping for a bargain at the grocery store. It’s helpful to think of tattoos as an investment rather than a one-time impulse purchase. Because there is no industry-wide rate standard, each tattoo artist determines his or her own rates and policies based on what they feel their work is worth.
For small tattoos many artists simply charge a flat rate. In addition, most artists don’t appreciate bargaining over their stated price. Discuss any pricing concerns in advance so there are no surprises or disputes when it’s time to pay.
It's often difficult for an artist to give an exact price in advance for large, multi-session tattoos. In those situations, artists will usually request payment at the time of each session. If your budget is a concern it's helpful to suggest a spending limit in advance, when presenting your idea. This gives the artist the portion to tailor the tattoo to your budget.
In the ideal scenario, money would not be a factor in any tattoo decisions. Instead the focus would be on getting the highest quality tattoo possible. In reality, however, money is a concern for most people. Therefore simply try to make the best decision for your set of circumstances. Often it’s better to save up for later than to settle for something now. Remember, good tattoos aren’t cheap, and cheap tattoos aren’t good.
Healing and Aftercare
Sadly, poor healing and aftercare have ruined many beautiful tattoos. To avoid this, follow your tattoo artist’s healing instructions very carefully. It’s very important to understand how to heal your tattoo before you leave the tattoo studio. Most tattoo artists will be concerned with your tattoo healing well, and will likely have instructions for you to follow closely
Remember that your fresh tattoo is an open wound and should be kept clean, or you’ll increase the chances of getting an infection.
Infections can become severe, so always be careful with your new tattoo until it has finished healing. If you suspect an infection has occurred, do not hesitate to see a doctor or dermatologist.
Your tattoo will change slightly over time, as your skin ages. Eventually, the sharp edges of the tattoo will become slightly blurry and all pigments will become less saturated. Keeping your skin healthy will help slow this deterioration. However, all tattoos are subject to a retouch or a complete reworking after 10 to 20 years, regardless of your skin care regimen. Lastly, ultraviolet rays from sunlight will accelerate this deterioration of your tattoo, which may require touchups to be done sooner.
Conclusion
It bears repeating that getting the perfect tattoo involves thinking, learning, and patience. Those who embrace this process reap great rewards in the form of amazing body art and meaningful experiences. There are many different paths a person could take in their own tattoo journey, and there are many important factors that demand careful consideration along the way. There are trials and tribulations, and even some pain to endure before the entire process is complete. All of these things make the quest of getting the perfect tattoo fulfilling, exciting, and meaningful.