7 Things To Know Before Getting A Tattoo

Tattoo Machines, Portofilos and Hygiene: The Most Important Things To Look At When Trying To Avoid Fraud

The decision of getting a tattoo – regardless of whether it is your first inking or the tenth one – is pretty big. You have made your research and know everything about tattoos now. You know on what body part you will do it and how it will look. But there is one, the last, yet the most important question to answer: Who will inject the ink? The qualification of a master is the most crucial point of the process since the final look of your tattoo is completely depends on it.

So how could you know that the salon and the artist you've chosen can be trusted? Luckily today, there are a lot of tattoo artists as well as there are many warning signs which tell that you need to turn to another salon.

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Don't worry, you don't have to master the process of tattooing or learn everything about good tattoo machines. The professional artist will tell you about his equipment and answer all your questions about the process. In case he evades answers, you may rightly doubt his competence.

Here are 7 things to consider before getting a new tattoo:

 

1. Visible Dirt Detection

The first thing that you notice crossing the threshold of a tattoo parlor is its smell and cleanness. If a salon is clean and smells like a hospital (thanks to disinfectants), you can be sure that you won't get a skin infection there. Otherwise, it is better to find another tattoo shop since if an artist doesn't keep his shop clean, his instruments are more likely unhygienic too.

2. Hygiene Is Crucial

Hygiene is another red flag that arises from the aforementioned. For starters, a good artist will always be wearing gloves during the procedure. This measure is needed to prevent bacteria transfer onto the treated area.

Your artist must minimize all the safety risks and apply single-use inks and needles, and always open them in front of you before the procedure. Such a precaution is a must, because when tattooing your skin is being pierced, so the chance that you might get an infection rises significantly. And we are talking not only about skin infection that can be treated but also about more dangerous and tragic ailments such as HIV and hepatitis.

 

No one should pay with their health for a tattoo or anything else, so if you see that an artist is going to use old, non-sterilized equipment, you should leave the shop immediately.

 

3. The Importance of the Needle Depth

Our skin has three layers: epidermis (external), dermis (the second layer), and subcutaneous tissue (the deepest layer). When done properly, ink is injected into the dermis. In case the ink is penetrated into the epidermis, the tattoo fades and peels off quickly. Another permanency issue occurs when inks are injected very deeply into the third layer of the skin. The ink becomes blurred and distorted then.

Of course, the proper needle depth will vary with the body part where a tattoo is going to be done. Here is where you can check the level of professionalism of your artist. An experienced one knows this difference and will explain it to you if you ask.

4. Don't Expect To Get It Done That Same Day

When you come to a professional tattoo shop, you should be ready to spend some time on the preparation. You will need to meet an artist to discuss what kind of design you wish to get. Then you will probably return to give your approval to the stencil a tattoo artist will prepare according to your explanation.

You will approve inks and get all the answers if the need be. And only after all the dispositions, the artist will start tattooing.

Be ready that an experienced master may say no to you. This may happen if he is worried about the design or presumes that it won't look good in the end. This is actually a good sign since a professional will offer you some better options relying on his knowledge and skills.

 

5. No Freehand Drawing

You can forgive such a work style to an artist who has been working for 40 years or so, but when it comes to less experienced tattoo masters, a stencil is a must. Seeing a drawing before inking it is your guarantee of getting the best result in the end.

This gives you a chance to change your mind since you can re-stencil it while it's on the paper. Plus, for an artist, a stencil or an outline in marker on your skin help guide a needle, which means the chance of a mistake is minimal.

6. Ask For The Portfolio

Not having a portfolio on the internet or elsewhere is fishy, to say the least. Today, every good tattoo artist will show you the selection of his works and sketches. If he's not, this may be a sign of incompetence or practices that he is trying to hide. One way or the other, we would think twice before trusting such a master.

You should also ask about where your artist learned how to tattoo. Of course, skills come with practice, but this is not the kind of job that you can start without training. A master that has such an experience will provide you with certificates and will tell you the name of the school and his master.

 

7. The Best Tattoos Are Not Cheap

As a rule, a good tattoo won't be cheap, and you should be ready to pay a pretty penny for it. The thing is that the final price is not just the cost of raw materials. It includes the size and the complexity of the design, sketches, planning, these all form the overall price of your future tattoo.

Sometimes, this might seem quite expensive, but actually, a professional tattoo artist saves you money in the long run. Because the chance is high you won't have to remove or re-do it in the future.

 

Fraudulent Tattoo Shops: How To Report Them

Let your family and friends know about this article by sharing it on social media here, using the buttons provided. You can also officially report the questionable tattoo shops to the Federal Trade Commission using the link below:

Report To The FTC Here