| If you want to get the perfect tattoo, | | | | avoid any nasty surprises or |
| choosing the right artist is just as | | | | misunderstandings. 6) Do you guarantee your |
| important as finding the right design. After | | | | work? What happens if you're not happy with |
| all, a poor quality artist will take your | | | | the completed design? Will they drop the |
| perfect design and ruin it...permanently. So | | | | charge, or just reduce it? Do they have a |
| here's a list of the most important questions | | | | refund policy? Make sure you find out your |
| to ask your tattoo artist. Don't feel bad or | | | | artist's guarantee policy before work begins |
| awkward about asking any of these questions. | | | | as it will have a bearing on the quality of |
| Tattoo artists will have heard them all | | | | after sale service that you receive. 7) How |
| before and true professionals will be only | | | | long will the tattoo take? This depends upon |
| too happy to give you honest, open answers. | | | | the size of your chosen design and the level |
| 1) How long have you been a tattoo artist? | | | | of intricacy. Ultra small tattoos may take a |
| This is an important part of working out the | | | | matter of minutes to complete, while a full |
| strength of a tattoo artist's reputation. In | | | | sleeve design may take several hours spread |
| general, the longer they've been in the | | | | over a number of sessions. But if it's your |
| business, the more experience they'll have | | | | first tattoo, it's important to know as much |
| and the better their reputation. Artists with | | | | about the procedure as possible so that you |
| a bad reputation don't tend to last that | | | | feel more relaxed about it. 8) How should I |
| long. 2) What are your qualifications? As | | | | care for my tattoo during the healing |
| with all professional trades it's important | | | | process? Aftercare is an important part of |
| that tattoo artists are properly qualified. | | | | the overall tattoo process. Poor aftercare |
| Tattooing is a precision job that involves | | | | can damage your tattoo design, lead to |
| the use of needles, so it's vital that a | | | | scarring of your skin and increase the chance |
| tattoo artist has been professionally trained | | | | of an infection developing. So all competent |
| and has a thorough knowledge of hygiene | | | | artists should be able to give you detailed |
| procedures. 3) How many tattoos have you | | | | instructions on how to care for your tattoo |
| done? This is a good indication of an | | | | during the healing process. If they seem more |
| artist's level of skill and experience. | | | | interested in getting the tattoo started, go |
| Tattooing is an art, and the more designs a | | | | find another more responsible tattoo artist. |
| person has created, the better they're likely | | | | 9) How can I reduce the chances of an |
| to be. The answer to this question also | | | | infection occurring? All tattoo artists |
| allows you to work out roughly how busy the | | | | should be able to give you advice that will |
| artist has been, which is again closely | | | | help you to keep your tattoo clean and reduce |
| linked to their popularity and reputation. 4) | | | | the risk of infection. They'll also be able |
| Can I see some of your previous work? Can you | | | | to advise you what to do if you think that an |
| provide references? Top quality artists will | | | | infection is developing. 10) Are there any |
| be able to provide you with pictures of their | | | | medical conditions that can prevent a person |
| work and references from previous clients | | | | from getting a tattoo? Certain medical |
| that they have worked on. But make sure that | | | | conditions mean that individuals should |
| you see their work once it has healed | | | | either avoid tattoos completely or take |
| properly to give you an accurate idea of what | | | | certain precautions prior to being tattooed. |
| it looks like. An artist who doesn't have a | | | | Your tattoo artist should be able to give you |
| portfolio of their work or appears evasive | | | | general advice on this matter. However, if |
| when you ask these questions should be | | | | you have any doubts about the effects of a |
| avoided at all costs. 5) How much will the | | | | tattoo upon your health, please consult a |
| work cost? Large tattoos that are full of | | | | suitably qualified medical practitioner. |
| intricate detail can be extremely expensive, | | | | |
| often running into thousands of dollars. Even | | | | Gustavo Gomez runs For more information |
| smaller designs can cost over a hundred | | | | about tattoo designs and a wide range of |
| dollars. So if you're on a tight budget, make | | | | other tattoo related issues, check out Super |
| sure that you agree on the full cost of your | | | | Tattoo Designs. |
| chosen tattoo before work begins. This will | | | | |