Think Before You Ink. Getting a Tattoo, How to Choose A Tattoo Artist and Design

Years ago tattoos were only worn by people who operated on the fringe of society like bikers and gang members. You would also see them decorating the bodies of members of the military-soldiers and sailors who used them as lasting memorials to the places they had been, the things they had seen, or their friends who had fallen. The decision to get a tattoo wasn't a spur of the moment decision-people normally put a lot of thought into them because they realized that they would be wearing the body art for the rest of their lives.

Fast forward to the new millennium. Tattoos that were once only worn by outcasts and rebels are now worn by everyone from ancient grannies to pimply faced teenagers. Nowadays getting a tattoo is almost a right of passage, teenagers are getting them as soon as they can- often on the same day they get their drivers license. With tattoo parlors popping up on almost every street corner getting a tattoo, what had been a well thought out decision, is often now a spur of the moment choice. More often than not it's a bad choice.

There are several things you need to consider before getting yourself inked that will save you from waking up one day regretting your body adornment. The two most important aspects of getting body art are choosing your artist, and choosing your design.

The absolute most important thing that you need to consider when getting a tattoo is: Who are you going to let put permanent ink on your body? The mark they make is lasting, it is for a lifetime, and before you let someone touch you with a tattoing needle you need to look into their background and see their previous work.

Many people mistakenly believe that it is easy to become a tattoo artist and to those people I have to say THINK AGAIN. The relevant word in the job description for a tattoo artist is ARTIST. An artist is someone who studies his craft, practices constantly, and always looks for ways to improve his ability. Michelangelo was an artist. Leonardo was an artist. Van Gogh was an artist. Some guy who traces cartoonish figures and has the ability to color inside of the lines is not an artist. You can't learn to be a tattoo artist by buying a basic tattooing kit, putting a few designs on your friends, then hanging out an "Open for Business" sign. It takes years and years of practice, first on paper, then as an apprentice, then on actual living individuals before a person can be considered a true tattooist.

True Artists know what they are worth and charge for their services accordingly. You need to realize this before you let someone put a design on you. If you go to a tattoo shop and the price seems to be too good to be true-IT IS! Many people who are new to the business won't charge you much because they need a high volume of business so they can practice their skill. If you want a simple, plain, one color design, then go for it. But if you want something more elaborate, say a portrait or an intricate custom design, then you had better take your time and research the different people you are considering doing the job. And you better be ready to pay for it. Good artists charge upwards of $100 an hour for their time because they know they are worth it, and honestly if you are going to have someone put a design on you that you will wear for the rest of your life don't skimp. Trust me you will spend the little bit of money that you are saving now having the tattoo either repaired or removed in the future.

Choosing the right tattoo design is just as important as choosing your tattoo artists. If your tattoo is on an area of your body that is visible to others like it or not it will create an impression of the type of person you are before you have the time to make it yourself. Your body is a living canvas, it is a treasure that can't be replaced so why not choose to adorn it with something that is meaningful and beautiful? Too many times people make spur of the moment decisions when choosing a body art design forgetting that as they age and evolve the tattoo doesn't. It remains the same forever. What may have seemed like a great idea when you are sixteen can become the biggest regret of your life when you are forty. A great example of this would be the tattoo of a zigzag man my brother in law got when he was in his early 20's. After decades of battling drug and alcohol addiction and becoming a born again Christian-the tattoo isn't quite as cute or funny as it was when he initially got it. Instead it is a daily reminder of the mistakes he made, the time he wasted, and the people he hurt. When he meets new people the tattoo is something he has to continuously explain and make excuses for.

 Oh, and one more thing you need to be sure of before you get body art-make sure your artist can SPELL!  I don't think it's necessary to elaborate any further, one picture says a thousand words.

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