Make Sure the Shop Has a Good Rep First and foremost: research, research, research. Whether it’s a permanent tattoo or a removable piercing, nobody wants to leave a shop with something ugly, crooked or infected. Make sure the shop is clean, has an autoclave sterilization machine, uses latex gloves, single-serving ink wells, etc. A good shop will show customers around and answer any questions. When it comes to health and safety, there can never be enough caution.
Think of Something Creative & Unique An astonishing number of people wander into a body-art shop without any preconceived idea, only to leave with something generic they’ve picked from the wall (“flash,” as we call it) that they’ll probably get covered up later. Tattoo artists hate nautical stars, tribal bands, butterflies and anything generic. Body art is supposed to be a unique expression of the wearer’s soul—or at least personality.
Trust the Artist Most of these people have spent years apprenticing with and working under other skilled artists, literally having generations of body modification knowledge passed down to them. They live and breathe this stuff. If an artist says that the ankle is too small of an area for a dolphin riding a rainbow-tribal butterfly on top of Revelation 17:5, then listen!
For Pete’s Sake, Let It Heal! Remember: Tattoos and piercings are open wounds. Let them heal properly. This means no swimming or picking at scabs. Piercings might be red or swollen for the first couple of days; this is normal. Keep them clean with anti-bacterial soap and sea-salt mixed with warm water. Tattoos may also be red and swollen for the first few days depending on skin type. Gently clean them and make sure they don’t dry out with a barely-there thin layer of Aquaphor. This is especially important when the tattoo begins to peel. If something begins to hurt or looks infected, consult rule number three above.
You Get What You Pay For Yes, tattoos and piercings are expensive. That’s because there are many costs: jewelry, sanitation, ink, needles, tattoo machines, training, etc. Sure, cousin Johnny who works at McDonald’s might be able to draw, but just because he bought a new tattoo machine doesn’t mean he knows what he’s doing. At all. Scratcher tattoos end up embarrassing, faded, blurred and ultimately covered up. Plus, scratchers aren’t properly trained in dealing with blood-borne pathogens and sanitation. Instead of saving a little cash in the short run and having to look like a noob in the long run, save up a little extra and get a great piece of art the first time around.
