The important thing is that you leave your session happy with the art that is permanently engraved on your skin. And whether it's the first time or the fifth time, this feeling is never a guarantee when you are considering a new tattoo.
But there are steps you can take to ensure that you walk away loving your new artwork and that it is healthy. We've put together everything you need to know to make your experience as easy, painless, and remorse-free as possible.
What to know before going to the store
Above all, you must know what images you want. Do you want something floral? A picture? Abstract spots of color? Or maybe you just want a simple script?
It is important to have your central idea developed before scheduling a consultation, unless you are going to search for lyrics, which often only requires you to choose one font. During the consultation, your artist can work out the finer details. You can show them any images and also ask for some best wireless tattoo machines you have saved for inspiration and find out the location and price.
Style
Once you've decided what you want to tattoo, you have to figure out how you want it to look using best tattoo guns. There are tons of different tattoo styles and you will want to go to an artist who is an expert in the style you are looking for.
Some of the more popular styles include:
- Traditional American. Characterized by clean black outlines and the primary color palette, this style commonly features skulls and roses.
- Traditional Japanese. Inspired by traditional Japanese artwork, this style's clean lines and minimal shading are often used to create tigers, koi fish, and flowers.
- The goal of this style is to recreate subjects using shading and color contrast, as they appear in real life.
- By combining aspects of traditional tattooing and realism, this style is all about bold contours and intense color saturation.
- Neo-traditional. A modernized take on traditional American imagery, this style relies heavily on shading and color to create realistic portraits.
- Minimalism or geometric. With a focus on sharp black lines and negative space, this style is all about precision. The results are usually simple and symbolic.
But you don't have to be familiar with the jargon to get one of these styles. Navigating Instagram is incredibly helpful, as most artists post their work on their own channel and in a hashtag. If, for example, you've decided you want to get a cat tattoo, a quick search for #cattattoo returns more than 220,000 results.
Save the images that you like the most and show them to your artist during your consultation. They can use them as inspiration to create a one-of-a-kind piece.
Design
Many people go for pure illustration, but if you want a script, standalone or alongside an image, you will need to find out what type of font you want through best tattoo transfer papers.
Adobe Typekit is a great place to look up font styles, offering everything from handwriting original site to typewriter. The site even allows you to see the text of your choice in the font you are considering so that you can really visualize how it might look on your body.
If you see something you like, print a couple of different versions to take with you to your artist. They may not have your exact font on your computer, so you can use these pages for reference.
Colour
Although the tattoo style often dictates the color palette, the artist can work with you to modify the design and style to better suit what you want.
That said, your skin tone plays a big role in how well individual colors will hold up. For example, fair skin tends to retain white ink better than other skin tones. Red and purple pigments are also more vibrant on lighter skin tones.
Darker skin tones tend to have darker colors (think crimson red and royal blue) better than lighter tones. Having darker skin doesn't mean you can't get pastels or other light shades, just that these options generally don't appear as pigmented as darker colors.
Size and location
Speaking of fading, the contours and shapes may appear sharp and slippery at first, but over time these can fade or even blur. It all depends on the size and location of your tattoo. This is why it is important to think about where you want your tattoo and how visible you want it to be.
Often the location alone can determine the size of your tattoo. After all, there is a lot of room on your forearm or thigh.
Don't worry if you are still doubting the finer details. Your artist can help you weigh the pros and cons of placement and size, as well as set expectations for how you will feel when inking.
The bottom line
You may feel like getting your new tattoo right away, but it takes time to get the details right. The last thing you want is to cut the price or location and end up with a poor quality tattoo or infection.
Patience will pay off in the long run, so be sure to explore all of your options until you find the one that works for you. And if you have a great experience, your first tattoo doesn't have to be your last! Keep adding to your canvas and embrace the confidence it gives you.