So, you’re thinking about getting tattooed, but have no idea how the whole process works? Since a tattoo is for life, it’s good to know what you’re getting into, and the first step is understanding how a tattoo works and what you’re actually doing to your body when you decide to get tattooed.

The Tattoo Gun

Tattoos are accomplished by using an electric-powered tattoo gun.  The tattoo gun has a needle at the end of it that is used to put ink inside of your skin deep enough so that it does not come out. When the gun is turned on, the needle moves up and down rapidly (up to 200o times a minute) and is able to deposit a small drop of ink deep into your skin with each puncture.

Tattoo guns have come a long way since the early days of tattooing but are still made a few basic components, those being an electric motor, a sterilized needle, and a tube system. There is also a foot pedal, similar to a sewing machine, that allows the tattoo artist to control the movement of the needle.

Tattoo Safety

Safety has always been a big concern with getting tattooed, since anytime you are dealing with puncture wounds, you have a risk of infection.
Fortunately, it is much more commonplace these days for tattoo artists to open brand new, sterile needles from the packaging right in front of you before you get tattooed.

To ensure the safety of both the customer and the tattoo artist, tattooing materials like ink, needles, and gloves are all made for single use only.

Tattoo Preparation

Minutes before your tattoo session begins, your artist will  often  begin chatting with you to make you feel relaxed.  The chatter is usually accompanied by the artist washing their hands, checking themselves for cuts and abrasions, and disinfecting the entire work area to begin preparation for your tattoo.

When the cleaning of his work area is finished, he will then shave the area of your body that is getting tattooed, disinfect it with soap and water, and open the sterile equipment needed to get the job done.

Getting Tattooed

Once the tattooing begins, you will feel some pain, but how much largely depends on your tolerance and the location of your tattoo on the body, as some areas will obviously be more painful than others.

During the entire tattoo process, the tattoo artist will continue to clean the tattooed area until it is finished.

Tattoo Aftercare

At this point, when you’re tattoo has been completed, the artist will put some ointment on the area and give you a rundown of how to take care of your tattoo so that it heals properly.

Most of the time, you will receive an information sheet so you don’t forget what’s needed to be done. It is extremely important to follow the instructions you were given for tattoo aftercare. Not only are you lowering the risk of infection, but you will be decreasing the chances of your tattoo not healing properly and losing ink or not looking like it’s supposed to.

Once you’ve decided that you’re ready to get a new tattoo, you’re going to have to make a few more decisions before actually getting permanently inked. One of the big ones is deciding on your budget.

So, how do you find out how much your tattoo is going to cost?

The first thing you’re going to need to do is decide on the tattoo design that you want. Before anything else, choosing a tattoo that you are 100% sure of is more important than the cost. Your tattoo is forever and it’s not a decision that you want to base solely on cost.

Once you are absolutely certain of which tattoo design you want, you can move on to choosing the studio and the artist.

Regardless of what anyone may tell you, when it comes to tattoos, you get what you pay for. That doesn’t mean that your tattoo has to be expensive to be good, but there are a few things that will determine the price:

1. Custom tattoo design
If your tattoo design idea is one that is 100% unique and you need the tattoo artist to design it for you, you are likely to pay quite a bit more for his time and skills to create that design for you.

2. Artist Reputation
Artists can charge whatever they want and it can can range anywhere from $50 to $300 and up per hour. Typically, the more reputable and famous the artist becomes, the more you’re going to pay to have that artist do your tattoo.

3. Size matters
Yes, this is one of those times where size actually does matter. For instance, a small heart tattoo on your wrist is going to cost considerably less that an intricate full back piece design.

Is it possible to find a tattoo studio that has super cheap pricing? Of course, and it’s even possible that they have professional artists with great talent, but never rush into choosing a tattoo studio, especially based on cost.

The majority of tattoos heal without any complications at all, but understanding that there are risks involved is important. Regardless of how safe you may think you are, there is always at least a slight element of risk when you’re dealing with needles, puncture wounds, and possible infection.

The number one issue to be concerned about when you’re getting tattooed is your tattoo artist using unsanitary equipment. All of the equipment needs to be sterilized after every use, otherwise there is a high risk for the spread of disease and infection.
In fact, the entire tattoo studio should be clean and disinfected on a regular basis.

So, how do you know if there’s a problem with your tattoo?

If you notice any excessive redness or swelling in and around your tattoo, it’s important to see your doctor immediately. Do not shrug it off as it can quickly lead to something more serious if it is infected. If you see the doctor during early stages, then it can likely be cured by taking some medicine.

If your tattoo infection is severe, then you may have to have surgery in order to remove the tattoo and prevent further infection and more serious problems. Another downside of a severe infection is that although the tattoo removal is usually a safe procedure, surgery always comes with risk as well.

What other risks are there when getting a tattoo?

Aside from the health risks, another huge concern for most people getting a tattoo is the outcome of the appearance. Let’s face it, everyone has seen an example or two of a botched tattoo and it’s not something you want on your body.

Remember that your tattoo is for life and don’t think that removal is your back up plan because it can also be risky, expensive and you will often still end up with a scar in the same area anyway.

So how do you avoid getting a bad tattoo?

Like every other decision you make in life, think it through. Ask yourself why you are getting the tattoo and if it’s something you will still want on your body in years to come.

Visit several tattoo parlors before deciding on an artist, and ask lots of questions. Be absolutely sure that you are 100% sure you want the tattoo and that you have chosen a professional artist with a stellar reputation and a spotless tattoo studio.

Deciding to get a tattoo is a big decision and choosing a tattoo design is an even bigger one. Think about it. It’s not like hanging art in the living room for a few years and then switching it up when you get bored of looking at it. This is a lifelong commitment of art that is with you 24 hours a day, wherever you go, so you better be like it.

So, where to you start on the quest to find the perfect tattoo design?

Well, the best place to begin is by looking at tattoo designs for inspiration. Sounds simple, right? But, you have to narrow down your process, otherwise you can get burnt out and frustrated quickly if you don’t find anything that interests you.

There a several ways that you can find the perfect tattoo for yourself faster.

First, here’s a few tips that can help you find a tattoo design that suits you when you are searching online:

1. Use specific search terms in Google Images
Go to Google Images so that your results are images only. Do you know what part of the body that you want tattooed? Then, make sure you add that to the search. For example, you could search “lower back tattoos”.

Another tips is to search large images (Google lets you select the size). Smaller images are almost always lower quality, plus you will see more detail if you are looking at intricate designs.

2. Free tattoo design galleries
If you aren’t having any luck with Google Images, you can do a regular web search for “free tattoo galleries”.  There are a plethora of free tattoo galleries that list tattoos by category and body type.

You will still need to weed through some of the low quality sites, but typically, you can come across some good ones in a short amount of time.

3. Paid tattoo design galleries
There are also tattoo design galleries like ChopperTattoo.com that charge a few to get access to thousands of high quality tattoo designs to choose from. This obviously is the fast route and if you can spare a few bucks to save yourself the time searching, then it might be worth your while to go that route.

Straight From The Artist

Another idea is to go the old school route and simply go visit a few tattoo studios. Flip through their design portfolios and chat with one of the artists about what type of tattoo you’re thinking about getting. This is what they do for a living so they’ll likely be able to give you some ideas.

In fact, depending on your tattoo design budget, you can even pay extra to have your tattoo artist turn your idea into a custom tattoo design that he creates from scratch.

This is often the preferred action to take, but can be quite expensive. You can cut down on costs by having a really good idea of what you want before asking the artist to create the design.

There’s absolutely no question that getting a tattoo is a big decision that requires a lot of thought. Not only do you have to be 100% sure that you want a tattoo, but you have to be certain of the design as well. Once you’ve made it to that point, there’s still another important step you have to take, and that’s choosing a tattoo artist.

Choosing a tattoo artist is not something to be taken lightly, and it’s wise to take the time to research your options. It may seem dull compared to the excitement of getting inked, but if you skip this step, you are putting yourself in a risky situation.

If you choose a tattoo artist that doesn’t do a good job on your tattoo design, there’s no going back.

So, here’s a few tips to keep in mind when you’re looking for a tattoo artist to give you a tattoo:

Reputation And Professionalism

Word of mouth spreads fast in the tattoo world and developing a stellar reputation means everything to a tattoo artist. So, the first thing you should do is ask around. If you happen to know people who have nice tattoos, ask them where they got them done and who they think is the best artist in your area.

Find out the names of all the tattoo parlors in your city and Google them. Try and find reviews and photo galleries from past customers and if it’s a forum environment, ask questions.

Go down to the tattoo parlors. Give them a call beforehand as well to see if you can make an appointment to speak to a tattoo artist for a few moments. Write down any questions you may have so that you don’t forget them when you get there.

Pay attention to the professionalism of the shop. Is it clean? Is the artist you are talking to helpful, friendly, and polite?

Ask to see their portfolio of past customers to see if their work is high quality.

Experience And The Right Style

Ask the tattoo artists that you are considering how long they have been doing tattoos and what kind of experience and training they have as an artist. Typically, they will be more than happy to chat with you and answer your questions.

You will also want to ask what style of art they do best. For instance, an artist that can tatoo the most beautiful dragon design you’ve ever seen, might not be able to design the black and white portrait tattoo that you want. Always ask to see portfolio examples that match the style of art you want to get.

Take A Trip

A tattoo is for life, so if you can’t seem to find a tattoo artist in your city that makes you feel confident about getting the tattoo, then head out of town to reputable shops outside of your locale. It may be more time consuming and expensive, but it will be worth it in the end when you get the perfect tattoo.