In many places, it can seem like there is a tattoo studio on every block. Many of them offer similar services, but not all studios are equal when it comes to safety and artistry. The decision should be carefully considered before choosing a studio to do your tattoo because picking the wrong place can cause numerous problems and cost you more than you can imagine.

The Appearance Of The Studio

Sanitation is very important for a tattoo studio because a studio that is not hygienic can cause serious infections and life threatening illnesses in their customers. The tattooing equipment should be cleaned and sterilized to eliminate the possibility of an infection from one customer being transferred to other customers. New needles that are fresh out of a sterile pack should be used for every customer to remove the risk of contamination from bacteria and viruses. If there is anything that you see that causes you to be concerned about the sanitation at the studio, you should choose somewhere else to obtain your tattoo to ensure your good health.

The Location Of The Studio

Any tattoo studio that is located in a weird place will not be the best place to get some body art done. Whether the studio is in a tent at a rock concert or attached to a bar, these places should be avoided because they may not be regulated properly and may not hold themselves to the standards of many other studios. When choosing a place to obtain a tattoo, it is important for the studio to have a stable physical location and has been in business long enough to obtain a good reputation within the community and clientele that is willing to give the location a good review.

The Skill Of The Tattoo Artist

Any tattoo artist that works for a tattoo studio should have experience in creating different designs for different types of people. Some artists have an album or book of the different designs that they have done before to show new customers what kind of artistry they are capable of in their tattoo designs. The reputation of the studio will indicate how good their tattoo artists are at creating different types of designs and custom creations.

Learning which tattoo studios in the area is the best and most reliable can be difficult if there are a number of different studios in the area. If you know friends, family members, or coworkers that have a tattoo, ask them where they have gotten their designs and what places they would recommend. Getting an honest opinion of what studios are the best and which ones to avoid will help you determine where the best place to get a tattoo will be.

If you have tattoos (like me) then you know that people are often asking for advice about being inked. If you’re not tattooed, here is a short guide to some mistakes to avoid.

Before you go under the needle, have a look to see what the following might say about you.

Tribal Band/Barbed Wire – Upper Arm

This tattoo proclaims you as a member of the tribe, that’s true. The sad part is that the tribe in question is the “sub-literati.”

Super Hard Neck Tattoo

The placement implies anything but hardness, no matter the subject matter. This is the mark of the young man with erectile dysfunction, or at the very least, a premature ejaculator. Can you say overcompensation? Go ahead and try again. I’m willing to be patient.

Garden Variety Butterfly Tramp Stamp

Beware the secret garden below. The butterfly belies a much more sinister truth, and though the garden is sure to be properly pruned, the implication that insect life may seek exodus from the deep cleavage below may not be so far off the mark.

Look At My Boobs Sacred Heart

Frank Zappa had it right about you Catholic girls. Too many years cooped up with the same sex have you making this desperate and permanent plea for male attention that you reiterate every time you “forget” to close those top buttons.

Any Placement Of A Dolphin

Bad enough on a necklace or a t-shirt, the dolphin tattoo indicates a desire to be seen as peace and earth loving. The bad news is that you were probably inspired to get it after an alcohol fueled domestic abuse disturbance that resulted in your arrest.

Nautical Star

Would you cut it out already? The closest you’ve been to the open water is happy hour near the naval base during shore leave.

Angel Wings On The Back

In your desire to be different, you committed the error of putting puny, atrophied angel wings on your back in an indelible medium. Were they suddenly to become corporeal, you’d be left with useless nubs that make getting dressed impossible. Shows severe spatial orientation issues.

Flower On The Ankle

The design you picked out gave you a familiar, warm-fuzzy feeling. It’s unfortunate that you failed to recognize it was because it resembled the packaging on your favorite feminine hygiene product. A future of daytime soaps awaits you.

Tazmanian Devil

Any Looney Tunes character pretty much says the same thing, but Taz is the mark of the beast – as in Old Milwaukee. The calling card of the unemployable, the Tazmanian Devil shows a character deficit that pretty much guarantees you will complacently be the recipient of public assistance for the rest of your life.

Low-Abdominal, Sub-Navel Tribal

Your shirt’s too short and your pants are too low and that means we can all see your belly tattoo. With or without a belly button ring, this almost definitely indicates a cavalier approach to birth control. Pretty soon, your tattoo will be ravaged by your impending and unplanned pregnancy.

Original article

When getting a tattoo, there’s never a stupid question, in fact, there are a number of normal questions people ask before getting a tattoo, especially if it’s their first. Remember, if you go into a shop and feel uncomfortable, or the artist or person at the front desk makes you feel stupid for asking questions, this probably isn’t the right shop for you. Getting a tattoo isn’t like joining some elite club, anyone can do it, and you should be comfortable, and feel free to ask questions. Read on to see if any of the questions you have are answered here.

Does it hurt?

This is a common question, and the only real honest answer is, yes. But, everyone has a different pain thresh hold, and tattoos hurt more for some, than for others. I saw a bumper sticker once at a shop that said, “If tattoos felt like orgasms, everyone would have them.” This is pretty much true. So yes, expect it to hurt.

Are there certain places that hurt more than others?

Yes, certain places on your body will hurt more than others. This has to do with more fat, more muscle, if the skin is on top of a bone. But, in the long run, where you get your tattoo should not be based on whether or not a particular spot is going to hurt. They’re all going to hurt. Pick a spot you want, and know that even though you’re going to be in pain for a good amount of time, you’ll have that tattoo for the rest of your life, which outweighs the amount of time you’ll be hurting.

How much do tattoos cost?

Tattoos are an expensive undertaking, and they’re definitely not cheap. Remember, you’re paying for art, so, you can’t expect to go into a shop and get a cheap price. Usually shops have set prices, and all you have to do is ask. It’s not uncommon for a shop to charge by the hour. It’s also not uncommon for a shop to charge more for specific parts of the body, depending on how hard they are to access or work on. Also, custom tattoos will cost more than a design you pick out of a book.

Are they safe?

This depends on the shop. Always pay attention to and ask questions about the cleanliness of a shop and how they handle their equipment. Does an artist wipe down his area before and after each client? Do they use new needles? Do they autoclave their equiptment (both methods are acceptable)? Has your artist and the particular shop been in business for a logn time, and what kind of training does your artist have? Does the artist wear gloves? All these questions are valid and should be asked before deciding on a shop or artist.

Should I tip my tattoo artist?

It’s always appreciated if you like your artists work, but there’s no real rule for this, it’s totally up to you.