| Those who want to learn how to tattoo the right | | | | art, you want their friends and families to say, |
| way know that being a pro is about more than | | | | "Wow! I want that artist to do my next tattoo!" |
| knowing the difference between a liner and a | | | | In addition to being good at giving tattoos, you |
| shader or how to mix your inks to get the | | | | also need to make sure that you teach clients |
| perfect color. | | | | how to take care of their ink. The better they |
| After all, "pro" is short for "professional," and | | | | care for their tattoos, the better those tattoos |
| there's a lot that goes into being a true | | | | will look. |
| professional in the tattoo industry. | | | | 3. Conduct yourself professionally. Yes, tattoo |
| You may have decided you want to learn how to | | | | artists are sometimes a little "rough" around the |
| tattoo because you think the work looks | | | | edges. They may get away with using a bit of |
| interesting and because you like the atmosphere | | | | off-color language and engaging in some behaviors |
| in the tattoo shop. There is definitely a whole | | | | that we might not appreciate in our physician, for |
| culture, or subculture, when it comes to tattooing. | | | | example. Still, a tattoo professional needs to be |
| Much of this comes from the fact that tattooing | | | | just that...a professional. This means you need to |
| used to be considered very subversive. Only the | | | | take care of your appearance, keep your |
| "bad boys" and "bad girls" got tattoos. Getting | | | | workspace in order, and make clients feel secure |
| inked was a sign of rebellion, of not conforming to | | | | and comfortable with you. |
| society's rules. | | | | 4. Follow all safety procedures. Really, this topic |
| Many of the people who choose to learn how to | | | | encompasses all the things we've already |
| tattoo feel like they fit in well within this culture. | | | | discussed. By keeping your equipment clean and |
| To be sure, that culture has been changing over | | | | sanitary, you are safeguarding the quality of your |
| the last decade or two. While many people are still | | | | work, protecting your reputation, and conducting |
| not fans of tattoos, they have definitely become | | | | yourself professionally. Safety procedures go |
| much more mainstream. That said, a lot of tattoo | | | | beyond using the autoclave to sterilize needles, |
| artists are still throwbacks to this earlier ideal. You | | | | and also include things like thoroughly washing, |
| will find that most of them have lots of tattoos | | | | using gloves, and even wearing clean clothes to |
| themselves. Many have piercings, and there is | | | | work every day. |
| definitely a bit of a "tough guy" or "tough girl" | | | | 5. Be a good business person. When someone |
| image that these folks live up to. | | | | learns how to tattoo, they usually do it because |
| There Are Different Kinds of "Professional" | | | | they love art, they love culture, and they love |
| When you think of the word "professional," you | | | | working with other people. They very rarely do it |
| probably don't immediately picture the tattoo | | | | because they love all of the nitpicky details that |
| artist. Instead, you may conjure images of Wall | | | | come along with running a business. Even if you |
| Street types in suits and ties or men and women | | | | work in someone else's shop, there will be |
| in various uniforms. Even among those jobs | | | | business angles to consider, from pricing and |
| considered to be "professional," you will find | | | | commissions to rent, etc. Keeping up with bills, |
| differences in expectations. Nurses, for example, | | | | paperwork, certifications, and all of the other |
| generally wear scrubs, while police officers wear | | | | aspects of being in business can be difficult and |
| the uniform of their department. | | | | time consuming, and it's most definitely not the |
| Oftentimes, the people who choose to learn how | | | | most enjoyable aspect of being a tattoo artist. It |
| to tattoo as a profession are the very same | | | | is, however, extremely important if you want to |
| people who would be least likely to wear a suit or | | | | be a successful professional. |
| be happy in the same uniform day after day. | | | | You will find tons of tattoo books and tattoo |
| That doesn't mean, however, that they are not | | | | videos that teach you the fundamentals of the |
| "professional." | | | | art of tattooing. They will teach you how to |
| In order to learn how to tattoo like a professional, | | | | break down and set up the tattoo machine or the |
| you need to consider both your tattooing skills | | | | difference between an ultrasonic cleaner and an |
| and your appearance and demeanor. | | | | autoclave. |
| Five Keys to Tattooing Success | | | | These are all really important things to study |
| | | | when you learn how to tattoo. BUT, they are not |
| 1. Do the highest-quality work. Probably the most | | | | the only requirements when it comes to being |
| important factor that determines your success is | | | | successful. |
| your actual ability. That's not to say that it's the | | | | Being a truly successful tattoo artist requires you |
| only factor, but if you don't learn how to tattoo | | | | to conduct yourself as a professional. |
| well, then your chances of becoming a pro are | | | | Being a professional in the tattoo world is a little |
| slim to none. You need to know how your | | | | different than it is in other fields, but there are still |
| equipment works, as well as how to perform any | | | | important guidelines and expectations. If you do |
| number of specialized techniques. To get the | | | | not go to the effort to learn and meet these |
| most out of your tattooing career, you have to | | | | expectations, then you're just not going to fit in. |
| really put yourself into it heart and soul. Study, | | | | You will likely have a hard time finding other |
| learn, practice, and work hard. | | | | professionals who want to work with you, and |
| 2. Protect your reputation. Of course, doing | | | | even if you start your own shop, you will find |
| high-quality work is going to do a lot to bolster | | | | that just because you learn how to tattoo doesn't |
| your reputation. When your clients show off their | | | | mean that you can attract and keep customers. |