| As everywhere now, tattoos aren't just for bad | | | | Having a tattoo is not just like buying a leather |
| boys and bikers anymore. Every mother's | | | | jacket, price should not be an issue. Cheaper is |
| daughter and every daughter's son has one. | | | | not a good idea in selecting your tattoo artist. You |
| Reports states that 12 to 20 million Americans | | | | get what you pay for. Remember that it is a |
| have tattoos and the number is rising every hour. | | | | custom, one-of-a-kind piece of art which last |
| Over the past years, there have been tattoo | | | | forever in your skin. Some good tattoo shops |
| shops that has dominated the tattoo art market. | | | | keeps their prices reasonable but not as dirt |
| They have been training and nurturing tattoo | | | | cheap like a prison quality tattoo. |
| artist. But what are really good points when | | | | In accessing an artist it is important to study their |
| choosing your tatto artist and tattoo shops? | | | | portfolio. Make sure the photos of their work are |
| A tattoo shop should be a clean and inviting | | | | original, not cut out of magazines. Look at the |
| environment. You should know as you walk | | | | brightness of the colors and the details of the |
| through the door that the shop cares about both | | | | designs. Also a real life examples are the best |
| your physical and psychological well being. If either | | | | references and a real life demonstration. An artist |
| is in question, then it might not be the place for | | | | who only deals with standard designs is less |
| you to get your artwork. The shop should only | | | | experienced, is is a good test for an artist if it will |
| use new needles in both the tattoo and piercing | | | | do custom work or design. It is also important |
| processes. The needles should be sterilized in an | | | | that a shop and tattoo artist have an extensive |
| Autoclave which is regularly tested by a health | | | | variety of patterns to choose from. |
| professional. | | | | From tribal to religious to Japanese, from full back |
| Autoclaving is the same process used to sterilize | | | | patterns, or through the standards suns, moons, |
| medical instruments in hospitals and is crucial in | | | | and hearts, some good shops have thousands of |
| avoiding possible Hepa B and C infections as well | | | | designs to choose from. Look out for mistakes, |
| as HIV virus. If you have any doubts about the | | | | don't let it happen to you. Tattoo mistake |
| shop's sterilization, you should ask to see the | | | | nightmares is an example of an unqualified artist, |
| shop's set-up process. If you are refused, then | | | | sloppy work, and customers that were unwilling to |
| avoid the shops like that. A good tattoo shops | | | | ask the necessary questions and too rush for the |
| must be strict in their safety policies and is also a | | | | design process. Remember, stay awake during |
| good point that the shop is inspected once a | | | | your tattoo design. select a qualified artist and |
| month to insure the integrity of their sterilization | | | | enjoy this extreme self-expression. |
| practices. | | | | |