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Getting first tattoo
burntheladle
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I'm looking at getting my first tattoo sometime in the near future (next few months). I have a design in mind, and I'm comfortable with why I'm getting it and why I want to get it now, but I really don't have any idea about the logistics of doing so.
What sort of thing should I be looking for in a tattoo parlour. I'm planning to go and look over a few, what should I be watching out for?
What sort of questions should I be asking the artists? I need them to draw my design for me, will they show me a portfolio? How will I be able to tell a good artist?
I live in a fairly small city (Canberra, Australia), so there aren't that many tattoo parlours. None of my friends have tattoos, and the few people I know with tattoos certainly didn't get them here, so I don't have anyone I can get recommendations from. I have been told that some of the tattoo parlours here are associated with bikie gangs, so I'd like to stay away from them (but how will I tell).
I'm not really anticipating a very positive reaction from my family, or some of my friends.
And at the moment, I am very reluctant to talk to anyone about it other than my boyfriend, and even him I am a bit shy of trying to explain the design too (I really want to do it without getting the opinions of other people - I want this to be my decision, not a decision endorsed by anyone else... am I just being silly?)
What sort of thing should I be looking for in a tattoo parlour. I'm planning to go and look over a few, what should I be watching out for?
What sort of questions should I be asking the artists? I need them to draw my design for me, will they show me a portfolio? How will I be able to tell a good artist?
I live in a fairly small city (Canberra, Australia), so there aren't that many tattoo parlours. None of my friends have tattoos, and the few people I know with tattoos certainly didn't get them here, so I don't have anyone I can get recommendations from. I have been told that some of the tattoo parlours here are associated with bikie gangs, so I'd like to stay away from them (but how will I tell).
I'm not really anticipating a very positive reaction from my family, or some of my friends.
And at the moment, I am very reluctant to talk to anyone about it other than my boyfriend, and even him I am a bit shy of trying to explain the design too (I really want to do it without getting the opinions of other people - I want this to be my decision, not a decision endorsed by anyone else... am I just being silly?) What would Zombie Pirate LeChuck Do?
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1. Make sure it's clean.
2. Make sure you are incredibly comfortable with the artists work.
Find an artist you like. Look at examples of their work, actual pictures of tattoo's they've put on people. Tell them your design and see what they do with it. A good artist wants you to be as happy with your tattoo as they are.
The only thing you really need to pay attention to, is:
-Make sure they are using prepackaged, sealed equipment (this should be a big metal tube the needle goes through attached to the gun, and the needle itself) you need to watch and make sure that they are, and the equipment isn't already in the gun when you sit down.
-Most artists have been doing their job for years if not decades, they are professional. If you come in with art on a piece of paper, they will sure it up so you can agree on the design, then place on a stencil and make sure everything is OK by you before even starting.
I went in for one piece I have on my right arm (spans from wrist to elbow, covers the entire back side of my lower arm) with nothing but an idea (I am no artist) and he drew it on with sharpie, free hand on my arm with marker, and my artistic ideal...which he was aware of, is a vast departure from his normal "gangster" style he does. It came out beautifully, one of the tattoos I have I show off regularly and get nothing but compliments on.
My point is, if you are sure you want to get inked, the artist doesn't really matter if you have a pre-drawn design, and in fact, I would rather go to a biker artist whose been tattooing for 30 or 40 years then some hipster who just started. Their style may be different, but their skill is in general artistry, not just skulls and mud flaps.
But yes, they will show you a portfolio, where you can see how they are very good at doing all kinds of ink. Odds are in the hour or so you are sitting there you will make friends with these people, every artist I have met has been the nicest, kindest person. Proof that stereotypes don't apply some of the time.
Remember: Your design is what they will do, and they will not change your design unless you specify it. Ask that they take your work, and re sketch it if you want, odds are it will come out better as they have a lot of experience with different styles. Unless you are totally sure of your skill and design. They have to not screw it up, because your a walking advertisement for them. I have never seen a person with a tattoo that did not come out how they wanted it because the artist messed up. The longer they have been doing it (regardless of their background) the better and less painful it will be. A good old school artist will have a very light touch, and will cause very little pain in reality.
I got one by a young buck because it was just a small tattoo with a friend and we already had the design, and it hurt more then the 4 hour sessions I have sat for, because he rested and moved his hand across the tattoo he had already done. The old guys don't do that, and you almost don't even notice its going on (maybe that's because I have a bit of experience with it, but my first one didn't hurt that much either).
Sorry to go on and on like that, but like I said I have a pretty good idea of what getting inked is like, been in that chair a lot over the last few years.
The only close friend I have with a tat got it in america though
If you find a place post it here, cause I'm interested in one aswell
This is good advice and i'm sure well-intended, but it might be jumping the gun a bit. I have a ton of tats and went through an apprenticeship (although did not end up pursuing it as a career). Prepackaged needles aren't something you need to look for, they are something that literally 100% of shops are going to be using unless you're getting something put on with a homemade prison machine in someone's basement. Needles go pretty dull after one use, it's not like you can just clean and reuse even if you wanted to.
And tubes and needle bars are perfectly acceptable used, all that's required is that they have been run through an autoclave to sterilize them. Some shops buy needles that have been pre-attached to the bars, and these will be in their own fresh little packages, but that's a HUGE expense and a lot of shops don't do it, since the cost of the bars really adds up. One of the first things i ever learned in my training was how to solder my own needles onto a bar, a lot of shops do it this way and there's absolutely zero risk of infection as long as they're cleaning things.
In fact if anything i would be more confident going into a shop that worked this way, because it will generally mean that they are devoted to the trade and know their equipment inside and out, and that they've apprenticed under someone who's likely taught them every aspect of the job.
I've also never seen an artist that would bother waiting until you sat down to put their rig together, that is time consuming and you are paying them by the hour. They'll likely have all their machines laid out by the time you show up, this is to save you time and money, not to give you hepatitis.
Seriously, tattooing is a highly competitive business and a huge percentage of their business comes from word of mouth. Any actual shop is going to be health department approved and have your best interests in mind, because nobody is going to recommend a shop that gave them a terrible infection. The only thing you need be concerned about is finding an artist you like, which really only involves going in, talking to artists yourself, and looking through their portfolios. It's an easy task, any tattoo artist is going to want to show you as much of their work as you've got time to look at.
All of the ink I have came from artists that did it as I described, and since thats all I have seen, its the advice I could give out.
Then again I usually got to know the guys (and one girl who did some work on me) before hand and prices where prearranged.
On second though I recommend doing something like that, if your going to set an appointment, ask them for an estimate. It might be what the price would end up by the hour any way, but it might be a hundred or so less, and if you are cool with them while you get your work done, they will not mention the extra time.
I know I got a 5 hour tat (was supposed to be about 700 by the hour price) for 250 bucks that way, asked for an estimate, he said 250, I said cool, and thats what I paid.
Also aftercare is just as important as anything, if you take really REALLY good care for the weeks after you get it done, it will stay nice and bright, if you take half-assed care of it, it will be faded out of the box.
My first tattoo was an impulsive decision on my 18th birthday, and I couldn't even tell you what the artist's name was. Recently I finished work on a half sleeve, and I got close enough with my artist to the point where we were calling each other with ideas on how to make the tattoo even better. That's the kind of relationship you want to look for, because in the end it will definitely come through in the work. And honestly, nothing feels better than the last day of ink work when you both look at it in amazement and know that you guys worked together to make something that will, quite literally, last your entire life.
As Sentry said in the beginning of the thread, the tattoo is just as important to the artist as it is to the customer.
Weaboo List
And for god sake, make sure you can tolerate pain. It'll vary in intensity depending on which part of the body you get tattoo'd, but generally it feels like a razor blade being drug across your skin. My first tattoo, the artist ran the needle across my skin without ink, just so I'd know ahead of time if I could handle the pain.
She used to work in Kings Cross then in Newtown Sydney, not sure were the old gal is now. But she is the master!
I agree, look for clean and look for professional. But word of mouth is powerful, listen to peoples advice on were to go. As a bad tat, still lasts forever... so avoid rushing into any old shop.
I have seen people do that and they end up with typical run of the mill tat and shaky or gap ridden work.
I rushed in on my first tat, my nickname is cherry so i have a love heart cherry held by a blue bird on my shoulder (stop judging me, you all, I was really young when i got that one.)
My most recent and only other tat is a masterpiece, i draw it freehand and have had it planned for near on a decade. it will be my last and it needs another session later in the year to finish it off, i may find kiwi kim for the fine detail required.
"So alternate, against the grain, anti establishment - so you're just a regular joe again, right?"
and make sure it means something to you, something that won't go away. No girlfriend names, no friends group themed stuff iunless you are really tight with your guys
Second: Find an artist whose style YOU like. Don't worry about if your friends or family will like it. It's for you, make it mean something personal to you and above all, make sure YOU like it.
Third: After finding an artist you're comfortable with and getting an idea on paper, double check their drawing before getting it inked into you (a friend of mine has a tattoo of Jesus holding his son that he put up for adoption and Jesus has two left hands).
Fourth: When you sit down to get it done, the artrist should do a show and tell of their materials. If it's a disposable, they should tell you. If it was run through an autoclave, they should tell you. If they don't tell you, bring it up (if they autoclave it, there should be a small blue dot on the packaging of the supplies).
Last: Have fun! You're getting a tattoo!
I'm really excited, my family is going through a really rough patch at the moment, and I really want to do something positive for myself.
Funnily enough, the girl who has done all my tattoos went to highschool with my partner; I had my first tattoo done when we were not together and didn't realise the connection until later. My second is a small lotus on my left wrist (all the women in my family have a name meaning lotus) and the third is a corresponding tattoo to my partner's; he got his ages ago and mine is a smaller, reversed version of his with bi-culturual meaning.
I want my next one to be quite organic and natural in subject; colour as well, for the first time!
Wouldn't suggest following what "HisBestGirl" suggestion, if you mimic what has already been done and to match a boyfriend, that is actually a bit lame, especially when you brake-up...you'll have a constant reminder of your lack of maturity or stupidity! - plus that post is off topic...
Anyway OP so glad you found somewhere to go and post us all a picture when your done, I'm excited for you.
"So alternate, against the grain, anti establishment - so you're just a regular joe again, right?"
But second to that...Make sure you see some of their work. Not only their drawings on paper and all that, but some of their actual work on skin, whether it be pictures of freshly done tats, or if they have a coworker that has some of their work. Some of the best artists just can't handle a needle. I had a pal who had that trouble once. His tat came out jagged because the girl wasn't used to that machine/style.
Besides that, heh, bring a friend. Either for moral support or just to make sure this doesn't happen.
Congrats on the decision. I know a lot of folks who really have found some great ways to decorate their body and my sibs and best friend have always had a very meaningful outlook on their tats. Either way, no matter the reason, it's a commitment!