Finding a Tattoo Artist

A tattoo is a beautiful piece of artwork that you will carry with you for the rest of your life no matter where you go. Because of this, making sure that your tattoo is exactly what you want is very important. Finding an artist that can give you what you want is imperative to having a beautiful tattoo.

• Ask friends and family members that have tattoos about their experiences and where they went. Most everyone has an artist that they love and will always go back to. Word of mouth is one of the best ways for a tattoo artist to gain business. If someone you know does good work, then they are likely to receive more business.


• Check with the health department concerning any tattoo shops that you are interested in. They will be able to tell you whether the tattoo parlor has had any health concerns such as hepatitis, using dirty needles or a lack of overall cleanliness about the store. If the tattoo artist has any sort of blood born disease such as AIDS or hepatitis, they have to report it to the health department.


• Once you have narrowed down your choices, call the tattoo shops and ask about prices. If the hourly rate is more than $100 an hour, this is a very high-end shop and nothing but the best should be expected.


• Take your idea or design to all artists that you are considering and ask if they can draw you a design. This will ultimately determine which artist that you choose. If you do not like the design that comes together or the piece just isn't what you envisioned, this is not the right tattoo artist for you.