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And don't be afraid to straight up ask an artist you're thinking of working with, either! While walk-in's are almost always welcome, you should still enter a shop with some knowledge. Even if you wake up one morning with the intense need to run out and get tattooed, sit for a minute and do some research online or ask your tattooed friends who the best person is to go to. If you can't find the shop's website or there doesn't seem to be any helpful information on it, that's a bad sign. But don't just read reviews, either. Look for reviews that also show images of work that the particular artist has done.

The first thing a good tattoo parlor will ask you other than what you want done is who you'd like to tattoo you. Every artist has a different style, so make sure you have the answer to that question.

It's not clean

Having been an icon in the industry for decades, Mahoney insists that the best way to spot a good or bad tattoo shop is to listen. Popularity on Instagram doesn't really mean a person is a great tattooer. Word of mouth is always the best way. If you're wandering around and you walk into the first tattoo shop you spot — and you've never heard of it before — don't commit yourself to that shop right away.

Additionally, if you spot someone with tattoos you like, ask them where they went! When you walk into a shop, take a minute to look around and admire the walls. Most professional shops will have sketches or other artwork by their tattooers displayed on the walls. If you don't like what you see, that place might not be the right one for you.

You should also always take the time to sit down and thumb through each artist's book. Typically, a tattoo parlor will have a stack of books on a coffee table that showcases each artist's previous work. If you're not liking those pieces, you probably won't like the one you might get from them.

Artists' fees may vary

Also try to parse out what an artist's strong suit is, and also, whether they have a weak spot in their skill set. Be sure to recognize what style of tattoo you're going for and whether a particular shop can pull it off. A person might not be a bad artist, they may just be bad at the particular style you want.

Another good way to judge the quality of a tattoo parlor is to know who else has gotten tattooed there. While not every shop has A-list clients like Lady Gaga see her David Bowie tattoo as done by Mark Mahoney , you can still get a sense of a parlor's level of expertise by seeing what other work they've done on other clients. Hang around the shop a minute and ask the other customers there if they've gotten tattooed at this specific shop before.

If they have, take a look. Even if you strike up a conversation with someone who hasn't gotten tattooed there yet, they may have a friend who has, and recommended this shop. Pricing really can help you gauge what kind of a shop you're in.

Signs you're at a bad tattoo parlor

Great tattoos come with hefty price tags. You pay for what you get. If you're totally new to the world of tattoos and aren't sure what a piece should cost, do some more research. Some shops go by hourly rates, or will estimate a price based on the complexity of your design. Never get a tattoo from someone you don't like. Whether you're a seasoned pro at sitting through the pain, or you're thinking about getting your very first piece done, there's an undeniable excitement that comes when you first sit down in the chair.

I've spent countless hours in that very spot — so many, that I've honestly lost count.

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Get a big enough piece done, and you might be spending days with your artist. That all got me thinking: A small tattoo might seem like it's all the commitment you're ready to make, but Annie Motel of Little Annie Motel Tattoo Parlor at Old Tradition Tattoo Shop in Hollywood, California, says that she wishes clients knew that small isn't always the best option.

The other day, my client chose a design that I had drawn of a lovely mermaid who was covered in tattoos. The sizing of the piece needed to be big enough to showcase the detail. After the tattoo was finished, my client was totally in love with it, and I was pleased to know that the quality of the tattoo will withstand the test of time. Johnny Vampotna is an LA-based artist and painter who's traveled all over the world and whose work has been featured in numerous art galleries and magazines.

For him, one of the trickiest parts of tattooing is a touchy subject: I've had to stick to my guns over the years and train my clients into understanding how I price a tattoo by the piece and not by the hour, because I know more or less how fast or slow a piece will be. I don't think anyone wants to get paid half the amount for working efficiently," he says. Some, like Vampotna, charge by the piece.


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Some charge by the hour, and others make it up as they go. In each case, they all have the experience to know what works best for them.

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Vampotna aims to provide an awesome experience for his clients, no matter what. If pricing is always tricky, pricing smaller tattoos is even trickier. Annie Motel says that the price might not be as low as you're expecting, and there's a good reason for that. Set-up for each appointment is the same no matter the size of the design — health and safety guidelines need to be met, and there is set-up, prep, sterilization, and supplies that still get used. Be confident in valuing your artist's time and creativity. You get what you pay for! Becoming a working tattoo artist is harder than it looks, and at its heart, it's a creative occupation.

Ask anyone who creates for a living, and they'll tell you that creativity on-demand can be a physically and mentally draining venture. On the other side, clients don't understand the time and effort that goes into a tattoo…Patience is a virtue, and I have to remind myself daily to be patient with everyone.


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If you're getting a large, custom piece, you'll probably consult with your artist first, giving them some ideas on what you want. Then, the artist will get in touch with you when the design is ready for you to see. So, be patient and understanding that the process takes time — it's probably not the only piece that artist is working on. Tattoo artists aren't mind-readers, so communicating exactly what you have in mind, is key.

But it's important to strike a balance between telling your artist what you want, and letting them do their job. Oliver Kenton, a San Francisco-based artist who specializes in geometric and blackwork tattooing , says that it's helpful for you to remember the reason you chose your artist in the first place: And in order for artists to do their best work, don't micromanage. Share ideas, but let them do their job when it comes to things like details, precise placement, and colors.

You should always feel free to say that something is not to your liking," Kenton clarifies, "But micromanaging the process is a sure-fire way to lose your artist's trust. Christina Hock of The Dolorosa Tattoo Company and Xinaxiii says that she hopes her clients always know that they can speak up with any questions or concerns that they might have — there's no such thing as a stupid question.

If questions do arise about my artistic style or placement of the tattoo, I make sure to answer and explain my reasons for design placement and color choices, at which point the final decision is left to the client. Sometimes tipping isn't just expected, it's needed — and your tattoo shop is one of those places.


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  5. Making a living as a full-time tattoo artist likely means that that professional spent a long time as an apprentice. And if they don't own the shop at which you're getting tattooed, they're probably paying rent for the use of that chair you're sitting in. And, like any other small business owner, when you tip them? You're helping them keep their doors open. You've just taken home a priceless and permanent work of art that is yours forever, and a little extra at the end of your session is a small price to pay for that.