How to Prepare Yourself Before Getting Your Tattoo

Have you finally decided to get a tattoo? Perhaps you have long been compiling a folder of tattoo designs and have at last worked up the courage to get the one you love. Since a tattoo is a permanent skin art, it is essential to know about the entire process before you take the plunge. Get the procedure done by a skilled, experienced tattoo artist. Searching online for “tattoo artist near me” can point you toward one.

How to prepare yourself before getting your tattoo

Here are some of the things you should do to prepare yourself before you head off to get tattooed at the tattoo parlor you found through the “tattoo artist near me” online search:

Select the right tattoo artist

Aside from experience and competence, there are many types of tattoo artists. They may have different design specializations. Some of the design types they may focus on can include the following:

• Portraiture tattoos

• Japanese tattoos

• Celtic tattoos

• Tribal tattoos

• Blackwork tattoos

• Black and grey tattoos

• Watercolor tattoos

• Biomechanical tattoos

• Classic American tattoos

• Stick and poke tattoos

• Trask polka tattoos

• Script and lettering tattoos

• Realistic tattoos

• 3D tattoos

You will benefit from finding a tattoo artist who does the kind of designs that are similar to the design you want to get done. When you run an online search for “tattoo artist near me,” look for photos of the tattoos they made on their customers.

It will help to see pictures of new and healed work since these can be vastly different. As a tattoo heals, the lines and colors fade and become less distinct. So, by looking at healed tattoo photos, you can see how the tattoo artist’s work will age over time. It might also help to follow the tattoo artists you like on social media to get to know their work better.

Arrange a visit

After you have selected a tattoo artist through your online “tattoo artist near me” search, call them to arrange a visit to their tattoo parlor. Ask if they can do the design you want. Generally, the top tattoo artists will not do designs made by other tattoo artists. So, expect to be asked if you have permission to use the design, if you had it commissioned, or if you made it yourself. If they agree to do the design, they might give you inputs to improve it, such as adding color to it to suit your skin tone.

You can discuss whether you want a small, medium, or large tattoo, where you want its placement, and how long the tattooing will take. You can also ask them to allow you to watch them work to get an idea of what is involved in the tattooing process.

Schedule an appointment

Once you are satisfied with the in-person consultation, you can schedule an appointment. Get a good night’s sleep, drink plenty of water, and eat at least half an hour before you go to the tattoo parlor. Do a final design review.