Tattoo Johnny Tattoo Wiki: Selecting the Right Tattoo Parlor for You: It’s Not All About Tattoo Design

Selecting the Right Tattoo Parlor for You: It’s Not All About Tattoo Design

Thursday 26th of February 2009 04:51:19 AM [Add To This Article]

Whether you are getting your first tattoo or your twentieth, comfort and artistry should always be a priority for you when you are selecting where to get your tattoo design inked. Every tattoo parlor is different, and not all of them cater to the same type of clientele. That is fine, but it is important to be sure that you get tattooed in an environment that makes you feel comfortable and at ease. This not only will help you get your tattoo more quickly and with fewer muscle pains from tension or sitting in an uncomfortable position, but it will also make the entire experience a pleasant one that you look forward to repeating should you decide to supplement your tattoo collection.

When you are looking for a tattoo parlor or tattoo salon, you should definitely factor in your own comfort. Do not enter a salon for the first time dead set on getting your tattoo that day. Give yourself a chance to feel out the place and see if it is somewhere that you would enjoy being for an extended period of time, because even small tattoos or tattoo designs can take nearly an hour to complete if they are very detailed. Here are several things that you should look for when you are evaluating a tattoo parlor:

1.    Tattoo Parlor Ambience

Some tattoo parlors play soothing music and have lots of waterfalls, pleasant artwork and private rooms. Others prefer hard rock and tattoo everyone in the same general area, while still others cover everything between these two extremes. Some people prefer the former, while others are more comfortable in the latter. Pick what is best for you since you are the one who will be spending some serious time there.

2.    Tattoo Artists

Some tattoo parlors require their artists to wear work uniforms, while others permit them to dress as they please. Some are extremely formal and professional, while others prefer to create a friendly bantering atmosphere to make clients feel more relaxed. You will need to decide how you want to interact with your tattoo artist so that you do not find yourself in an enforced â€œsocialâ€ situation that makes you uncomfortable.

3.    Tattoo Design Style

Some tattoo parlors attract artists who have one particular style of tattooing. While most tattoo artists prefer one or two styles, but can tattoo in just about any form, you should get your work done by someone that is familiar with the style that you prefer. A good way to help an artist get an idea of your favorite style is to bring in artwork and even stencils to guide the work and the creative process.

4.    Tattoo Parlor Cleanliness

A tattoo parlor should always be clean, regardless of the rest of the atmosphere. Tattooing is an art form that involves blood, and therefore you expose yourself to infection if you get a tattoo from an instrument that is not clean and sterilized or in an environment that encourages the growth or spread of pathogens. If there is no autoclave in the tattoo parlor, do not get tattooed there.

5.    Keep Comfort In Mind

Ultimately your tattooing experience will be best if you are comfortable with every aspect of your tattoo, tattoo artist and tattoo parlor. Make sure that the parlor has seating or bedding that you are comfortable with â€“ after all, you could be sitting or lying on it for a long time. Also, look for a tattoo parlor that will accept stencils so that you can bring in your own design and be confident that it will appear on your skin just exactly how you want it. Finally, the comfort of your budget is important. Never get a â€œbargainâ€ tattoo that is not quite what you wanted. It is better to save up your money and get tattooed by exactly who you want to tattoo you and with the exact tattoo design you have been dreaming of than to make compromises on this permanent and personal body art.

When you are getting a tattoo, it can be easy to get carried away in the excitement of the process. However, if you compel yourself to be patient and take all the necessary steps that should precede getting that perfect tattoo design, then you will ultimately enjoy the experience far more than you would have if you hurried, and you will begin to understand why so many people say that getting tattooed is addictive.