The selection of your tattoo design may be, in the end, the most important part of the entire process of getting a tattoo. When you are picking out a tattoo design, there are many factors involved that often people do not consider until it is too late and their tattoo design determines what and where the tattoo ultimately looks like instead of personal preference. When you are selecting a tattoo design, start out slowly and be methodical. Remember, this is a permanent piece of art that not only will be visible on your skin forever, but that you will often be asked to explain and relate to yourself and your life. A tattoo is a permanent expression of yourself, so follow these steps to insure that the expression is exactly what you wanted it to be.
1.Investigate tattoo styles, tattoo images and tattoo symbolism.
When you get a tattoo, that piece of art is a personal expression about yourself. Even if you get it as a joke, it is still an integral part of your body for the rest of your life. As a result, you need to be sure that you get a tattoo design that symbolizes things about you. Look online to find images that you like, then investigate those images to make sure that you understand their symbolism, if they have any. The symbolism of the images and the things that they symbolize to you do not have to be the same, but a tattoo of a symbol that indicates a certain thing to a large portion of the population can influence the way people view you. For example, regardless of why you got a swastika tattooed on you, people who saw it would assume certain things about your opinions when it comes to race. While this is an extreme example, other types of tattoos also can have major significance to certain portions of the population, such as military honors and military tattoos, so you should be sure to understand the conventional symbolism behind your tattoo design as well as your personal tattoo history.
2.Consider the ramifications of the location of your tattoo.
Deciding where to put your tattoo will influence its appearance in a major way. For example, if you want a tattoo on the back of your ankle, then it will need to be far smaller and much simpler than a tattoo on your shoulder would have to be. Also, depending on your profession, you might need to pick an area of your body that can be covered up with professional clothing. While tattoos in the workplace have become far more common particularly with the explosion of patriotic tattoos after September 11, 2001, some offices still discourage them and may even react negatively to you during a job interview if you have one.
3.Interview and Investigate Tattoo Parlors and Artists
Selecting a clean, safe and inviting tattoo parlor is a critical part of your tattoo process, as is finding an artist whose work you like and who is willing to work with you to create the best tattoo possible for you. While artistic originality is as important among tattoo artists as it is among any other segment of the artistic population, you need a tattoo artist who is willing to work with you to give you the perfect tattoo, and that likely means that you need an artist who is willing to use a stencil and color guide for guidance if it will help them achieve the look that you want. Be polite about requesting this, but do not bend on this issue if you want to be sure that your tattoo looks just like you have envisioned it. However, remember that some artists view stencils as an issue of artistic integrity, so if you come across an artist that will not use a stencil no matter what, then politely accept this decision and continue investigating your options elsewhere.
4.Get that perfect tattoo!
Once you have the perfect tattoo design and the perfect tattoo location to go along with the perfect tattoo artist, then it is time to get that perfect tattoo design. Be sure that you are prepared before your tattooing session. Get plenty of rest, and eat a healthy, but not too heavy meal. Also, drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol and drugs prior to tattooing, since these can cause major health complications and even make your tattoo hurt much worse than it should.