Just like there are different painters and sculptors out there, there are different tattoo artists who each have a style of their own. It is as important to choose the right tattoo artist as it is to pick a design you will love forever. You can't just walk into any tattoo parlor off the street and expect to have a great experience. It's possible, but more likely if you do some research first. The Artist's Specialty. Tattoo artists usually have a particular style that they are best at, and you should stick with one who specializes in the style you are looking for. You can custom-draw the prettiest portrait-style tattoo design anyone has ever seen, take it to an artist that specializes in cartoon drawings, and come out with something between the two that you'll never be satisfied with. Some are great with the intricate shading and detail that is involved in photographic-style designs and realism. Others are at their best when creating cartoon characters or graphics with bold colors and clean lines. Picking the wrong tattoo artist is a little like choosing a wartime photojournalist for a wedding. The photographer is amazing, just not suited for your conservative and traditional bridal portraits. There are other reasons to shop around for the right tattoo artist as well.

Just as vital as selecting a tattoo artist with a style that meshes well with what you want drawn is finding one you can talk to. Having a candid conversation before they ever touch you with a needle (or even a stencil) can keep you from finding out after the fact that your idea of "bright blue" is the artist's "turquoise." Or, that when you say "cartoonish" meaning clean lines and bold colors, the artist isn't imagining a caricature of sorts. Making sure you're on the same page before anything permanent is done will keep you from regretting a tattoo that's almost but not quite right. If your tattoo artist doesn't seem willing to discuss things with you, or is rude or dismissive, find another one. It's also a good idea to listen and consider any suggestions or advice the artist might offer. They have (hopefully, if you did your homework) been doing this for a long time and probably know a thing or two about the process. They just might be able to steer you in a direction that's better than the one you would have stumbled upon by yourself. The tattoo artist can also gently nudge you away from a design, size, location, or color that just won't look good.

It isn't just the tattoo artist himself (or herself) that's important in your decision. The people they surround themselves with can say a lot about an artist. If the people in the front are rude, or let you wander around looking lost for a half an hour before offering their help, then it's a good bet that the tattoo artists in the back aren't going to be easy to establish a rapport with. The building itself can also say a lot about the practice. A dingy tattoo parlor with dim lighting and questionable corners is probably not a place where you can expect the most sterile equipment or cleanest practices. You want to find a place that smells like a hospital because it's so clean and sterile. The room that the tattoos are actually done in, especially, needs to remind you of a doctor's office. Any good tattoo artist will be more than willing to show you their methods of keeping you safe from blood- borne diseases and how they keep things sterile. Needles and other disposable equipment should be brand new in individual packages, and inks should be poured into little sterile cups for each new tattoo. Any tattoo artist who doesn't seem willing to show you these things or to answer your questions should be run from.

More basic and simple than just about any other tip for choosing a tattoo artist is to take a peek at their work. All tattoo artists have a portfolio of their artwork, some even have them online. The best examples are actual people who have tattoos. There are very few tattooed individuals who aren't more than willing to talk about their body art. They LOVE being asked about it. So…find someone with a tattoo you love, and go ahead and ask them where they had it done. You will likely come away from the experience with a great recommendation for a tattoo artist you will be pleased with, and probably a new tattooed friend as well.