How to choose the correct Tattoo Artist for you ...

QUALITY OF WORK
The quality of your tattoo should be the number one concern. When you look an artists’ portfolio, look at the lines. Lines should be smooth and consistent, Look for wide dots in the lines. Colors should be vibrant and easy to see the various parts of the tattoo. The tattoo should flow nicely and stand out. Nothing sucks more than having a good idea for a tat and the quality of the tattoo work is not up to par.

STYLE OF THE ARTIST
The style of the artist that you pick is just as important as the quality. Each artist has their own style of work; some are limited to a cretin range of styles as other artists are well versatile in numerous styles of tattoo art. One artist may have strong black and grey work where as another may be strong in the new or old school tattoo styles. If you are not sure about the various styles of the tattoo art ask the tattoo studio workers and artists, they should be helpful in finding a style that you like. Don’t be afraid to ask an artist what their strong points are.

CLEANLINESS AND STERILIZATION
What allot of people don’t realize is that getting a tattoo is a health issue. Look around the tattoo studio and see if the place is clean and in order. Allot of dust and junk lying around could lead to infections. Most tattoo studios that I have been in are clean and tidy. This is a good sign. It probably means that the sterilization practices are also up to par. None the less, ask about the studios sterilization practices. If they look at you like you are a dumb or it seems like they don’t want to talk about it much then you should be concerned for your safety. Ask about an autoclave (a device for sterilizing instruments) and ask if it has been tested regularly. In Montana we are required to have our autoclave tested every three months and keep the test results on hand at all times. Keep in mind that underground tattoo artists or “scratchers” (non-professional tattooists) generally do not have access to proper sterilization equipment. Alot of times they will tattoo on several people with the same needle tubes and sometimes with the same needle. Just because they tell you that it is sterilized even if the needle is new does not mean that it is. You are putting your self at risk for infections such as E-coli, Salmonella, hepatitis, and various other sometimes life threatening diseases. Not only that, if they were any good why they are not in a professional studio. Always be sure that you are getting a safe tattoo. If you are getting it professionally it is more likely than not, safe, but always make sure.