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How to Find the Best Tattoo Shop

To ink or not to ink is the question that most people, especially the young, seem to battle with. However, if the statistics are right, many Americans choose the ink route and this is all the more reason why tattoo lovers should understand how to find the best tattoo shop.

A tattoo is considered a body accessory that calls for some level of show off. Therefore, if you decide to get one, make sure that it is visible and get one that will have all your friends going gaga. Hiding it kills the purpose anyway.

How to find the best tattoo shop is the one question that seems to bother many people who wish to get tattoos. Well, it is understandable that with so many tattoo artists mushrooming up by the day, finding a reputable one can be a tad tricky.

The minute you decide to have a tattoo, there are a number of considerations that you should bear in mind such as the size, the location and the nature of the tattoo because if you think about it, a tattoo is a huge investment. Considering that most tattoos are permanent, a lot of thought and emotion must go into getting a tattoo. Here are a few pointers on how to find the best tattoo shop.

  1. The Safety Precautions

As far as the issue for how to find the best tattoo shop goes, safety should be highly prioritized. Note that the tattooing process involves a lot of blood and bodily fluids. This means that you are more likely to get infections such as HIV and other bodily-transmitted diseases if you settle for a tattoo parlor that does not make safety a priority. Before settling on a tattoo shop, ensure that they embrace the necessary safety precautions. The equipment must be properly sterilized and the studio must prove that they practice the necessary control standards to uphold safety. Alternatively, you could talk to your loved ones and ask them to advise you on the best tattoo shops in town. Most tattoo shops dispose the items after use while others sterilize them.

  1. Does the shop sterilize through autoclave?

When thinking of how to find the best tattoo shop, check out the way the parlor sterilizes their equipment. Autoclave is a sure way of sterilizing tattoo tools as it ensures that all the existing microorganisms are killed right away. A tattoo attendant must be able to sterilize all the needles and tubes through the autoclave after disconnecting them from the sealed sterilization pouches in your presence. When it comes to having a tattoo, there is no such thing as trust or being too careful. It is always better to err on the side of caution as far as your body health is concerned.

  1. The Standard Precautions

When you think of how to find the best tattoo shop, your safety should be given a lot of consideration. The tattoo artist must be able to meet the OSHA regulations on blood-borne pathogens. This way, you can be sure that the artist is in a position to observe the safest practices and the set procedures at all times.

  1. Hygiene Standards

The tattoo parlor should exhibit a high level of hygiene. You can observe how a parlor is cleaned between customers to determine the level at which the parlor upholds hygiene. If you are not satisfied with what you see, you have no business being inked there. Hygiene is very important as these parlors host many bacteria. Most importantly, the tattoo parlor must use a disinfectant and virucidals that are approved by the EPA when cleaning surfaces and the tools of trade. With this in mind, you are halfway there to tackle the business of how to find the best tattoo shop.

  1. The Tools should be Used One Time Only

As far as how to find the best tattoo shop is concerned, ensure that the tools of trade, such as the gloves, inks, cups, needles and ointments, are used singly, that is, an ink container and a needle is used for one person only. These tools should be disposed of properly after use. Note that most of these tools come into contact with body fluids and blood during the tattoo process, which can bring about many infections. While some tools of trade cannot be discarded, disposable plastic barriers should be used. These tools include cords, knobs, tattoo machines, equipment dials and light fixtures.

  1. Check the Artist’s Portfolio

Once you walk into the tattoo shop of your choice, start by asking them for their portfolio to see the quality of their work. Do not be afraid to fire questions. Go through the portfolio of a few other tattoo shops until you find one that matches the kind of skill that you are looking for. Some tattooists are good at small inks while others specialize in huge ones. You can only determine this by weighing your options before committing yourself to one provider. Some tattooists are very useful in helping you determine the kind of design that would sit well with your skin.

  1. Professionalism is Key

When it comes to how to find the best tattoo shop, nothing beats professionalism. A professional tattooist will advise you but will allow you to make the final decision. Say, for example, you want a tattoo that blankets your whole body or a tattoo of your favorite 12-member band; a professional tattooist should not get in the way of your decisions. Also, a professional should not show discontent if you decide to move on to the next tattoo parlor in town. It is business after all, not a relationship. Therefore, do not feel obliged to stick to a particular tattooist if their portfolio is not interesting and well detailed. The customer service should also be topnotch. Tattoos are quite painful and you would do better with a smile and a kind word from the receptionist at the tattoo shop rather than a hard look.

  1. Pricing

While pricing is an important aspect as far as how to find the best tattoo shop goes, never let the price get in the way of quality. Thankfully, there are tattooists who offer high quality tattoos at a pocket friendly price. At the end of the day, a tattoo shop should be in a position to give you that value for your money.

  1. Ask for Training and Experience

As you seek out the best tattoo shop in town, you should not trust a rookie to ink your body. Trial and error is not something that you want done on your body. Remember, a tattoo is something that you are going to wear for many years to come and there is no room for mistakes whatsoever. When weighing your options of the tattoo shops, ask them about how long they have been in business. Alternatively, you can look up your tattoo shop of choice on the Internet or seek some referrals from friends and families who have been inked before. A tattoo shop with enough experience is thoroughly fluent with the procedures and practices that embrace safety.

  1. Registration and Authenticity

If you are still concerned about how to find the best tattoo shop, insist on the authenticity and ask them to show you certificates of registration. This is a sure indication that the tattoo shop is recognized and authorized to conduct business. You can also check their compliance with OSHA and other relevant bodies to ensure that they are a safe parlor.

How to Choose a Tattooist

Over the past decade, tattoos have gained a lot of popularity as many people have sought to express their feelings about many things on different parts of their bodies. That means that there has been an increased demand for tattoo services. With various tattoo shops sprawled all over town, the biggest question that remains is how to find the best tattoo shop in your area.

As far as how to find the best tattoo shop is concerned, you do not have to stick to the parlors in your area. If the ones close by do not meet the necessary criteria, feel free to spread your wings further. Choosing a tattoo shop is one thing but finding the greatest tattoo artist is a different thing altogether. It is better to concentrate more on finding a good tattooist than a good parlor, but the two go together.

You need someone who understands your style and how you wish to have the ink displayed on your body. The relationship between a tattooist and a client has always been likened to a romantic one because the tattooist should get you in a way that no one else does. Your wishes have to be replicated on your body through ink.

Get a competent tattooist, especially if you want one of those complex inks sprawled all over your body. Speaking of complex tattoos, a judgmental tattooist is a no-no. The last thing you need after finding the right tattoo shop is a tattooist who keeps reminding you how much of an unconventional or spooky choice your tattoo is.

Once you know how to find the best tattoo shop, select a tattooist that you feel comfortable with. Since you will have the tattoo on your skin for a long time, most likely for the rest of your life,  it is best to make sure that you have an indelible experience at the tattoo parlor. Get the best because a tattoo is something that you want to show off to your friends and your grandkids in future. Thus, it deserves some deep thought and finesse.

When you want to know how to find the best tattoo shop, you ought to consider a number of things carefully. The emotions invested in a getting a tattoo should not be ignored. While some people will look at a tattoo as merely a form of art, others use it as a means of expression. This explains why tattoo enthusiasts have inspirational tattoos all over their bodies, even images of their loved ones inked on their bodies. Finding the best tattoo shop is the first step in achieving that form of expression.