How to Choose a High Quality Tattoo Parlor
Research Body Art Stores Before Getting Work Done
Oct 3, 2009
Getting a piece of body art is a big step for many people; finding the best place to get a tattoo can seem daunting. However, there are a few simple steps and observations that can be made in determining if a tattoo parlor and individual artist are going to be worth spending money on. The first and most important thing to remember is that all tattoo parlors are required to have licensing, which should be displayed in a visible place in the store. If it’s not, and the employees cannot provide proof of licensing, turn around and walk back out the door.
There are factors aside from legal licensing that should be considered before deciding to spend money at a particular parlor.
Cleanliness of Tattoo Parlors
The level of sanitation in tattoo parlors should be very high, and in more than one way. If the store itself is cluttered and dirty, that reflects a level of unhygienic practices by the people who run the store that could be repeated in the way a tattoo is made. A clean, well-lit tattoo parlor that gives off an air of sanitation and orderliness is important.
The cleanliness of the tattoo needles and tubes is equally important. A tattoo parlor that continues to reuse needles, even if they are sanitized, may not be as clean as it looks. Parlors that dispose of needles in hazardous material bags after one use are demonstrating a willingness to protect both employees and customers from infection, and are more likely to be of higher quality.
Look closely at the workstations of individual tattoo artists, as well; a cluttered workspace is a sign of a disorganized artist; and while most artists tend to be expressive and slightly messy, finding a tattoo artist who takes care of his or her working space is more likely to inspire confidence in their clients.
Word of Mouth
Talk to other people who have got tattoos and ask for their recommendations; find out which tattoo parlors someone would praise as being of high quality. Look at their tattoos and see if the quality is what is expected from a tattoo parlor, ask about the sanitation and tattoo care recommended by the artists and discuss any concerns.
Finding out the quality of a tattoo parlor from a past or present client can offer valuable information that may not be available from those attempting to get business. Discounts, which artists to look for or avoid and the best and worst places are often known more by word of mouth about a tattoo parlor than its advertising.
It is also sometimes easier to ask questions of people who have had experience with a tattoo parlor than those who work there, since those who are clients of a particular business can show the results of their tattoo and offer advice on a more personal level.
Friendliness of Tattoo Artists and Employees
A tattoo parlor is not just a place for those with tattoos to hang out; it is also a business that needs to make profit and stay open. The employees and artists of a tattoo shop are dependent on clients to make their livelihood. Therefore, a tattoo parlor in which artists and employees are rude or unfriendly will probably not be the best place to go. A bad atmosphere can damage quality artwork, and customers of tattoo shops are entitled to the same respect as customers of any other store.
Establishing a personal relationship with a tattoo artist is not necessary, although it can be beneficial to an individual who plans on getting multiple tattoos. However, forming a polite and businesslike rapport with the person who will be working with ink-filled needles near an individual’s body is always a good idea. The experience of getting a tattoo will be much more positive if the relationship with a tattoo artist is friendly.
Choosing a Tattoo Artist
When a high quality tattoo parlor has been chosen, it is important to find the artist who will create the best body art based on the individual’s design choice and tattoo desires. Request to see examples of the artist’s work; these will often be photographs of previous tattoos or drawings of sample designs.
Talk to individual tattoo artists about the desired design and ask if an artist can make a sample sketch before agreeing to work with that artist. Make sure the work of the artist is satisfactory and will provide the desired tattoo before going under the needle. Open discussion with an artist is vital in obtaining the best tattoo design for each individual.
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