7 Steps To Successful Tattoo

I am a tattoo artist and everyday I have to answer many questions by clients. It inspired me to write this lens as I hope it will help many more people to get the best tattoos possible. So if you are seriously thinking about getting tattoo and want to avoid most common mistakes, I invite you to read this.

My name is Ilona and I am a Tattoo Artist. A big part of my work is covering up tattoos. Unfortunately some tattoos can not be fixed and all I can advise is tattoo removal. That takes time, can be painful and expensive. So before you start, make sure you know how to get a tattoo that you will be happy with. It is very important that you get it right from the first time. After all it is expression of your uniqueness. Make it a good one!

7 SIMPLE STEPS is a tattoo advice that will help you to get exactly what you want. I want you to love your beautiful tattoos! I have written this to answer most common questions that I get asked everyday. If you know what are the most common mistakes you will avoid making them!

All you need to do is look at what is possible, use your head and want the best for yourself!

You can see some of my and my husband's work here.

If you find this lens helpful, please pass it to a friend.

Tattoo Advice Step 1. KNOW WHAT YOU DO NOT WANT! 

 By knowing what you do not want you can realise what you want!

Have a look at what is the worst that happen to people when they do not care about what to get and by whom. This website is a great source of Tattoo failures It is really funny too.

10 MOST COMMON MISTAKES:

1. Getting tattoo too early in life. First tattoos that people get even before they are 18 are pretty much always regretted later. If you are young and want a cartoon character think about how your dad would look with Yoshi tattoo. It is worth to wait and think for longer. There is no rush.
2. Wrong choice of design due to rush.

3. Wrong choice of tattooist due lack of care or research. Often choice of design is good but quality of work is poor.

4. Tattoo of a name of a person, that is not your child.

5. Starting tattoo and not finishing it due to financial troubles. (It is not cool to be walking around with unfinished tattoo for a year...) It is better to save up and then make yourself an appointment.

6. Leaving tattoos that need attention (reworking/cover up) for way too long. It is such a relief when you sort it out.

7. Getting tattoo aftercare advice from friends rather reputable tattooist.

8. Getting tattoos by friends and family especially on forearms (mums and drummers are the worst from what I have seen so far).

9. Letting somebody drunk or on drugs to scar you for life or being drunk yourself when approaching tattooist. Some tattooist do not care and are willing to do something stupid on you as long as you pay. And don't blame your friends after that you let them do their 'art' on you.

10. Letting tattooist to do what he/she wants rather then what you want. You are the one that is going to wear it so think for yourself. And if in the middle of tattoo you see that something is going terribly wrong, don't wait for it to be finished, the mess is only going get bigger and more difficult to fix. Get up from that chair and slowly walk towards the door, then run.... 

 

THINK BEFORE YOU GET INKED!

There are two kinds of people who get tattooed:
First kind thinks before getting tattoo done, second thinks after- what to do with it...

 

Tattoo advice Step 2. KNOW WHAT YOU WANT 

 Form a clear image in your mind of what you like your tattoo to be.

If you are first timer, best tattoo advice- take your time.

It is most important that you choose something that you love. It doesn't really matter how much it cost or how much it hurts or how soon it can be done when you know that tattoo lasts for life. I will let you in a secret: only tattoo virgins believe that it's really painful, once you try, you know, that it's all right.The thing that matters most is that your tattoo is successful and you avoid making mistakes, that are not so easy to fix.

If you want your tattoo to stand out, do not go for easiest and obvious choices like your own name, initials of your own or boyfriend/ girlfriend, or something like a Star. Yes, I know, we all like stars, but that is a fashion, and fashions go. Tattoos stay. These are 3 things that are most popular for a first timer and if you want something unique, my advice- think again!

If you have tattoos already have a close look at them. Are you completely and totally happy with all of them? Could you benefit from reworking or covering something that is looking old and tired, maybe done not so well? Before starting on a new tattoo fix that which can be improved and you will feel 10 times better. At the same time you will get rid of something that you are not so happy about. It's kind of like taking very tight shoes of...

I enjoy doing cover ups, it gives me great feeling when I see how happy my clients are with their new old arm.

Remember, people avoid telling friends that their tattoos are bad, they simply do not want to hurt their feelings. If somebody looks at your tattoo and says: "yeah, nice" they probably mean "oh my god, sort it out!" If you see a bad tattoo on somebody would you tell them straight that it is crap? So if you are not entirely happy with what you have, others see that too, only they will keep it quiet.

I recently got an iPhone app iRate tattoos. It is a great fun to see what tattoos other people have and there you find everything! You can see really good and really bad. Sadly Mostly bad. There is your chance to learn from other peoples mistakes. it's no TV reality show.

If you find yourself thinking -"I want at tattoo, but I do not know what to have" then sit down with a pencil and paper and think of what you want. Sketch the idea or write it down. Nobody can do that for you, you have to do this task yourself using your own brain power. You can do it! Do not ask for tattoo advice of your friends unless you want to have something they like or you getting tattoo done for them.

Good place to start is to find the answer to a question WHY? It may lead to an answer of what to have. Other questions that might help can be:

Do I want it fast or do I want it good?
Do I want a unique tattoo?
Do I want to design it myself? ( I recommend it only if you are very good at drawing of design )
Do I want my selected artist to design something special for me?
Does it matter that somebody else have the same image already?
Does it have to mean anything and if yes, then what?
Where is the best place for me to have it?
Do I want it visible or easy to hide?
What is the size that I imagine it to be?
Do I want the best for myself or I do not mind that my tattoo is not successful?

Have a look at cover up tattoos to learn from other people mistakes and remember, not all mistakes can be fixed. Some tattoos are beyond repair. Make sure it is not yours.

Tattoo advice Step 3. DO YOUR RESEARCH 

 Tips on how to find best images.

 Once you have an idea, next step is research. I find that the best tool for search is internet .Google Images is brilliant for that.

You can type keywords together with the word tattoo. Let say it is a dragon that you wand, then type "dragon tattoo". You will get pages with tattoo flash, photos of existing tattoos and other designs that most likely somebody got on their body. This is only to see what other people have already. If you do not want to copy other's tattoos, you want to have something that no one else has, then do not type in word tattoo. So type word "Dragon" into Google Images together with other keywords like: Dragon artwork, statues, figurines, jewelery, fantasy art, oriental, celtic, etc. plus add the word "wallpaper" or "HD". This way you will get to some really good ones, that will be a great material for you unique tattoo.

Let's say you want flowers. It would be too wide keyword to look, so try rose, red rose, yellow rose, rose bud, etc. plus wallpaper hd

If you want different, think different.

Be specific, then you will have a better chance to find exactly what you are looking for.

Another simple rule, that helps to decide is: If it's not Yes, then it's No.

Print the images that you like, cut them out, get creative. See if you like to mix them up, get some of this to go with some of that! If it is writing that you like, print the words in different fonts and sizes, place it where you want it tattooed. see how it feel and if it's all good, you are getting closer!

Take your research seriously, as the more thought and time you put in it, the more pleasure you will get out, the more special your tattoo will feel to you. Do not think of what you should have, but rather what you want. No matter how old you are, you are doing tattoo for yourself, not your parents.

Other places to look for inspiration would be tattoo magazines. You will find them in the shops and also on line.There you will find up to date tattoos and artists directories.

Style is also important, as we, tattooists each have our own. Like handwriting. Often tattoo artists prefer one style to another. If you choose your tattoo style by a person, who you want to tattoo you, then the best thing is to let them do what they like the most. You will still need to know, what you want to see in your tattoo and give guidelines to your artist.

Another way would be to find an image and ask the artist if he is happy to do it. You can look for a design in the tattoo shop, it could be something from the artist portfolio, flash designs, tattoo magazines or online.

Online tattoo design websites are very good for ideas and there is a chance, that you may find your dream tattoo there. They often give their own tattoo advice as well so you may read that too. You may find something that you like to use as a base for your unique tattoo. Either way, seeing a lot of different tattoo ideas will open your eyes to more possibilities. Its a perfect opportunity to browse through thousands of tattoo designs from your own home as you are no longer limited to what designs your chosen tattoo shop got. If you find a design that is exactly what you want, congratulations, you are getting something that many more people have.

Remember, if you like the design as it is, do not just print the thumbnail and ask your tattooist to work from that. Most of the time the quality of picture is too blurry and the detail will be lost.
If you do something- do it proper!

MAIN TATTOO STYLES:

Black and Grey/ shaded, Old School, New School, Japanese/Oriental, Tribal, Celtic, Writing, Realistic, Portraits, Biomechanical, Fantasy, Wild life and few others.

Tattoo Advice Step 4. FIND THE RIGHT ARTIST 

 This is the most important step. Take your time here.

 Remember one thing: Artist is not the same as the shop. It is a person. If somebody recommends you a particular shop, ask for the name of the artist. Even if it's Miami ink. As it happens, the picture on the right "before" has come out not so well and it was done at Miami Ink. Shocking, but true. It happens, that some times people go to the recommended place and get tattooed by apprentice or a guest artist that only works there for a week and get disappointed by the shop. If tattooist hasn't got a portfolio and says that he/she is tattooing for 6 years- do your thinking, it will save you a huge hustle of having to deal with failed tattoo.

Look through photos of tattoos already done, see if the style of the artist is exactly what you are looking for. Somebody who loves doing tribal may not be perfect for a portrait job, for example.

I believe that the best place to look for an artist is the Internet. A respectful artist will definitely have his work on a website. Beware of imposters. If you see the bio of the artist of him finishing an art academy, but he can't draw, he won't be able to give you a piece of art and you will end up in disappointment. The easy way to recognise a great artist is by the wow factor. If work is not impressive, then don't expect miracles. Also note that the photos you see on the artist online portfolio are the best ones he has done.

Set an intention for yourself to find the very best person to do your tattoo for you. Demand the best for yourself. If you need to travel, then do so. "I want a tattoo now" is not the right mind to get something for life.

Do not always trust your friend's tattoo advice, see for yourself. And please do not trust your friend with a tattoo machine looking to practice on you. Sometimes tattoos done by friends are beyond repair and often that ends the friendship.

When you meet the artist, the first thing to become aware are you feelings: are you comfortable? If not- leave! Do yourself a favor, do not go against your gut feeling. Intuition knows the best. If you feel that you are at the right place, make time for a consultation.

Tattoo advice Step 5. SHARE YOUR IDEAS WITH THE ARTIST. 

 Tips on how to get your idea across to the artist

"I have my own design at home, how much is it?"- That is the worst question to ask.
"How much is an angel 4X8?" - I do not know what to say here either.
"How much does it hurt?" - No one can tell you how much is going to hurt You. Be brave and get ready. It is not that bad.
"I want a tattoo. Can you tell me what to have?"- only advice here is sit down, take your time and use your own imagination.

Before talking to the artist you should have more or less clear idea of what you want your tattoo to be like. You will need to have some examples of images with you so you can demonstrate what you like and what you don't

There is a good chance, that you've got everything wrong. Listen to your tattoo artist's advice as he/she knows the best.

The things to discuss generally are idea, size, place, time required, style, price etc. You should ask all the questions that you want to know the answers to before sitting in the chair. Ask the tattooist if he/she feels comfortable doing this tattoo for you he/she could recommend you somebody else more suitable for the job.

Do not ask your tattooist what you should have. It is your own body, so it is your own idea. No one knows you better than yourself. You can ask for professional tattoo advice what would work better if you have to make a choice between few designs. Also size of tattoo is more or less up to tattooists decision, as it depends on the detail of the picture and the place of your body. If you want your tattoo to sit well, you would not like it to be too small for the area.

Once you agree on the details the appointment will be made. Of course, you can get it done right there and then, if you artist has time and you have made up your mind, but if you make a time to come back that gives you another chance to rethink and get ready. If the chosen artist has a waiting list- wait happily as that is a good sign.

You should ask your artist about aftercare of your tattoo. Usually every artist has got their own instructions, based upon experience on what works for their customers. Not every shop sells the healing cream, sometimes you will need to get it yourself. If you get it before the session, you will not need to worry about it after getting a tattoo.

Tattoo advice Step 6. GET READY FOR TATTOO 

  Stay calm and relaxed. It will hurt, but intensity of the pain can be reduced if you are relaxed. Big meal right before tattoo session also makes it easier. Same as a good night sleep.

There is no point in thinking too much about what it's going to feel like if you never had a tattoo. Worrying too much about pain will drain you out before it is even started. If you know that you want it- go for it and you will see that it is not as bad as you imagine.

If you are really scared, try to calm down. It is worth to invest in a numbing cream if you know that you are really bad with pain. I recommend Ametop cream which you get from chemist (in UK). You will need to apply it 2-3 hours before tattoo, dab it on, cover with cling film and seal it with a tape. This way it it will be much less painful and some clients said, they did not feel it at all. It usually works well for about 1-2 hours before it wears of. Use it if you like the process to be as comfortable as it can be, it may well be worth the money. Especially if you are going for a few sessions and tattoo goes on more sensitive place on the body. Some may say that this is cheating, I say- it's 2009. We all are free to do what we want.

Stay away from alcohol for at least 24 before your appointment. If you consume alcohol will bleed a lot. Alcohol thins the blood and it makes it more difficult for tattooist to put the ink into your skin. It usually makes tattoo process longer and the healing may get complicated.

Bring a bottle of sugary drink, a chocolate or something else sweet to keep your sugar levels up.
I may be wise to get your aftercare cream before the tattoo session, so you do not need to worry about it later. I recommend BEPANTHEN. it's a baby nappy care cream and it works magic for tattoos. You may ask your tattoo artist what he likes you to use when you are making an appointment. In my experience Tattoo Healing Creams may not be the best option, they may smell nicer, but that is not why you should use it.

Remember, the more you are relaxed, the easier it goes.

If you are too tense, too tired or too afraid, there is a good chance that you may pass out!

Couple words about your skin: the better the canvas, the better the drawing. That means if you have a dry, flaky, really spotty skin, the quality of your tattoo will not be the best. You can get your skin conditioned for a couple of weeks before your appointment by using moisturizers, lotions, body butter, whatever works for you. This way your skin will be more elastic, softer and will heal smoother. Sun burnt skin can not be tattooed, so make sure, you leave enough time after your holiday in the sun to let your skin recover. If you are quite hairy, good idea is to shave the area before you meet your artist.

Yes or no to numbing cream?

Please express your views!

Would you use a numbing cream to ease the pain of tattoo?

Tattoo advice Step 7. FOLLOW TATTOO AFTERCARE ADVICE 

 Listen to your tattooist as he/she knows the best what works for his/her customers.

General guide:

Your tattoo will be covered with cling film and secured with micropore tape.

Morning after, remove the cover and wash your tattoo with warm soapy water. Any shower gel is fine. Be gentle, do not rub it. Pat it dry with the towel and wait for a few minutes until it dries completely.

Apply a very thin layer of BEPANTHEN cream. Make sure to remove any excess cream with tissue, it should not be white once the cream is applied.
Put another cling film on fix it with the tape and keep that till next morning. If it's comfortable do the same once more: wash it, cream it and cling film it. So that it's covered for 3 days and nights. If it gets too irritating, hot, do not recover it for the third time.

After that wash your tattoo daily and apply the cream twice for the rest of the weak (morning and evening). If it feels dry, apply a thin layer in the afternoon. Do not use the Bepanthen cream for more than 7 days in total. You may apply some normal moisturiser/ lotion after the first week, but that is not necessary, the skin heals by itself.

The tattoo will be peeling like sunburned skin, just let it heal, do not pick it or scratch.

Do not soak it in a water, no bath, no steam rooms, swimming etc. until healed. Quick showers are fine and you need to wash your tattoo daily.
Do not expose new tattoo to UV rays for as long as 4-6 weeks. Sun would make it fade. Later if you go on the strong sun, apply sun block cream over it.

Biggest mistakes people do is by putting too much cream for too long, that makes tattoo heal longer. Make sure you are not overdoing the cream.
Follow your tattooist's advice thoroughly and do not listen to your friends. Any questions- do not hesitate to ask us.