PRICK THE SKIN

Fatboy's Tattoo Tips:

 

The Basics of Creating an Awesome Tattoo 

If you're planning on getting your very first tattoo soon or just looking to add to your collection, we want to remind you that everyone DESERVES TO HAVE GREAT TATTOOS! There are so many excellent artists in the field these days, with some helpful guidance and a little bit of research, it's possible for you to AVOID MANY OF THE MOST COMMON REGRETS PEOPLE HAVE AFTER GETTING A TATTOO.

Here are some tips to help YOU get the tattoo you deserve.

 

TIP #1:

Take your TIME. (You're WORTH it!)
Tattooing has exploded all over the world in the last 10 to 12 years or so, with new tattoo shops opening every day. But if it's true that roughly only 10% of them can genuinely be considered world-class quality, then without some expert knowledge at your disposal it means that there's a 90% chance you end up with a tattoo that is significantly less than the one you want and the one you deserve. We just want to remind you (and everyone you care about) that EVERYONE DESERVES GOOD TATTOOS!

*And, by the way- GETTING TATTOOED ON A WHIM, (whether while intoxicated or just away on vacation), is the #2 REGRET people have about their tattoos!

 

TIP #2: 

Choose the right STYLE of tattoo!
There are so many styles to choose from these days, so knowing what you want (in advance) will help you avoid another common mistake made by tattoo newbies- regretting the style or 'look' of the tattoo they now have to wear.

Start by recognizing which tattoos most appeal to you- and WHY. Then begin to slowly narrow down your choices by asking some questions, like- Black & Gray or Color? What particular image do you want- a flower, a portrait, a dragon? Do you want something in the Traditional American style of the 1940s? A Japanese creature of myth? Or do you want a blend of more than one thing? Do you want it to look like a watercolor painting, Hyper-Realistic or cartoony? Perhaps what you're after is a Horror tattoo, maybe it's a portrait, or something Geometric, a Military insignia, or a simple but classic "MOM" tattoo? The choices are nearly endless.

Determining what image and style best expresses YOU is the first half of the tattooing process, and it's something you have to determine completely on your own. Don't let someone talk you into getting anything you don't really want to wear for the rest of your life.

As soon as you've selected some ideas of what you think you want, try printing it out and putting it on the refrigerator or bathroom mirror for a number of weeks; if you're not sick of it and haven't changed your mind after a while, maybe it's time to move on to the next step and find a qualified Tattoo Artist.

 

TIP #3: 

CHOOSE the RIGHT ARTIST for the job!
Ah, knowing what you want is a good first step but then you have to find the right artist to do the job. This is significantly more difficult, so trust me- all tattoo artists are NOT created equal. Some seasoned artists are skilled in a variety of tattooing techniques and others are highly-trained specialists in one specific branch of tattooing, but please remember that a great deal of practicing tattooists out there haven't been tattooing long enough to even KNOW what a good tattoo is, or how to give one to you.

 

Again- TAKE YOUR TIME and DO YOUR RESEARCH!

Finding the right artist is really the other half the fight and you need to do some research! Visit several internet sites and shops, take a hard look at portfolios, then go to various tattoo shops until you find (NOT the CHEAPEST but) the BEST-QUALIFIED artist for your job. There's an old saying in the tattoo world, but it's still true today.

"GOOD TATTOOS ARE NOT CHEAP AND CHEAP TATTOOS ARE NOT GOOD."

In other words, as with all things in life- YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. If you think you are worth the best tattoos possible, then you'll seek out the best artist you can find, locally or no. If you don't think very highly of yourself then you're very likely to settle for something far, far less.

*The #1 REGRET people with tattoos have is: GETTING TATTOOED BY AN UNQUALIFIED AND UNSANITARY TATTOOER! You are putting not just your tattoo and the look of your body at risk, but your very LIFE. Getting a tattoo is a serious, life-altering affair. If done properly it will be incredibly positive for you and even transformative. Before you ever consider getting marked on by a non-professional tattoo 'artist', please listen to my words: After 15 years of professional tattooing I've seen it all and have heard the horror stories of the  victims!

It doesn't matter WHAT they (or your 'friends') tell you, or even what you THINK you know at the time, if you get tattooed by an unqualified tattooist, 

 

YOU ARE NOT SAFE!
They are NOT GOOD!
And You WILL regret it!

It's true that just going to a shop is no longer enough to gauge an artist's professionalism or their quality, but it's easy to deduce that any 'artist' who even thinks of themselves as being of professional quality should be adhering to our community's professional & ethical standards... and your local laws, which are designed to protect people from being victimized by their own ignorance. Being properly trained in first aid, cleanliness, sterilization procedures and blood-borne pathogen safety are MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS for being licensed to tattoo in nearly every town in the USA and abroad.

 

TIP #4: 

TAKE CARE OF YOUR NEW TATTOO!
Once you make it through and you've actually now gotten that amazing NEW tattoo, it's important to REALIZE that it will only remain awesome if you actually take care of it. Follow the instructions you're given to the letter and you'll avoid even more mistakes newbies make, messing up their tattoos before they heal. There are many tips on how to heal a tattoo and every artist/shop is going to be a little different, however-

During the initial two days, cleaning your new tattoo 3 times a day with unscented, anti-bacterial soap and using Aquaphore or H2Ocean brand healing ointments is standard practice and highly recommended. --Putting Vaseline on your tattoo is NOT!
 

 

 

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TIP #5:

TIP YOUR TATTOO ARTIST!
I wanted to end with a tip on tipping. These are blue-collar, working class crafts-men/women who work hard to build their skill and their reputations. So if you truly LOVE your new tattoo, then show them your appreciation with a generous tip. How much, you ask? Well, that depends on a number of things- the skill and professionalism of the artist, the amount of help, instruction and comfort they provided you along the way, and, of course, the quality of your final tattoo!

If 20% is what is generally tipped to a waiter or waitress for a single meal (that soon exits our bodies)…how much more should we tip the person giving us a beautiful piece of art designed to last a lifetime?
 

Well, I hope these tips prove helpful for you and we'd like to encourage you to PLEASE SHARE them with your friends, family and loved ones so you can help THEM get the tattoo they deserve, too!