First Tattoo...Questions to Ask, Thinks to Know???

Ted S. said:
Well first off, you don't wan't to get one sober; that'll ruin the experience.:xyxthumbs:
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Not a good idea to have much more than like a shot in you cause booze thins your blood way too much and when you bleed heavy that will not allow the ink to "set up" cause it will be pushed out by the blood's free flow...

Ask me how I know...

maximus20895 said:
Make sure they don't reuse needs and are SAFE!

Talk to your tattooed friends about who they would recommend.
Ask who worked on each of their tattoos and where they got them done. Find out what they thought of the experience.


Visit tattoo shops and examine portfolios. Most larger shops now have artist portfolios available online.
If your chosen shop doesn't, you can find a portfolio of each artist's work in the shop.


Meet with tattoo artists whose work you admire.
Let them know that you are looking for a tattoo artist and describe your idea.
If you have a sketch, photograph or other source material, bring it along.
Even if you want flash, ask the artists what kind of custom work they specialize in.
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I agree 100%! you must see what the artist's portfolio looks like and I am not talking about their flash work but their actual pics of their work!

Also be an individual! Don't find some flash card and pick it off of that... have the artist draw something up for you or if you can draw you do it...

maximus20895 said:
Forget about the haters here. They don't want it then they don't have to get it. If you want it get it, but make sure you want it.

Just be safe!
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Again I agree! (not that I am calling you guys "haters" but more "conservative" to what is socially acceptable)

93fox said:
Just be careful and do alot of scoping around the studios in your area. I personally love tattoos, i have 4. Only one and visible and it is super tiny. The other ones are not visible and i plan to keep it that way. I am about to get another in hebrew letters saying, "at the end of the game, the king and the pawn go back in the same box"... One of my all time favorite quotes. But good luck man!!!
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Fox; Make sure that you know 100% what the Hebrew is for this as it is a lot of words and there are people out there (esp Jewish folk that if they know it is going for ink they will write it different! I have had this happen to 3 of my friends and what they got is not what they wanted...) If you need conformation feel free to PM me as my wife knows Hebrew fairly well... I love that saying! This is one I have it is "Mishpacha" or "Family":
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this is one of 9 that I have and am working on a full sleeve for my right arm in a Hebrew and pop culture blended genre!

skipper1 said:
Spend a few hundred dollars today and get that tattoo, 10 or 20 years from now spend a few thousand dollars to get them removed. And, remember they can keep you from getting a good paying job. That's probably no big deal right now, but it will be.

Rather than call myself an old guy, I like to call myself an experienced guy.
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I don't see the point of your logic... If you have lived with a tat for that long unless it is a girl's name or some dumb cartoon character or a dolphin why would you just up and choose to have it removed? In today's society tats are socially acceptable in about 65% of all work places... pastors have them, police have them, heck I have a buddy that is a very high priced lawyer and he has visible ones on his hands!

I would agree that none of you "old guys" are really old but "well seasoned" or experienced!

B&B Tennessee said:
:iagree:

I am tatted up pretty extensively but you or an employer would never know it...... definitely get your tat somewhere that cant be noticeable in a job uniform. Go for the ribs :props:
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I will agree with this to... I currently have one that is visible and that is my wedding band... People complement me on it all the time!





Here is my thought: If you walk in and they are using Listerine instead of Green Soap, the floors look like they could use a good scrubbing, the bathroom is nasty, they don't have a sharps waste box at every station, and they have a sonic cleaning machine, and unless they are in their 40's+ and call their machines guns; WALK AWAY!!!!

If they have a very clean shop, use "disposable" needles, and use green soap; start inquiring with them...

Another big thing is check into your state's licensing requirements... In CO some city's require licences while others don't... if they can't present a license and should be required to by law get out of there!
 
Everyone has tattoos these days. As long as you don't get one on your neck/face or get a naked chick on your forearm it's not going to keep you from getting a job. Not to mention most interviews for good jobs you would wear a suit so no one would be the wiser. My boss has a full sleeve tattoo and wears polos to work. Not many people care anymore. Just saying....
 
Flannigan said:
Everyone has tattoos these days.
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It's the young ladies that get those cute little butterflies on or around their cleavage that I enjoy the most.......I make sure I remind them, that, as they become much older in life, that cute little ol' butterfly will eventually look more like a boa constrictor. :D

Bob
 
michael13 said:
If you are considering a career such as law enforcement or even something like a cashier at Walmart (two of many) be aware that there are policies against tattoos that show from under the uniform. You have to think about any future careers that you may desire.

If your heart is not set on a specific location, consider one that can be concealed easily. I chose the back of my shoulder.
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:iagree:
Mine is at the top of my arm. I have had it for well over 20 years and I will be 49 on Monday. I have never regretted getting it. It reminds me of a very enjoyable time of my life and I wouldn't consider have it removed.

I am also glad I chose to get it in area that is easily covered. At the time I got the Tattoo I was a mechanic and it would not have been an issue if it showed. Fast forward to today and I am working in a professional office environment where it would not be accepted. My point is, you don't know where you will be or what you will be doing 10 or 20 years down the road.
 
SOME places have policies, but a lot don't I live withing walking distance of a local sheriffs office and more of them have tattoos that show than don't. One has his whole leg done and he wears shorts. Again, it's not like it use to be where having a tattoo meant you were a biker or a punk.
 
I myself have a couple tattoos. All of which can be hidden if I need to. That being said it really depends on your line of work. If you are concerned about appearing professional keep it in a place that can be covered up. And honestly you can really cover up most tattoos.

Like others have said I'd talk to any of your friends who have tattoos that you like. Ask what shop and what artist they used. My first tattoo I had the design i wanted and just went into a shop and got it done. I was young and didn't think much of it.

My brother has probably 20 tattoos all by the same lady. I got my last tattoo from her. Only issue is she's in Abilene, TX and I live in Mass. So I will only be getting tattoos from her now when I go to visit my brother.

Tattoos are not for everyone. As many here have said. It's just your personal preference.
 
I was able to talk my daughter into "re-thinking" about getting one: you pay someone to apply it, a couple of years down the road you pay someone else to remove it. My son got a serious infection from a tattoo and I had to take him to the hospital because his arm was swollen to almost twice its size. I don't think the needles were unsanitary, I think it was a reaction to colored ink. I'm not a hater on this subject: it's your body, do what you want. I just personally feel that's there's no good reason to use a perfectly good body as a billboard.
 
Dubbin1 said:
I think the biggest thing is to step back and think about it again. Remember it's not gonna wash off. I was already to get one, even paid to have the artist draw up some designs then thought hard about it again and never got it.
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With age comes wisdom......:props:
 
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