tattoo ideas!

[Spoons]

I'm glad you decided to wait! It sounds like it was going to be a spur of the moment decision, more or less, which does not pair well with tattoos, at all. Never get one just because someone offered to pay for one and now you're scrambling to find something you like. It will be there *forever* and should have a little more thought put into it!

Second, you should do a TON of research on where you go. Like, an obnoxious amount. There will usually be examples of each artist's work online. If you find some you like, go into the shops. Most artists will have a book of work that's more expansive than what is available online. Some specialize in different styles, or in color vs greyscale, etc. Look at reviews. Check and see if the artist has won any awards for his art. How long they have been in business, etc.

Third - and this is a big one, at least for me - *never* shop by price. A good artist WILL be expensive, and a good tattoo will cost a lot of money. Most artists will take offense if the first question you ask is "how much do you charge" because that says you're more concerned about price than the quality of the work that will be on your skin for the rest of your life. For my last tattoo, I actually looked at the artist's work at a shop when my mom went in to get work done. Then, at a tatoo convention, I kept hearing his name announced as the winner of the different contest categories for his work. So I finally looked him up, went and spoke with him about what I wanted, and THEN asked his price range. To add, many good artists have a bit of a wait list! Be prepared to have a little time to save. Don't pick a shop because you read they're cheap, because with tattoos you get what you pay for!

Find something or an idea you love that speaks to you. You don't have to find something online that you want - they're artists, their whole life revolves around taking ideas and turning them into work. I went in with a vague idea of what I wanted and my artist turned it into an absolutely insane piece of art that was expensive, took a long time, and I am so beyond blown away with. Think of what means a lot to you, and maybe a style that piques your interest, and see what you and your artist can work out. Pick something you can absolutely rock and make it yours!

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