Quote Originally Posted by cassandra
So I've decided I'm an adult and I can get a tatto if I want, dangit...most likely something snakey related.

Anywho, what advice can you give me on:
- body location: I was thinking on the ankle.
Will hurt thin skin close to the bone will you live through it yes. places that don't hurt arms, shoulder, calves chest.
- how to shop for a tattoo artist/shop.
find a place that is clean and friendly. Most places will talk with you and even let you look around. They want you to be comfortable they want your business.
- best practice for looking for/creating a design: I kinda don't want a "cookie cutter" tattoo since I don't want to see someone else with the same thing but I'd like to hear best practices for working with the artist to get what I want.
take pics of patterns colors and body positions of how you would want it to look. Then get one of the artist to draw it out. Might cost a little more than a wall flash tat but it'll be your and no one else's
- how much I should expect to pay: the design swimming in my head is, I think, pretty simple. Maybe 2" x 2" all black silhouette of a stylized snake. Thoughts?
black and grays run around 60-100 depending on how complex. remember the smaller the tat the less detail you'll be able to get.
- how should I prepare the skin or other physical attributes to prepare for the actual tattooing: wash/don't wash the skin, shave/don't shave, drink lots of water, take advil?
NO! pain killers or alcohol they thin the blood and will cause more bleeding and will lessen the amount of ink that stays under the skin.

Shower good first, shave the area the artist might do it again to remove any minute hair that might get in the way. After your done get "drum roll please"
Preparation H to put on it for the first day or two. Hint in removes swelling in skin and allows the ink to hold it place better. Then just triple antibiotic ointment. They'll give you an after care sheet.