Tattoo Artist: An Important Decision

First and foremost is the cleaniness for me. If I don't see the artists being clean and sterile I couldn't be bothered. Another is their talent themselves. I have seen some awesome work and some really horrible shady work. It has taken me a long time to find an artist that I like. But I have finally found one and she does all my work and alot of friends and family have gone there as well too. She is fast, neat, clean and very talented. She is a 10 and will always be a 10 in my books. Will always go to her for further additions as well.

My requirements (I have two tatts and preferred artist I go to):

1. Registered with the Health Department
2. His portfolio
3. Recommendations from others who have his work on their skin
4. Disposition and personality
5. Clear and concise after care discussions (if they don't bother to tell you about after care and emphasize after care, they don't care about the customer, it's just money to them)
6. The types of ink they use, what brand names, their knowledge on inks
7. Cleanliness of the shop
8. How they treat the customers (I watch the artist, are they friendly, do they make eye contact, are they honest and try to talk a customer out of a crappy tattoo choice?)

Those are my 8 requirements for a tattoo artist and tattoo shop.

For me, it is a combination of their portfolio, and how they interpret the "vision" I have for the piece I want. Location/convenience has nothing to do with my decision. For instance, if I could find an artist that could do the tatoo I want to celebrate the birth/mourn the death of my twin baby boys (a dragon with full wing spread with their full names and the date of their birth/death in each wing---a full back piece, very painful), I would go to the ends of the earth. I feel that you defintely need to have a connection to the artist, because you are going to be showcasing their art for a really long time. P.S. You might want to check your friend requests!

For me it's word of mouth. If a tattoo parlour is unhygienic or the work quality is poor, word will get around quickly.

I got my first tattoo at a parlour near my house that has been there since I was a kid. I took this as a good sign and went in and had a chat to them. I asked them if they could do what I wanted and the artist seemed confident and genuine. I got my tattoo there and have been completely happy with the results. I have since gone back there twice and and I have been equally happy. I have reccommended the parlour to my friends and that is how an artists gets a good reputation.

My decision was based on friends who have used the artist that I used to do mine. I trusted them and the art I saw on them- which was the ONLY reason I let this guy touch me with a needle...lol

The artist's work and their disposition. As long as they are nice, clean, and do good work, that's a good choice for me! Although shop location is always a good thing. But if the artist was worth it, I'd drive WAY out of my way.

I've never had a tattoo -- but if I did, I would want to go to one that is super-clean -- am scared to death that I would get hepatitis, etc. (heard of a guy back in the day who died from hepatitis from getting a tat)

I've seen some really awesome drawings for tattoos & love them -- but my tolerance for pain is, well, nonexistent. I'd probably faint or something!;)