Tattoos are something you should budget for, at least if you are planning on getting a good quality one. Unlike the lore of drunken sailors not remembering how or where they got particular markings, you will want to shop around for the some of the best and most reliable talent. “You get what you pay for” holds as true for tattoos as for everything else in life.

Tipping is standard practice in the tattoo business. If your artist is not the proprietor of the business, he or she is only making 40 to 50% of the price you are paying. Often the artist has to provide his own latex gloves and other medical supplies, as well as needles, pigments and so on. The proprietor provides the autoclave and other supplies. Figure your tip into the overall cost to avoid any embarrassing situation.

Deciding on a design may take a while and well should a decision of this nature. You want to be assured satisfaction with your choice so take a few days and an earlier visit to the shop to sift through possible choices. That way you can arrive at the parlor on your big day with a lot of the hard work behind you. All that will be left to do will be to grin and bear the application.

Knowing that you are going to lay out a wad of cash for a Samoan beauty effect or a hardcore biker message, it is well worth your while to do some research into the best available artists and tattoo parlors before making your commitment. Certifications, licenses, cleanliness and accomplishment portfolios, preferably on live bodies, are what you are going to want to have a look at.

After choosing well, you should have the same level of confidence in your tattoo shop’s cleanliness as in your dentist’s office. In most states, licensed tattoo artists have taken a class in bloodborne pathogens and disease transmission. Anything that comes in direct contact with a client, such as pigments, disposable or latex gloves and needles are disposed of after a single user. The needle bar and tube are autoclaved to sterilize them in between uses, just like equipment in the dentist’s office. When working on you, the conscientious artist will ensure that their tools stay on a tray and away from possible contamination.

Once you have committed and undergone the needle artistry, your artist will instruct you on how to care for your new tattoo during the healing process and how to avoid infection. Generally, this will involve washing the tattoo area with a gentle antibacterial soap, using only your hand, no cloths. Pat dry with a clean cloth and apply a thin coating of a suitable ointment such as a vitamin enriched product. Some artists suggest avoiding the use of Neosporin or the like as this could cause an allergic reaction that once healed, would permanently affect the tattoo’s appearance. You may shower but do not soak your new tattoo in the tub or pool for about two weeks. When completely healed, protect your tattoo from the sun with a good sunscreen in order to not alter the image’s vibrancy.

What happens if you wake up one day and decide you no longer want that tattoo you so desperately needed years earlier? Depending on sources which include dermatologists, you would be keeping company with anywhere from 17 to 50% of tattoo recipients. Luckily, there is effective laser removal treatment available. But to minimize the chance of eventual buyer’s remorse, refrain from having a person’s name placed under your skin. Another word to the cautious: Get your tattoo placed in an area that will be easy to cover up during a conservative interview process. You never know where life will take you.

This author: Ms. Long has been employed in the glove industry for over thirty years. As Director of Web Support for a web retail specialist in Disposable and Latex Gloves, she manages a web-based library for disposable gloves users,Wearing Disposable Gloves

Tags: Tattoos