Finding a good shop.

You made up your mind and you're going to get your (first) tattoo. But now how do you find good tattoo shops? Personally, I was taken by a good friend to an acquaintance who worked in a tattoo shop. To this day I have got all my tattoos done by the same artist. If you do not have this luxury (as most people I think) I recommend you to easily search through the Internet. Good and professional tattoo shops have their own website and forums can also provide you with the necessary information. Make yourself a list of some tattoo shops that you find worth visiting. That may seem exaggerated but a tattoo is permanent and you want to go for the best results.

What should you look for?

If you visit the tattoo shops you will need to keep a few things in mind. How is the customer service? Is the shop clean and fresh? Putting a tattoo often creates a bond between the artist and client. A tattoo is still very personal and it is therefore important that you're comfortable in the tattoo shops. Chat with the artist and view the photo books that most tattoo shops have. Here you can often see the work of artists who work in the shop. So you can see what their specialty is and you can choose someone who can turn your ideas into a beautiful tattoo.

Hygiene.

Hygiene is one of the most important things you should look for at the tattoo shops. If this is not in order it can cause problems such as infections, etc. Ask around in the tattoo shops if they always use new needles and what is done for disinfection. Also good aftercare is important for a good result.

Create your own design or let a pro do it.

Perhaps you're walking around with the idea to get your (first) tattoo. Maybe you can draw a design yourself or you know someone who can do it for you. Also you can always pick a picture from the internet but of course this involves the risk that somewhere on earth somebody else wears the same tattoo. To avoid this you can also go into the tattoo shop. You come in with an idea, you explain what the purpose is and then the artist makes (mostly free) a unique design for you.

Compare prices.

Of course the price is an important aspect to choose one of the tattoo shops on your list. Of course you will not save on your tattoo but if can pay a lot less around the corner it's is a welcome bonus. I sometimes went past another tattoo shop to ask how much my latest tatt would cost there. The difference was € 200, -!

So you see that a little research for the right tattoo shop can make a big difference in the wallet. Also you will not regret a spontaneous decision. Your tattoo is there forever and you want to make the right choice. Often you see that after a positive experience, people keep going back to their familiar tattoo shops.