It is important to conduct your due research when it comes to finding tattoo places in your area. If you land in less-than-ideal places, you may forever regret getting your tattoo there.
Here’s the ultimate guide to arrive at the tattoo places in your city.
Search on the Web
The first step to find the tattoo places in your local area is to look for them online. Using the right keywords can help you find the names and websites of the tattoo studios in your local area. Use keywords such as Raleigh tattoo places or something similar. Next, you can check their websites to know more about each studio you like from their description.
Feel free to read online reviews of the shops if you find any on the search pages.
Check the Websites
Check the websites of tattoo shops you find through online searches very thoroughly. Reputed shops will maintain nice and up-to-date websites. So, consider this as the first step towards checking if the place is good or not. Read the information given on the websites and check their artists if you like a shop so far. Do you feel the artists at the shop are experienced enough? Do the artists offer the kind of tattoo style you want?
There are a number of tattoo styles and most artists choose to specialize in one or two categories only. So, it is important to find this information before you schedule a session at the shop.
Look at the Artists’ Portfolio
If you find an artist or two offering services in the kind of tattoo style you want then check their portfolios to know more about them. You are most likely to find samples of their past work in their profile pages on the websites. You can also check their social pages or personal websites to know more about their work.
Schedule a Consulting Session
If you like any artist’s work then scheduling a consulting session with them is a good idea. It will help you discuss your tattoo idea with them and inquire about their availability. Even if you don’t find an artist’s portfolio but like him or her based on their experience and services; try booking a consulting session with them as well. They might be able to show you some of their previous work during the face-to-face meeting.
Be bold when discussing your vision or idea with the artists. Even if you are not sure about what design you want, you are most likely to have an idea about what you want. For instance, you may know that you want a geometric pattern in deep colors but could be unsure about the design. Professional tattoo artists can help you refine such raw ideas and come up with designs based on your vision for the tattoo. Even if you are getting a tattoo on a whim without any idea about the design; good artists will help you with the process of deciding on a design for you.
Inquire about the Costs
Next, inquire about the cost of your choice of artists. Consider artists’ experience and capabilities before dismissing them as too expensive. You need to, of course, choose an artist whose services you can afford. So, feel free to inquire about the costs without apprehension.
Most artists charge an hourly rate. So, you can decide on your budget by keeping in mind these rates and the extent of your tattoo design.
Check the Studios’ Cleanliness
Ensure that the shop you choose is clean in every way. Make sure that the studio you are planning to go to follows safety practices as per regulations.
The shops need to have dedicated spaces for bio-hazard wastes, recyclable trash, tools, and inks. The furniture needs to be comfortable and clean. The tattoo shops need to sterilize tools every time after they are used. So, ensure that you inquire about it when visiting the shops. You can get an idea of whether they are thorough with it or not by looking at the cleanliness state of the tattoo place.
Once you have found the ideal tattoo place, it is time to get inked. Schedule a time as per your convenience and the artist’s availability.