Being a tattoo artist seems easy; you got the needle and some ink and you’re good to go. However, doing tattoos requires much more work than it may seem at first. When we say ‘more work’, we mean hard work that could last for years, and might not even pay well or at all.

However, don’t let this discourage you; if you’re passionate about art, drawing, and design, then becoming a tattoo artist might be an excellent choice for you. However, learning new skills and getting enough experience, or working alongside other artists will be an important part of the process.

Now, that we’ve got the essentials out of the way, let’s take a look at what else it might take for you to become a professional tattoo artist!

10 Things You Should Know Before Becoming A Tattoo Artist

1. If you’re good at drawing, it doesn’t mean you’ll be good at tattooing!
2. Becoming a tattoo artist doesn’t mean you’ll become rich; at the beginning of your career, you’ll probably work for free!
3. You don’t have to go to a tattoo school to become a tattoo artist!
4. Prepare to invest heavily into a tattoo machine and tattoo equipment!
5. No one can guarantee you success in the industry; you may or may not become successful and have a profitable business!
6. Don’t expect your every tattoo to be perfect; there will be times when you mess up, badly!
7. You’ll have to learn to say NO to customers’ bad tattoo design ideas!
8. You’ll have to learn to be extremely focused on tattooing only, for hours!
9. Expect to start having back issues, pain in the arms, and neck after only a few years of tattooing!
10. Becoming a tattoo artist will take a lot of hard work, and we’re talking about years of dedication and commitment!

Becoming A Tattoo Artist – Essential Requirements

1. Learning To Draw

Let’s start with the assumption that you’re passionate about drawing but you still need some practice and experience in creating a visually appealing drawing. Well, even if you’re good at drawing, you will still need to learn and practice new drawing techniques.