– Decide on the placement of the tattoo. Many of us will have a particularly good idea of where we want the next tattoo to be placed. However, many of us also do not have the keen eye of a tattoo artist and have a hard time imagining where the tattoo will look best. For those that are looking for a way to get a better idea, printing your piece and placing it is a great option. If you design something similar to what you like or you find something online, you can print it, cut it out, and place it on different sections of your body so you have a better idea of how it will look.

– Use online portfolios to research shops and artists. Researching tattoo artists and shops today is a lot different than it used to be. You no longer need to go into a shop to look at an artist’s portfolio to check out their work. In times like these, a tattoo artist’s work can be generally found online. If you go to the artist or shops website, you will likely find the work of the artist. You can also go on sites like Facebook and Instagram to find the work of the artist that you are thinking about working with. Take your time and do the research.

– Know your budget. This might be the first thing you should address because it could quickly disqualify many tattoo artists. If you are gone through any of this post, you will see that tattoo artists can have rates that range from $50 to $1000 an hour. That said, the saying, “you get what you pay for”, really applies here. We suggest saving your money and going with an artist that you know is reputable. After all, this tattoo is going to be seen by you every day, for the rest of your life. Make sure you do not rush into something you will regret later.