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Tattoos have been a part of many cultures for a very long time. Let's take a look at why people have been compelled to mark their body so permanently...
This link provides some interesting information on the origin, evolution, who and why of Tattoos
So whether it is to show your trade or to prove that you belong to a clan, you still want a skilled professional to do the job... so where do you start?
The First Thing To Do...
The Second Thing To Do
The Last Thing To Do....
The first thing to do is ... nothing you could regret! That's right, you probably heard those stories about a guy getting drunk and waking up with the name of some prostitute tattooed on his chest (or other non disclosed part of their body!)... one of the reason being that the removal of a tattoo is rather expensive and it does not look good, and the other reason being that although the "covering" of a tattoo might be an option, it is still better to think about it before your ol' lady kicks your ass out of the house!
But seriously,
The first thing to do is to find the right tattoo parlor...
...a place where you feel comfortable and relaxed.
Ok, I start hearing some comments from the cheap seats already... what
the Hell is that sissy talking about? Does he also want anesthesia before
the tattoo?
Most tattoo places are dark, noisy, smoky, tiny and not
always clean or at a comfortable temperature.... is it a reason for it
to become a standard? For some people maybe, but let me show you a few
points:
- Why should a tattoo parlor be a bright place?
Well for one, coach roaches don't like it when it's bright!
But the main reason is that a bright natural light is a better way for
you (and the artist) to see the true nature of the colors used (if any)
and what the tattoo will actually look like. It also makes it easier to
check the uptown girl getting a butterfly on her chest!
- Why should a tattoo parlor not have a poor stereo system
with the volume all the way up?
Ok, so it's the alternative way of chasing coach roaches
when you don't have a bright place... but now that you do have a bright
place, let's upgrade the stereo system and lower the volume... why? Cause
it's easier to communicate with the artist, and you don't feel like they're
trying to cover up screams from the back room!
- Why should a tattoo parlor be spacious?
Even if there is only one artist available to perform
the tattoos, a spacious parlor will allow the artist some room to work,
room to post pictures of past work and awards, room to have waiting customers
seat down and review tattoo magazines (or other...), room to have the friends
of the "victim" check the tortures inflicted, in short: breathing room
for everyone! It also allows smoke (if smoking is allowed inside) to be
dissipated instead of "filling up" the place.
- Why should a tattoo parlor be clean and cool?
Clean is a must, especially these days, when dealing
with needles and blood... and cool temperature will prevent both you and
the artist to drown the tattoo with sweat.
The overall quality of the tattoo will be reflected by the level of comfort that both you and the artist have during the session(s).
And for those people still disagreeing with me, there always will be those dark places where coach roaches are king... and it does not mean you won't get a nice tattoo either, but if I'm gonna spend a couple hundred dollars to get my skin pierced and I have the choice, I'd rather be in a cool, clean place...
So HOW do you find the right tattoo parlor?
Well here are a couple of suggestions:
- Most bikers will gladly share with you where they got their tattoos done, so if you see a tattoo on a guy's arm or back that looks really good, just ask him. Two things though... first, DO NOT stare at someone's tattoo without asking, that's rude and might get you killed in some cases... and second, if the tattoo is on a female and you REALLY want to look at it in details, ask the big guy with her if it's ok first....!
- Tattoos magazines and bikers magazines have plenty of articles on the subject, go through them and go check out the ones in your area...
- The Web! If you got to this page, you obviously have
access to it... so check to see if you can find pictures and addresses...
... is to find a tattoo you like. All the tattoo places
I've been in have a scrap book of common tattoos you can check out for
ideas. From the tiniest to the largest tattoo, there is a wide range to
choose from. Keep in mind that the most complicated tattoo or the most
"original" (meaning out of the ordinary) tattoos are also the hardest to
achieve, thus are the most expensive and time consuming.
If your intention is to just have a little thing to impress
your friends here and there or you just want something special to be revealed
to a chosen few, then it's a simple question of choosing what you want
and where you want it... but if this is the start of a fresque which will
cover a large part of your body, you might want to consider the following:
... is to find where you want it and go for it!
I could debate the places where to put your tattoo... but I'll let you
figure that one out!
When all is said... you gotta do it, and that's where
most people turn their heels and give up (my better half being one of them!).
If money is no object, get the most original design possible... it's always
a drag to find your favorite tattoo on someone else's body (everybody has
a butterfly or a heart on their shoulders these days!), if you have financial
issues, save up! Don't settle for cheap... remember this is for life! Some
artists will accept payments on large enough tattoos... especially if it
takes more than one session to complete.
Pictures
Links to other tattoos related sites:
