You don’t know your artist: It’s always best to do the most amount of research that you can do when choosing an artist for the tattoo that you are wanting. Are they someone who can do the style that you are looking for? Are they experienced? Do they abide by health and safety standards to ensure they are being as safe as possible? What does their portfolio look like? If you don’t know what the artist is capable of doing, then you shouldn’t be choosing them to be your tattoo artist.
You jumped in without thinking of the long term: There can be so many different reasons that your life can end up going in a different direction then what you thought. Make sure to truly think about how the tattoo that you want to get today can affect you in the future. You might get into a job that doesn’t allow tattoos to be showing. You might decide that the tattoo you want today will be incredibly stupid 15 years down the road. Not to say that you shouldn’t get tattoos ever because you never know what the future brings, but make sure that you are prepared for any hypothetical consequences that can occur.
You don’t know the standards of the shop: Tattoo shops should be clean and be using sterilization processes to ensure the artist and clients safety. You can and should make sure that the shop is using quality inks and needles and there is sanitization happening before, during, and after your tattoo. If they don’t seem to care, you should walk away. You don’t want to risk your health for anything.
You got pressured into a tattoo: Your friends decided to get a tattoo and dragged you along. A partner has been aggressively wanting their name tattooed on your body. If you are getting a tattoo, make sure that you are getting it because you want to get it. Don’t feel pressured into agreeing to allow a permanent body modification to happen. Also, during your appointment if there is something that you truly do not like, please tell your artist and see if there is something that can be done so you don’t get stuck with a tattoo that you hate. If you are not 100% sold on the design that will be on your body forever, you should not be getting it done.
You don’t know what your tattoo means: Your artist can and should double check with any type of text that you are wanting to get tattooed. But if you are adamant that the spelling is correct that is on you. If you are not prepared to double check the spelling or translation of a tattoo, then you maybe shouldn’t be getting that tattoo in the first place. Until you are 100% sure that your tattoo is correctly translated and spelled don’t get it done.
You want a cheap tattoo: In the world of tattoos, you will get what you pay for. If you find a deal that is too good to be true, it probably is. A good tattoo artist is just that, an artist. You need to be prepared to pay them for their worth and quality. If you are
If you still want to get a tattoo that’s great! Find a good artist and shop, make sure you are getting what you want, and be prepared to have that tattoo for a long time. Tattoos are fun and can mean lots of different things to lots of different people. If you feel confident about your choice, then go and get that ink!