Tattoos carry a kind of reputation, a predetermined opinion and a very generic conception. Skulls and roses, stars and hearts, grim reapers and naked fairies: all of these images are popular tattoo designs, timeless and infinite, but bearing often-negative connotations. These tattoos, often drawn from flash, or pre-drawn artwork, are seen as unoriginal, and no matter what personal beliefs or emotions wears attach to these pictures, tattoo enthusiasts will forever look at them as uncreative and boring. But sometimes an individual is able to twist these pre-conceived icons into something beautifully original, something so terribly his or her own that onlookers completely forget the social connotations of the images. Tattoo lettering, like hearts and stars and rainbows, can be transformed into something unique with a little time, effort and imagination.

Writing on the Skin

While most tattoo lettering is available as flash, wearers can present their own personal inscriptions to most tattoo artists. Flash tattoo lettering is usually comprised of popular phrases, sayings, slang terms or quotations in foreign language. When an individual decides to work with an artist on an original piece, he or she can choose from the artist’s portfolio of fonts or attempt to collaborate on a new font. However, tattoo lettering is usually more successful when the font used is a little more scripted; using stencils, the artist will be able to immortalize any personal quote in ink a lot more consistently and neatly than if he or she is attempting to create the font as well. Ideas for original fonts can be gathering from computer programs and graphic design software, as well as from fine art or pop culture; fonts can either be taken directly from advertisements or slogans, or can be twisted into unique, hybrid tattoo lettering.

Still, a lot of what people want to say has already been said before, and will often be included in some set of flash or in an artist’s portfolio. If this is the case, individuals must use caution before selecting flash. If the tattoo lettering is meant to accompany a picture, especially if it is added afterward, the font should match the ambiance of the other tattoo. Usually, tattoo lettering can be built from components of the original tattoo; letters can be drawn as ropes, wires, knots or flames. Foreign language symbols and tattoo lettering must be researched prior to selection, otherwise the terminology used could be improper, and the entire sentence or phrase could read differently in the end. Tattoos are permanent, and such a mistake is embarrassing.

Tattoos fade overtime, becoming less distinct, duller and far less imposing. Pictures and graphics hold up fairly well to time, but tattoo lettering can easily become illegible over time, especially of the font used is small or fine. For this reason, wearers must select their fonts carefully, taking into consideration the future of their tattoos; even lines, well-spaced letters and bolder fonts enjoy longer lives than their more intricate, softer-spoken counterparts. Tattoo artists will offer their expectations concerning tattoo lettering, and many will even set size and space limits on tattoos they design, ensuring that individuals understand the tattoo aging process.

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For those who are thinking about a new tattoo design, there is a lot of legwork to cover. And if you don’t believe that to be true, then you might end up being one of those with ink that you hate. Gone are the days of just thumbing through a few dusty design books to find your (im)perfect design.

That is probably the worst decision you can make concerning your tattoo’s appearance. It’s increasingly common, thanks to the fact that more people are sitting down to get inked these days, and thanks to advances in tattoo removal technology. But the fact is that tattoo removal is imperfect, not entirely effective, and can lead to skin scarring and discoloration. You should never rush into a new design. Take your time before getting that design permanently memorialized on your skin. Here are a few tips to make sure you love that tattoo as much a year from now as you do today.

Choose your location first: where you get your tattoo often has an impact on the style that you choose. For example, a tattoo that looks good on your lower back likely has a far different style than one that will be placed on your shoulder. And shoulder tattoos cater to different designs than foot tattoos. Start with the location.

After the location is selected, begin to narrow down your design choices. You are probably attracted to certain styles of designs already, e.g. tribal tattoo designs, cartoonish designs, abstract designs, etc. After narrowing it down to a category, refine your selections until you come up with your own shortlist.

Now comes the fun part: you’re going to try that tattoo on and model it for a few days. What you will want to do is grab several sheets of professional transfer paper that tattoo artists use in studios to transfer tattoo designs onto your skin. You can find samples on this tattoo finder blog. You’ll trace your design onto the transfer paper (you can even use a lightbox), and then have a friend transfer it to your skin. Grab some fine-tipped, colored permanent markers, and have your friend fill in the design. It doesn’t have to be perfect at this point; all you want to do is make sure that the size, location, and design are suitable.

Sleep on it: now just take your time, continue observing your test tattoo, and trying on different designs. You can see, with a high degree of accuracy and realism, what that tattoo is going to look like on your skin. If you don’t like, just scrub really hard and try again with a clean canvas! Eventually you’ll find a perfect design.

Additionally, if your tattoo will include a lettering style, don’t limit yourself to what you see in the parlor’s books. There are literally thousands of freeware fonts that you can download and install on your computer. You can use a graphics program (even a free one like gimp) to add the tattoo lettering to your design of choice, and then transfer it to your skin with the rest of the test tattoo. Like the design, you’ll eventually find a font that is perfect for your new tattoo.

To some, this sounds like a lot of work, and that’s true. But this tattoo will be with you for a lifetime, so you will want to do your research. Use a tattoo finder to locate a great design, browse through the many free fonts available online, and test drive all of the promising tattoo designs before you ink them permanently. Your effort will be rewarded many fold in the years to come.

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Getting a tattoo is a lifelong commitment, plain and simple. While you might be eager to get your ink, take your time to find the right tattoo studio and artist for you. Laser removal of tattoos is not nearly as advanced as some make it sound, it’s not very reliable, and let’s not forget that removal is pricey and the process is lengthy (multiple sessions spread out over a year or more). So what you get today could be with you for decades. Make sure it’s an informed decision.

1) First and foremost, do your research. Don’t even bother looking for a tattoo artist until you find a reputable parlor. This is much easier than it sounds, as you’re not really trying to find the best parlor at the stage; instead, you’re trying to weed out the worst.

2) Ask around. Chances are that your friends and acquaintances have tattoos and you can ask about their experiences. Of course, if their tattoos are awful, don’t bother asking! While this is out of some peoples’ comfort zones, people you’ve never met are often open to talking about their tattoos. If they are in public view, the owner wants them to be seen, and will be flattered that you thought enough of their ink to task them about it.

Once you have personal recommendations, do some web searches for each of the specific parlor names. Search for phrases like “tattoo-shop-name problems, “tattoo-shop-name complaints,” etc.

Your local independent paper is another good source of referrals. Tattoo shops very often advertise to these audiences, and if the ads are long-running, odds are very high that the shop is favored in the community.

3) Do your safety checks. Once your list has been narrowed down, take a trip to each of the shops. You’re looking at safety and cleanliness at this point.

• Are the tattoo artists wearing gloves?
• Do they wash their hands between tattoos?
• Is smoking prohibited in the studio?
• Is a license present and visible in the shop?
• Is the studio free of dirt and debris, i.e. is it clean?
• Does the studio use an autoclave to sterilize equipment prior to beginning a fresh tattoo?
• Are single-use supplies used during a session? For example, look for things like disposable ink cups, fresh needles, and the like?
• Is each client shaved and properly disinfected prior to beginning work?
• Are spray bottles and other hand-held equipment wrapped in plastic bags (prevents cross contamination)?

4) Find an artist. While many people don’t do this for fear that they’ll offend the tattoo artists, you can and should request an artist you feel most comfortable with if their style suits your tastes better. This is your tattoo, and it will be with you for a lifetime, so if one artist does better black and white work, or if one artist has a large book of designs you like, you might be more satisfied with the work that they do for you. Don’t be afraid to look through the art present to see who makes a good fit for you.

Tattoo studios receive a lot of walk-in traffic that is just shopping around or browsing through books, and many people getting tattoos get art that the tattooists find a bit boring. So don’t expect the artists to bend over backwards to accommodate you, but they should still be friendly, helpful, and offer advice without pushing your decision. Most good, qualified artists know that informed clients make satisfied clients.

If you feel that you are being led to a design or decision that you don’t like, or if the artist is dismissive of your questions, you might need to move on. Many experienced artists prefer working on intricate, large designs, so you might just fall under their radar. Not to worry: there is someone out there perfect for your tattoo.

5) Don’t price it. Keep in mind that this tattoo will be with you for decades, making the cost per wear minimal. Don’t try to save a few bucks and risk ending up with a tattoo that is less than optimal. The risk just isn’t worth it. I’m sure there are some cases of price gouging out there, but I’ve never personally experienced them or talked to anyone who has. Just spend the money — the peace of mind is worth it.

6) Choose your location. Sensitive areas and areas closer to bone tend to be more painful, but you shouldn’t let pain determine your tattoo’s location. Hip tattoos are very popular, as well as lower-back and shoulder tattoos. Growing in popularity are hand tattoos and foot tattoos, while the old standbys like arm tattoos are still going strong.

7) Choose your design. Similar to pricing your tattoo, don’t settle for any old design you find in their books. With the abundance of tattoo designs available in online galleries, there is no reason you can’t find the perfect tattoo for your skin. Your best option is to make use of a quality tattoo finder to browse designs. You’ll be able to find and download artwork, and see real life pictures of what the tattoos look like on people.

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