Tattoo Info
Choosing an Artist
Whether you’re getting your tattoo in your local area or need to travel, selecting an artist is one of the most important parts of the process! You need to be sure that you’ll work well together to get the exact tattoo you want. After all, your tattoo is permanent! However, choosing an artist can feel overwhelming, especially if it’s your first tattoo.
So what are some of the most important things to look for?
Style
Does their art style match what you’re looking for?
Make sure any artist you work with has a portfolio available to the public, whether on Instagram, their website, or elsewhere. That way you can ensure not only the quality of the artists’ work but ensure that their style matches your vision for your tattoo!
It’s also important to check if the artist has healed and closeup photos. All tattoos heal differently, but if an artist has these photos, you can watch out for things like blowouts to be sure the artist is professional in their craft. You’ll also want to look for consistency in technique: smooth and steady lines, even shading, and uniform colour.
The following links showcase the artist portfolio for Mystic Moon Tattoos’ resident artist:
Environment
Is the shop friendly and comfortable?
Every shop or studio has its own unique atmosphere. It’s worth stopping in at the shop, or at least giving a phone call, before moving forward with booking your appointment. Is the tattoo shop inclusive to a diverse range of clients? Is it accessible to all body types and abilities?
Equally important, you should always feel comfortable asking questions or for accommodations to make your appointment more comfortable! A professional artist will always be comfortable making reasonable revisions to your tattoo to make sure they get it just right, whether it’s the design, placement, or size.
Health and Safety
Is the shop safe?
You should always make sure you get your tattoo in a safe, regulated environment. An important first step is to check with your local health authority. In Kamloops, British Columbia, that’s Interior Health, which maintains records of inspections and any infractions for businesses. You can find these records online here:
Studio Check-In
Another way to ensure your safety is to reach out directly to the shop and ask questions about their health and safety policies.
To help you with your decision, we’ve provided a handy artist/tattoo shop checklist below:
