I am a tattoo artist and I get a lot of tattoo questions on the forums I visit. I thought it might just be easier if I put up a FAQ sheet on my domain. That way, the basics are covered. If you guys have any further questions, feel free to email me.

Getting a tattoo is a serious decision and there are many things to consider before deciding to get one. For everyone's convenience, I've listed the most important aspects of tattooing below. It is important to read the entire FAQ. I didn't write all of this because I was bored. This is free information for all of you who are curious about tattooing. (If you aren't, then why are you here?) Please take the time to read it all before you ask any questions.

For convenience, before you begin reading the FAQ, please take the time to check out these definitions. It will make my job a lot easier if we both speak the tattoo language. And, as an added bonus, you'll look really smart when you get your tattoo!

• Autoclave - An autoclave is a sterilizer like the ones used in hospitals. Autoclaves use steam and pressure to sterilize.
• Flash - Flash is the term used for the pre-designed tattoos that you see in the walls or in the racks at tattoo shops.
• Green Soap - Green soap is a surgical soap that is sprayed on the tattoo to keep it clean while the artist is working.
• Ink Caps - Ink caps are the tiny cups that hold the tattoo ink.
• Ink Cap Rings - Ink cap rings are a palette that holds the individual ink caps.
• Needles & Bars - Tattoo needles are grouped in various ways and soldered onto a bar with a loop on it. The bar slides through the tube and the loop attaches directly to the tattoo gun.
• Stencils - Stencils are outlines of the tattoo, usually created on a thermafax machine. Stencils are transferred to the skin with deoderant.
• Tattoo Gun - This is the machine used to tattoo.
• Tubes - Tubes are the cylindrical attachment to the tattoo gun. This the portion of the machine that is the tattoo artist holds like a pencil. Most tubes (unless they are plastic disposable tubes) are re-used, but they must be autoclave sterilized between use.

Sterility is the most important factor in choosing a tattoo shop/artist. Think about it...this is your body and your health. It would be a shame to contract Hepatitis B from a tattoo needle when it was entirely preventable.

The first way to check if the a tattoo shop is sterile is by examining their health department inspection sheet. Leave the shop immediately if they didn't score an "A" on their inspection! They should score at least 95%.

One very simple, but often neglected way to determine if a shop is sterile is to check the bathroom. To be quite honest, it might sound harsh, but the bathroom should be spotless. It should look like a hospital bathroom.

Ask to see the sterilization room. A clean shop should be willing to give you a tour. The sterilization room should be clean and uncluttered. There should not be any food products in this area.

Make sure the tattoo artists are licensed to tattoo. Tattoo licenses are issued by the health department and certain requirements must be met before one is issued. Generally, to get a license, the artist must be vaccinated for Hepatitis B, and be certified in CPR. I'm sure the requirements vary by location. Call your health department and ask what the requirements are in your city.

The following is an example of the step-by-step procedure the artist should follow right before you get your tattoo. You should watch the artist do each of these things:

• Clean the tattoo room or area with bleach solution.
• Wash their hands and arms (up to the elbows) with soap and hot water.
• Put on gloves.
• Set up the tattoo station with necessary supplies.
• Shave you and apply stencil with deoderant.
• Show you the unopened packages of sterilized needles and tubes.
• Assemble the tattoo gun.

A Few Notes
Some shops have begun using disposable tubes made of plastic. This is certainly fine, but it is perfectly acceptable to use the metal tubes as long as they are autoclave sterilized. Check the package on your tubes and needles to make sure the indicators have changed color.

Some shops re-use the bars that the needles are soldered onto. They remove the dirty needles and solder new needles onto the used bars. This has actually been the common practice in tattoo shops for decades. Recently, some shops have begun disposing of the bars as well as the needles. I find this preferable, as it gives further evidence that the needles are not being re-used.

Choosing a design for a tattoo is important. Remember, you will likely be living with this tattoo for the rest of your life. It's better to pick a design you really love than to have it covered up with another tattoo later or removed with a laser. I strongly recommend custom work, but flash tattoos are fine too as long as you are certain you've picked a design that you won't learn to despise.

Custom Tattoos
Pro's
Custom tattoos are unique designs. You won't have to worry about who else is walking around with your tattoo. Tattoo artists generally prefer doing custom designs and you will be more likely to receive undivided attention and genuine interest from the artist.
Con's
Custom designed tattoos may cost more, especially if you are having it designed by a tattoo artist. Frankly, it just takes more of the artist's time and time is money in this business. Speaking of time, you may have to wait a few days or so before you can get your tattoo because the artist will need to work on your design and schedule a good time for both of you to come in. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but many people want instant gratification and that is just not as easy to come by with custom work. Not all designs can be converted to tattoos. I know that seems unfair. Some designs will have to be enlarged to allow for the detail. Some designs can't be done because they would have to be enlarged to a point where they won't fit anywhere on your body. If you already have a custom idea, keep in mind that the artist may have to make some alterations for it to be tattooable.

Flash Tattoos
Pro's
Flash tattoos can usually be done right away (unless the shop is just swamped!) This seems to be important to a lot of customers. Generally flash tattoos will look good because the designs are "tried and true." There are certainly some exceptions, but not many considering that they have been created with tattooing in mind. The artists have probably done the flash tattoos numerous times so you can consider them as having practice with that tattoo.
Con's
Flash tattoos can be kind of boring. It isn't very exciting to show someone your tattoo and find out that they have the same one. Also, if you are looking to get some Japanese kanji, be warned that the flash kanji may be inaccurate. You don't want to get a tattoo that's supposed to say "couragous" and actually says "dipshit."

So, where should you put that tattoo? That depends a lot on personal style, pain tolerance, and to some degree, gender. The only places I do not recommend getting a tattoo are your head, neck, face, hands, and feet. Head, neck, and face tattoo can look really awesome! You just need to be certain you will be able to get a job in your chosen profession. Most people discriminate against us tattooed folk, so you wouldn't be able to get a "normal" job with head, neck, and face tattoos. Hands and feet do not tattoo well. They are impossible to keep clean during the healing process and general use of your hands can make a tattoo fade really bad. Hand tattoos are also extraordinarily hard to hide, thus bringing us back to the social outcast aspect of tattoos.

Placement For Pain Tolerance
Least Painful
Arms, shoulder blades, hips, side of calves
Most Painful
Chest, stomach, lower back, inside of arms.

Placement isn't just about where you put the tattoo...it's also about making sure it is straight and flattering to the body. The artist should let you look at the stencil in a mirror before you get the tattoo. Tattoos should accentuate the natural shape of the body. Make sure it won't look awkward.

Take your time and look for the right artist. You're not going to die if you don't get your tattoo tomorrow. When searching for the right tattoo artist, you must look at their portfolios. You can learn a lot about someone by looking at what they produce. Some artists are better with greyshade work and others are fantastic with color. Some artists are very good with fine detail and others are better with the bold new school look. Find an artist that is good at what you want. Also, by examining the portfolios you can generally tell how long someone has been tattooing and what types of work they enjoy.

It's also important to find an artist with a positive attitude and a genuine interest in what you want. You can usually get the feel for this by asking lots of pointed questions. Does the artist mind that you question their sterility? Do they get irritated when you give input on what colors you want used?

The most common tattoo question! Everyone wants to know how much it will hurt. Well, there is no real way to give a definite answer to this question. There are many factors involved. No two people perceive pain the same way. Some of the comparisons I've heard include bee stings, cat scratches, and surgical scalpels. Personally, I don't think tattoos feel as bad as bee stings. One thing is certain, you will feel the tattoo. I'm not going to say it's comfortable, but it isn't generally unbearable either.

One good way to test your pain tolerance is to ask the artist to do a "dry-line." A dry-line is when a tattoo artist runs the needle in your skin without any ink in it. This way, you can get an idea if you can handle it or if you need to respectfully chicken out without being stuck with ink you don't want. The artist will probably charge you for the cost of the needles because they can't be reused. Feel free to ask about this when you're shopping around for the right artist.

How much should a tattoo cost? That depends on the shop, the size of the design, and the style of the design. You can pretty much expect to pay more than $50 and less than $1000. I know that doesn't help much, but allow me to explain how tattoos are priced and why they are priced that way. Tattoos are priced on how long it will take for the artist to complete it. Tattoo artists are paid on commission (usually 50%) for their work. They do not get paid a wage or a salary. Tattoo artists are only making money if they are producing work. That makes their time very valuable to them. Tattoo artists also have to pay out of pocket for all their supplies.

Prices will also depend on who the artist is. Getting Tom Renshaw to tattoo a portrait is going to cost a lot more than getting someone local and relatively unknown to do the work. Well-known artists have earned the right to ask for more money.

Tips
If you are satisfied with the work your tattoo artist did, you should tip them. You tip your waitress and your hairstylist, so tip your tattoo artist, too. This is a fantastic way to build a little relationship with your artist. They will remember you and look forward to working with you again.

Assume you have taken account for everything else in this FAQ. You have chosen a design, a shop, an artist, and you have an appointment for next week. There are a few things you need to think about before you get this done.

First, you must not get sunburned. If the skin is peeling or is about to peel when you get the tattoo, the ink won't stick...not to mention it will hurt like hell. You can go ahead and plan on not getting any sun for awhile.

Do not drink alcoholic beverages the day of the tattoo or the night before. Alcohol thins the blood. The thinner your blood is, the less likely the ink will stay put. The same goes for aspirin, which also thins the blood.

Eat a good meal before getting inked. You could get dizzy if you don't and besides, who wants to sit there hungry for the next couple of hours?

Don't forget to bring your ID. A good tattoo shop will not do any work on you without making a xerox copy of your Driver's License or State ID card.

Every shop has their own care instructions. You should get a copy of these instructions before you get the tattoo (usually when you sign the release form.) Make sure you understand them and can follow them before you get the ink. I recommend you follow the instructions given by your artist, but there are a couple of easy rules that you should keep in mind no matter where you get your tattoo:

• Do not expose your fresh tattoo to the sun. This will cause your skin to peel too soon and your tattoo will be faded. It also hurts a lot. Even after you peel, you should use sunscreen for a few weeks.
• Do not soak in water (including bathing and swimming.) Soaking in water will cause the skin to seep out more ink and you will have a faded and inconsistent tattoo.
• Do not wear tight or restrictive clothes while the tattoo is healing. This will rub the skin and cause it to peel too soon.
• Keep the tattoo moist for the first few days. Do not let it dry and crack...this causes scabbing. Use the ointments and lotions recommended by your artist.