Getting the Best Custom Tattoo Possible (pt 2)

(If you missed Part 1 of this article, it is helpful to read it first, as these are the latter steps.)

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Part 2: Trust the Process and Take the Journey

Once you decide to move forward with a tattoo, trust your artist, and the process. This is the part where things can unravel for a lot of folks. All artists work differently and have a certain way their pieces come together. You may not understand that method, but if all the work you see them do is great, trust that they will hit a home run for you.

Don’t expect a lot of back and forth, some artists may not even be able to touch your project til the week of (or morning of), and won’t be sending you fully rendered mock ups weeks in advance. That is not realistic for most people in the trade. 

If you are working on large scale or complex pieces, your artist may well get back and forth with you or want you to stop in during various phases of the project to reach certain checkpoints, but during this phase of the tattoo process it is important to trust your artist and their creative process and try your best not to micromanage the project. 

Countless commissioned projects in many artistic media get micromanaged right into oblivion because the client can’t refrain from trying to control or manipulate the outcome. This is why picking someone you trust is a paramount first step in all this. Don’t micromanage yourself right out of a good tattoo!

Definitely avoid trying to radically alter your tattoo concept at this stage. If you have further input right after your consultation, definitely submit your feedback, but once the design phase has begun, trying to change your agreed upon direction is not going to get you on your artist's favorite client list, and may delay your project or even incur an additional fee to redesign.

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So, now it's come to this.... all you can do is wait. And wait. And master the art of patience while you jones for your new skin candy, until that glorious tattoo day finally arrives!

What to do when the day finally arrives--

Be early for your appointment, fed and well rested, and ready for a journey. There are always formalities to take care of before you actually sit down to begin tattooing, like paperwork and setting up for the tattoo, going over artwork and making final decisions, etc., so it's always best to get to your appointment a little early if possible, 15-30 minutes should suffice. If you are going to be late, please call as soon as possible to let someone know. 

Always make sure to get a good nights rest beforehand and eat well an hour or so before your appointment. If it's a long session, bring some snacks, you will most likely get hungry. Many studios provide snacks, drinks, or candy, but don’t count on it. Bring things you like so you can stay fed and hydrated. Comfort is key. Bring along a pillow, clean blanket, or favorite book or podcast for those long sittings.

Some folks get really hot, some really cold. Sometimes you have to be rather unclothed, so if you are modest, make sure the studio you choose has sufficient privacy so that you feel comfortable and at ease. 

Most studios will let you bring a guest along for your comfort or to keep you company during the experience, but it’s best to only bring one person and not a whole crew. Many studios and health departments don’t allow this anyway, and it often tends to be disruptive or distracting, especially in smaller studios. 

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Embrace the journey. The process of getting a tattoo can be a somewhat painful endeavor, usually without any sort of anesthetic, so be prepared. Some artists and studios may use forms of topical numbing agents, but they only go so far. There is usually some discomfort involved.

People's pain tolerances vary, but getting a tattoo can send your body into a mild state of shock for a prolonged period of time, which might cause light-headedness, chills, and sometimes in rare cases, fainting. Before you run for the hills, keep in mind that is quite rare, but you do need to know that the possibility exists.

Being both physically and mentally prepared goes a long way in helping deal with the discomfort caused by tattooing. Be well fed. Be mentally prepared. People get tattooed all the time. It’s uncomfortable, but you can handle it. Try and relax into the sensation instead of fighting against it or you are bound to struggle. Some spots are worse than others. If the potential pain is a big factor for you, make sure to choose an area that’s a little easier. 

Undoubtedly, there will be a day when anesthetic tattooing is the norm, but it’s a trade that hangs tight to its primitive roots at times, when the undertaking was seen more as a rite of passage than fashion statement or self expression. There is room for all of those worlds. But just be prepared for the experience to be a journey than pushes you to your edges at points, and other times isn’t bad, or can even feel pleasant or interesting. 

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You earned it, so take good care of it. There is a lot of expense involved in getting tattooed. Getting a good tattoo, regardless of the size, can get expensive. The larger the piece, the more of an investment. A tattoo has to be earned. It's not always easy. So, please, take care of it. The healing phase is especially important, but the weeks, months, and years later, are also just as important. 

Follow your artist's aftercare instructions. They have most often been tattooed many, many times and tried any number of aftercare regiments to see what works well, as well as seen hundreds of healed client tattoos.

Everybody's experience during the healing process can be different, but listen to your artist. If you have tried things that worked or didn’t yourself, share that with your artist so they can make other recommendations. In the months and years later, continue to value your tattoo and how it ages.

All tattoos will fade and deteriorate over time, that’s just a part of it. It will fade on its own, but will do so exponentially faster the more sun exposure you get. Getting enough sunlight is also important for your body, so there is a delicate balance there. Some people recommend limiting sun exposure on tattooed areas, while some people people just accept that they will fade. But you have spent hard earned money on it, and endured the pain, so take care of it so that it will remain as beautiful as the aging process will allow. 

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Show It Off With Pride. You earned that puppy. You bought the ticket and took the ride. You about passed out and threw up a couple of times. But you made it. Now go out into the world and show it off. You have entered a subculture of people who value self expression and know what the journey is about. Nothing feels quite like a tattoo, it’s a pretty unique undertaking. 

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Making sure to find the right artist, doing your homework up front, and being thoroughly prepared will assure you the greatest chances of having a fantastic tattoo experience. 

If your artist did great, throw them a good tip, most of them work on commission and have pretty high overhead. Undoubtedly, you will have people ask about your tattoo because it looks so good, and hopefully you’ll send some folks your artist’s way.

Many clients and collectors have long relationships with the same artist, and others are collectors who like to get work from many people, but regardless of how you approach it, do it with intention and purpose and you’ll be sure to have the best experience possible.

Happy collecting, you bunch of weirdos.

lin