Your Guide for Choosing the Perfect Tattoo Design

Do you fancy yourself a 9 to 5 rebel with a hidden inked secret? A punk? A devoted parent in body and mind? A person with strong spiritual beliefs that you wish to proudly display? Your body is a canvas - your canvas to alter as you wish. You want to make a good decision. A design that you will proudly display (or keep as a wonderfully intimate secret) for years to come! Our special guide helps you choose a design that will rock your world, now and in the future. Let's find your tattoo design! Where Should I Get My Design?The place you decide to tattoo yourself has a big impact! You need to consider whether your choice of design/spot will help or hinder your cause. If you work in a nursery, a topless woman on your forearm may get you fired. Unfortunately, some employers are still bothered by visible tattoos on their staff, especially in conservative industries. Have a good think about your work prospects and whether you'll be willing to cover this tattoo, especially in summer to remain employed. Also consider whether you may miss out on certain employment opportunities because of your design. Gain with less PainHow painful you are willing for the inking process to be. Fatty areas on your body will be the least painful while areas that are boney will hurt the most. The most painful areas are the abdomen, spine and chest for men and the ankle, spine and ribcage for women. Women will find a tattoo on their abdomen, buttocks, thigh and shoulder less painful whilst men will find a tattoo on their buttocks, arm or back less painful.

For tattoo novices, especially tattoo virgins, keeping this in mind may make the process easier for you! What Design Should I Get?Okay, I know you probably have some idea what you want. But how much do you want it? Tattoos are a long-term commitment, a forever commitment! Classic vs. TrendyTattoos are a fashion statement but shouldn't be trendy. They should be more classic designer than high street. Your favourite band today may make you cringe 10 years from now. Think back. If a similar themed design 10 years ago would make you regret having it now, don't get it. The Name of The GameGetting the name of your lover may seem like a passionate way to proclaim forever but just look at Angelina Jolie. Her love for Billy Bob didn't last and she forked out for tattoo removal. Removal and alteration of tattoos is expensive and TIME CONSUMING, with a capital T. Helpful HennaYou may wish to get a temporary or henna tattoo of your design first to get a feel for the tattooed you! In addition to getting a sense of what it will look like once you take the plunge, you'll be able to get a sense of how the artist works and the way they will interpret your design. What a Character!A word of caution involving those omnipresent oriental characters... Make sure you have verified the meaning of the character outside of the tattoo parlour! Many characters have double meanings or are wrongly represented. You do not want to find out in your Gap Year break to Hong Kong that you actually have the word for sewage on your arm! Colour My WorldIn choosing a colour, realise that black tattoos will fade less and brighter colours will fade more but will be more bold and striking. Using bright white is never a good idea and should be avoided. Once you have gotten your tattoo, using a good SPF will protect your tattoo from fading in the sun. Most tattoos will eventually need to be touched up but taking steps to prevent this will help your tattoo remain bright. How Can I Get The Best Design?Your tattoo can be everything you'd hoped it would be. By doing your research, you can secure the best design possible, with the best person at the best price. Look AroundA general rule of thumb is to look around at different designs. The designs your tattoo parlour has on file are the tip of the iceberg. There a loads of designs available online and in tattoo magazines. There are television programmes that focus on tattooing as well, notably Miami and London Ink. Customise itAdditionally, you can find an illustration from a non tattoo-centric publication as well and have a custom image drawn for you. The limit is only in your mind. Copying someone else's design is impersonal and also not good for tattoo etiquette. It is one thing to see the tattoo in your tattoo parlour's book of designs (those designs are intended to be replicated) but to take the exact image from the web or a magazine is stealing and terribly uncreative. Make some changes to the design and call it your own! Your Tattooist Inks The DealThe right tattooist to do the job is someone who sees your vision and has a portfolio that demonstrates ability in that style. Ask a prospective tattooist to draw a design for you based on your preferences and hold it against your skin or ask for the henna option I mentioned earlier to see if the tattoo is right for you before agreeing to have the work done. References from friends are always helpful, as is doing your homework to find out what is a competitive price. The artist's patience and manner is very important. Trust your instincts. Choosing a tattoo design is a journey not to be taken lightly. However, with a little bit of planning, you'll be happily inked for years to come! Have fun!