How To Find The Best Tattoo Artist And Get Your Dream Tattoo? Let’s

So, are you searching the internet, asking around, looking for the best tattoo artist for your new tattoo? Well, you must have come across these guidelines that just say “hey, go check out their Instagram account and you’re done”. Well, things are not that simple. What you see tattoo artists on Instagram doesn’t mean you’ll have a good experience with them, or even that they live in the same neighborhood as you.

To find a great tattoo artist that will meet your needs, preferences, price range, and more, you need to do more than just visit their Instagram and social media accounts. Because people are usually misled, we decided to create a comprehensive guide to finding a good tattoo artist, no matter where you are. So, without further ado, let’s get started!

How to find the only tattoo artist?

Determine what you want to get tattooed

The best way to find the perfect tattoo artist is to know what you actually want to get tattooed. Not all tattoo artists specialize in all tattoo designs. Some tattoo artists excel at specific designs, which makes them super qualified for your tattoo (if that’s what you want, of course).

Now, if you don’t know what you want to get tattooed, it’s time to search for the perfect design. Looking for inspiration is key, but most importantly, you can’t steal other people’s tattoos. Copyright is important in any form of artistic expression, so get inspired, but you have to add your own specific touch or you’ll be stealing someone else’s work, which isn’t cool.

So where do you find inspiration for your new tattoo? We usually recommend searching Instagram hashtags for a quick result, but if you want you can always check out platforms like Pinterest, Tumblr, Reddit and even Quora and Google Images. We invite you to research the tattoo images you find online. look for source links, which will often take you to the actual creator of the designs.

Also, always check if some designs contain specific cultural symbols or if they belong to a certain culture/tradition/people. You should not only respect copyright but also beware of cultural appropriation. Being educated and informed is key in your search for the perfect tattoo design inspiration.

We have to mention that, in case you have trouble finding a design for a tattoo, you can always ask your tattoo artist to draw a concept. You can both work on a design together, but you will at least need to know what type/style of tattoo you are going to choose. This will make it easier to find the perfect tattoo artist later.

Also Read: Tattooing and Cultural Appropriation: Why Your Tattoo Could Be Problematic

Limit your search to your location (or the location where you want to get tattooed)

So obviously to get tattooed by someone you have to be there with them in their tattoo studio. Now, logically, you should search for tattoo artists in your immediate area or expand your search to places you are willing to visit to get a tattoo. You don’t really settle for the local tattoo artist, the one next door if you don’t want to.

Now, how can you even find the right tattoo artist by location? Here are some tips and tricks to use to make your hunt easier and faster;

• Search the Internet by hashtag – for example, if you are browsing Instagram, looking for tattoo artists, you might want to adjust your hashtag search using, for example, #tattoo + location/country/city. Just like you search for #rosetattoos, you also search for #tattoocalifornia or #tattoogermany… you get the gist.
• Search for tattoo parlors on Google maps – it’s very easy ; just open your local or desired location map on Google maps. Then type in the search bar something like ‘tattoo parlor’, ‘tattoo studio’, ‘tattoo artist’, etc.

Then, as you get the results, you can search for the top rated tattoo studios/parlors, or you can review each search result to see which studio or artist best suits your needs or is the most close to you. These search results can often lead you to the studio or artist’s website, social media, or Instagram accounts.

• Visit the TattooWizard website – by visiting TattoosWizard.com, you will have an overview of the best tattoo parlors and tattoo artists in the location you desire. We must point out that some countries do not provide information for the TattoosWizard website.

You will need to check them individually for each of these countries. For example, if you are looking to get a tattoo in Germany, you will need to visit Ink4you.de. But, chances are you will find all the information about TattoosWizard. However, keep in mind that the website requires you to log in to be able to search through the available information.

• Check if tattoo artists are on tour in your country/state/city – this is one of the best tricks you can use to get a tattoo from a good tattoo artist without having to go to their country/tattoo studio. Just check if the artist is touring in your country; usually, when tattoo artists are on tour or are invited to tattoo conventions, they offer tattoo services, which means you can get a tattoo on the spot, without breaking the bank or spending extra money for travel.

Determine your tattoo budget

Let’s be honest; tattoos are quite expensive. So, you can expect the cost of your tattoo to increase as a tattoo artist becomes popular or in demand. So, determine your general tattoo budget and limit your search to the established price range. We never recommend that you settle for a tattoo artist just to save money. Rather than getting a mediocre or even bad tattoo for less money, make sure you save up and get your tattoo done by a real professional. After all, the tattoo will stay on your body all your life.

The average rate that tattoo artists charge for an hour of their service is $80 to $100. Some tattoo artists even charge up to $150 to $200. This rate is, of course, for the United States region. In Europe, you can expect to pay between €50 and €280, more or less.

Of course, these rates are pure guesses based on customer experience and what they have shared with the public. To know the real and exact prices, you will have to contact the tattoo artist and explain your wishes for the tattoo and the design of the tattoo if he has to create it from scratch. Only then will you know the exact cost of your tattoo.

Of course, you can’t really expect to negotiate the cost; tattoos are expensive and tattoo artists take some responsibility every time they pick up a tattoo gun; from the provision of a sterile environment and sterile equipment to the perfect execution of their work.

If you want to save money, we recommend looking for tattoo parlors that have tattoo apprentices working as tattoo artists. This means they will likely charge you less for the hourly rate. Also consider getting your tattoo in an easy place; a tattoo on the forearm might be less complicated to do, indicating that it might be more affordable. Also, if you’re going for a visible tattoo, you might want to invest in it because everyone will see it, not just you.

Also Read: Ultimate Tattoo Price Chart Guide: How Much Do Tattoos Cost?

Contact the tattoo artist

So, you have understood that one or a few tattoo artists meet the needs and requirements of your new tattoo. Good! Now you need to contact them and see if they are available for a consultation and the actual tattoo session.

Now, what is the best way to contact a tattoo artist?

Believe it or not, it’s not really the most professional thing in the world to contact a tattoo artist via DM on Instagram or other social networks. Email is still the best way to contact someone professionally, especially if you’re looking for their services. So what exactly should you write in the email? Let’s see;

• Introduce yourself; this one is obvious, but sometimes people tend to miss the obvious stuff. Provide a brief introduction, maybe mention where you live, your age, and similar things.
• Explain what type of tattoo you want to do; talk about the style of the tattoo, is it a tattoo that requires a custom design or do you have a design in mind, is it a cover up tattoo, where can the tattoo be placed etc .
• Also be sure to mention if you are going for a black and gray or colored tattoo; discuss the color palette.
• Also be sure to mention the size of the tattoo and where it will be on your body.
• Discuss a potential consultation date; let the tattoo artist respond with a date when they are free and available for tattooing,
• Do NOT just ask about the cost of the tattoo; Sure, that’s the part you’ll probably be most interested in, but that’s not professional. After providing all the information, be sure to ask for something in the form of; Could you give me a quote please? Otherwise, the tattoo artist will not respond.

Final Thoughts

And that would be it. Hopefully our guide will help you find the best tattoo artist to give you your dream tattoo. Don’t expect to find the perfect tattoo artist right away; you may need to dig deep if you have specific needs and requirements, or a specific budget. But, don’t lose hope; there is a tattoo artist for everyone. Keep looking!

Also Read: What Tattoo Artists Hate: 13 Things Clients Do That All Tattoo Artists Hate

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