In today's economy it's normal to try to get the best deal possible to stretch our dollars. However with body art a bargain usually isn't a bargain. Getting a tattoo should be a rewarding experience not a horrifying one. In the Gettysburg area there is a plague of kitchen scratchers and tattooers who don't have the experience or training to properly tattoo. Buying a (tattoo kit) off eBay and butchering someone doesn't make you an artist. There is so much more to tattooing than just putting ink in someones skin. If these hacks don't care enough or aren't good enough to get the proper training under a qualified artist, how can they possibly care at all about their client? By price shopping the best case scenario is you end up with a second rate tattoo, worst case blood-borne diseases, such as HIV, hepatitis, staff and many others that could effect you for the rest of your life or even kill you. There are some easy steps to take to insure that you get a great work of art.
1. Look at your artist portfolio of previous work and ask to see pictures of healed work.
2. Is the shop clean and professional?
3. Ask them about their sterilization methods.
4. Ask to see an updated blood-borne pathogens certification.
5. Ask them to see an up to date spore test for there autoclave (sterilizer).
There are other things to consider but this will get you started. Always remember that your tattoo is permanent, its not a pair of shoes you'll throw away in 6 months, so instead of shopping for price shop for a talented artist who respects his/her industry, their work and most importantly you the client.
