Well, I guess I am not the only one to be thinking about this. A recent poll showed that with 15 percent of the baby boomer generation having a tattoo as well as six percent of those over 66, we can safely say that the somewhat creepy thought of old skin and tattoos may just be here to stay.

The interesting thing about this poll is that the baby boomer generation (48-66) is still going into that parlor to get a new tattoo. What I have been hearing around the web is that by and large when they do go in for some new tattoo designs the boomers are opting for smaller tattoos in discreet locations.

That may be wise, since those big tattoos across the chest are going to be pretty ugly when the time comes to deal with neck crepe and flabby under arms. Don’t laugh chickie (I heard that!) it comes to all of us, except for those who decide to invest in plastic surgery instead of a house. But even then, you can’t be doing any nip and tuck where you have a tattoo.

So if you are heading into that studio for your next tattoo, you might want to give some thought to just what kind of tattoo that will be in 20 or 30 years. Sure, we have laser for taking ones off, but if you get some big gorgeous tattoo spread across your shoulders today, how much time and money do you think it will take to get that sucker removed when you are 70? Can your social security check cover it? Because I am pretty sure MediCare doesn’t!

If your heart gets broken, well time can mend that one. But a botched first tattoo follows you around for the rest of your life – haunting you. Of course, the obvious decision to avoid this situation is that you have to do some preliminary work. So take some time to find out more about the tattoo studio you have chosen for your first tattoo.

Health Considerations

Is the shop clean, do they tattoo artists look clean and neat? You need to remember that this place will be sticking needles into your body, you want to look at the autoclave and be sure they know the current spore count. Don’t mess around with this, it is important! Watch them do a tattoo, observe several times and different times of day how they proceed with each client. Inks should be poured into separate cups and unused portions thrown out after.

Needles should be shown before being used, and if not sterilized in the autoclave, then disposed of properly. Many tattoo parlors are moving to disposable needles, and some are also moving into the Neuma machines which are completely autoclave, making the whole thing cleanable.

Artistic Considerations

While you are in the shop watching how they interact with their clients, check out their portfolio of designs. Do you see plenty of designs you love? If everything you see looks either not well drawn or not the style of art you want, don’t use the place for your tattoo. But if you do see art you love, find out which artist at the shop (if there are more than one) did the ones you love. Don’t be surprised that they are all done by one guy. Talk to the artist about what you want to do. Attitude will also tell you if you want this place to be “the first one”. If the artist acts like you aren’t worth talking to or you are a bother, then walk away. You want to put your skin in the hands of someone you feel a connection to, and trust. Nothing less will do.

Above all, avoid getting a tattoo in someone’s home but don’t always go by price either. Just because it is some fancy place doesn’t mean they can give you what you want. By the same token, the cheapest place might be cutting the wrong kind of corners. So pick your studio out carefully.

Our bodies are made up of nerve endings, and so one of the reasons that some places are more uncomfortable than others is because we have more nerve endings there. Another reason that we have certain body parts that are more painful for getting a tattoo is because the skin is so close to the bone. When you get a tattoo in a place like this, the vibration of the tattoo gun against the bone can be really painful. So let’s take a look at the top ten places you may want to really think about whether you want a tattoo on that body part or not. Because if you do – man it is gonna hurt!

Tattoos Close to the Bone

Ankle Tattoos – These can really hurt for actually two reasons. One is that there are plenty of bones pretty close to the surface, so that ink gun on bone problem will come up here. The other problem is that this is a hard place to find a smooth even surface so the shape of the area may make for some harder to reach, and therefore possibly painful, tattooing.

Hip Tattoos – You don’t see a lot of these, but those hip bones are pretty close to the surface so a tattoo here can be pretty painful. Sometimes it pays to move a hip tattoo a little over to an area that has more cushion!

Lower Back Tattoos – Yes, these are really popular right now but that doesn’t mean they don’t hurt! If you can keep it floating just above the tail bone, it won’t be quite as bad. Still, a tramp stamp on the lower back can look pretty cool with a summer crop top, so it isn’t surprising that plenty of women love ‘em!

Rib Cage Tattoos – These are the ones that can really hurt because the ribs are right there and they are pretty delicate compared to a hip or ankle bone. Care should be taken with any tattoo that is on the rib cage and be prepared to endure more pain than usual. Of course, if you have plenty of padding in this area, it may not be a problem!

Tattoos That Hit a Nerve

Back of the Neck Tattoos- Maybe gangs get tattoos here to show how tough they are! This is an area that has tons of nerve endings to protect our necks from damage where the spine enters the skull. Not much you can do to cut down on the pain, so make sure you really want it there!

Wrist Tattoos– Yes it looks pretty to have a little butterfly here but the skin is very delicate and sensitive here. Heck that is the reason a kiss here can give a shiver of pleasure, it is supposed to be sensitive! But it also means that getting a tattoo here is gonna hurt!

Foot and Toe Tattoos- You would think that the foot would be one tough place when it comes to pain, but there are lots of very tiny bones in a foot or a toe, so more bones to be near the surface and lots of nerve endings to protect them from damage. So if you really want that tattoo on your foot or toe, be prepared!

Face Tattoos- There is a good reason many place won’t tattoo on your face – it really hurts! It also is so up front that you have to want this more than most tattoos. But the face is made up of a network of really fine nerves and there is really nowhere on the face a tattoo won’t hurt far more than on an arm or leg.

Neck Tattoos- This is more about the side of the neck, but anywhere on the neck is not only painful but can be dangerous. This is because there are some very important main arteries and veins here, and they are close to the surface on the neck. So a tattoo gun could accidentally go somewhere that is very dangerous for you. Make sure your tattoo artist has done this area before if you are getting a neck tattoo.

As you can see, all of these tattoos are areas that people do get tattooed but it can be really painful. I am not saying don’t do it – just be aware of what you are walking into here. But there are some really great tattoos that have been done in all these areas, so for many it is just a case of “No Pain – No Gain”!

In fact, you might want to be sure to not end up with a tattoo from some friend of yours who maybe doodles all the time and “always wanted to do a tattoo!”.

So if you are smart enough to go looking for a good tattoo artist for your tattoo, here are a few pointers to help you find one that will give you a tattoo you will happily show off for many years to come.

Take Your Time

It is important to take as much time as you need to find just the right person. We all get excited about getting a tattoo once we make the decision, but relax, think a while about what you want and where you want it done. Talk to your friends who have tattoos about their decisions. Check out lots of tattoo sites to see what others have done. Once it is done, it is there for a long long time. So be the smart one who thinks about this and doesn’t just go out and do it because you want one now.

Check Out Lots of Studios

Chances are, unless you live out in the country, you have several tattoo parlors to choose from in the town or city where you live. Go to them, talk to people there, look at their samples books. Maybe hang out a bit and see what the clientele is like. Are these your kind of people? Different parlors or studios have different kinds of clients and this will reflect in the tattoos that they are best at doing. Make sure the vibe is the right one for you.

The Work is the All

Don’t hesitate to check out not only the sample books on any place you are considering, but hang out and see them in action. Does the work that you see them do live up to what is in the sample book? It is pretty obvious when the art isn’t up to par, and not everyone can be a rock star in the tattoo world. But you should be able to see if they can deliver the goods. And don’t hesitate to walk, no matter how much you like the place, if they can’t give you a piece of art on your bode that you will love for a long time.

Trust Your Friends

Chances are if you are considering getting a tattoo, your friends have one or two of them already. Face it, most of us hang with people who think like us. So talk to them about their choices, their regrets and what they think is important. If they have an awesome tattoo, who did they get it from? Everyone loves to share expertise, and your friends would love to drag you to their favorite tattoo studio and introduce you to the awesome dude or chick that did their favorite tattoo.

So take your time, talk to friends and check out the scene thoroughly as you make this decision. The tat is going to hang with you for some time, so make sure it isn’t one you are going to be needing to find a way to disguise in a few years – make it one you are going to show off proudly for years to come!

1. Ask to see their autoclave and be sure you get a good look to see that the sterilization certificate is up to date. Note: An autoclave is really just a big pressure cooker that makes sure that everything is sterile. It is a good idea to see it up close and personal to see for yourself that it is clean and well kept. If they act like it is too much work to show it to you, don’t go to that shop.
2. Watch one of the tattoo artists at work – is he wearing gloves? Note: Artists need to wear gloves anytime they are dealing with tattooing because of the possibility of infection. Even though this is more to protect the artist than you, it shows responsibility and you want that in someone sticking a needle in you!
3. Does the artist have a training certificate? – This one should be obvious, you want someone who knows what they are doing!
4. Has everyone who tattoos been vaccinated for hepatitis? – This may be a low in your state or may not be, but you should ask. The better tattoo parlors do this voluntarily and it is a sign that they are a place where you don’t have to worry about the spread of disease.
5. Autoclave Needles are removed in front of you – This is to be sure that they are actually using the sterile needles when they do your tattoo. You should tell them this when you first come in, and if they act affronted, don’t use that place.

Five Health Questions

The first five questions to ask of the 10 questions to ask a tattoo artist have to do with health and regulations. We all think of tattoo artists and tattoo parlors as pretty wild and free places, and while I think most of the artists who work in them are fairly non-conventional it is still a business. More importantly it is still a business that does things that involve needles and blood, so it is important to ask these questions to be sure that they practice giving tattoos in a way that is safe for their customers. So here are the first five questions out of the 10 questions to ask a tattoo artist that I would ask a tattoo artist or tattoo parlor owner about safety and health:

1. Ask to see their license and ask them for references, at least three.
2. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration have outlined Universal Precautions regarding the disposal of blood. You can follow this link to see them and ask if they follow them.
3. Do they use latex gloves, an autoclave for sterilizing the tattoo equipment, disinfectant on all surfaces and sterile disposable needles? These are vital.
4. Do the artists thoroughly wash their hands with antibacterial soap before and after each client? Watch before asking to see if they do.
5. If you are under 21 you will need to research the age of consent for your state and make sure the tattoo parlor knows the age, has papers that everyone signs and follows the age of consent laws for your state. This assures you they are careful about illegal tattoos.

Five Design and Art Questions

In every set of 10 questions to ask a tattoo artist are ones that have to do with the artist’s individual approach to the art of the tattoo. These answers will tell you if the tattoo artist you are considering does work that have the same aesthetic taste as you. This will be important in finding someone who can design a tattoo you can love.

1. How long has the parlor been in business and how long has the tattoo artist you are going to work with been doing tattoos?
2. Ask for the samples book to see work they have done before.
3. Does the shop have a specialty that they do? Some do and some do not, but it is always a good idea to ask. This can be an area of the body or type of design.
4. How much custom work do they do versus set designs (see the book for these)?
5. How are their prices set? Always make sure you clearly understand what they would charge for various tattoo designs and what that price is based on.

Now that you have your 10 questions to ask a tattoo artist, make sure you ask these to each of the tattoo parlors you are including in your quest for the perfect place to get your first tattoo. You will end up with a better tattoo that you truly love if you take the time to ask these 10 questions to ask a tattoo artist first and know just what you can expect.