Sentences you should never be afraid to say to your tattooist

After last week’s “Things you should never be afraid to ask your tattooist,” there is still quite a lot of ground to cover. So as a continuation, here are some key sentences you should never be afraid to say out loud to your tattooist.

“I can’t find an exact picture of the design I want.”

Don’t worry about this! While it is always helpful for an artist to have lots of inspo pictures, sometimes a very general concept can also be fun for the artist because it allows them to be really creative and inventive.

“This is my budget.”

We understand that everyone’s situation is different and your artist will not be offended if you are honest and upfront about how much you can afford to spend on your tattoo. When your artist has a clear idea of your budget, they might be able to make adjustments to your design so that they can bring your ideas to life while still being respectful of your financial circumstances.

“I’m not sure about this part of the design/placement.”

This is all part of the collaborative process. Your artist will not be offended if there are modifications you would like made to the design, size, or placement. Being able to effectively communicate with and listen to clients is a skill tattooist are constantly looking to improve and quite often, our clients’ ideas give us inspiration for future designs!

“I have a certain skin condition.” Or “I have a pattern of healing from wounds this way.”

Please don’t be afraid to speak up about any characteristics, healing patterns, conditions, or recent injuries related to your skin, no matter how small. Things that are useful for us to know include any family history of keloid scars, recent sunburns, allergies to medical adhesives, any topical ointments you’re using on your skin, or if you tend to experience hyperpigmentation. Furthermore, during the summer it’s especially helpful for us to know if the area we are tattooing has recently healed from a sunburn. And finally…

“It hurts too much.”

Your wellbeing is a huge priority to us. And although certain tattoo placements might be a bit more sensitive than others, there are always things we can do to make you as comfortable as possible. If the pain is too much, please speak up so your artist can advocate for you.

We hope you find this helpful! Please get in touch anytime with any questions that you might have. We look forward to welcoming you to the shop soon :)