Wanting a tattoo, few questions

so for quite some time ive been wanting a tattoo, just 1 thats maybe like 2-3 inches so it wont be too big. For my tattoo what im wanting to do is combine both of the hobbies that i love, horses because its been such a huge part of my life, so i think i decided a horse shoe, and for saltwater i want a sea horse, so i was thinking of maybe having the horse shoe surround the seahorse or something like that. I'm also wanting to get this for my 21st bday here in 3 months so i can have my parents pay for it so i wont have too Also this would be my first and last tattoo, i only want this one

so here's my questinos, how do you go about looking for a good tattoo place? i want to make sure its done by a good place. And when is a good time to start like scheduling an appointment like do you have to do it really far in advanced. lol i actually watch LA Ink lol and id love to get my tattoo done by them but i heard their crazy expensive.

its still early but i figured id start doing some research now thanks for the help

 

awsome ive been wanting one now toooo!!!

 

Cool idea. Just make sure you REALLY REALLY want it before you get it. Carry the drawing around with you for a while and look at it every now and then to make sure you don't get tired of it.

Good luck getting only one. I had said that to myself and now I sport a half sleeve. I would have gone full, but ink for me is something for myself only. Not for the whole world to see.

 

Just make real sure it's one that you want for the rest of your life. I'm not preaching, this is experience talking. In my 20's I spent around 2k having work done on my back, upper arms and legs. By age 37 I'd spent around 6k in insurance deductibles getting most of the work removed by laser. I'm stuck with everything from the knees down because it's all black tribal work. Unless I want them sanded off and then have scars lol.

 

+1 on the good luck only getting one! I said that when I first started and now have four. I would also suggest that you may want to get the tattoo larger, because when smaller tattoos age, the skin will become wrinkled and the ink will begin to run together, so the larger the tattoo, the less likely it will end up looking like a large black dot in about 20-30 years.

And when looking for a shop, go around to the local shops and look at their portfolios. Ask questions. Look around the shop to make sure things are clean and well taken care for. Read up on the internet about the shop and try to find some reviews. If you see someone with a style of tattoo that you like, ask them were they got it done. Just make sure you do your research, it's going to be on you forever.

 

haha ive been wanting one for like almost a year now and now that it's getting close to my bday i figured might as well start looking

that's where my problem comes in, i dont have anyone that would be able to do a drawing, nobody that i know is able to draw decent including myself

lol half a sleeve sounds like a lot, my sister's fiancee has them all over. oh and i think id be able to settle for just one i know some people can go crazy over tattoos

also what's a typicall price range for the size that i want

 

Most important question: What's your threshold for pain tolerance?

 

to find a good place, I think its best to ask people who have tats that you like where they go, that way you can see their work. As far as scheduling, I think they are all different. I got mine in Florida on vacation. I just asked some locals where to go. I went in and had my tat done in about 3 hours. told him what i wanted, he drew it up while I went to dinner, I came back and he started right away. As far as only 1, thats what I thought to, but I want another, they are addictive.

 

Any real tattoo artist will draw you something up. Most of them will offer a free consultation and sketch something there and then. Depending on the detail and coloring, you're looking at probably $100-$250. Rule of thumb with most of the artists is, don't ask how much it will be. They will let you know.

 

Back in the day lol alot of the artists just had good technique with skin work and used alot of flash. Those that real art skill and could draw would charge a good fee for design. But from everything I've read and watched there are ppl who are going to college for graphic art just to become tattooists so I'd think it'd be pretty easy to find one that would help you transfer the picture in your mind to one on paper.