It's actually not just like you see on TV.
With the mainstream exposure of tattooing, everyone thinks they're an expert in the field. Television shows like LA Ink and Ink Master have soccer moms and grandmas swearing that they know at least as much about tattooing as their local artists.
Unfortunately, much like most other TV shows, the tattooing programs don't give a very realistic representation of the art form or industry at all. In reality, Kat Von D can't knock out a sleeve in a half-hour and most tattooers don't live like rock stars. Here are 5 of the most common misconceptions people have about tattoos.
Huge Tattoos Are Done in One Day
It seems as though any tattooer worth their weight in salt has this experience with a newcomer at least once or twice. A customer (sometimes with a small tattoo or two) comes in and wants a full sleeve/back piece, and they leave disappointed after being told that it'll take several sessions and thousands of dollars over the course of many months (or years). On shows like Tattoo Nightmares, customers walk in with an idea and leave with a complete back piece. What they don’t tell you is that there was a ton of preparation beforehand and much of the work was likely done in at least a few different sessions. Even the most efficient tattooers need to take their time on detailed portions of tattoos, so unless you plan on sitting for three straight days (which will hurt way worse the second and third days, but more on that later), you ought to schedule that Japanese sleeve you’ve been wanting for at least a few sessions over the next handful of months.
Super Visible Tattoos Won't Change Your Life
It may seem like a good idea to immediately get your hands or neck tattooed once you turn 18, but you should probably wait until you get the rest of your body covered. Even in 2016, there are plenty of people who still look at and treat heavily tattooed individuals differently than others, so maybe stay off the head, face, neck, and hands until you’re comfortable with your full sleeves. Odds are, anything you want done on a spot you can’t hide can be just as easily done somewhere coverable with normal clothing. And for those who want their hands or face tattooed before anything else just to look cooler in their Instagram photos, remember that when getting stopped and questioned by immigration when entering a foreign country (yes, that really happens).
Bargain Shopping and Haggling is the Way To Go
“How much does your guy charge?” is perhaps the worst question to be asked about your preferred tattoo artist(s). Tattoos can be expensive, but they’re also permanent. If you’re not willing to shell out a bit extra for something that will reside on your body for the rest of your life (unless you get expensive laser removal, which defeats the purpose of a cheap tattoo), what are you willing to spend it on? Although a higher rate doesn’t necessarily mean better artwork, going with the cheaper option should never be the deciding factor. Portfolio (or Instagram) shop rather than price shopping, and just save up for the right artist if you have to. It’s better to wait an extra year to get the tattoo you want rather than spending your savings on something you’ll hate. As Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins said, “Good work ain’t cheap, cheap work ain’t good.”
Tattooing is a Fun, Easy, and Lucrative Career
Just because you see someone on TV doesn’t mean they’re rich and famous. Outside of celebrities who establish themselves in other businesses (Kat Von D), most tattoo artists spend most of their lives working long hours just to pay the bills. Like many other art forms, tattooing doesn’t come easily to many people, and tattooing well doesn’t come easily to anyone. The hours of hard work (both in and out of the shop, considering all of the time spent planning and drawing) and years of learning without bringing in much of a living creates many more “starving artist” types than it does “rock stars” as so many people tend to believe. Plus, tattooing can be a backbreaking career (quite literally), as many tattooers deal with spinal issues after years of hunching over their clients and contorting themselves into uncomfortable positions.
All Tattoos Feel the Same
So you got one tattoo and you’re feeling pretty confident in yourself? Well, just because you could handle the outside of your arm or a thin line next to your shoulder blade doesn’t mean you should jump into tattooing the top (or worse yet, bottom) of your feet. Every tattoo hurts, but there are very different levels of pain. Having an old-schooler lay into your shin with a heavy hand can send jolts of pain all the way up to your teeth, while a more modern artistic-type might use a rotary machine that you barely feel. You don’t need to know all the details of why some tattoos will hurt more than others, but just keep in mind that if your friend says their ink didn’t hurt much, it won’t necessarily be true for you. If your friend says their ink didn’t hurt at all, they’re probably just a liar and trying to seem tough (or they got some henna done at the Renaissance Fair).
