What are the Important Tips to Keep in Mind While Choosing a Tattoo Shop

A tattoo is permanent unless you want to go for painful laser tattoo removal. Which is why we advise you to be careful. The process of finding the best tattoo shops in Miami may not be easy.

Here are some important tips to keep in mind while choosing a tattoo shop:

Do your research

First, ask people you trust. Where did they go? Which tattoo artist did they see? What tattoo did they get? The last question is particularly important.

Knowing what you want is important when picking out a tattoo shop. Walking into a random tattoo shop and pointing to something on a board usually works when you already have a bunch of tattoos and can risk one going bad. Instead, think real hard about what tattoo you will get.

The best tattoo shops in Miami may proclaim they can do any tattoo but tattoo artists usually specialize in one or two styles. So, if you want a Japanese dragon, what is the point of going to a tattoo shop that specializes in hyperrealism? Be sure to choose a tattoo shop that is experienced in Japanese dragon tattoos or your tattoo may end up looking like a lizard.

You can also conduct a google search about local tattoo shops. You can easily look at these shops up on Yelp or social media to see what people have to say about them. This is especially helpful if you are looking to get a tattoo done while on vacation.

Give importance to cleanliness

You should visit the tattoo shop in person before your actual appointment. Pictures don’t reveal everything. You don’t want to be tricked by a studio or expose yourself to unhealthy conditions. Visiting a tattoo shop is the only way to find out if the place is clean and safe.

When you visit the tattoo shop, look around. Do the floors look clean? Do you see professional tattoo beds and chairs? Do you see clean basins and organized equipment? Make sure the tattoo shop you are considering follows hygiene. Single-use and sealed needles should be used. Check if the tattoo artist covers everything with tissue paper. Only disposable latex and nitrile gloves should be used. There should be good quality antiseptic and soap.

Getting a tattoo done is an invasive procedure and so cleanliness should be a top priority.

Ask about the tattooing process

Don’t hesitate to ask about the tattooing process. The best tattoo artists undergo training to ensure that they are meeting sanitary and legal standards. The tattoo artist must wash his or her hands before the tattoo process starts. The staff at the tattoo shop should wipe and sterilize counters and furniture.

The tattoo artist must bag the machine and cover the clip cord. Wearing gloves is mandatory but the tattoo artist must be prepared to remove and replace those gloves if he or she touches anything other than the equipment. Also, lubricant or ointment must be used throughout the tattooing process.

Preventing a blood-borne infection is a top concern when getting a tattoo. Needles and ink trays should be opened with you watching. These items should be safely disposed of after use. The tattoo shop should have an autoclave machine. An autoclave machine is used to sterilize equipment by maintaining a temperature of 246 degrees for half an hour. The tattoo shop should also have the most recent result of the spore test performed on the autoclave to check if the autoclave is working properly. The spore test should be done every two months.

Trust your instinct

If for any reason you feel uncomfortable, seek another tattoo shop. Unfriendly staff or insincere attitude are indications that the place is not for you.

Also, the staff and the tattoo artists should not be intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.

Another thing to consider is the price of a tattoo. Tattoos are expensive but if they are well done, you may feel that they are worth it. Generally, the more competent and well known a tattoo shop is, the more expensive their tattoos would be.

Is there anything more that you want to know about the best tattoo shops in Miami? Please feel free to leave your comments below.