Ink Expressions: Into the Tatts Scene

Hoping for ink? This adventure is more than just picking a picture off a wall while wandering through the choice labyrinth, with needle in hand.

Begin with the smell of ink, the hum of needles. Your senses are alive as they prepare for the lifelong art that will decorate your skin. Imagine it.

First, choose a place where creativity runs high and wild. The vibe of a shop is like picking your dance partner–you want a little rhythm, some matching gases, but no stepping on toes! Ever try putting on someone else’s shoes to dance? That’s what a bad central block barbers vibe feels like. Even the walls have tales to tell of past adventures in skin. Remember cousin Danny’s bunny tattoo of regret? Don’t be Danny.

Artists are the heart and soul of any inking shop. They’re the maestros of their craft, spinning art out of thin air and needlepoint. Talk to them as if you were at a family dinner–minus any awkward questions about your love life. Discuss designs, colors and the story you want your tattoo to tell. They will offer their expertise, occasionally adding it with a bit of their own personal flourish and Voila! You are well on your way to Greatpiece Ville. Think of them as creative sherpas, You’ll be guided up your own (and slightly painful) mountain.

Been up against someone and they struck you businesslike, much?’ The tattoo shop crowd is often more easygoing. We’re talking past boardroom comportment for genuine interaction here. Slight laugh over there, joke back. Maybe suddenly you’ll find yourself telling a story of bad decisions or else taking a heated stance on whether pineapple belongs on pizza while waiting for that color to set. The tattooing experience is all ink, not a little bit of trash talk or two, and some humanity passed around.

Finally, trust is the adhesive which keeps the whole thing together. I mean a genuine, superhero-like bond between you and the artist. They’re holding a needle which is about to make lifelong acquaintances with your most tender morsels. It is clear in such scenes that trust functions as currency. No one ever died from paying a few calls on an artist before having work done; before dropping anchor, why put your foot in? No one likes a premature iceberg collision.

It’s not just the design that counts in inking. It’s your journey to get it as well–a bit of bravery mixed with a dash of humor for good measure. So, if you fancy a stroll in the newly discovered tattoo shop sea armed with these tips, let’s dive right in!