Think before you ink — that’s the hard and fast rule when it comes to getting a tattoo. After all, tattoos are forever, so it’s essential to take certain factors into consideration before taking the plunge, most importantly, your choice of a tattoo artist.

See, you will be permanently marking yourself and entrusting a stranger to do the leg work for you, making choosing a tattoo artist perhaps the most important part of planning. Even if you already have a clear idea of what you want your tattoo to look like, it’s still vital that you carefully vet tattoo artists to get your desired outcome.

Tattooing is an art form, and tattoo artists have distinct styles. How one tattoo artist interprets a particular design might be drastically different for another. And so if you want your tattoo to end up something you’ll love for the rest of your life, you need to pick the tattoo artist that can best accommodate your style.

To help you with your decision, here are some tips you should keep in mind when hiring the best tattoo artist:

Know what you want.

Tattoos are permanent, so your decision need not be wishy-washy. Before starting the scouting process, you have to have a solid image of what you want so you can have it as a reference when you’re finally picking the parlor and the artists. This may seem like a no-brainer, but even those with multiple tattoos on their bodies still have a hard time figuring out what they want at times.

Remember that you have time.

There’s no point in rushing when picking a tattoo artist. Take the time to find one that you’re confident will create something that fits your personality. Do your due diligence and search for reviews, browse Instagram pages, or even go as far as checking out the parlor or studio yourself. If at all possible, you can chat with the artist themselves so you can discuss your ideas. That way, you’ll be able to gauge if they can create the style you want.

Figure out your budget.

Tattoos can burn a hole in your pocket, especially if they’re created by artists with years and years of experience under their belt. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find one that can accommodate the budget you had set. There are budding tattoo artists that can create the style you want, but then again, don’t be discouraged if your preferred artist is over your budget. That just means you have to save a little longer.

It’s okay to go out of your way.

While it’s always nice to support local tattoo artists, the tattooist of your dreams may not reside a few blocks away from you. They can be stationed in another city, another state, heck, even in another country. If you really want to have your dream piece marked on your body, you shouldn’t close your doors on traveling. There’s nothing wrong with hopping on a plane to pay a visit to the best tattoo artist.

Now what?

Following the tips outlined above can help you get the tattoo of your dreams. If you’re looking for the finest tattoo artists in Buffalo, NY, get in touch with us today! We’re happy to help.