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Skin is in! More than a third of people aged 18 - 25 have at least one tattoo in the United States today. Although tattooing has been referred to as a fashion trend, this style is permanent, so you'll want to take much more time to decide on your tattoo than it takes you to purchase those new Nikes. Here are some tips for getting you through your first tattoo.

Preparing for the perfect tattoo & finding a shop

If you're interested in getting a tattoo you've probably already spent hours on Google images browsing artwork and tattoo photographs. If you're an artist, you have it easy; all you have to do is draw out your own design. For the rest of us, concerns about originality and professional looking artwork will force us to find an artist to work with.

This may surprise you but there are a lot of tattoo artists out there who aren't really artists at all, but tracers. Beware of tattoo shops that fill their walls with pre-made art. On the other hand, all tattoo shops should have a few binders of photographs that serve as a portfolio for the shop or a specific artist.

Go to a few local tattoo parlors and browse their portfolios. This will also give you a chance to check out the shop's sterilization procedures and the general cleanliness of the place. Don't be afraid to ask questions; your health could be at risk. Ask your tattooed friends if they can suggest a good artist or shop. Even if you see a tattoo that you like on a random person, don't be afraid to ask where the work was done.

For some people, those who want something simple like a symbol or text, any tattoo shop will be able to accommodate. Most of us have a clear vision of what we'd like to have tattooed, but with no means to create it. A great tattoo shop will be able to create a custom tattoo to meet your needs. Perhaps you want a portrait of a family member; supply a photograph and have your tattoo artist draw it, maybe you want a combination of two pieces of art; bring various artwork and the artist should be able to combine them into an original piece. It's always best to provide your tattoo artist with examples of what you like as opposed to just telling them.

Sometimes, though, it's better to get the artwork completed before you go to get tattooed. If you're really hard to please, find an artist, outside of the tattoo shop, to design something for you. Tattoo artists will only draw up so many versions before they kick you out of the shop; their main concern is to put the artwork on you, not

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