Many people make the mistake of rushing into getting a tattoo before they have fully researched what getting a tattoo means. Like most of life’s important decisions, getting a tattoo should not be done on a whim, as it will certainly have lasting effects. The last thing you want is to dislike your tattoo, or get a poorly done tattoo because you didn’t spend the time checking into the tattoo parlour and the artist who is inking you.

Here are some questions that you should ask before you commit to a tattoo:

-Years in business: you want to find a parlour that has been in business for a while, and you definitely want to check them out through the Better Business Bureau to see if they have had any complaints.

-Qualifications: certainly you wouldn’t put your body in the hands of someone who is not qualified or experienced, yet many people do this with disastrous results.

-Guarantees: what happens if you are not impressed with the tattoo, will they fix it at no charge, or offer a refund?

-Samples / References: of course the tattoo artist could very well tell you that they are fantastic and have all happy customers, but the proof is in the pudding. Check out pictures of their work, and ask if they have a few references they can provide.

-Infection: any decent tattoo artist should be able to tell you about the risk of infection and how you can prevent it, as well as what you should do if you think that your tattoo is infected.

-Placement: the tattoo artist should be able to help you decide where the best placement is for your tattoo.

-Whether a tattoo is right for you: there are certain medical conditions that should preclude a person from getting a tattoo, such as blood disorders or infectious diseases. A good tattoo artist should know whether you are a candidate for a tattoo.

-Needle fear: there are many people who have a fear of needles, and if this is you then you will need an extra-experienced tattoo artist who can help you through the process.

-Length: you will want to make sure that you have enough time to get your tattoo completed, or if it is a large tattoo perhaps break up your tattoo session into a few components.

Hopefully with a thorough investigation of your tattoo artist you will be more comfortable going into get your tattoo, or you will head yourself off from going to a tattoo parlour with a less than stellar reputation.