How should I tell if the tattoo shop and artist is good enough?

Ask their customers, say to people in your town with ink; "Nice ink or nice tattoo where did you get it, (if local) were you happy with their work or do you know a inker who does good work... Also you can female inkers who do work on other females if you have a spot you don't want a male to be inking...

Hi check out these sites www.prettyininktattoo.com kathyprettyininktattoo myspace pretty in ink tattoo you tube look for a claen studio and artists look at the work thay have done on other people (pics)

.Don't just go by their book of works, it could be someone else work. Talk with people who have been there. See if you can sit in and watch. Investigate. Make sure you feel comfortable there. Again investigate thoroughly. Be safe it's your body!

Find an artist who's work you like and who you can talk to or get along with. I'm about 2/3'ds through a japanese sleeve on my right arm that is covering some badly done tat's I got many years ago. My artist is a great artist, he was excited about doing it and it's one of his specialties. So, don't go to a guy who loves tribal for a portrait, don't go to a portrait guru for japanese and don't go to the traditional japanese expert for your tribal. Make sense? For your first tat, get it somewhere you can hide without too much trouble.

i want to apologize in advance because my answer is long, however, you are going to be investing your time and your money into something permanent you need to do some serious research. talk to the artist themselves, ask them questions, if they seem like they are not interested in answering your questions, then find someone else. ask for photos of prior jobs, look to see if the area is clean or messy, don't just rely on word of mouth from friends or co-workers, try to get to know the artist. the longer they are in business the better they get, however sometimes that is not the case.

Well I'm not a tattoo specialist, but i can give a few ideas for places. A very popular place on the lower back, favored by many females including many of friends. Top of your foot? Hip? I have a small tattoo on my left lower stomach, it hardly hurt, while apparently it does quite on the lower back. Back of neck? One of your shoulder blades? Between your shoulder blades? Hope i contributed well x)

Look at his work. or ask for a book of work. A good sign also, even if you pay your money first when you get there.... a decent shop will open all their utinsils infront of you. They should be using fresh new needles and things of that matter. If they do it before you go back there, then don't do it. I did that once and caught mononucleosis. So anyway, I'm female, I have 16 tatoos. Most on the back of my shoulder. There are a couple on my lower back and one on each ankle. Good Luck.

Yeah there are websites that list certified and SAFE & CLEAN tattoo shops. You should ask the artist to see some of his or her pictures from other cliental.

if you know of alot of people who speak very highly about it