You know what they say about getting a tattoo -- it's a huge commitment, it requires a lot of mental preparation and strength of will, etc etc. Yes, to all of that. You're basically altering the biggest organ you've got, so yes.
So apart from all the mental preparation that YOU have to do for yourself, one of the biggest things you have to work on is finding the right shop to get your ink. A quick checklist would look something like -- What are their sterilization procedures and equipment? Who are the artists in that shop? What is their reputation in the tattoo world? (Yes, that tells you a lot.) How much does a tattoo cost per inch? And so on.
When i was getting ready to get my second tattoo, I didn't automatically go to the one that made my first -- his schedule was always full. I wanted to go somewhere where the artist/s can take their time and really work on your design and make you feel at ease (because they are, too!). So i went through that checklist again, and decided on Republic Tattoo in San Juan. They were very easy to talk to from my first inquiry, had a good reputation, and were very helpful about translating my friend's design for me on to something that would work well as a tattoo. The inking went off without a hitch -- except for the small matter of me forgetting to NOT be hungry before the session and almost blacking out from combined hypoglycemia and pain, and they had to get me a can of soda to chug right away to bring my blood sugar levels back up (thanks for recognizing the signs, guys! Haha.). Everything was clean (they had ultrasonic cleaners, dry heat sterilizers, and autoclave machines!), the artist had a good, steady, light hand -- and banter! -- going.
All in all it was a great, memorable experience -- which is exactly what getting a tattoo should be, pain and blood and all.
PS. Not that it should matter more than safety and skill, but their artists are award-winning vets with their own specializations in style. Don't forget to ask them about it :) read more