A lot of people that are brand new to getting tattoos tend to think that it’s a good idea to bargain shop. They approach the whole process the same way they would a pair of jeans, a haircut, or even a new car. People that come into the situation with this mindset usually don’t realize how big the difference is between a botched tattoo, and a legit, world class piece of body art. In this industry, just like most others, you really do get what you pay for.
Tattooing isn’t just about having a steady hand and good eyesight. It’s a complex artform that utilizes all of the very same concepts that master fine artists have since the High Renaissance and beyond. To gain the amount of knowledge necessary to be capable of planning and executing a high-level tattoo takes an unbelievable amount of study and practice. Even doing a very simple tattoo that is made up only of lines and solid colors takes a good amount of technical ability and knowhow. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that all tattooers are more or less equal in skill level. If the artist you go to is the cheapest show in town, you’re probably going to end up with a wobbly or artistically inferior piece, even if the design is something an outsider would consider to be easy. There’s a reason the price is so low.
The best advice I can give you is to get the highest quality artwork you can possibly afford. How your tattoo looks can affect your self-image in a real way, so don’t make the mistake of putting a silly bumper sticker on the Bentley that is your body. You deserve to receive a piece of artwork that makes you proud of your purchase decision every single time you look in the mirror.
It’s true that a tattoo can be one of the highest-pressure purchase decisions you can possibly make. There are no take backs. There are no refunds. There are permanent consequences. Augmenting your physical appearance for the rest of your life is nothing to be taken lightly. Make sure you do your due diligence and research before pulling the trigger. Remember that covering up a bad tattoo that you got a bargain on can be much more expensive than just ponying up for the real thing in the first place. Trust me, I learned this the hard way.