Are you in the market for a new tattoo? If you are, you have probably done your fair share of research, but if not, it’s time to get started! After all, tattoos are permanent, so you should spend a fair amount of time deciding who will tattoo you. While laser tattoo removal is availa-ble, should you find yourself regretting your decision, it is expensive so you might as well get it right the first time! There are bad tattoos and good tattoos, and then there are amazing tat-toos. You just have to weed out the qualified from the unqualified. Most credible artists spend three to four years in an apprenticeship and tattoo out of a professional shop or studio. Tattoo rates are also dependent on the standards of the shop, the quality of their equipment, and the length of an apprenticeship. Don’t be swayed by a cheap price point - consider your next tattoo an investment. Here is a quick guide to help you find the best tattoo artist in Miami and avoid costly mistakes.
1. Ask Your Friends
The first step to finding the best tattoo artist in Miami is to ask around. Speak to your friends, family members, and colleagues who have tattoos and get reviews directly from them. While the main factor in determining whether or not an artist is right for you is their work, you should also consider the experiences of the people you are asking. Did they feel comfortable throughout their appointment? Did the artist listen to them or make changes without asking? If they had a good experience with a particular artist, then you have nothing to lose by contacting them for more information or simply following them on social media, which leads us to our next point.
2. Utilize Social Media
Instagram is a great tool for finding you the best tattoo artist. It is an online portfolio of their best work. We recommend looking through related hashtags like #miamiink and #miamitat-tooartist to get started. You can also make a public post asking for recommendations. Looking up, an artist online can give you great insights into the past experiences of clients. Follow artists you are interested in and read the comments they are tagged in and don’t be afraid to message people directly for their opinion. This can be more effective than blindly trusting anonymous reviews on Google.
3. Understand What to Look For
Now that you have started curating a potential list of tattoo artists, you can start to narrow them down based on the quality of their work. There are a few key things to look for when try-ing to find the best tattoo artists in Miami. For one, check for smooth and solid lines that are one single stroke. If you are interested in color, make sure the artist demonstrates proper color gradients, and stays within the line. The same can be said if you prefer shading or script. If pos-sible, try to find healed images of an artist’s work to get a feel for how the work looks after a few weeks. We also recommend finding images of the shop they tattoo out of as hygiene is an extremely important consideration. Never, ever compromise on hygiene as it can result in in-fections, blood poisoning, and Hepatitis A.