Nina RossielloFood, Booze, Body Art Editor & WriterFounding Member

Q&A on some of the most popular questions asked about tattoos

How did you know what you wanted to get?

Honestly, I didn’t know for most of my tattoos, and contrary to popular belief you don’t have to fully know what you want. It sounds crazy, but overthinking your choice can actually be a negative thing. Overthinking can cause you to stray from what you truly want to get. I always had ideas of what I wanted, but I personally think it’s important to give the tattoo artist the artistic freedom to make your ideas even better than you could have imagined. Of course this then stems into, “how do you know who to go to” and the simple answer there is research. We are so lucky that we live in a world where we have unlimited resources right in the palm of our hands at all times. Instagram is the best place to scope out some artists. It is a great way to see their work, their specialties, and reviews of their work directly in the comments. It is always a good idea to check out the tagged photos section to see what the clients have to say for themselves. There are truly so many talented artists in New York City to choose from.  Let’s say you don’t have a specific person in mind, then your question is simply “how do you know where you want to go?” This answer is a mix of the two previous questions; again research, research, research and/or sometimes you don’t know and just can randomly stumble into a spot. I’ve done both and have had luck every time. New York City is full of tattoo shops. There are so many exceptional artists scattered around, and it is a safe place to pick a random spot. New York is pretty strict when it comes to laws and practices regarding resident’s (and visitor’s) safety and tattoo safety practices are no different. The artists in New York know they cannot risk their licenses. This makes them want to practice safely and are extra clean. My artist, for example, cleans his equipment right in front of me before AND after he tattoos me. He’s always changing the wrapping around the gun and always disposes of the needles before I head out of the shop. Of course, it is important to be smart about it. Trust your gut. If you don’t get a good feeling when you walk in and talk to the artists, do not feel awkward about walking out. You have to trust the shop because it is your body and this is something permanent.  If you want a look of how many laws and safety procedures are in place around body art in New York, take a look at their website by clicking here! 

Isn’t that expensive?

Fun fact: New York is the third most expensive place in the world to get a tattoo. In. The. World.Tattoos can definitely be expensive anywhere you go, and it really depends on what you are getting. It is important to keep in mind that there is always a shop minimum on a tattoo regardless of how small you want it because at that point you’re really paying for the needle. The shop minimum can start anywhere between $80-$120.  Artists are using brand new needles for every single client (and if they’re don't, please report them!!!). These needles are pricey, so it an expense that partially gets passed to the client. If a tattoo is something you really want, you’ll budget for it appropriately, just like you would for those new sneakers or that new designer bag. It is also important to keep in mind most artists work on an hourly rate, which will be at least $150-$200/hour. Some shops do offer flat rates, and that all depends on size, color, and detail. It might not be a bad idea to get a few quotes or a consultation before committing to your body art. 

Won’t you regret that when you’re older?

No. …But seriously, regret probably isn’t the word I would use. I don’t know if there is a single word to use to describe the feeling of outgrowing a tattoo. If there was a word, it wouldn’t be regret. I will say, I have a tattoo or two that I probably wouldn’t get at this point in my life, but I never will regret having them. All of my tattoos symbolize something that was special to me at some point in my life, and it is important to never take away from your past self because it made you the person you are today. (Cheese ball alert!) Obviously, be mindful about your choices and don’t get something offensive and ridiculous that you will in fact regret :) 

Doesn’t it hurt?

This is easily the most common question I get asked when people see that I have tattoos. My initial reaction is always “of course it does”, but I never want to scare anyone off from getting one, so I always throw in “but the pain goes away the second the needle comes out!” which is true. It kind of feels like a little cat scratch. Hurts while it’s happening and has a sting once it’s over, but you’re not crying in pain. Completely manageable. Even though this is the most common question, it shouldn’t be the only thing on your mind before committing to any body art.  

So what else should you know/consider? 

- Aftercare of a tattoo is crucial. You MUST be committed to the healing process of the tattoo. This process usually takes 1-2 weeks of peeling like a snake shedding its skin. If you get lazy the entire thing can be ruined. The colors/shades will be faded and it just won’t look right. You don’t want something permanent on your body that doesn’t look right, do you?- The meaning of a tattoo should only be important to you and that is only if you want it to be. I have a mix of tattoos that have meaning and some that I just think look cool. Don’t get hung up on finding a meaning behind every single tattoo you want. When I was younger I asked a friend the meaning behind one of his tattoos, and he replied with “it’s fucking cool”. And you know what, he was right. As long as you love what you get, there is no need for some deep meaning to validate it. If you do have a deeper meaning behind one of your tattoos, don’t feel the need to share it with everyone either. If it’s personal, keep it personal and don’t be intimidated by the question.- I know I’ve said this a few times already, but it is permanent. Even with the option of laser tattoo removal, that never really fully removes it, so choose wisely, friends. - Lastly, I have to warn you, if you don’t have any tattoos yet, they are absolutely addicting. Once you get one, you’ll be itching to go get another. Anyone who has tattoos will tell you this. Your self-control tends to fly right out of the window. I got my first tattoo in December 2015. It’s October 2020 and now I have a full sleeve and 7 other ones all around my body. Hopefully this quick little Q&A guide can help you when you’re thinking of getting your next tattoo. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to reach out. We’ll make sure to address it so your mind is at ease about your tattoo/body art concerns!