Timbo’s Top-Ten: Keith Carroll’s tips for tattoo shop etiquette
Keith Carroll, tattoo artist of Laguna Tattoo, has been so gracious as to supply the Lariat with some things to think about before getting your first ink laid.
- Don’t go to the tattoo shop without an idea. Bring in photos, symbols and examples of what you’d like to get.
- Don’t cheap out. You get what you pay for, and you’re going to have the thing on your body for the rest of your life.
- Don’t just go to some schmuck. Research several artists. The Internet is your friend.
- Don’t go to a dirty shop. The cleanliness of a shop reflects its quality.
- Don’t tell your artists all about what you saw on LA Ink. It makes them mad.
- Don’t ignore the advice of your artist. He or she is a professional.
- Don’t select an artist that you can’t get along with. You’re going to be hanging out for a while.
- Don’t expect it not to hurt. If it really hurt that bad, however, people wouldn’t be coming back to get more tattoos.
- Don’t be shy about any allergies you may have. Some people can have gnarly reactions to certain inks.
- Don’t be obnoxious. Tattooing is not a gentle industry.