On average, how much does an original tattoo cost?

On average, how much does an original tattoo cost?

Your dignity and self respect. Also about 400 for something decent.

Nice, thanks, user. I didn't want to walk into this shop without at least a ballpark figure in mind.

I don't get it.

you are that superficial or are you just really scared of needles and suck at making jokes?

oooooh a tat fag hate thread!

an arm and a leg

My tattooist charges £70/hour. The minimum I've had for a piece is 2 hours.

Different tattooists have different rates. They have their own specialities, so for fucks sake DO YOUR RESEARCH. Don't just blindly go for the first one you're given - some of them will take advantage, and tell you the thing you have in mind will take longer than it actually would.

This comes with experience though, sadly. I got some shit tattoos from a couple of people before I found my current tattooist. I trust the guy and let him come up with the designs, but it's because I didn't research the other artists beforehand.

For shit like that? A few hundred. Kat Von D? Thousands

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Gotcha, thank you. I found an artist whose work I really like, and I have a vague idea of what I'd like. I just didn't want my first conversation with him to be me being a complete dumbass.

>I just didn't want my first conversation with him to be me being a complete dumbass.

If it's your first tattoo, don't worry. They're used to people asking them questions the first time round, so just ask them. No need to be embarrassed, as it's going to be something on your body for life - you've got to be 100% sure they're the right person to do it. So come at them with a design, and be aware they will make suggestions - every artist will have different suggestions, based on what they specialise in, i.e. watercolours, photo-realism etc. Remember that they do this shit for a living - they like discussing tattoo ideas, so they're not going to turn you away.

A good indicator of how good they are is looking at their portfolio online - what sort of social media presence to they have? Do they have FB, Instagram etc.? Look at their work - does it look good? Does it look like it's been photoshopped? What comments (if any) have people left them? These will give you a good idea of what sort of artist they're like - the more they engage with people on social media, the more likely they actually give a shit about it

Also, do they charge by the hour for like a consultation? Or is that by deposit? Or do some people do it for free?

nice drawing of your mom faggot.

It varies. If you book a conlsutation then they will likely charge you. Some artists don't mind chatting to people during an appointment - just bear in mind it is also up to their customer. They may request privacy, so if in doubt ask the receptionist - they will know whether you can have a quick chat with the artist or need to book.

Also they generally always book deposits, but again ask as it will vary. To give you a rough guide, my artist is £70/hour. The deposit is £25/hour.

You seem to know a lot about this. I want a small, solid black design on the side of my shoulder. Not a sleeve or anything, but like a fist-sized tattoo. Any idea on how much time/dosh something like that would take?

Like 70 bucks probably

I've had a few now.

>solid black

It honestly will vary from artist to artist. If it's JUST black - so no colour - that will slightly reduce the time as they won't need to spend time mixing the inks together to get different shades. However, it also depends on whether they will do it freehand or with a stencil - if freehand, they might draw a little on you for guidance, but if they use a stencil it can take some time. They have to print the stencil, then put it on you, then be 100% sure it's positioned right - if it is, great. If not, they have to wipe it off and do it again, and that can eat time. So it's really hard to say tbh. Have you got a picture of it as a reference? Might help give me an idea of the scale and style

Thanks so much for the info.

You would laugh if I gave you a picture

I literally couldn't give a shit. I don't care what people get tattooed on them - it's up to you, not me. I'm not here to judge

[spoiler]It's weeb-shit[/spoiler]

This. No one cares about your tattoos.

tattoos are retarded. if i want pain i'll just do some bdsm crap.

that size 400-500 if you want it right

lol spoken like a real chicken you are

[spoiler]I fucking love Gurren Lagann[/spoiler]

That wouldn't take too long to be honest. Maybe 2 hours, tops? They might need to use a stencil because it has straight lines - the stencil will make it a bit easier. I hope they'd use a stencil anyway, it'd be hard to do that freehand. But yeah, I wouldn't say more than 2 hours.

As for pain, I can't say if that'd hurt. Everyone is different. My friend says his inner arm hurt the most - that didn't hurt me one bit. My back did, but that was because I had lots of stretch marks/scars and they hurt like fucking FUCK. All I can say is this: you're being jabbed with a lot of needles (note that it isn't 1 needle, it's like a cluster of maybe 5-10 depending on the tattoo). It's going to hurt - expect it to, and it'll hurt less.

Also, before you go, eat a meal. I mean a big fucking meal, something big like a McDonalds or Burger King. It's easier to sit still when you're not hungry, and trust me - after the tattoo, you'll be fucking starving again. Also do NOT take ANY painkillers before or after, OR drink coffee/caffeine, as this thins your blood so it won't heal as well.

dubs do not lie .....

>I found an artist whose work I really like,
Then why not, you know, frame a picture of their work and hang it on your wall instead of getting it put on your body for the rest of your life? Seems like "I really like this song so I'm going to have it implanted in my head and listen to it 24/7 forever"

why not ?? My body is mine ...I can do what ever i want to do with it ...even kill a baby that is growing in it . if i want to have peace of art on my body why is that of your business at all ??? i do not ask you what you do with your body

That's not exactly what I meant. I really like the work they've done, but I don't want a duplicate. I want something different based on an idea I have and, given the work they've done, I think they'd do something cool with it.

I drink a lot of fucking coffee generally. I'm not sure how well I'd sit still without it. Should I just downsize that day/day after?

What should you do to care for your tattoo while it heals? I hear a lot of conflicting opinions on that, and I don't want to be the guy with the tattoo that was done well but looks like shit anyways.

Do your best to not have some before the tattoo. If the tattoo doesn't bleed afterwards then have all the coffee you want post-tattoo. Note that not all tattoos bleed - it depends on the location (to an extent) and MAINLY on the artist. Some artists are more gentle than others - that's not to say the gentler ones aren't doing it properly. I've only ever had 1 tattoo bleed, and it was from a guy who seemed like he was tyring to cut my fucking arm off. My regular artist - who has done the rest of mine since then - has never made me bleed once.

Honestly, the best advice I can give is 100% stick with what the artist tells you, simply because if it goes wrong you can blame them. If you stray from the products they recommend and it fucks it up they will simply say "You didn't follow my advice" and you'll be fucked. Different products work better on different skin/people, so there's no definitive answer. For me personally, I used to use Bepanthen as the first guy that tattooed me recommend it, and this completely fucked it up. It's just too thick, and it isn't designed for tattoos - it's nappy crash cream. I've found the product that's sold where I get mine done - called Tatoo Goo - works best, as it's explicitly for them and melts into your skin, so you don't have to rub it in much and risk pulling the skin off when it's peeling/healing (peelling off the skin 100% ruins it!).

So yeah, 100% go with what they tell you. If they suggest Bepanthen, they honestly get a second opinion just to be sure.

I have this tattoo, would you like to see it?

Yes.

going to take a couple minutes

Lucky post.

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Neat. That looks really good.

eh, the line work is alrite, I get blowout really easy and I am a bricklayer by trade so the sun has done a number on it.

You should get whatever tattoo you want though.
But I appreciate your compliment

Hmmm the straight lines/outline doesn't look THAT great. Did the artist use a stencil?

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they're straight, its the way my arm is twisted up for the picture that twist my skin.

Now as far as them being even and consistant thats another thing altogether haha.

I wasn't sharing the tattoo to show its a good tattoo, just that I've implemented the drill that will pierce the heavens onto my skin. I know it looks amateur

Fair enough. If I was to get any anime related tattoo, it'd definitely be that.

Its a good choice, kind of discreet not noticable, but a certain group will know it, aside from that people ask if its a
>biomechanical icecream cone
or some other silly idea they come up with.