I'm turning eighteen this Sunday, and was looking to get a tattoo.

I wanted to get a tattoo for my mom, who has always been here for me, no matter what.

I was bullied from Kindergarten until I moved to where I am now, and as a result I became highly suicidal.

My friends lied to me, ditched me, and no matter what, my mom stood next to me.

I got into a lot of trouble, lying to my family and stealing from them. I never did drugs, but looking back, lying and stealing from my family is a rotten thing for me to have done.

Now, I've matured past this, being a full-time college student and working part-time.

I'm not completely sure on what to get though, I'm looking to a star with the British flag inside of it, and maybe several stars around.

But my question is, how will I know if I'm dealing with a good tattoo artist?

If I had the money, I would fly down to Miami and get one of these guys to do it!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: x0crzydr3am3rz0x,

I'm assuming that you're going to just wander into shops you've never been in before and so on.

The first thing that should hit you when you walk in the door in the odor of green alcohol, disinfectant and that sort of stuff. The place should be neat, orderly and clean. The staff should be clean, well groomed and wearing clean clothes. The flash art on the walls and in the books should be orderly and easy to look through. When things are in order you can assume EVERYTHING is in order. Make sure you see an autoclave, make sure you see them open up new needles when setting up for you, make sure you see them filling your ink caps JUST FOR you and not using them from another job.

There's a lot of other litle things to look for but I'll sum it up by saying you should get the feeling, or close to, that you're in a dentist or doctor's office from the level of cleanliness.

If you go into a shop and the staff looks like something that cat dun did drug in, it smells like weed and the sh*itter overflowed, the flash is laying all over the place..it might look cool and reak "old school" but you should turn around and walk.

THE MOST INPORTANT part of getting a tattoo is cleanliness. You can get inked from gods gift to the industry..but if you get hep b...who cares.

All that'll get you in a place that won't kill you. Now..as for going for the artsy part of it..I'll leave that to one of the other frequent fliers.

Well, I've been researching some places, and I was hoping for a consultation.

I won't go to a place that won't listen to what I have in mind.

And thank you very much for your advice. I appreciate it.

But I forgot to explain my tattoo:

My mom is British--Yes, she has an accent that I only pick up when she's mad. But, everyone else can pick it out easily, although not completely accurate on her accent. (We had someone ask if she was Russian...)

That's why I want the flag, I'm very proud of my heritage.

A star--My mom and I both have a liking for stars. She also lives by the saying; "Reach for the stars".

But I also love butterflies...ahhh decisions.

Helllllllllp!

Do a mural.the back of a man with the British flag on his denim jacket,a windy dirt road and a butterfly passing by.some stars in the sky,Oe thing i know for sure is a large expensive tatoo is worth it,Many of us get 2 or 3 100 dollar pieces and end up having an artist tie it all together eventually,Glad you are doing well,but always remember we can change ourselves,and in doing that we cause the things around us to change,friends dont backstab, you may have confused friendship with an aquantance passing by,Goodluck

Ohhh I like your idea--Thank you

What a wonderful story. It takes quite a person to admit their mistakes yet alone take the action to change for the better. I have a 17 year old son and have always been a single mom. I hope my sone feels the same way about me as you do your mom.

I don't really know how to explain it--A lot of my friends have really cool parents--but dislike them.

I guess it depends on their surroundings, and what they've endured.

I've almost lost my mom several times, due to different cancers, and she was almost paralyzed.

Normally I would not reply to anyone's request about assistance for a tattoo design, I would recommend them to research and check out tattoo studios but in your case I will try to help as your story is one of overcoming the odds.

Am I right in assuming that you are of the female order? If so them how about basing your tattoo around an angel with her robes done as the union jack with the colours muted and stars and radiants surrounding her (representing your mom) and maybe a couple of small butterflies at her feet or one in her hands representing you? Wouldn't be an itsy bitsy tattoo if done to a reasonable scale.

If I am wrong on the gender detective work and you are of the opposite pole you could do th
e butterfly out with the union jack as wings and manly type stars surrounding it.

Just a couple of ideas but hope that you can find what you are looking for and enjoy it.

BTW - if a studio does not listen to your ideas about your tattoo design or come up with an interpretation sketch of what you want - go some place else that will listen to you because it is your tattoo and you have the right to get your idea made real.

Good luck.

Oh wow.

Thank you.

But yeah, I'm of the "female species" xD

Again, thank you.

Well one female to another---when I wanted to have a tattoo done to honor my grandfather--I did a research on my family background--ie-family crests, or family badges, you can look them up online, for the most part. By looking up you family last name, you can see the crest or badge, and take ideas from that and add some of your own, alot of family crests, and badges have a family motto-per say-cannot remember the exact word-----example---my family is from Scotland, Clan Gunn, Aut-Pax- Aut-Bellum (either peace - either war). We can handle which ever you want! hehe--
GOOD LUCK!! Let us know what you decided!

Bottom line ...make your artist draw and you don't accept it untill you are completely satisfied! My artist did 5 drawings of my back pc untill I said go! Remember you have to wear this forever! Think long and good luck!

you could have an angel with BUTTERFLY wings and have the wing design as the flag design or have her "wearing" the flag as her dress. then have her looking up at a star, which would represent you.

I'm sorry I haven't been back to update.

My mom is ill again, and between college classes and work things have been very stressful.

I'm still unsure what to get, although you guys really do have good ideas.

I turned 18 over a month ago, still tattooless but I'm content with that, and will be until I can decide on a design.

For now, I'm thinking about getting a cluster of stars on my shoulder and then taking it from there.

But I'll let you guys know.

Thanks, I really appreciate your suggestions. (:

I'm sorry to hear your mom is ill again. You have gotten several great ideas on the design of your tattoo.
I think the most important thing is that you are waiting until you have just the right idea in mind. It's great that you didn't run out, get something JUST because you turned 18, and then may regret it down the road. Good luck on designing the perfect representation of your mom.

Argh, repost. My last didn't work for some reason.

So I'm pretty sure about what I would like, I sorta took all your ideas and jumbled em together. Right now I'm pretty sure I'd like a butterfly with the Union Jack for wings, and stars surrounding it.

I was recommended to a place by a co-worker, but not before I made her show me her tattoo. Regardless, I made a last minute decision to check the place out five minutes before they closed. So as you can imagine, the guy came off pissy. But whateverrr.When I first walked in the doors, I took a deep breath checking for the "sterile" smell recommended to me by cannon1013. I looked around, and everything seemed nice and neat.

He took down notes on what I would like and briefly drew a sketch, a verryyy rough sketch. He told me he would have a better one for me tomorrow.

I'll try and upload the sketch for you guys because I probably won't get the tat done until I'm sure of the place. But if I do get it done, I'll definently upload the sketch and pictures of it.

LOOK AT PORTFOLIO'S!!!!!!! if you don't know what that is it's a book of a tattoo artists work. if they don't have one then i wouldn't go there. even if you don't know what your looking for here are some tips. do the lines look straight,if it's a color tattoo do the colors go together,are they blended nicely,look for gaps in between the color and the outline.follow stacysangel's advice. DON'T GET SOMETHING YOU ARE NOT 180% HAPPY WITH. i've seen people have something drawn up, i could tell they really didn't like it, but got it anyway because they didn't want to make the artist mad,or because they didn't know how to say no. and if the artist gets mad easily they don't need your business. do your research,this tattoo means alot to you, don't just settle. get the best you can...
sorry to hear about your mom. i hope things get better for you and her. good luck

Thanks. Wow, I didn't realize people could be so supportive of strangers.

I went in again today, got the sketch. It looks AMAZING. And the guy was a lot nicer too. I wanted my dad to come in and check the place out, but he couldn't because he needed to take care of my mom. (She got out of the hospital today :claps: ) I almost got it tonight, but decided against it because I want my dad to check the place out before I get it done.

Anyways, the guy was really great about it. I asked if I could just get the stars done and the butterfly later, but he advised against it.

Anyways, I would upload the sketch because he miracuously lent it to me, but said "Usually I wouldn't do this because people can take it to another artist and get it done. But in your case, I'll let it slide." And he smiled. So I'll respect him and not upload it.

I think I found my place and my artist! And I couldn't have done it without your advice, thank you so much. You'd be surprised at how much I appreciate it.