Secrets of Top Tattoo Artists Revealed

At one period of time, tattoos were considered a mark of rebellion but currently have become more like a tradition. Today, about 30 percent of American adults have at least one tattoo, and among millennial the number jumps to almost 50 percent. So it’s a good time to be in the tattooing business. But no matter how up-close and personal you get with your tattoo artist, there’s still a lot about the job you probably don’t know. We talked to a few Top Tattoo Artists in Miami about the intricacies of inking.

Tattooing Is Really Hard To Break Into and Tattoo Apprentices Get Hazed

Today there are more than 15,000 tattoo parlors in the U.S., compared to roughly 500 professional tattoo artists operating in 1960. But while the industry is booming, it’s difficult to get your foot in the door. The first step is to get an apprenticeship under a reputable artist who will teach you all they know, but that can take years of persistence.

If you miraculously manage to land an apprenticeship, get ready to grovel. “Being an apprentice, the artists can make you do anything. For instance, an apprentice may get his navel pierced. Rituals like these are meant to test how far an apprentice is willing to go for the job. It’s tough but you’re going to find out if someone’s going to make it or not based on how much they want to sacrifice for this career. Do you love it or do you just want to be part of the show? You have to prove you are just the humble, humble student.

Tattoo Artists Practice on Themselves

It may be years before an artist-in-training gets to wield a tattoo gun. When they finally get their first shot at inking some real human skin, it’s often attached to their own body. Believe it or not the apprentices need to tattoo on his or her body first. Occasionally they’ll get to tattoo their close friends or even their teacher. If the Top Tattoo Artists in Miami are not brave enough to get it, how can they suggest other people do so? Other non-human practice materials include orange peel, faux skin, and pig ears.

A Good Tattoo Artist Will Say No and Make Mistakes All the Time

Whatever your age or employment status, there are some tattoos artists just won’t do, either because it’s not their specialty or they know it won’t look good or heal well. The professionals will be honest about this. Small, intricate designs might not age well, and finger tattoos won’t last. A good artist will warn you about these potential complications and maybe even refuse the work. Because so much of their business relies on referrals, their art is an advertisement, so it better be good. A good artist will tell you no because your money is not worth their name.

The Top Tattoo Artists in Miami knows know how to cover a tattoo so the customer never knows. “Every artist messes up; they just take the time to fix it thus adding a flourish here or there, a little bit more contrast.