5 step, experts and make a successful tattoo artist.

Those who want to learn how to tattoo the right way know that being a pro is about more than knowing the difference between a liner and a shader or how to mix your inks to get the perfect color.
After all, “pro” is short for “professional,” and there’s a lot that goes into being a true professional in the tattoo industry.
You may have decided you want to learn how to tattoo because you think the work looks interesting and because you like the atmosphere in the tattoo shop.  There is definitely a whole culture, or subculture, when it comes to tattooing.  Much of this comes from the fact that tattooing used to be considered very subversive.  Only the “bad boys” and “bad girls” got tattoos.  Getting inked was a sign of rebellion, of not conforming to society’s rules.
Many of the people who choose to learn how to tattoo feel like they fit in well within this culture.   To be sure, that culture has been changing over the last decade or two.  While many people are still not fans of tattoos, they have definitely become much more mainstream.  That said, a lot of tattoo artists are still throwbacks to this earlier ideal.  You will find that most of them have lots of tattoos themselves.  Many have piercings, and there is definitely a bit of a “tough guy” or “tough girl” image that these folks live up to.

There Are Different Kinds of “Professional”

When you think of the word “professional,” you probably don’t immediately picture the tattoo artist.  Instead, you may conjure images of Wall Street types in suits and ties or men and women in various uniforms.  Even among those jobs considered to be “professional,” you will find differences in expectations.  Nurses, for example, generally wear scrubs, while police officers wear the uniform of their department.
Oftentimes, the people who choose to learn how to tattoo as a profession are the very same people who would be least likely to wear a suit or be happy in the same uniform day after day.  That doesn’t mean, however, that they are not “professional.”
In order to learn how to tattoo like a professional, you need to consider both your tattooing skills and your appearance and demeanor.

Five Keys to Tattooing Success

1. Do the highest-quality work. Probably the most important factor that determines your success is your actual ability.  That’s not to say that it’s the only factor, but if you don’t learn how to tattoo well, then your chances of becoming a pro are slim to none. You need to know how your equipment works, as well as how to perform any number of specialized techniques.   To get the most out of your tattooing career, you have to really put yourself into it heart and soul.  Study, learn, practice, and work hard.
2. Protect your reputation. Of course, doing high-quality work is going to do a lot to bolster your reputation.  When your clients show off their art, you want their friends and families to say, “Wow!  I want that artist to do my next tattoo!”  In addition to being good at giving tattoos, you also need to make sure that you teach clients how to take care of their ink.  The better they care for their tattoos, the better those tattoos will look.
3. Conduct yourself professionally. Yes, tattoo artists are sometimes a little “rough” around the edges.  They may get away with using a bit of off-color language and engaging in some behaviors that we might not appreciate in our physician, for example.   Still, a tattoo professional needs to be just that…a professional.  This means you need to take care of your appearance, keep your workspace in order, and make clients feel secure and comfortable with you.
4. Follow all safety procedures. Really, this topic encompasses all the things we’ve already discussed.  By keeping your equipment clean and sanitary, you are safeguarding the quality of your work, protecting your reputation, and conducting yourself professionally.  Safety procedures go beyond using the autoclave to sterilize needles, and also include things like thoroughly washing, using gloves, and even wearing clean clothes to work every day.
5. Be a good business person. When someone learns how to tattoo, they usually do it because they love art, they love culture, and they  love working with other people.  They very rarely do it because they love all of the nitpicky details that come along with running a business.  Even if you work in someone else’s shop, there will be business angles to consider, from pricing and commissions to rent, etc.  Keeping up with bills, paperwork, certifications, and all of the other aspects of being in business can be difficult and time consuming, and it’s most definitely not the most enjoyable aspect of being a tattoo artist.  It is, however, extremely important if you want to be a successful professional.

Being a truly successful tattoo artist requires you to conduct yourself as a professional.
Being a professional in the tattoo world is a little different than it is in other fields, but there are still important guidelines and expectations.  If you do not go to the effort to learn and meet these expectations, then you’re just not going to fit in.  You will likely have a hard time finding other professionals who want to work with you, and even if you start your own shop, you will find that just because you learn how to tattoo doesn’t mean that you can attract and keep customers.

New tattoo artists must be the dominant issues!

s an aspiring tattoo artist, you are probably interested in the tattoo lessons that will help get you on your way to being a pro.
There are so many different aspects of tattooing that it’s hard to choose just a few to focus on.  After all, you need to know about the obvious things like inks and needles; but there are a lot of less obvious, but still important, tattoo lessons that need to be learned.
We’re going to take on some of the biggest tattoo lessons here, with the idea of moving step-by-step through the tattoo process, from preparing the client to applying the tattoo to follow-up care for proper healing.
If you take the time to master these five tattoo lessons, you will definitely know the basics required to start you on the path to the pros.

Tattoo Lesson One:  Preparations

The workspace, the artist, and the client all need to be properly prepared before you ever even pick up the tattoo machine.  Preparing in advance is one of the best time-saving tattoo lessons you can learn, and doing it properly helps make sure that everything that follows will go as smoothly as possible.
In order to protect yourself and the client, start by doing some basic housekeeping. Make sure that the work area is clean before the client even arrives.  All of your equipment should have been sterilized, and your tools should be laid out and ready to go.  A good idea to keep in mind is that fabrics and fibers provide places for bacteria to live and grow, so it’s best to avoid carpets and curtains in the tattooing area.  Also, make sure you clean and disinfect the floors, walls, and furniture on a regular basis.
To prepare yourself for the tattoo process, make sure your hair is pulled back, that your fingernails are clean, that you don’t have any loose clothing that might drag on the client’s skin, and that you’ve removed rings and other jewelry.  Sanitizing soap is the best way to clean your hands and arms, and you should use a brush to make sure you’re getting under your nails.   It’s a little like a doctor scrubbing in for surgery!  Follow this procedure by putting on a brand new pair of latex gloves.
Finally, you’ll want to prepare the client. Allow him or her to get into a comfortable position.  In many cases, the client will need to remain in the same position for a long time, so finding a comfortable one up front will be helpful.  Expose the area to be tattooed, and clean it thoroughly with sterilizing soap.  You will also want to remove hair from the area.  Always use a brand new disposable razor, and throw it away immediately after shaving the client.  Clean the area again with an alcohol solution, and follow this up with Betadine.  To keep the area clean, cover it with a sterile pad until you’re ready to get started.

Lesson Two:  Transferring the Stencil

Another of the most important tattoo lessons is the importance of proper stencil placement. Getting the image onto the client properly is the first real step in getting the tattoo from the planning stage to the permanent design stage.  The stencil itself is the basic outline of the design, and by transferring it from paper to the skin, you are giving yourself a pattern to follow with the tattoo needle.
The stencil itself will often be drawn in ink or graphite on tracing paper.  The image will be backwards on the page so that when it is pressed to the skin, the design will appear facing the right direction.  The actual transfer is accomplished by applying a light layer of a sticky substance to the skin and then laying the stencil on top of this spot.  Deodorant and green soap are two common substances to use.
Rub the back of the stencil thoroughly, and the image will be transferred off of the tracing paper and onto the skin.  You now have a clear image to follow when it comes time to do the lining.

Lesson Three:  Outlining the Design

The next of our tattoo lessons is where you actually start to ink the client. The outline provides both the foundation for the tattoo and some great contrast for the final product.  Using special lining needles, which are made up of sharps arranged in a round grouping, start by dipping your needle tip into the ink.  The rule of thumb is to start with the darkest colors first.  This can be easy with outlining, as it is often done all in black.

Do a nice small line at the beginning to make sure you’ve got a good feel for what you’re doing.  Each client’s skin will be a little different, so you’ll need to adjust for each person.  At this point, you will find the right depth, angle, and speed.  Begin at the bottom right and move toward the top left to keep from smearing or wiping away your stencil lines as you work.

Lesson Four:  Shading the Design

Shading a tattoo is what really helps to bring it to life, and mastering the various tattoo lessons regarding this subject can add all sorts of textures and effects to your work.  Shading can be done with either a special “shader,” or by using a liner in a circular motion.  Again, you want to start with the darkest colors first and move your way into the lighter ones.
Take your time to make sure that you’re getting good coverage and adjust the size of your circles if needed.  You don’t want to have to go over the same area more than once, as that can chew up the skin, cause excessive bleeding, and keep the ink from staying in the holes.  As you go along, wipe the tattooed area to remove any ink, blood, and sweat that might obscure your view of the work.

Lesson Five:  Aftercare

In order to ensure that your work heals properly, you need to teach a few tattoo lessons yourself. As a tattoo artist, it will be your job to make sure the client has the best possible outcome from the work you’ve done.  This means that you want him or her to take great care of the new tattoo, keeping it clean, dry, and out of sunlight.
In addition to going over aftercare instructions with the client, be sure to pass out a sheet with the most important information on it.  This should include advice on how to clean the area (and how often) and things to avoid, such as direct sunlight, swimming and baths, and picking at any scabs that develop.  While it is the client’s responsibility to take care of the new tattoo, the final outcome of the work is going to reflect upon you and your abilities.
Perhaps the most important of these tattoo lessons is that you are always going to be represented by the work you have out there, and the higher the quality, the more new clients and repeat customers you will attract.