Think Before You Ink

You ink tats have never been less taboo—nearly half of millennials have at least one. If you’re thinking of going under the needle, consult this pre-parlour guide.

- Kate Foster

DO YOUR RESEARCH

FOR A DESIGN YOU’LL LOVE FOREVER...

- Scroll Instagram for inspo (two of our favorites: @Tattoos_Of_Instagram and @TattooInkspiration). Ditto Tattoodo.com, a media hub that could be Pinterest’s rebellious cousin.

- Make it meaningful. “The more purpose a tattoo has, the less likely you’ll be to regret it,” says tattoo artist Keith “Bang Bang” McCurdy (Rihanna and Cara Delevingne are among his clients).

- Test-drive a tat with the help of a temp tattoo. There are various kits available online that offer a plant-based ink that stains the epidermis (real tats go deeper, to the dermis) for 12 to 15 days.

- Find your spirit artist: most publish their portfolios online, but McCurdy suggests doing a drive-by. “Ask to see their unfiltered, healed work— ideally in person, not in a picture.”

IT’S GO TIME!

DOS AND DON’TS

DO wear loose, dark clothes for easy access...and to avoid stains.