How to choose a tattoo artist
05.09.2026
What should you really look for in a tattoo artist? From artistic style and originality to hygiene and communication — here’s what matters before you book.
I always say that being a tattoo artist means wearing three hats: an artist, a healthcare professional, and a psychologist.
In my opinion, a great tattoo artist should have a distinctive artistic style and a strong understanding of visual design. At the same time, they must follow strict hygiene protocols and ensure your complete safety throughout the session. After all, we are working with your skin, and no amount of Instagram popularity or high prices can override the basic principles of cross-contamination prevention. And finally, there’s the human side of the profession: the ability to communicate, listen, and genuinely empathize with your client.
Let’s break these three roles down and talk about each of them in more detail.
(I have a feeling this is going to be a long article, so make yourself a cup of tea and get comfortable.)
In my opinion, a great tattoo artist should have a distinctive artistic style and a strong understanding of visual design. At the same time, they must follow strict hygiene protocols and ensure your complete safety throughout the session. After all, we are working with your skin, and no amount of Instagram popularity or high prices can override the basic principles of cross-contamination prevention. And finally, there’s the human side of the profession: the ability to communicate, listen, and genuinely empathize with your client.
Let’s break these three roles down and talk about each of them in more detail.
(I have a feeling this is going to be a long article, so make yourself a cup of tea and get comfortable.)
The Artist: style, originality and portfolio
For this section, I’ll only be talking about blackwork, otherwise I’d end up writing an entire book.
A truly great blackwork tattoo artist is defined by their own artistic voice.
We create our own designs, and every project is custom-made for a single client and tattooed only once. Original designs aren’t just a matter of honesty—they’re also a matter of quality. When an artist copies someone else’s tattoo, they almost never take your individual anatomy into account.
Fortunately, this is usually quite easy to recognize. For artists who genuinely draw their own work, designing tattoos is a huge part of everyday life, so you’ll usually see sketches, concepts, and the creative process shared on their profile.
A truly great blackwork tattoo artist is defined by their own artistic voice.
We create our own designs, and every project is custom-made for a single client and tattooed only once. Original designs aren’t just a matter of honesty—they’re also a matter of quality. When an artist copies someone else’s tattoo, they almost never take your individual anatomy into account.
Fortunately, this is usually quite easy to recognize. For artists who genuinely draw their own work, designing tattoos is a huge part of everyday life, so you’ll usually see sketches, concepts, and the creative process shared on their profile.
One exception: there are incredible artists who work exclusively in freehand, meaning they draw the design directly onto your body with markers on the day of the appointment. In that case, originality is beyond question.
I also recommend paying attention to healed tattoos. Many artists keep healed results in their Instagram Highlights. Personally, I don’t have a dedicated Highlights section yet, but healed tattoos appear on my profile regularly. Also, if an artist specializes in large-scale projects—such as full sleeves—the finished photos usually include sections that have already healed.
One of the biggest red flags, in my opinion, is hearing a tattoo artist say:
“Bring me a design, and I’ll copy it for you.”
Please remember the importance of originality.
The Healthcare Professional: tattoo hygiene and safety
As a client, it’s important to understand one thing: we work with blood. A tattoo is an open wound, and a professional tattoo artist carries real responsibility for your safety.
This part is both simple and complicated.
Before your appointment, it’s difficult to know whether an artist truly follows proper hygiene procedures because you haven’t seen them work yet. However, if you attend a consultation beforehand, you can at least evaluate the cleanliness of the studio. In my experience, a clean workspace usually reflects clean working habits.
(I still remember walking out of a dentist’s office because the treatment room looked dirty.)
This part is both simple and complicated.
Before your appointment, it’s difficult to know whether an artist truly follows proper hygiene procedures because you haven’t seen them work yet. However, if you attend a consultation beforehand, you can at least evaluate the cleanliness of the studio. In my experience, a clean workspace usually reflects clean working habits.
(I still remember walking out of a dentist’s office because the treatment room looked dirty.)
Above all, I believe communication is your best tool.
Personally, I don’t think there’s anything embarrassing about asking an artist how they maintain hygiene during a session. I understand that it can feel like an awkward question—I even felt slightly uncomfortable asking my own tattoo artist before my last tattoo.
But here’s the thing: any reasonable professional will understand your concerns and answer your questions without hesitation.
Even if you’re booking with a tattoo superstar, remember that this is your body, and you have every right to ask. Trust is wonderful, and most of my own clients never ask these questions. But if you have concerns, it’s completely normal to voice them.
And that brings us to communication.
Personally, I don’t think there’s anything embarrassing about asking an artist how they maintain hygiene during a session. I understand that it can feel like an awkward question—I even felt slightly uncomfortable asking my own tattoo artist before my last tattoo.
But here’s the thing: any reasonable professional will understand your concerns and answer your questions without hesitation.
Even if you’re booking with a tattoo superstar, remember that this is your body, and you have every right to ask. Trust is wonderful, and most of my own clients never ask these questions. But if you have concerns, it’s completely normal to voice them.
And that brings us to communication.
The Psychologist: vommunication and trust
I’ve seen it all.
I’ve met incredibly warm and friendly artists, and I’ve met exceptionally talented artists who simply couldn’t communicate with people. Just like in life, tattoo artists all have very different personalities.
Some artists never offer consultations and prefer to meet you for the first time on the day of your appointment. Others consider consultations an essential part of the creative process.
I once ran a poll on Instagram asking people how important good communication was when choosing a tattoo artist. Surprisingly, some people answered that it didn’t matter at all. Maybe that’s true for you as well. If you’re confident in someone’s professionalism, perhaps you’ll simply arrive, get an amazing tattoo, and leave.
For me personally, it matters a lot.
I’ve met incredibly warm and friendly artists, and I’ve met exceptionally talented artists who simply couldn’t communicate with people. Just like in life, tattoo artists all have very different personalities.
Some artists never offer consultations and prefer to meet you for the first time on the day of your appointment. Others consider consultations an essential part of the creative process.
I once ran a poll on Instagram asking people how important good communication was when choosing a tattoo artist. Surprisingly, some people answered that it didn’t matter at all. Maybe that’s true for you as well. If you’re confident in someone’s professionalism, perhaps you’ll simply arrive, get an amazing tattoo, and leave.
For me personally, it matters a lot.
That’s why I do everything I can to create a comfortable experience for my clients. I always offer consultations because I want to understand the client’s idea and discuss every possible direction without rushing. Sometimes we completely change the original concept during the consultation—and that’s perfectly normal.
My goal is to get to the heart of the idea and translate a person’s mood, thoughts, and perception of life into a tattoo.
That’s what I mean when I say a tattoo artist is also a psychologist.
The most important thing is that you genuinely feel comfortable with the person you’ve chosen.
My goal is to get to the heart of the idea and translate a person’s mood, thoughts, and perception of life into a tattoo.
That’s what I mean when I say a tattoo artist is also a psychologist.
The most important thing is that you genuinely feel comfortable with the person you’ve chosen.
Final Thoughts
If I had to summarize everything in just a few points:
Healthy client–artist relationships are built on mutual respect, honest communication, and treating each other as adults. That principle applies everywhere in life.
- Choose an artist, not just a tattoo studio.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
- Trust your instincts.
Healthy client–artist relationships are built on mutual respect, honest communication, and treating each other as adults. That principle applies everywhere in life.
