Want to Become a Tattoo Artist? The first step towards becoming one is getting some basic art training. You can take classes at your local community college or educational centers for affordable art training to develop a foundation of knowledge for success in tattooing.
Designing a Tattoo
Designing a tattoo takes practice and patience to perfect. You must learn to draw and shade accurately and position your work so it heals correctly on the body.
Poorly placed tattoos may appear crooked over time, while too much detail could cause blurring under the skin. As a beginner tattoo artist, taking an accredited course and then serving an apprenticeship under a professional artist is highly recommended to gain the experience and expertise needed.
Inking a Tattoo
Tattoo artist training teaches you the fundamentals of using a tattoo gun and ink, including shading and blending techniques to produce realistic-looking tattoos. Topics covered in class include how tattoo ink works and how to care for it.
Taking Care of a Tattoo
Tattoo care is an integral component of the healing process and should be prioritized accordingly to ensure it heals appropriately while helping avoid skin infections. Most tattoo artists will provide their customers with an aftercare ointment after getting inked, often consisting of shea butter lotion that is gentle on the skin without alcohol or fragrances.
After several days, your tattoo may start itching – this is perfectly normal as your body tries to shed dead skin cells. Additionally, flaky scabs may form, though they should eventually go away independently; otherwise, contact your artist.
