I’d advise those who are looking to design their own tattoo to talk to their tattoo artist and see if he (or she) could help you come up with something. He may charge a fee, but see if you can work it into the price of the tattoo and if you aren’t satisfied, go elsewhere. (If you are satisfied, PLEASE tip!)

I’ve designed all of the pieces I’ve done thus far (on myself and others), but some tattooists only work off of flash (the tattoo designs on the walls). You can do a Google Image Search for individual components and ask your artist to connect them. If you already have a design on paper, you may ask for suggestions. If there’s color involved, you should ask to see the tattooist’s portfolio and pay attention to the shading. Communication is key in making sure that your tattoo turns out they way you want it.

A tattoo is meant to be a part of you forever, so don’t rush it or go for a discount “scratcher” (someone untrained in tattooing). Invest in a piece and you can be proud of it for the rest of your life. The pain is temporary (the healing feels like a bad sunburn), but the results can really be worth it.