How I should approach a tattoo artist, about HIS flaws on MY skin!?

Question

I just got my 1st tattoo. Its small and on my wrist, two hearts, one black, one red. At the top of the black heart one side is not even rounded! The red one doesnt close at the tip or the dip! And the shading looks a lil sloppy too. Also, my arm is really throbbing, and not so much painful, but more like its causing a lot of discomfort. It depends on the elevation of my arm. Is that normal? Its not all red and swollen.

I literally JUST got the tattoo, hasn't even been 24 hours. I wasn't "thrashing about" its a little tattoo. Two hearts. I figured it was simple enough...

Answer 1

i'm sorry that you have had such a bad experience with your tattoo. did you check out his work beforehand and make sure he actually knew what he was doing? it really is the most important thing to consider when getting a tattoo. not all artists are talented. i would go back to the shop and try to get them to agree to fix your tattoo for free by another artist once it is healed. they may or may not agree to do it tho.

Answer 2

The elevation is how much blood is flowing to your arm, ie more blood when your arm is down so it hurts more. Take an ibrupforen. As to the misshapen: Did you move a lot durign the tattoo? Its very hard to hit a moving target and if oyu were thrashign about it might look awful but thats not the artists fault.

Either way, GO BACK TO THE SHOP. While you're there they can check out your arm and make sure theres nothing physically wrong. IF it wasnt your moving about in the first place then make sure you make a fuss about your tattoo being unsatisfactory. Ask them nicely first as they should be very willing to help. Speak to the artist and then speak to the owner if you have to. (probably not one and the same). Touchups should be free from any good shop. Mention all the free bad advertising you will be giving if its not fixed for free if they wont.

This is a great case where you need to check the shop out beforehand. Too late now obviously. Look at peoples portfolios!!!! IF they dont have them then they obviously don't have any good work to show. A portfolio shows you all you need to know about their skill and abilities to do their job. And that is onlyimportant after you've made sure that the shop is safe, licensed and you're comfortable there.

Answer 3

The discomfort part is weird about having to depend on the elevation of your arm.

But as far as approaching him, you just go straight up to him and DO it.

You paid for a service and you aren't satisfied right?
So either you deserve a re-do, or a refund. In my opinion.

The artist will usually touch it up, but if you don't trust him, you might want to have the shop owner or someone else do it.

Answer 4

As far as the discomfort, it depends on when & where you got it. Mine have been pretty uncomfortable for a few days, depending on location (full back tats = unusual sleeping positions).

You may wish to talk to the artist about touch-up work, but waiting on that work until the tat is fully healed is probably a good idea. The look will change a little as that happens, and I doubt s/he would want to touch it until healing is done anyways.

Talking to the artist in general - in a non-flaming way - about this will probably set you at ease.

Answer 5

You may be angered by this, I would, but trust me approach him nicely and with a smile...(don't wait)... Tell him "I like your art, but my tattoo really didn't come out the way I expected ...." explain how you want it, and the nicer you are the more he'll want to make you happy and take care of the problem..... If he gets angered, then don't take the chance of him working on your skin again, get someone else to fix it (get recommendations of a good tattoo artist)...good luck!

Answer 6

Sorry, Star, but you're wrong. I go to the best, highest quality shop in Cincinnati, and the artists use Vaseline during the process of the tattoo. I'm not mistaken, because I was there today, getting one on my arm.

Answer 7

You have learned a lesson the hard way......Not everyone who works at a tattoo shop is an artist. NEVER let anyone do ANY work in you until you have looked at a portfolio which should represent the body of his work. That being said...go back to the shop....show them your tattoo and they SHOULD fix it for you.

Answer 8

Well first off the question is did you take care of it properly? Meaning did you put vaseline on very frequenlty to keep it moisturized? And second...Do not make it out so that you are insulting his work. I used to work at a parlour and someone came in with a problem similar to yours and the artist got very angry. saying that the girl had insulted his artwork. So basically DO NOT blame him. Say something along the lines of it didn't turn out the way to u wanted it to. And could he please fix it. Then seewhat happens. OH and after a couple days there should be no pain unless.

From all of your problems summed up it sounds like the artist went to deep with the needle and that is tha cause of all your problems

Answer 9

Just ask.
He's getting paid.
He'll be honest, so dw.
Guys are like that.
Grrr.
Lol.

Answer 10

i wouldn't go back to the same guy and *****. one, that'll just piss everyone off, and second, if he already screwed it up once, why would you go back and "demand a re-do?" chances are you can't re-do it. but go to a better shop and ask for their opinion, don't ever step foot back in that shop if you're unhappy. you learned they do a crappy job so don't support them anymore. cut your losses and learn your lesson.