Skip to Content

What do tattoo artists not like?

Tattoo artists are skilled professionals who use needles to artistically and permanently mark their clients’ skin with ink. While they may enjoy being creative and making art on the human canvas, there are certain things that irk even the most seasoned tattoo artist. Here are some insights into what tattoo artists don’t like.

Clients Who Don’t Follow Aftercare Instructions

One of the biggest pet peeves for many tattoo artists is when clients don’t properly care for their new tattoos. Tattoos are essentially open wounds that need to heal when the tattoo session is over. Artists provide explicit aftercare instructions on how to clean, moisturize, and protect the tattoo so that it heals nicely. When clients don’t follow these directions, it can lead to poor healing, infection, scarring, and blown-out lines. This reflects badly on the artist’s work. It’s incredibly frustrating for tattoo artists when their hard work is ruined by a client’s negligence.

Indecisive Clients

Tattoo artists don’t like working with indecisive clients who can’t seem to figure out what they want. They want customers who have a clear vision in mind for the tattoo design and placement. Indecisive clients who keep changing their minds about the artwork, size, or location of their tattoo make the process much harder for the artist. It wastes a lot of the artist’s creative energy and time when clients are wishy-washy about their tattoos. Tattoo artists would prefer that you take the time to think your tattoo choice through beforehand.

Picky Clients

Some clients can’t seem to be pleased no matter what the tattoo artist does. These ultra-picky customers insist on multiple revisions and make excessive demands for changes during the tattoo process. Tattoo artists don’t appreciate being micromanaged when they are trying to do their job. They want clients who respect their expertise and artistry. While it’s fair for a client to request revisions if something really doesn’t look right, artists don’t like working with nitpicky perfectionists.

Cheap Clients

Reputable tattoo work does not come cheap. Tattooing requires substantial skill, time, and effort. Tattoo artists invest in their equipment and supplies as well. Understandably, they don’t like customers who try to undercut their rates or bargain them down. Artists find that clients who pay low rates often end up being difficult to work with in other regards as well. Respectful clients will pay reasonable rates without complaint for their custom tattoos.

Copycats

Unoriginal clients also irk tattoo artists. Tattooers want to create custom, one-of-a-kind designs for their clients. They don’t enjoy mindlessly copying some tattoo that a client saw on Pinterest or elsewhere. While using other artworks or tattoos for inspiration is fine, most artists prefer not to directly replicate someone else’s intellectual property. It’s much more interesting and rewarding for artists to draw up custom artwork.

Clients Getting Tattoos While Intoxicated

Responsible tattoo artists will not work on clients who come in drunk or under the influence of drugs. Not only is it illegal in many places, it’s also unwise. Intoxicated clients are less able to communicate clearly about the tattoo and make sure the artist understands their wishes. They may not be able to stay still during the tattoo process. And they could come to regret a tattoo done while their judgment was impaired by substances. Most professional tattoo artists refuse service to visibly drunk or high clients for liability reasons.

Clients Who Haggle Over Prices

Seasoned tattoo artists know what they need to charge in order to make a decent living and keep their business afloat. As skilled artisans, they do not appreciate it when clients try to barter over prices like they would at a flea market. While it’s reasonable to ask about rates when choosing an artist, extensive haggling once you’ve chosen to work with a particular tattooer shows disrespect for their trade. Good artists are confident charging fair rates for quality work.

Clients Who Don’t Tip for Good Service

Unlike some other service professions, tattoo artists in many places do not expect a tip for simply doing their basic job. However, it is customary to tip a tattoo artist when you are very satisfied with the service and results. Tips are a sign of appreciation for an artist’s skill. Tattoo artists definitely don’t like when clients rave about the amazing tattoo they just got but fail to leave a nice tip on top of the cost. Show your enthusiasm by topping off the price with a reasonable gratuity.

Clients Asking for Face, Neck, or Hand Tattoos Right Away

Reputable artists are reluctant to do highly visible tattoos on first-time clients’ hands, necks, or faces. They prefer to get to know a client first and do work on less prominent areas before putting bold designs in highly conspicuous locations. Not only does this conservative approach look more professional, but it also ensures that the client won’t regret having an overt tattoo at their workplace or in family gatherings. Coverable tattoos make sense for new clients.

Very Drunk Clients

Clients who show up to a tattoo appointment intoxicated are bad news. Tattoo artists won’t work on anyone who seems impaired by alcohol or drugs. It’s dangerous and unethical. Drunk clients may not communicate properly about the design and placement they want. They also tend to bleed more and fidget during the tattoo process due to their lowered inhibitions and reduced pain tolerance. No reputable tattoo shop wants the liability risk of tattooing severely intoxicated individuals.

Clients Who Seem Wishy-Washy About Getting a Tattoo

Tattoos are permanent. Responsible artists don’t want to ink anyone who seems uncertain or on the fence about getting tattooed. They prefer clients who come in enthusiastic, sure-minded, and ready for their new permanent body art. Unfortunately, some people come into tattoo shops on impulse without thinking enough about the realities of getting inked. Top artists can identify these wishy-washy clients, and they won’t be eager to work with them and waste time in consultations.

Clients Who Try to Rush the Process

Quality custom tattooing takes time. It is both an art and a process. Most good tattoo work is not created in a few minutes. However, some clients have unrealistic expectations. They want a detailed design but aren’t willing to invest the time needed to do it properly. Rushed artwork often turns out looking shoddy. Reputable artists refuse to create subpar tattoos just to cut time. They won’t appreciate clients who try to rush them and cut corners.

Clients Who Don’t Listen to Aftercare Advice

Tattoo artists provide specific aftercare instructions for new tattoos to promote proper healing and avoid infection. These aftercare guidelines are important. However, some clients blatantly disregard the artists’ advice. Not caring for a new tattoo properly can lead to scarring and loss of pigment. When a client doesn’t listen to aftercare directions, it reflects poorly on the tattoo’s appearance. This understandably bothers most professional tattooists who take pride in their work.

Clients Who Change Their Minds Mid-Session

Tattoo artists don’t like it when they’ve already started a tattoo and the client suddenly requests major changes partway through the process. This could involve things like requesting a larger design than originally discussed to cover more skin real estate. It may mean asking for completely different colors or subject matter for the tattoo. These surprise changes mid-tattoo are problematic because the artist already started working based on the original plan. Last-minute alterations usually don’t turn out well and disrupt the artist’s workflow.

Conclusion

While tattoo artists love expressing their creativity through their work, certain kinds of clients and behaviors definitely irk them. Disrespect for the artist’s time, skills, and business are high on the list of annoyances. With good communication and reasonable expectations, you can be the kind of tattooee your artist loves working with.