Tattoo Artists, Tell Us The Secrets People Have No Idea About

BuzzFeed
·1-min read

I'm a huge fan of getting inked. Trust me: I have 20 tattoos.

A close-up of a tattoo artist's gloved hands as they create an intricate floral tattoo on a person's arm
Roberto Peri / Getty Images/Image Source

With so many shows like Ink Master and Black Ink Crew, I've always wondered what it's really like to work in the tattoo industry.

Kelly Doty, Ryan Ashley, and Gian Karle pose together at an "Ink Master" event
Brad Barket / Getty Images for Spike

Tattoo artists, I want to know the biggest secrets about your job!

Neon sign displaying the words "Tattoo Piercing"
Gregvr8156 / Getty Images

Maybe there are certain projects you always turn down because the design is SO overdone (*ahem* infinity signs, anyone)?

A tattoo studio workspace featuring ink bottles, tattoo sketches on the wall, and various equipment organized on a counter and a small fan
Solstock / Getty Images / iStockphoto

Perhaps no one realizes the amount of time and dedication it takes to land an apprenticeship and break into the field?

A tattoo artist with blonde hair is tattooing a shirtless person on the chest in a tattoo studio
10'000 Hours / Getty Images

Or, maybe you hate when clients bring extra people to their appointments because it's a common no-no for anyone in the biz?

Person receiving a tattoo in a studio filled with various tattoo designs on the walls. The tattoo artist is working on the person's forearm
Thomas Barwick / Getty Images

Tattoo artists, tell us your biggest industry secrets in the comments or submit anonymously using this Google form. Your response might be featured in an upcoming BuzzFeed Community post!

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