What You Need To Know Before Determining Your Tattoo Cost

So, you finally decided to get your first tattoo, and you can barely contain your excitement. The only real issue you have is knowing exactly what the numbers will be when it comes to determining overall tattoo cost. It's here perhaps that a lot of folks find themselves losing a little of the original excitement of getting their first tattoo, but this waning may be a little too premature.

The fact remains that unless you are intimately familiar with the scale of pricing at a particular tattoo parlor, you really can't figure out what the price of your tattoo may be. First impressions about this conundrum are a bit disconcerting. How often do you decide to purchase something without having an idea of how much it will cost? Moreover, since this is a first tattoo, where do you even begin?

Here are a few things you need to know before you determine the cost of your tattoo:

Design - If you're going with a traditional design that's right off the wall, you're probably not looking at a high-priced tattoo. However, if you decide to get a custom design made for you, the price will most certainly go up. Ditto on the size and its impact on price, too.

Complexity - No doubt that any design that is simple will mean less work for the artist, and that translates into less cost. But if you've got something epic in mind, be prepared for higher price.

To Color or Not To Color - In the same vein of complexity, if you decide to include color into your tattoo, you're adding another dimension of labor into the mix, and you're tapping into the artist's resources.

Placement - A tattoo on your chest may very well differ in price from one that is being placed over your rib cage. As such, inking your knuckles and toes may also differ in price from something being emblazoned across your shoulder blades.

Don't Make A Concession - Getting a tattoo from a great artist is more than just a status symbol among the inked masses. It means you really value the quality and workmanship of the artist enough to save up your money for his or her services. You could always go with an artist that fits your budget that does a good job, but there's no reason you couldn't save up a little more to really get the right person for the job.