Cookeville Tattoo Shops

There are many Cookeville tattoo shops to choose from. It seems like there are more popping up all the time. Since 2000 there have been over 15 licensed tattoo studios in Cookeville with well over 30 artists. The Cookeville area is no different than any other. Since the rise in popularity of tattoo related television shows investors all around the country are racing to cash in on this wave of popularity. In their rush to cash in on the Cookeville Tattoo scene often times quality and safety are sacrificed with no regard to the unsuspecting tattoo collector. In this article I will address possible concerns that a person may have while considering which Cookeville tattoo shop may be best for them.

Safety and health concerns are the most important things to be concerned with in seeking out a tattoo shop. Sadly the reality is that almost nobody actually takes any steps to ensure their own safety. Fortunately in Tennessee the Department of Health regulates and inspects the tattoo establishments in an attempt to provide some level of safety. However they are very busy and are only required to inspect TN and Cookeville tattoo shops 4-5 times per year. Each shop is required by law to post the results of their latest inspection. Even if they have a 100 you might ask how many consecutive 100's they have. This can give you an idea of the consistency or longevity of the studio.

It has been said that "Not all tattoo artists are created equal" and this couldn't be more true when comparing cookeville tattoo shops. Since you only have one skin get the best you can. The first thing to do is to check out their work. Every artist should have a portfolio of tattoos that they have done on other people. Just seeing one or two tattoos that they have done may not be enough as the untrained eye may not notice the mistakes in just one tattoo. Even if you are only getting what you think is a simple design there is nothing wrong with checking out as many portfolio pieces as needed to ensure that your tattoo artist is consistently amazing.

Ask about guarantees. Any shop worth it's salt will offer some kind of guarantee. A lifetime guarantee would be the best obviously but remember that means the lifetime of the shop, so ask how long they have been around.

Ask about awards. Many artists will have competed on some level at some of the many tattoo conventions that are popular around the country. Keep in mind anybody can scare up a bowling trophy so more than a few would be a good sign of consistency.

Ask about publishings. Tattoo artists often submit work to the many tattoo magazines and being published can be exciting for the customer who is wearing the tattoo as well.

Most of the Cookeville tattoo shops are investor owned. Meaning that the owners are non-tattooers and therefore may not know anything about tattooing. Often they hire any of the growing number of non artistic tattooers that happen to be available in order to keep their doors open. In the end you are the one who suffers.

Unfortunately this is where the search ends in most Cookeville tattoo shops. It is hard to believe but the reality is that most tattoos are done by the lowest bidder. Meaning that the person who wants to get a tattoo will go from shop to shop comparing prices for the design they want. Often ignoring the advice of experienced and talented artists who warn against attempting certain designs and or trying to do it too small...etc. Usually these comparisons are done with no regard to the quality of the work that will be done.

This would be like going from restaurant to fast food place asking how much dinner is. One place might give you a burger and fries for $5 while the other is going to give you a rib eye steak w/ baked potato for $15. The difference is that a tattoo is forever.

So you can have a good tattoo forever or maybe just a so-so one or if your not careful, a bad one...and they are all just as permanent.

Highly experienced artists often are much faster than the less experienced.  This can greatly effect the cost and/or healing time of your tattoo.  

Cost may be much cheaper as the artist may not have to charge as much as someone who is much slower.

Healing time may be much quicker as the skin is not traumatized nearly as much.  This video shows that even solid tribal can be done very quickly by an experienced artist.  The entire sleeve is drawn by hand then completely tattooed in 3 hours.  

Even the Cookeville tattoo scene has fallen prey to investors who are primarily concerned with a return on their investment. Often they fill their shops with merchandise to reap the most return while offering very little in the way of quality tattooing.

Real tattoo shops do not sell smoking supplies, adult novelties, gag gifts, swords, incense, beaded curtains, etc. because a real tattoo shop caters to the serious tattoo collector as well as the light enthusiast. Real tattoo shops live or die by the quality of their work not by slick fly-by-night snake oil sales techniques and smooth talking gimmicks.

Tattoo artists have a saying..."People get the tattoo they deserve."