reviews: Tattoos Defined

Brian Kim


A guide to what makes a good tattoo. This is absolutely my own opinion and if I offend someone, ok. Color me unconcerned. This is me speaking as a former owner of a tattoo shop and after having had more conversations on the subject than I care to recall with my patrons and my artists.

First let me say that pretty much every artist and most people with a lot of work done, are guilty of one or more of these transgressions.

This may upset a lot of people but, there is no cool in tribal or an arm band. There is no such thing as "original" tribal. And a "tramp stamp" lower back tattoo falls into the same category as a barbwire armband, except in the shop we called it an "insert XXXX here" tattoo.

Kanji, even if you are Asian, is way over done and a cliche. Honor, loyalty, strength, love, yadda yadda yadda. Done done and done everyday all over the world.

Names are rarely ever cool. Boyfriend or girlfriend or husband or wife come on people, NEVER a good idea. For some reason guys seem to like to get their own name put on themselves, a lot of time like a nameplate from a football jersey. What is that for? So they can easily identify the body?

Pick a good artist check their portfolio especially how their healed work looks and work with him or her on a custom piece. Flash off the wall is for slackers who don't want a piece of artwork as much as they want to show they can be a "rebel". Don't get a postage stamp, get a good sized piece that an artist can put some work in on. Don't go for the lowest bidder. If you told your friends to go to your dentist because he was the cheapest in town you are officially a douche bag.

Other than that, know that a tattoo grows and changes and at some point may need a touch up. Take care of your tattoo. Keep it out of the sun as light will destroy any pigment and a little lotion now and again is a good thing. Treat it like a piece of artwork and it will stay beautiful, or scary, whatever the case may be!