How to choose an artist based on their healed tattoos

The tattoo I create for you is as much yours as it is mine. So, of course, I want it to heal perfectly.

I always ask my clients to send photos of my healed pieces.

First, I want to check everything is alright. During the healing process, especially if the instructions are not followed by heart, the tattoo can suffer. No matter how well worked it's been, the healing process is as important as the tattooing.

I will have a different post about the healing process, but for now let's focus on how to choose a tattoo artist based on what they share about their healed tattoos.

I'm always happy to see that my pieces have healed perfectly and that everyone is happy. And that is not my words, it is of the people who send me updates after one month, nine, or even a year, constantly. And, of course, the proof also stands in the fact that they return for more.

Sometimes I receive texts like "the tattoo still looks great after one year", or "I'm so happy because I didn't expect it to look this good when it healed" or even "other tattoo artists thought this is a fresh tattoo because everything looks so great and were amazed when I told them it's already nine months healed".

Seeing the grateful thoughts after people get a piece from me makes me happy, of course.

However, to get here, there is a lot of work and attention that I put in my pieces.

You are not paying me for a tattoo to only look good fresh or to fade over time. You are working with me to get a tattoo that will heal perfectly and stay with you forever if you take care of it.

13 months healed tattoo

two years old healed tattoo

three years healed tattoo

15 months healed tattoo

15 months healed tattoo

14 monthe healed tattoo

How I make sure my tattoos heal perfectly

1. I always provide guidance on the optimal size of a tattoo.

   Small tattoos are nice, but not everything can be reduced in size and look how you imagine it would. The smaller you go, the more details and textures have to be compromised. Yes, they can be worked and may look nice fresh, but they will never look the same over the years. That is why I always discuss the optimal size and make recommendations before I agree to work on a piece.

   
   

   It is not that I don't want to do what you wish to get, but that I want to do what it is best for the composition.

   
   

   Some people don't want to adjust and it happens that I refuse to work on such pieces if I know that the result will not meet my quality standards. Other people are flexible and it is with them that I have the best results.

   
   

2. I never tattoo just any references.

   Not everything you see or choose can be correctly transferred into a tattoo.

   
   

   I once had a client come to me with a shoulder piece that had been done by another artist. The tattoo looked years old, blurred, and difficult to read.  What surprised me most was that the piece had been done only nine months before. When he showed me the original reference image, I immediately understood why. The artist had used the image as it was, without adapting it for tattooing. What may work in a photo does not necessarily translate well to skin, and the result was a piece that lacked clarity, contrast, and longevity.

   I always work on the reference photos, make necessary adjustments or advise on choosing another one that I know will heal well and keep its quality over time.

3. I always emphasize the importance of the healing process and stay in touch with my clients after the session has ended.

   While every tattoo heals differently and unexpected issues can sometimes arise, following my aftercare recommendations will give your tattoo the best possible chance of healing beautifully. A great tattoo is not finished when the last line is tattooed, but when it has healed properly.

   You can learn more about tattoo aftercare here.

   
   

How to identify tattoo artists with great healed pieces

Simply. If you don't know anyone who's got a tattoo from them, search for a healed tattoo collection on their pages (social media, website). Most of the time, it's raw images sent by clients, so the angle, the light, and the quality of the images are not great, but this should tell you that people were happy with the result; they took the time to take a photo and thank their artist.

There are occasions when my clients even take time to stop by the studio to allow me to take more photos of the healed tattoos.

Other times I meet clients who come back for more and I get the chance to take photos and videos for Instagram.

So, next time you choose your tattoo artist, don't do it for how cool they look, or how neat their feed is. Look for healed photos, their healing process, and feedback from clients.

If you'd like to check my healed pieces, look them up on my Instagram page. If you'd like to work together, send a DM or submit a booking request on my website and let's create your next piece!