You are going on vacation, with carry-on luggage only, and you don’t know what to bring home as a souvenir? What about tattoos as souvenirs?!
Tattoos make great souvenirs.
We decided a long time ago that we were going to try and get as many tattoos while travelling as possible as our way of collecting souvenirs.
Why are Tattoos as Souvenirs a good idea you ask?
- They don’t take up any space in your luggage. Literally none.
- They are a souvenir that will last you a lifetime. It will never get to a point where it just sits on a shelf and collects dust until one day you decided to throw it in the bin.
- It’s an experience as well. You are left with the memory to go along with the tattoo.
- It is a unique souvenir. More than likely no one else has the same one.
That being said there are a couple of dos and don’ts when it comes to getting tattoos as souvenirs.
Let’s start with the dos.
The dos of tattoos as souvenirs.
1. Do your research on the shop and on the artists
Once you’ve found a couple of places to go (Google maps is great for pulling up the local shops), open up Instagram and check out the shop and the artists that hold residence there. You can normally tell pretty quickly if there is an artist that suits your style or not. We would still suggest you pop by the shop first and get a feel for the place but it will help narrow down your search and save you from wandering around the city trying to find a shop.
2. Make sure the shop is clean
You can generally get a pretty good idea from the reviews on google if a shop is clean or not. But, head in and check it out for yourself. Here are a couple of things to look out for to insure sanitation; they have sharps boxes for proper disposal of needles, plastic covers on the spray bottles and clip cord covers, pre-packaged needles that are unopened, artists changing their gloves frequently, their Bloodborne Pathogens Certificate is posted somewhere in the shop, and the bed is covered in plastic wrap.
One other thing we always check is the state of the bathroom, it should be clean. Realistically every bathroom should be clean, especially in a tattoo shop!
3. Make sure you’re in love with the design
I know sometimes the idea of spontaneity and picking a tattoo on a whim seems exhilarating but you still want to love what you get. Because the funny thing is… it’s on you forever.
If you decide to go with a flash piece, cool! (we have plenty of those) just make sure you like it. Take a couple of minutes to think about it before deciding. You don’t need any tattoo remorse.
4. Make sure you take into consideration the WHEN you get tattooed on vacation. Make sure you take into consideration the location of the tattoo on your body
For example, you really shouldn’t be going to Rome, and getting a tattoo on your foot knowing you’re going to be walking 25,000 steps a day. You also don’t want to get a whole rib piece on vacation. Unless it’s at the end of the trip or really the reason for your trip. Just be mindful about where in the trip you’ve got one planned and the healing process it requires.
Tattoos need to stay out of the sun as well, and you shouldn’t swim with a fresh tattoo, so keep that in mind.
5. Make sure you double-check the spelling of words and the meanings of symbols
Sometimes when there is a language barrier we can be quick to make decisions not wanting to make things awkward. If you are getting spelling, double-check and make sure the word is spelt correctly, especially if it’s in another language. If it is a symbol, make sure you know what the meaning actually is. The last thing you want to do is get a tattoo and love it, then show it off at a party when you get home thinking it means to love but it actually means to fish!
The don’ts of tattoos as souvenirs
1. Don’t settle on the shop or the artist
We’ve walked into a few shops while travelling and immediately not felt the vibe we were looking for so we walked away. You do not have to get tattooed just because you’ve walked through the door.
2. Don’t get a tattoo if the price is too much
It doesn’t happen often but sometimes as tourists they have a shop minimum but quote you for a higher price. I don’t like when this happens, and it doesn’t often happen but something to keep in the back of your mind. Set a budget and stick within it, again it’s okay to say no thank you and find another shop.
3. If the piece doesn’t speak to you don’t get it
Whether it’s a flash piece or a custom if you want to change something about it, ask. Most tattoo artists are happy to tweak ideas until you’re good with it. It’s going on your body, permanently, make sure it’s what you want.
4. Don’t forget about the aftercare
You still want to make sure that you are taking care of your tattoo once you have it. If you normally use a second skin, bring some with you! If you normally have a certain soap you like to clean it with, pack it or buy it at a local shop. We also mentioned before to make sure you plan a little around the tattoo. Don’t plan a beach day after your tattoo, plan it before. If you’re getting your first tattoo, ask your artist for aftercare instructions. Most shops have the products they recommend for sale.
5. Don’t be disappointed if a shop doesn’t have time to take you
If you’re not a spontaneous person you can always reach out to an artist before you head out on your trip! We actually planned an entire 3 week trip around getting tattooed!
If you want to just pop in, don’t be disappointed if they’re full for the day. They will always try to get you in even if it’s later in the day and you have to come back, or the next day.
