Tattoos went mainstream at least twenty years ago.

I base this statement on an experience I had while teaching a undergraduate college class of about 25 students in 1992.

The topic of tattoos came up in an informal in-class discussion. Almost immediately, about three quarters of the students in that class starting rolling up sleeves, pulling up t-shirts, exposing ankles, and so forth, all to show off their own tattoos. It was a weird moment, but an exuberant and good-natured one.

Right then I thought, whoa. Toto. We're not in Kansas anymore!

So much for drunken sailors and counterculture.

Today, anyone can (and will!) get a tattoo, but not everyone should give one.

Once you've made the decision to be tattooed, where do you go to get it done safely and in a way that doesn't leave you sorry you ever thought about it in the first place?

Here are some basic tips that can help you select a tattoo artist that will do a good job for you while making you as comfortable as possible.

Keep in mind that just because you walk in the door doesn't mean you have to stay. It's your body, it's your money. Pay attention to your own instincts and trust yourself. If something feels wrong, leave. If it feels right, it probably is.

• Watch for dated slang. Certain words that the general public associates the tattooing and body art are not held in very high regard by actual tattoo artists. Terms like "tattoo parlor" or "tattoo gun" are dated and hearken back to a time when tattoo artists had a disreputable aura hovering over them. That era is over, so avoid places that present themselves in a way that professionals now rightly disdain. You'll know these places when you see them if you walk into enough shops. Any shop that combines tattoos with something having nothing at all to do with tattoos (like dog washing or live bait or whatever) should be crossed off your list without a second thought.
  
• Know the difference between an artist and a technician. Not all people who draw tattoos are creative or artistic. Some simply trace prefab patterns onto flesh. Technicians know how to create a safe tattoo but they may not have a drop of artistic ability. Depending on what you want and on how many tattoos you think you will end up with (and it may be many more than you initially imagine, that happens all the time), seeking out a tattoo artist instead of a technician might be well worth your time and money.
  
• Pay attention to the atmosphere and leave if you are uncomfortable. A common technique used by second rate shops is to blare loud music and hire very intimidating tattooists who basically scare potential clients into getting in and getting out fast and into not asking for what they really want. If anything about the shop or the artist makes you uncomfortable, leave and don't go back.
• Watch for cleanliness. The shop should be immaculate and the people working there should be clean too. Purses, clothes, food, drinks, and other obviously personal items should not be strewn about in the area where the tattooing actually takes place. Ask to use the restroom before you get started. If it's filthy, then leave--A shop that doesn't keep the toilet clean probably doesn't keep other things clean either.
• Talk to people who have had a good experience. Ask for referrals from friends whose tattoos you admire, and spend some time talking with the person who is going to tattoo you. That person should be low-key, professional, and should actually pay attention to what you want and indicate that you've actually been understood. If you don't feel you are relating well to the person who is about to tattoo you, ask for someone else or leave.
  
• Look for the spiritual practitioner. Once you've taken all the above into account, go a step farther and find someone who understands the history and the seriousness of what they are doing. Getting a tattoo isn't like coloring your hair. Not only is it permanent, it has a spiritual and emotional dimension that is thousands of years old and remarkably powerful. You may not be ready for it, and you may be shocked by how it moves you. You want to be in the competent hands of someone who does understand these things.