"Good work ain't cheap and cheap work ain't good." So said Sailor Jerry, the famed American tattoo artist. Planning on getting a tattoo requires some thought as to how much you plan to pay. Considering that this is most likely a lifetime commitment to a piece of living art, you are going to want to seek out some quality workmanship.

Make sure you count on providing a good tip, too. If an artist is not the business owner, he or she will only be earning a commission of about 40 to 50% of the final tattoo price. The artist is more often than not responsible for supplying his own protective gloves, needles, pigments, and medical sundries. The autoclave and various other equipment and supplies along with the premises will be the owner's responsibility.

Deciding on a design may take a while and well should a decision of this nature. You want to be assured satisfaction with your choice so take a few days and an earlier visit to the shop to sift through possible choices. That way you can arrive at the parlor on your big day with a lot of the hard work behind you. All that will be left to do will be to grin and bear the application.

Some other key important homework to get out of the way prior to choosing where to get inked is locating the best in the business so you can be pretty certain of a first rate outcome. If you see a tattoo that you find particularly well done on someone, don't be shy to ask them where they got it. There is no better evidence of an artist's capabilities than their work displayed in public. Checking out the certifications and cleanliness of your chosen destination is another responsible and wise move.

After choosing well, you should have the same level of confidence in your tattoo shop's cleanliness as in your dentist's office. In most states, licensed tattoo artists have taken a class in bloodborne pathogens and disease transmission. Anything that comes in direct contact with a client, such as pigments, disposable or latex gloves and needles are disposed of after a single user. The needle bar and tube are autoclaved to sterilize them in between uses, just like equipment in the dentist's office. When working on you, the conscientious artist will ensure that their tools stay on a tray and away from possible contamination.

When the artistry is completed, you will be instructed on how to best care for and preserve your tattoo during healing. Using only your hands, gently wash the tattooed area with a mild antibacterial soap. To prevent scabbing, carefully remove the sticky clear substance which is plasma. A thin layer of A&D ointment or other gentle product such as an antibacterial unguent can be applied as a protective barrier. Beware of using any antibiotic cream if you have allergic reactions to them. Such a reaction can leave pin dot markings permanently in your tattoo's pigment. You may shower, but for two weeks avoid soaking the new tattoo either in the bath or during a swim.

With the wildly spreading popularity of this form of artistic expression, it is important to keep in mind that there still can be that phenomenon of 'buyer's remorse', even if it takes years to set in. Estimates range anywhere from 17% of those who get tattoos regret it to as high as 50%, according to some doctors who offer laser tattoo removal. To minimize the possibility of regret, avoid having a specific person's name inked under your skin or having the tattoo placed in a prominent area that can't be easily covered for a business interview. And if worse comes to worse, start a little savings account for that laser treatment.

Our author, Jen Long is a South Carolina glove pro and Director of Web Support for an online retailer of Disposable Gloves Products. She manages an online center for people dealing with wearing gloves: Lots of Latex Gloves.