How to find the best tattoo studio in Melbourne

Choosing the best tattoo studio comes down to more than just matching your style to a specific artist’s design type. With many recent new comers to the profession of tattooing, you need to ensure that the artist you choose has the requisite experience to ensure that the tattoo is applied correctly, that it will heal properly and that it will maintain its integrity into the future.

With some artists using filters and apps to alter their images online as well as purchasing followers and likes on social media and review platforms it can be difficult to ascertain who is competent and who is not.

There are several ways to navigate this to ensure you end up with the best outcome possible, and in the city of Melbourne, you are literally spoilt for choice when it comes to being tattooed by some of the world’s top artists!

So here is what to look for!

Go to established studios!  In recent years the phenomena of inexperienced people opening tattoo shops has increased. Often these businesses are operated by individuals who have not had experience working with other artists or studios and their skill sets are limited. Look for studios that have an established reputation, there’s a reason they have been there for so long!

Look for an artist who has an established portfolio! Building a strong and expansive portfolio takes time, a lot of time. Any artist who has a folio with works that span many years has not only tattooed the pieces you see in the folio but all the pieces in between that they have chosen not to display. This equals experience! And remember just because a tattooer does not have your style in their folio doesn’t mean they can’t do it!

Look at the work! Yes, there are tricksters out there who are using AI etc to modify their images, but a sharp eye can spot it. Zoom in on images and look for the grain of the skin, an authentic well rendered tattoo (when fist applied) should show a smooth application of colour with the skin showing its pores. If its blurry with no pores it has been tampered with. Or if the skin looks rough and messed up, raised with uneven pores it’s been overworked! If the lines are not solid or look light in some areas and dark in others they have not been applied correctly. These are all signs to avoid this artist! Look for clean crisp work with solid fill, smooth transitions and sharp line work!

Word of mouth! One of the best ways to learn about a good tattooer is to get a referral from someone who has been tattooed by them. The tattoo speaks for itself! If you see someone who has a great tattoo, ask them where they got it! Theres no faking it when you’re looking at the actual tattoo!

You also want to check for cleanliness and safety! Registered studios are required to follow strict health regulations as well as following protocols around using single use needles, compliant inks, medical waste removal and sterilisation processes. The studio should be clean with hand washing facilities in every workspace. The equipment utilised by the artist should always be clean with barrier wraps applied. If you have a concern voice it!

Green Lotus Tattoo Studio in Brunswick Melbourne was established in 2007 and is owned and operated by two generations of professional tattooers. The studio is one of Melbourne’s oldest and well-respected spaces which hosts artists from all over the world, providing collectors with the opportunity to access some of the finest artists on the scene today. We cater to all styles, from black and grey, oriental, realism, blackwork and fine line tattoos.

We offer a safe and welcoming environment and are open to working with all people who are interested in the amazing art form of tattooing!

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