Find or create a tattoo image. If you have some talent, try designing your own art, and then have a tattoo artist review it to make workable adjustments. If you lack the skills, browse designs online -- the variety is infinite, and you will avoid feeling the pressure of trying to choose a design quickly under the watchful eye of a tattoo studio employee.
Determine your true skin tone. All tattoo colors will not work on all skin tones. Fair skin supports all colors, except for white and yellow; white looks more like a scar, and yellow is generally difficult to see. If you have tan or naturally light brown skin, feel free to select any color, including white and yellow. The darkest skin tones are limited to black and red. When in doubt, opt for a clean line, basic black tattoo.
Investigate the risk. The body art industry is one of the few body-altering professions that the FDA does not monitor. Inks, tattoo machines and needles have no mandated health safety requirements, so any combination of ingredients can be used in inks. Interview the tattoo salon you are considering to find out what types of inks are being used. Avoid trendy inks, such as UV or black light inks. The most trusted, time-tested inks used by reputable tattoo artists are Skin Candy, Prizm Tattoo Ink and Kuro Sumi Ink.
Test your color choice. Choosing tattoo ink color is easy on paper, but you won't know how it will look on your skin until it's directly applied. Have a discussion about your specific color choices with the tattoo artist at the same time he reviews your selected illustration. Another option is to a purchase a temporary tattoo. Some websites provide the exact image you choose in a high-quality mock-up to be directly applied to your body. Put it on, and test it out in public before it becomes an image for life.