Tattoos and piercings are growing forms of self-expression, with more and more first-time customers walking into tattoo shops for their first tattoo or piercing. EZ Tattoo, Scottsdale’s original tattoo shop, has been delivering quality tattoos and piercings for almost two decades and owner Myron Larrabee offers the following tattoo tips.
“First and foremost, you should do your research, making sure to check out the tattoo shop and its artists,” Larrabee said. “Any shop you choose should provide privacy for having the work done, be sterilized and offer a pleasant experience.”
Next, Larrabee says it’s important to have an idea of what type of tattoo you’d like the artist to create for you. These tattoo designs can include lower back tattoos, feminine tattoo designs, ankle tattoos, armbands, sleeves, back tattoos, cross tattoos and even angel tattoos. The Internet age has made it much easier for tattoo artists to find designs and high tech equipment like the Apple iPad can display the artists’ previous work.
“Having my tattoo designs on an Apple iPad allows the customer to browse my work and provides a high definition portfolio for them to choose from,” said EZ Tattoo’s Ivan Rials, who has been a tattoo artist for almost 20 years.
Once you have a tattoo shop picked out and know what you’d like your tattoo to be, Larrabee and Rials both suggest that you consider the size and placement of the artwork.
“It’s important to think about the size of the work you have done,” Rials said. “If we put a lot of detail into a very small space, it’s going to eventually change and become blurry. And putting your first tattoo in an area that you can’t cover up can have implications for your job.”
Another tattoo tip is to eat something before arriving for your appointment. Because tattoo work can take significant chunks of time and because many first-time customers are nervous, getting a tattoo on an empty stomach can be risky.
“It’s very important to keep your blood sugar levels up,” Larrabee said.
Finally, aftercare is a big part of making sure that any tattoo session goes well. That means staying out of the sun for two weeks, staying away from the chlorinated water in swimming pools and not scratching the tattoo area.
“If you follow these tattoo tips, you’ll not only have a successful tattoo appointment, you’ll also have a tattoo to be proud of for years to come,” Larrabee said.
EZ Tattoo’s new location, located at 909 N. Hayden Road, nearly doubles the space of the original shop that occupied the corner of Scottsdale and Second Street in old town Scottsdale for almost 17 years. That location sat adjacent to Larrabee’s popular Billet Bar.
The new location provides more of a salon experience and includes private artist rooms that allow customers the opportunity to have tattoos and piercings done without the prying eyes of strangers intruding. A state-of the art clean room ensures safety for customers and a high-tech design room and thousands of design examples ensure that customers receive a work of art tailored to their specific desires.
“Customers demand a higher level of sophistication from a tattoo shop and EZ Tattoo delivers that better than anyone else,” Larrabee said.
EZ Tattoo and Body Piercing is located at 909 N. Hayden Road in Scottsdale. For more information or to schedule an appointment with an artist, please call (480) 941-8720 or visit www.ez-tattoo.com.
To get the latest news on EZ Tattoo and Body Piercing, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/eztattoo or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/eztattoo.
About EZ Tattoo
EZ Tattoo is Scottsdale’s oldest and most respected tattoo shop. Also specializing in body piercing, Scottsdale tattoo shop EZ Tattoo offers innovative and professional service in a clean, safe and state-of-the-art studio. Owned and operated by longtime Arizona entrepreneur Myron Larrabee, EZ Tattoo is conveniently located one mile west of Loop 101 at 909 N. Hayden Road in Scottsdale. For more information, please visit www.ez-tattoo.com.
