I'm a tattoo artist who underwent a standard apprenticeship under a certified tattoo artist. I am an artist first, tattooer second, which means I put creativity and art into my tattoos, not just the 'you pick it, we stick it' type of tattooer. Apprenticeships for tattooing vary by state, according to the laws. I'm also a trained body piercer, as well. Any questions about the job or apprenticing, I'd be happy to help!
PLEASE NOTE: I will NOT price tattoos. Seek a shop for that.
Darkers skin doesn't show colors the way light skin does. Greens, blues and reds are about the only colors that really show up in dark skin, and even then the colors aren't as vibrant as with lighter skin pigments. The choice is ultimately up to you, but darker skin tones show black tattoos and black and grey tattoos better than color tattoos, generally speaking.
Natalie, sweetheart, I answered your question above. Just scroll up. =)
If you are concerned with the pain of a tattoo, and many people are, then you have to ask yourself if you really want a tattoo. Tattoos are experiences from start to finish, not just a work of art on your body. I hate being tattooed, but I would never use a numbing cream because that takes away from the *experience* of being tattooed.
It all depends on the artist, so I say just ask. I can say, if you don't know exact colors used in the tattoo, that can make it difficult for an artist to touch up another artist's work.
Either will work. If I were you, I'd give a completed drawing to your friend, shading and all, so they have the full reference to take to a tattoo artist. Just keep in mind, though, that the artist will more than likely change some things, to make it more tattooable or to add their own flair to it.
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About as long as it takes for the tattoo artist to ink it. White tattoos are a fad, and once the redness from the skin goes away from the tattooing process, you'll immediately find that you wasted your money on a white tattoo. Tattoos on the inside of the finger, on average, last 6 months to a year. When you combine a white tattoo on the inside of a finger, you are basically handing a tattoo artist money to cause you pain for no reason whatsoever.
Tattoo "schools" are a joke, in my opinion. They may help you learn the fundamentals, which may make it easier to get an apprenticeship, but I wouldn't count on it. Then, you could have wasted all that money on the school for no reason.
Redness around a tattoo for the first week (or more, depending on if it's a highly exposed area on your body that has clothes rub against it or bends) is completely normal. Just keep that in mind for future use, and always follow your tattoo artist's healing instructions... unless they tell you to clean your tattoo with hydrogen peroxide. Then, find a new tattoo artist.
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