How to Spot a Bad Tattoo Artist?

Q: What if I already got a bad tattoo?

Options include saline removal, laser removal, or covering with a custom tattoo design.

“How to spot a bad tattoo artist?” is a question we get asked all the time in our Brisbane tattoo studio. Usually it’s from clients who’ve already had a not-so-great experience in other tattoo shops and now need advice, correction or just reassurance. The reality is simple: tattoos can be empowering, stylish and meaningful — or they can be permanent reminders of regret.

I’m Julia Kasperska, and together with Anastasia Petkov, we’ve spent over 15 years working in licensed tattoo studios across Europe and Australia. In that time, we’ve fixed countless poor tattoo designs, patchy brows, uneven lip blushes and body art that didn’t heal well. Our goal here is to give you the no-nonsense guide to spotting a bad tattoo artist so you can avoid the pain, cost and disappointment of ending up in the wrong chair.

Choosing The Right Artist

A tattoo isn’t a beauty product you can wash off. Once it’s in your skin, it’s there for years — sometimes for life. Removal is possible, but it’s costly, time-consuming and often incomplete. That’s why choosing the right tattoo artist from the start is crucial.

In Brisbane, new tattoo parlours and studios open every year, but not all of them follow proper hygiene or artistry standards. A study published in the Australasian Journal of Dermatology reported that 15% of Australians with tattoos have experienced complications such as allergic reactions, infections or poor healing. Most of these cases come down to poor technique, cheap pigment or lack of proper hygiene — all signs of a bad tattoo artist.

Red Flags In A Tattoo Studio

As soon as you walk into a tattoo studio, your gut should tell you if the environment feels safe. A clean and organised space is non-negotiable. If you see clutter, dust or mess around tattoo machines or benches, walk away.

Warning signs of a dodgy studio include:

Reused or unwrapped tattoo machine needles
No sterilisation equipment in sight
Artists not wearing gloves or masks
Dirty surfaces and stained furniture
An unprofessional vibe, as if tattooing is treated like a backyard hobby

A professional, licensed tattoo studio will feel more like a medical space than a garage. Remember — your health depends on it.

The Portfolio Test: What To Look For

A great artist’s work speaks for itself, but you need to know what to look for. Most tattoo shops post fresh tattoos online, but fresh ink can be deceiving. The real truth comes from healed tattoos.

When checking portfolios, look for:

Line work — clean, sharp, and consistent, not shaky or uneven
Shading — smooth and natural, not patchy or blotchy
Colour — pigments that stay true and rich after healing
Style variety — a mix of custom tattoo designs, not just cookie-cutter patterns
Healed results — not just shiny day-one pictures, but how tattoos look weeks later

If an artist only shows identical brows or the same lip blush shade on every client, it’s a sign they don’t tailor their work to individuals.

Common Signs Of A Bad Tattoo Artist

So, how do you spot a bad tattoo artist before it’s too late? These are the biggest giveaways we see:

They rush consultations, skipping questions about your health or skin type.
They overpromise, saying tattoos are “pain-free” or will “last forever.”
Their line work is shaky, uneven, or spreads under the skin.
They don’t do patch tests to check for pigment reactions.
Their tattoo artist-client relationship feels dismissive or arrogant — they brush off your concerns instead of listening.

A professional artist values collaboration. If you feel like just another appointment slot, that’s a red flag.

Hygiene And Safety: Non-Negotiable Standards

Bad tattoos aren’t just ugly — they can be dangerous. Poor hygiene can spread serious diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and bacterial infections.

In our studio, every single needle is opened in front of the client, machines are disinfected between uses, and pigment cups are discarded immediately. We wear gloves at all times, and we never reuse anything that touches skin.

If your artist isn’t following these steps, you’re risking your health. Always choose a licensed tattoo studio that treats hygiene like a medical procedure.

Table: Good Vs Bad Artists

Feature	Good Tattoo Artist	Bad Tattoo Artist
Hygiene	Sterile equipment, gloves, and disinfected surfaces	Reused tools, no gloves, dirty benches
Portfolio	Shows healed tattoos and custom tattoo work	Only fresh pics, same designs on every client
Consultation	Takes time, answers questions, and explains aftercare	Rushed, vague, dismissive
Technique	Smooth shading, clean lines, tailored design	Blurry lines, patchy shading, poor placement
Aftercare Guidance	Gives written tattoo care tips and support	No aftercare or vague instructions

The Risk Factor: Health Complications From Bad Tattoos

1 in 6 Australians with tattoos experiences a complication — from infections to allergic reactions. While some issues are related to skin type, many are due to poor technique and bad pigment choices.

Common risks include:

Infections (swelling, pus, fever)
Allergic reactions, especially to red pigment
Raised scars or keloids
Discoloured tattoos (blue or green tones in cheap ink)
Premature fading

We once fixed a client whose tattoo turned grey-green because the artist used unapproved ink in an unlicensed tattoo parlour overseas. Fixing it required multiple saline removal sessions, then new pigment on top.

Consultation: The Real Test Of Professionalism

A consultation is where professionalism shows. In a good studio, your artist will:

Ask about your medical history, allergies and medications
Discuss your skin type and how it affects healed tattoos
Suggest a tattoo design that suits your features and lifestyle
Explain the procedure, pain levels, healing and tattoo care tips
Answer all your questions honestly, without brushing them off

A rushed or vague consultation is your biggest clue that you’re in the wrong place.

Cost: When Cheap Means Expensive Later

We know tattoos can be expensive, but cutting corners is risky. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Cheap tattoos mean:

Unlicensed setups
Cheap pigments
Poorly trained artists
No aftercare support

We’ve fixed countless bargain tattoos — $200 brows that cost clients over $1,000 to fix, or botched eyeliner tattoos that required painful laser removal. A tattoo should be seen as an investment, not a discount gamble.

Aftercare: Why Bad Artists Fail You Here

The tattoo doesn’t end when the machine stops. Aftercare is crucial for proper healing. Good artists will give you written tattoo care tips, covering cleaning, moisturising and what to avoid.

Proper aftercare includes:

Washing with mild antibacterial soap
Avoiding pools, spas and ocean water
Protecting tattoos from direct sunlight
Using hypoallergenic, fragrance-free lotion

Some clients test placement with temporary tattoos before committing — a great way to avoid regret. If your artist doesn’t guide you through aftercare, that’s a sign they don’t care about results.

Experience And Training

Tattooing requires training, licensing and years of experience. In Queensland, tattoo artists must work in licensed tattoo studios that follow council hygiene standards.

Questions to ask your artist:

How long have you been tattooing?
What training have you done?
Are you licensed with Brisbane City Council?
Do you have insurance?

A pro will answer proudly. If they dodge, take that as your answer.

Correction Work: The Consequence Of Bad Artists

We spend a lot of time fixing bad tattoos. From uneven brows to tattoos that aged badly, correction work is common.

One client came in after getting a “support tattoo” for her child done overseas. Sadly, the shading was uneven, and the lines had blurred. We corrected it with saline removal and a new custom tattoo design that finally honoured her story the way it deserved.

The lesson? Do your research before committing to an artist.

Trust Your Instincts

Spotting a bad tattoo artist isn’t hard if you know what to look for: the state of the studio, the consultation process, their portfolio, and how they treat you. At Cosmetic Tattoo Studio Brisbane Face Figurati, we’ve seen both sides — the regret when clients come in with botched work and the relief when they finally find someone they can trust.

Our advice is simple: trust your instincts, ask questions, and never settle for less. Tattoos are permanent — but regret doesn’t have to be.

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