Jeraline's tattoo experience in Ottawa was tainted by some unfortunate circumstances. We will provide some recommendations so this doesn't happen to anybody else.

Suggestion 1 - Make sure your tattoo artist and the shop owner are on the same page with regards to pricing relative to you desired finished product.

Suggestion 2 - Research you tattoo artist and make sure they work at a speed you are comfortable with. Some artists require a lot of setup and or break time, which could increase the time to complete your tattoo and in turn lead to the shop requiring additional payment. A way to avoid issues is to ensure that the cost to complete the tattoo is not conditional upon time in. Get this in writing.

Suggestion 3 - Do not pay for your tattoo in full upfront. It is typical for shops to ask for a deposit or a partial payment. Paying in full can lead to being in a situation where the tattoo has not been completed to your satisfaction, with little recourse to settle on what was agreed.

Suggestion 4 - Keep you tattoo at a business casual level. Don't get too personal. Getting too close to the artist could have adverse effects on the overall tattoo experience. More talking than actual tattooing. You can feel the connection without divulging your life story.

Suggestion 5 - From this experience, we learned that asking for references would have proved beneficial in crystallizing one's decision on which shop to deal with, and most importantly, the artist that would be gifted the opportunity to have their art on your skin.

As it stands, Jeraline's tattoo has yet to be finished to her satisfaction. The artist had some personal issues to deal with and we haven't heard from her since. It will most likely be completed in the Philippines. Thank God we were moving there this summer.