Every line of work has its closed book , even tattooing .

I’m a huge fan of getting inked. Trust me: I have 20tattoos.

With so many shows likeInk MasterandBlack Ink Crew, I’ve always wondered what it’s really like to work in the tattoo industry.

Tattoo artists, I want to know the biggest secrets about your job!

Maybe there are certain projects you always turn down because the design is SO overdone (ahem infinity signs, anyone)?

Perhaps no one realizes the amount of time and dedication it takes to land an apprenticeship and break into the field?

Or, maybe you hate when clients bring extra people to their appointments because it’s a common no-no for anyone in the biz?

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Every job has its secrets, even tattooing.

A close-up of a tattoo artist's gloved hands as they create an intricate floral tattoo on a person's arm

Kelly Doty, Ryan Ashley, and Gian Karle pose together at an "Ink Master" event

Neon sign displaying the words "Tattoo Piercing"

A tattoo studio workspace featuring ink bottles, tattoo sketches on the wall, and various equipment organized on a counter and a small fan

A tattoo artist with blonde hair is tattooing a shirtless person on the chest in a tattoo studio

Person receiving a tattoo in a studio filled with various tattoo designs on the walls. The tattoo artist is working on the person's forearm