Your choice of tattoo artist can have a big impact on whether or not you like your tattoo. Here are some things to consider when looking for an artist who does butterfly tattoos.

Butterfly tattoos and dragon tattoos are great ways to decorate your body and express your individuality. However, like any tattoo, it is important to choose a tattoo artist whom you can trust to do high quality artwork. After all, unless you decide to undergo painful tattoo removal procedures, or commission a cover-up tattoo, your butterfly tattoos will be on your body for the rest of your life.

Here are 5 things to look for when choosing a tattoo artist who does butterfly tattoos.

1: A good reputation. A tattoo artist’s or tattoo parlor’s reputation can tell you a lot about the quality of work they do. When a tattoo artist does poor work, word gets around, so be sure to ask! Likewise, a tattoo artist that is well known for doing excellent work is probably worth paying a little more for. After all, you’re only going to get one chance at this.

You might also want to look for a tattoo artist who specializes in doing butterfly tattoos, dragon tattoos, or any other kind of tattoo you are looking for. Just like traditional artists, tattoo artists tend to have preferences on styles and colors, and they tend to do the best work when it’s a design that they like.

You might also want to ask your friends for referrals, especially if your friends have butterfly tattoos that you really like.

2: A professional storefront or business setup. You are the most likely to get butterfly tattoos you can be proud of at an established business, rather than a tattoo artist working out of his basement. There are several reasons for this. One, someone who has taken the time to set up his or her own business is much less likely to do something — such as do poor work — that could jeopardize that business. Also, a professional tattoo artist is more likely to have experience and a good reputation.

3: High quality inks. The quality of the ink is often overlooked, but this is something that you should pay close attention to, particularly if you are in the market for butterfly tattoos or dragon tattoos — both of which usually require good color and blending. High quality inks will create a better-looking and longer-lasting tattoo: The pigments will offer better blending and shading properties, and will be less likely to fade with time and exposure to sunlight.

4: A good selection of butterfly tattoos. Butterfly tattoos and dragon tattoos are both fairly popular designs; so many tattoo parlors have a good selection of both. However, it is worth doing a little research to make sure you are getting the one you like the best. After all, it’ll be on your body for the rest of your life.

Visit several different tattoo parlors and view their selections of butterfly tattoos and dragon tattoos. It’s also worth searching for designs online. Remember, if the tattoo artist you like the best doesn’t have the design you want, you can always show him an example of what you’re looking for — which brings us to the final thing you should look for in a tattoo artist.

5: Artistic talent. Whether you are choosing a pre-designed butterfly tattoo or having one custom designed, you should always be sure to entrust your body art to someone with true artistic talent. Almost anyone with friends who have tattoos has heard at least one horror story about a tattoo that didn’t turn out right. This is often caused not just by sloppy skills, but also by a lack of artistic vision.

Great butterfly tattoos or dragon tattoos require more than just a good design. The ink used, the artist’s skill and professionalism, and the assurances you have of getting the tattoo you want all contribute to your ultimate satisfaction. Anything with this level of permanence should never be an impulse buy — instead, make sure you consider your options carefully to ensure that you choose an artist you can trust.