How to Buy Tattoo Practice Skin

New to the world of tattooing and aren't quite ready to practice on real skin yet? Or, are you an old pro who wants to try out a new technique without having to find a human guinea pig? Tattoo practice skin is a good source to get much needed practice without having to touch needle to live skin.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Contact tattoo supply companies. There are many companies to choose from that you can find online and in tattoo magazines. Ask various companies for a price list of all the different practice skin they have available in order to make comparisons.
2. Check out different brands. Like any other product, there are various price ranges for tattoo practice skin. Before paying a premium price, find out what makes one brand so much higher than others. Find out if the quality of a higher priced brand is really worth the difference.
3. Decide what sizes and shapes to buy. There are many sizes available from 6" x 6" to 11" x 14" and many choices in between. You can also buy skin that is square, round, oval or rectangular in shape. Depending on how much practice you need and what your exact uses will be, you can determine how large a piece or pieces you'll need and what shape might work best.
4. Compare prices. Depending on what you're using the skin for, any cheap product may suffice, but in some cases, a higher priced, higher quality product might fit your needs better. Also compare prices between the different sizes to see if it's more cost effective to buy larger pieces that can be cut down.
5. Check for discounts. If you need a fairly large quantity or plan to share with other artists, then it never hurts to find out who might offer a reduced rate for larger orders.
6. Factor in shipping costs and time. You can always pay for expedited delivery, but unless you truly need it right away, this route isn't usually worth the added expense. Some companies will also add a handling charge on top of regular shipping, so check to see if there are any other extra fees involved.
7. Consider return policies. Some companies consider all sales final, which means if you get your practice skin and it's not all it's cracked up to be, you're stuck with it. Other companies may offer to give you a credit on your next purchase or exchange the product for something else, if you have a legitimate reason for wanting to return the item.

Tips & Warnings

• There's now tattoo practice skin available specifically for practicing the application of permanent makeup.
• To get the most mileage out of each piece of practice skin, use both sides. Once you're done tattooing one side, simply flip it over and tattoo the other.
• Although practice skin is very similar to tattooing on real skin, if you place the skin on a flat surface while you're practicing, then it won't be like tattooing on someone's body with its natural curves and contours.