This is so silly since I have no problem walking into the fanciest of fashion shops and trying on everything on offer, knowing I won't buy a thing. But I just can't get myself to go into tattoo shops. It's stupid, but I just feel as though my design might be thought of as silly or too small (it is small).
My friends don't have tattoos that I know of so I can't ask them for references. Is it normal to feel intimidated and what can I do?

Have you had a bad experience? I only have one small tattoo but my ex-husband had many (understatement lol....). What I have noticed from being in shops a lot is that some have an attitude of elitism like "we're so cool because we have tattoos and you're not".

Please don't jump on me- this is just what I've experienced. Part of it could be that I am a girly, preppy person but there has only been one shop I've ever been in where I've not felt like people were sneering/making comments or just outright ignoring me. Even my ex, who did appear to "belong" noticed how people would treat me and even sometimes him.

^I spend a lot of time in tattoo shops, because that's where a lot of my friends work. And there is an attitude there, I won't deny it.

BUT - that attitude will drop 100% if you attempt to have a conversation with these people. Tell them you're nervous, that you don't know much about the shop and it's intimidating. Instantly, from what I see, the people will open up and just talk.

The attitude comes in when you have snobby girls that come into the shop to get their navels pierced, and spend half the time talking about how weird our lobes are, or "what's that gross thing in your lip?" - Truly, it's all about respect. If you respect the people who work there, they'll respect you.

OP - if it's anything, I have a hard time walking into "fancy shops".

If you go to a decent shop, the people will be perfectly nice to you...the downside is that yeah, I've come across some shops totally lacking in the customer service skills. It just varies from place to place and you won't know if you don't go in...you can find reviews online, through Facebook, etc. And you can make an appointment to speak to a particular artist if you find somebody whose work you really like. Maybe it would be easier if you had an appointment and knew somebody would be there to talk to you about what you want?

Totally normal to be intimidated, but you've got to push past it. I've had my fair share of rudeness in tattoo shops, and they didn't get my business. The shop that did get my business answered all of my questions and even offered me a seat and a cup of tea to watch them work, I can honestly say there were no attitudes in that shop.

Can you look for online reviews? That's what I did, I don't have any tattooed friends either.

Maybe it's because it's a family business, but the shop I go to is so completely laid back and chill. I will admit, I was a bit nervous the first time I ever went there, but everyone was so helpful and friendly. I don't want to go anywhere else now because of how great my first experience was.

If you're interested in body mods, try to find reviews of places online, read up on them, and get a friend to go with you. Good luck!

I was REALLY intimidated at first, but I just thought about my tattoo and how badly I wanted it done. Turns out they were perfectly nice in there!

So, it turns out one of my friends is actually a tattoo artist (only without her own shop, she freelances at a few shops). I'll check out the quality of her work and if I like it, I'll ask her to do my tattoo. Just goes to show how little we know about other people ...

I have 3 tattoos so I've gotten used to shops. I've been to two plus various ones for friends and piercing. I was intimidated for sure but it wasn't because of attitude. Most of the people in there, both working and clients, are unconventional looking. Not a dis, I have tattoos and piercings. You just don't see heavily modified people everyday. Plus, you are about to get a needle dragged over your body and it is gona hurt at least a little. Plus I have always noticed a smell. It isn't bad, just noticeable. The noise of the tattoo guns or needles or whatever is unsettling too. I just tell myself I did the research and I know the artist does good work. If you trust who you go to and have a connection with them, they will calm you down. My current guy bags on me the whole time to distract. The other guys come over and give me trouble too. Coming up with constant comebacks takes thought away from the pain. They are used to people being nervous. You aren't the only one!

And about your design choice, you need to love it no matter what anyone else thinks before you get it. You don't want regrets. Your artist will help you decide on the best size and exact location. If your artist is good, they won't just sit back and say, "Whatever you want." I thought they would but my guy told me about chipping and such for the one on my foot. It says "Each Day's a Gift and Not a Given Right." There is also a butterfly with my mom's initial (K) as the body. She passed away from cancer so it's my little tribute to her. Anyway, I wanted it small and super fancy script and he said no way was he comfortable doing that because you won't be able to read it once it stretches and the size won't allow fancy script. I would never have thought of that so he drew up what he thought would look good and I LOVED it. He even consulted with other artists to make sure the size was reasonable. Moral of the story - don't worry too much about size and picture. As long as you know that you love the design, the artist will work with you to make it perfect.

It depends on the shop. I've hard work done (piercings, not tattoos) in three different shops.

The first was one I went to to have my nose pierced. I walked in, told the guy I wanted my nose pierced, and immediately I got a somewhat-condescending "nostril, or septum?" It was half-sarcastic; even at almost-30 I look like I'm still in high school, and I also look innocent (people commonly apologize when they swear around me-- more than one has been freaked out to learn I have one of the dirtiest mouths and minds that I know), and I could tell the septum question was mocking ("this choir girl's not gonna get her septum done, she's totally here for her nostril like every other trendy sorority girl in the world."). It wasn't really the only part of their attitude I disliked. I'd never go back.

The other two were fine, and I don't think it was because I was there for less "softcore" piercings (industrials; nostril has become so commonplace these days that the attitude a lot of people seem to have is that it's not a "real" piercing). They were friendly, they were nice, the first was cool about my admission that I was nervous (I kept reading that an industrial was a really painful piercing, and I'm not good on pain-- though as it turned out, I didn't think it was bad at all).

I dunno, though. I don't tend to walk into those places like I'm nervous. I just go like I belong there, and let them go ahead and judge what sort of person they think I am based on what I look like, whatever.

You won't know what they think of your "small" design until they ask. Hey, it's a job and they'll be getting paid for it, right? If they want to scoff at it, fine-- someone else will, no doubt, be glad to get your business.