After much deliberation, you have finally done it - you have decided to get a new tattoo. Maybe it's your first. Or perhaps you have been inked before but want to try a new place. Money saved, design or idea in place, only a business is left to choose.

Ask 10 friends, and you'll likely receive as many suggestions. A Google search of tattoo parlors in Sacramento only yields more discouraging results: 45 tattoo parlors, each with recommendations. Only through personal research will you be able to decide which establishment is the right fit for you. That is why The Sacramento Press has done the research for you.

We visited 14 Midtown establishments to speak with owners and artists, look through portfolios, check out the space and layout and get an overall "feel" for each one.

At each, we treated the visit as if we were getting a tattoo ourselves. We did all the research a customer would do, asked all the questions that are normally asked and put it all in one spot: right here.

In visiting each shop, we determined ratings for each, based on friendliness and atmosphere, and will provide the "ideal fit" between customers and parlors. Friendliness was evaluated based on discussions with artists and owners, specifically their willingness to help and provide feedback on designs and pricing. Atmosphere includes all details of the shop, including appearances from both outside and in, cleanliness, noise level, space, layout, design and overall comfort.

While trying to differentiate each shop, we uncovered many similarities between them. For example, each shop practices the same standard of safety precautions. Each uses an autoclave, a machine used to sterilize any tools that are used more than once.

Needles that come in contact with skin are single-service use, and unwrapped from their package just before tattooing begins. Customers can ask to see all of these items prior to being tattooed.

The tables and trays the tattoo gun is laid on are covered with Saran wrap to prevent the spread of germs, bacteria and possible skin cells. Most places will even put anything that goes on the wall (artwork, pictures, certificates and licenses) in frames to be even more cautious.

There are a few terms that are common to tattoo parlors that customers might want to familiarize themselves with.

• "Flash" is any kind of colorful example on the wall, a design that is not shown in tattoo form. These are primarily the types of things you can pick off the wall.
• "Traditional American" is described as "Sailor Jerry" World War II-type designs with bold outlines and dull colors,
• "New Style" is more cartoon-like, brighter and with more flair.
• "Traditional Japanese" includes characters, dragons, masks and koi fish.
• Lastly, there are "black and gray" designs, which are likely to be the standard, very basic design you think of when imagining a tattoo, and portraits.

The process in each shop is the same as well. Customers can go in and pick something off the wall. Others will come in with a design in hand. Some will come in with a verbal and mental idea but require an artist's assistance to draw it up. In any case, once the design is chosen, the paperwork filled out, the tattooing process begins. Depending on design, the process can be very quick or take multiple hours. In some cases, multiple sessions are required.

A few basic requirements: Shops require customers to be at least 18 years old. No shop will tattoo anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and the majority will refuse to do drug and gang symbols. Similarly, most shops will not tattoo designs on the knuckles and the face.

"We don't want to do anything that will lose you a job later," Tattoo the Body Embellished owner Court McIntyre said.

"I don't want to be responsible 10 years down the road when a kid has an old gang symbol, trying to go straight and gets killed over it," Timeless Tattoo owner Ezra McCabe said.

Once you know the requirements, the safety procedures (though you should absolutely still ask) and the process, all that is left is finding a place that is comfortable to you. Not only is a clean place desired, but one with friendly and helpful artists, willing to work with you and your design to make everything perfect and painless. Well, almost painless.

The following is part one (A-M) of The Sacramento Press' Midtown Tattoo Parlor Directory:

American Graffiti
1617 J St.
Noon-10 p.m. daily
$60 minimum/Charge by piece for small/$120 hourly for large

While American Graffiti can tattoo anything you ask for, the predominant design is American Traditional. The shop has been open for 21 years, recently moving from its 19th Street location of 19 years to its new home on J Street a year and a half ago. The shop employs four artists with between four and 10 years of experience, each of whom have traveled to festivals and competitions overseas.

"We get stoked when people come in for their first tattoo," shop manager Grimace Sherwood said. Typically, he said, people end up regretting getting a design too small and "no one regrets getting something too big."

Sherwood said the artists pride themselves in writing various styles of quality script, noting rules such as character spacing and size. The artists have traveled to Amsterdam, Prague and Germany to participate in tattoo festivals.

Exterior : Located on a busy section of J Street across from Hamburger Pattie's, missing the shop is harder than finding parking nearby. The building has a large open window in front, brightly displayed sign, vividly painted walls and a black and white checkered entryway.
Interior : The turquoise and red walls inside are brighter than the outside, but it will be the fake shark head and copious amounts of flash all over the walls you will notice first. The building is spacious, the tattoo station separated from the wait area by a deliberate entryway. Customers' friends can watch from the area or through the half-circle windows in the hall for a closer look.



Friendliness: B+
Atmosphere: A
Suited for: American Graffiti exudes professionalism, and professional experience is something Sherwood said customers will have to trust the artists with, as the artists may add small embellishments -- such as shading -- on the design without the customer's preapproval.

Bonehead
1017 24th St.
Sunday and Monday noon-6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
$60 minimum/Pricing by piece

Bonehead owner Troy Agid has been tattooing for 21 years, 15 of them here in Sacramento. Bonehead has called its new building home since April 2007. Currently, the shop employs six artists, including one apprentice, all of whom attempt to remain well rounded enough to suit anyone's needs.

"We're nice, we do good work and we're clean,"Agid said.

If selecting Bonehead, it's best to do your own design and character research in advance, and Agid also suggests going with original design and not picking something off the wall.

Exterior : Bonehead is located in a large-scale garage-like building with the name painted across the front. Both the building and sign are so large it's nearly impossible to miss.
Interior : Entering Bonehead, customers will find leather couches and chairs to the immediate right as well as a couple of candy and drink machines. The entryway room is very open, much like a lounge. The left and back walls are designed with "flash." What stands out is the vast amount of images containing drug, alcohol and gun references, a quantity not found in any other shop. Under the glass of the front counter a customer will be greeted with skulls, bones and various piercing materials. The tattooing takes place in the another room, which is just as big and spacious. The cleaning room is open to public view in the back corner. On the left lie at least a dozen bicycles waiting to be repaired. If being tattooed in one of the five stations on the open floor makes a customer nervous, there is one private room available.



Friendliness: B
Atmosphere: C+
Suited for: Bonehead is likely best-suited for younger generations or the more "hardcore" tattoo enthusiast, those not easily offended by the overwhelming amount of graphic images. It's not the type of place to take your mother.

Capital Ink
1021 Second St. (Downstairs)
Hours and prices unavailable

Five attempts at communication with Capital Ink went unanswered.

Exterior : Located in Old Sacramento on Second Street almost directly across from River City Tattoo, the shop is one daunting trip down a stairwell.
Interior : Through the door the space looks small at first. Immediately apparent is the copious amounts of examples, from poster-style flip catalogs hanging from the walls to portfolios on the glass counter top. The front space has one bright artificial light, causing the rest of the place to appear very dark. Looking through the doorway you can see two back areas, one well-lit that looks to be the drawing/office area for artists and another large room with furniture which can only presumed to be a waiting area near the tattoo station.

Photograph unavailable.

Friendliness: C- (Owner was unhelpful and chose not to participate)
Atmosphere: C- (Based only on the view from front room)
Suited for: Judging only what was seen, Capital seems best suited for only the most hardcore of tattoo enthusiasts or those directly referred.
 

Exotic Body
807 30th St.
Sunday through Thursday noon-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday noon-11p.m.
$60 minimum/Price varies by piece and artist

Tucked into its corner spot for 10 years, 20 total in Sacramento, Exotic Body employs five tattoo artists and two piercers. Exotic owner Mike Hare boasts of having diverse artists with the ability to cover a wide variety of styles.

"We have a personable, attitude-free shop," Hare said. "My advice is to find someone you are comfortable with and not switch for $10."

Exotic Body won "Best of Sacramento" award for tattoo businesses by the Sacramento News and Review in 2006 and the KCRA A-List in 2007 and 2008.

Exterior : From the outside, it fits right in with East Sacramento housing.
Interior : The inside layout may remind you of a dentist office. The space looks the same: mid-size waiting area, front counter "check-in," five rooms down the hall, separate from the waiting area. Each customer has the chance to be tattooed in the privacy of one of these unique rooms. The waiting room displays each of the accolades Exotic Body has received, as well as dozens of books and flip-through poster-style references. Loud rock music plays in the front, but is easy to ignore down the hall. Each individual room is designed differently with paintings, artwork and vibrant colors.



Friendliness: B-
Atmosphere: A-
Suited for: If you want award-winning work done in privacy, go here.

Forever
2418 16th St.
Tuesday through Sunday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
$60 minimum/hourly if large, otherwise by piece

In its ninth year, renowned Forever Tattoo has six regular artists and continually features guest artists from all over the world. Forever artists currently have anywhere from 10 to 20 years of experience and each claim to be so well-rounded that any can tattoo in the styles of Traditional, Japanese, Black and Gray, Portraits and New Style.

"Don't settle," Justin Reinhardt of Forever suggests as a short and sweet piece of advice. Those new to the tattoo world should not settle on a shop, an artist, or getting inked at all if they are not 100 percent convinced and comfortable.

Artists at Forever have participated in festivals in England, Germany, Greece, Japan and Spain, some staying to work in shop overseas for months at a time.

"Our art speaks for itself. It may not be the cheapest, but it will be quality. This is our life; this is what we do," Reinhardt said.

Exterior : Across from Willie's Hamburgers and next to 16th Street Cafe lies Forever Tattoo. The cafe tables overlap the parlor's space, so it may appear as if there is always an overflow of customers.
Interior : Inside, a long and narrow path leads you to the front counter. On your left is a plethora of flash and previous articles featuring Forever's artists. A five-foot countertop scattered with portfolios runs down the center of the shop separating the work station from the wait area. The tattoo station is a chaotic mess of artwork: the walls designed with three or four noticeably large paintings of naked women, many more smaller paintings, graffiti and skateboards, all hung in dizzying fashion. Loud music blares overhead. The tattoo station is as long and narrow as the waiting area, able to seat at least five customers at a time. If you don't like the idea of getting tattooed in front of a large picture window, you won't want the first chair. The public eye can watch any of the other stations' customers get inked just as easily from inside, but from the opposite side of the counter. On three visits, midday and evening, middle of the week and weekend, Forever was always bustling.

Courtesy of Justin Reinhardt

Friendliness: B-
Atmosphere: B-
Suited for: If you are willing to spend extra money for quality renowned work, Forever is your spot. But don't expect the artists to ease your pre-tattoo jitters. They don't come off as friendly or talkative.
 

Monster Ink Tattoo
1126 19th St.
Noon-8 p.m. daily
$50 minimum/$100 hourly for large scale

Owner Tuan Tran is one of the two artists at Monster, both with 10 years of experience. Tran worked in Davis before opening his 19th Street location three years ago.

"We are definitely different," Tran said. "We're more laid-back and more hands-on."

Monster Ink is not an ordinary walk-in shop. There is not a lot of flash on the walls, and Tran said 90 percent of his customers come from referrals. Unlike other shops, Monster does not do a lot of traditional work.

"We do a lot of lowrider, Spanish influence and Japanese influence," Tran said. He also pointed out their Polynesian artwork, something he said no one else in the area specializes in.

Exterior : Located between J and L streets, the shop appears to be an apartment or loft at first glance. Monster is also one of the few places that has an actual sign, as opposed to graffiti.
Interior : Inside, even during the day, the establishment is very dark. Monster is small: a living-room style waiting area with couch and coffee table, a small seated tattoo station in the back of the same room and a larger private room through a doorway on the right. At Monster, there is no overwhelming smell, booming music or frenzied designs.



Friendliness: B
Atmosphere: B+
Suited for: Those who want specific designs with Polynesian and Spanish influence.

Part Two to follow.