The Markd journal
Guides for getting tattooed well.
Original writing from the Markd team. No SEO filler, no listicles — just the things we wish someone had told us before our first appointment.
Tattoo shop etiquette: the unwritten rules
How to act in a tattoo shop without annoying anyone — the small things that mark you as a thoughtful client vs. a tourist.
Latest
31 guidesHow tattoo pricing actually works behind the counter
The economics of a tattoo shop — what the artist takes home, what the shop keeps, and why the quote isn't arbitrary.
The tattoo placement guide: composition, not just pain
Where to put a tattoo for how it looks, how it ages, how it works with clothing, and how it interacts with the rest of your body over a lifetime.
What to know before your first tattoo: the myths I wish I could un-teach
The five things first-timers consistently get wrong, and the small mindset shift that prevents most regret tattoos.
Cover-up tattoos: the short version
The quick-reference rules for covering an old tattoo — what's possible, what's not, and the laser-first path most artists privately recommend.
Watercolor tattoos: a complete guide (and why I usually push back)
Watercolor tattoos are beautiful on day one and the fastest-fading style on the menu. Here's how to do one that survives — or why to consider an alternative.
Blackwork tattoos: a complete guide
Blackwork is the most versatile and most underrated style in modern tattooing. Geometric, ornamental, illustrative — what it is and how to commit.
Beginner
6 guides- 6 min
The tattoo placement guide: composition, not just pain
Where to put a tattoo for how it looks, how it ages, how it works with clothing, and how it interacts with the rest of your body over a lifetime.
- 5 min
What to know before your first tattoo: the myths I wish I could un-teach
The five things first-timers consistently get wrong, and the small mindset shift that prevents most regret tattoos.
- 5 min
How to prepare for a 6+ hour tattoo session
Long sessions are a physical event. Here's the sleep, food, and packing plan that turns hour five from unbearable into manageable.
- 6 min
Tattoo pain chart by body part — and what the chart leaves out
A ranked pain map of every common placement, plus the variables (sleep, time of day, the artist's hand) that move the ranking.
- 6 min
Tattoo placement: pain, healing, and how it ages
An honest map of what each body part feels like to tattoo, how fast it heals, and how the ink holds up over a decade.
- 7 min
Your first tattoo: a calm, honest walk-through
What actually happens at a tattoo appointment — from the consultation handshake to the moment they peel the wrap off.
Aftercare
2 guides- 5 min
Tattoo touch-ups: when you actually need one (and when you don't)
Most fresh tattoos look 'wrong' for the first month and don't need touching up at all. Here's how to tell the difference.
- 6 min
Tattoo aftercare, day by day
A clear, unfussy aftercare schedule for a healthy heal — what to do, what to avoid, and when to actually worry.
Choosing
6 guides- 6 min
Traveling for a tattoo: the planning checklist
Flying to an artist's home city, building in recovery time, dealing with touch-ups long-distance — the practical version.
- 5 min
The 11 questions to actually ask at a tattoo consultation
Most people walk into a consult, nod a lot, and leave with no new information. Here are the questions that change the outcome.
- 6 min
How to read a tattoo artist's portfolio (and spot the red flags)
Most clients scroll an Instagram grid and book. Here's what to actually look for — healed work, line consistency, and the tells of inflated portfolios.
- 6 min
Traveling for a tattoo: guest spots and out-of-town artists
Booking an artist who is visiting your city, or traveling to theirs — the planning that makes it actually work.
- 6 min
Tattoos on darker skin tones: what artists wish more clients knew
Pigment choice, contrast, and aftercare on richer skin tones — how to plan a piece that actually looks like the reference.
- 5 min
How to choose the right tattoo artist for your idea
Finding the artist who is right for your specific tattoo matters more than finding the most famous shop in town.
Pricing
2 guides- 5 min
How tattoo pricing actually works behind the counter
The economics of a tattoo shop — what the artist takes home, what the shop keeps, and why the quote isn't arbitrary.
- 6 min
How much do tattoos cost? A real answer, not a range
Why the same tattoo can be $200 or $2,000 — broken down by size, style, artist tier, and the costs nobody quotes you upfront.
Money
2 guides- 5 min
Deposits, cancellations, and tattoo booking etiquette
How deposits actually work, when you forfeit them, and how to handle scheduling without burning bridges with a great artist.
- 5 min
Tattoo pricing and tipping in Texas: what's normal
Realistic price ranges across Austin, Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio — plus how much to tip and why deposits exist.
Styles
8 guides- 5 min
Cover-up tattoos: the short version
The quick-reference rules for covering an old tattoo — what's possible, what's not, and the laser-first path most artists privately recommend.
- 6 min
Watercolor tattoos: a complete guide (and why I usually push back)
Watercolor tattoos are beautiful on day one and the fastest-fading style on the menu. Here's how to do one that survives — or why to consider an alternative.
- 6 min
Blackwork tattoos: a complete guide
Blackwork is the most versatile and most underrated style in modern tattooing. Geometric, ornamental, illustrative — what it is and how to commit.
- 7 min
Japanese (Irezumi) tattoos: a complete guide
The most architecturally serious style in tattooing — what makes a true Japanese-style piece, why the rules matter, and how to commit to one.
- 7 min
Realism tattoos: a complete guide
Realism is the highest-skill ceiling in tattooing and the easiest style to do badly. How to pick a true realism artist and what to know before you commit.
- 7 min
American traditional tattoos: a complete guide
Why traditional tattoos still dominate after a hundred years — the rules of the style, the subjects that work, and how to pick a real traditional artist.
- 7 min
Fine line tattoos: a complete guide to a style people misjudge
Fine line is the most-requested style of the decade and the most misunderstood. What it actually is, what it can't do, and how to make one last.
- 8 min
Tattoo styles explained: a plain-English glossary
Fine line, traditional, realism, blackwork, neo-trad — what each style actually means and when to pick which.
Etiquette
2 guides- 5 min
Tattoo shop etiquette: the unwritten rules
How to act in a tattoo shop without annoying anyone — the small things that mark you as a thoughtful client vs. a tourist.
- 4 min
Tattoo tipping etiquette: who, how much, and when not to
Tipping rules in tattooing are different from restaurants. Here's the real math — and the rare situations where tipping less is the right call.