Anyone who has considered a tattoo or is already inked knows how much of a serious commitment your design choice is, and while some people decide to get on the chair on a whim, most people think long and hard about their tattoo before booking in with a studio.
While tattoo artists will try to go above and beyond to turn their clients' vision into a reality, some have inkings they'd never do - whether for ethical reasons or simply because it's not worth the hassle of people returning months later, wanting it covered up.
A tattoo artist named Sofia Tam has revealed the designs she'd never do for clients - regardless of how much they beg or plead. There are a few body parts that are strictly off the table for the Helsinki-based expert too, and she'd never agree to an obvious rip-off of another artist's design.
Speaking to the Metro, Sofia said she always turns down requests to tattoo the name of someone's partner - and will only do monikers in special instances. According to her, it should be 'family names or nothing at all' but she's happy to discuss other inkings that remind you of your partner, but feel more abstract.
Sofia understandably refuses to tattoo racist symbols or otherwise intolerant imagery, and won't do any ink that reference or allude to death or suicide.
The tattoo artist runs and owns KVART Studios in Helsinki, Finland, and recalls awkward moments when clients return to the shop to desperately plea for a cover-up.
One of these unfortunate instances involved a client who wanted the letter 'S' permanently inked, as it was his girlfriend's initial.
The eager tattoo fan was more than happy to take the risk, and explained to Sofia that he would simply change it to the word 'sex' if anything went sour between the couple.
Sofia confirmed that "in a year and a half, he contacted me, and we made it 'sex'", an eye-opening example of how name tattoos can easily become a regret.
The Russian-born artist urges anyone wanting a tattoo from her to research her work ahead of making an appointment, as she has a specific style and won't do realism including portraits, fake muscles or fake shoes.
Any blatant design rip-off is strictly off the table for Sofia too, so there's no point coming to her with a pretty tattoo you've found on your Instagram feed.
"Trends can be remade, but not done in the same way that a lot of people ask for", she explains.
Sofia specialises in abstract line work that often wraps around the body and doesn't enjoy doing realistic work.
Sofia's revelations come as celebrity piercer Matthew Harris has begged clients to avoid one common mistake when coming to his famous London studio, as it can end in serious pain.
The major bugbear he has in his Metal Morphosis studio is his clients wanting to change their piercing jewellery straight away, which is never a good idea for fresh work.
"The first thing clients always say to me is when can I change it?" Matthew told The Mirror. "I always recommend them to buy something they like, that way they don't have to change it and risk a potential infection because they are touching it."
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