Tattoos are forever. So when you get the courage to touch needle to skin, you better make sure it’s a good decision.

Owners of Blood Diamond Ink built their tattoo shop on a foundation of good communication to ensure clients are happy with their final pieces.

Owner Chris Peltier has 16 years of experience tattooing and about seven years as the owner of Blood Diamond Ink. His staff has tattooed an array of clients with diverse styles.

“We have experience in just about everything because we live in a college town where everyone has different tastes,” Chris said.

But which tattoos are completely unacceptable?

Dan Garceau, who has 3 years of experience tattooing, said as a policy the shop does not tattoo any gang signs or racist art on clients.

“Infinity signs and ass tats are coming back and I wish they wouldn’t,” Garceau said.

Because the artists focus on their clients, what the client wants comes first. Still, they turn people away when clients are pressured into tattoos or piercings before they are ready, said Sara Peltier, the in-house piercing artist with about 15 years of experience.

“More often these college students are coming in not knowing what they want to get,” Sara said. “They ask for our opinion.”

Even if you have a tattoo in mind, if it’s overly done or unoriginal you might want to spice it up.

“I’m done with infinity signs,” said Jeff Drumm, one of the artists who got his first tattoo at 9 years old. “It’s overly done and boring,”

A tattoo should be personal. It doesn’t have to mean anything special or even be thoroughly thought out, but it will be a memento of where you were when you got it, Chris said.

“Once you get your first really good tattoo, you remember that moment,” Chris said.

The tattoo will be a permanent reminder of the headspace you were in, who you were with and, most of all, the artist’s temperament. This is why the artists recommended that you “vibe” with your artist.

“Take your time to talk to your artist and make sure you’re comfortable with them so you’re not stuck in the chair for five hours with an a-shole,” Sara said.

Ultimately, as long as the tattoo isn’t offensive, the client gets their way. The artists want to make them happy, not only so they come back for more but because artists love what they do.

“I do this because I love the response I get later, seeing people’s smiles afterwards when they look in the mirror,” Sara said.

For people ready to get their first piece Garceau recommended being hydrating and getting a good night sleep.

“It’s like you’re studying for a test,” Garceau said. “You want to do your best, so you have to prep your body just like you would for an exam.”

Pay attention to where the tattoo will be. When planning a tattoo, it’s crucial to know how sensitive its location will be under the needle. But the pain makes it cooler, right?

In the past, tattoos may have been taboo, but now they’re accessible in Pullman. You can get some ink by walk-in or appointment in Blood Diamond Ink located at 235 NW Whitman St. They are open noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.