Not every tattoo needs a deep meaning. Your fine line tattoo isn't going to stay perfectly crisp forever. Your tattoo artist is allowed to say no. And yes, Kirsten and Mel have some opinions about tipping.

In this episode of Skin Deep Stories, Montreal tattoo artists and moms Kirsten Diachidos and Melanie Belanger are sharing some of their tattoo industry hot takes and tackling the things clients and artists don't always agree on.

They talk about why artists should never feel obligated to take on a tattoo they don't want to do, why deposits need to be taken seriously, and just how much unpaid work can happen behind the scenes before a client ever sits down in the chair. They also get into the difference between taking inspiration from another artist and straight-up stealing someone's custom work.

Then there are the tattoo trends that might look amazing when they're fresh but don't necessarily age the way social media would have you believe. Kirsten and Mel share their thoughts on fine line tattoos, micro realism, white ink, red ink, and why understanding how tattoos change over time should be part of choosing what goes on your body.

And while they have plenty of opinions about what makes sense technically, there's one rule they definitely DON'T believe in: that every tattoo needs some profound backstory. Sometimes you just want something weird, funny, cute, or completely ridiculous on your body... and that's reason enough.

Whether you're heavily tattooed, planning your first one, or you're a fellow artist with some hot takes of your own, this episode gets into the tattoo conversations that might ruffle a few feathers. We said what we said.

Follow the hosts:
Kirsten on Instagram: kirstentattooarts
Mel on Instagram: melrocktattoos

Book a tattoo or learn more:
Visit wildmagnoliatattoos.com to see their work and book your next tattoo consultation.