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Considering a new tattoo? 5 essential steps to getting the best ink

Husband-and-wife team in Lake Country share passion for tattooing
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Fabiana Philpott shares her creative talents at NSI Tattoo.

Cody and Fabiana Philpott travelled a unique road to their NSI Tattoo studio and they’re excited to share their inspired designs with the Okanagan.

The two opened the doors to their inviting Lake Country studio in August and since then have shared their creative talents with clients ranging from age 18 to 70.

Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Fabiana has had a lifelong passion for art. After graduating with a degree in textile and fashion, she was inspired to begin tattooing following studies with a Japanese painter popular with the Sao Paulo tattoo community.

Cody says he’s been an artist since before he can remember, but became captivated with tattooing when living in Japan as an ESL teacher. “It’s an art form that’s still done by hand and that’s a real draw for me,” he says.

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Today, using a combination of state-of-the-art digital technology and traditional fine art techniques, the two specialize in custom tattoo designs for clients’ individual tastes, styles and bodies.

How can you get the tattoo you want?

  1. Meet the artists and review their work: Some people emphasize the length of time they’ve been tattooing, but Cody advises clients also look at the creativity, technique and passion artists bring. “We’re young, but experienced, and we’re excited about all aspects of tattooing,” he says.
  2. Look at the studio: Make sure it’s clean, bright and well-organized, and that the business license is clearly displayed.
  3. Bring ideas and inspiration: If you have an idea about the tattoo you want, look at pictures across various art forms, Cody suggests. Review samples that catch your eye with the tattoo artist and discuss how they might work. “Not everything translates well into a tattoo and a good artist will be honest about that because they want you to have the best tattoo possible.”
  4. Go with an open mind: Be open to the tattoo artist’s ideas about how they might interpret your tattoo goals, but don’t let them talk you into something you don’t want. Do ask for clear advice about how the process will go, Fabiana suggests.
  5. Winter is ideal for ink: While people often think about getting new ink in the summer when the sun’s out and skin is showing, winter is actually best. A new tattoo can’t be submerged in water, so fun in the lake is out, and physical activity should be lighter while the tattoo is healing, Cody says, noting that depending on the skin and tattoo style, expect healing to take about two to three weeks.

Save with a Christmas flash sale

NSI Tattoo is holding a Christmas flash sale, Dec. 2 and 3 from noon to 9 p.m., and will be accepting walk-ins! Get a tattoo and T-shirt for $120. First come first serve, cash only!

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Just 15 minutes to Kelowna and 25 minutes to Vernon, visit NSI Tattoo from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, or at other times by appointment. Follow them on Instagram at @nsitattoo

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