- Why get a tattoo?
- What are the risks?
- How does it work?
- Who had the first?
- What are the laws?
- How do I choose what I want?
- How do I take care of it?
Friday, 13 November 2009
Introduction
A brief History
Tattoo Facts
- Tattoos last longer than you do
- Tattoos have been around since 33,000 BC
- The Bible states 'Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourself. I am the Lord'
- The first tattoo gun was based on the design of a doorbell
- There are at least 100 different colours of tattoo ink
- Brick dust use to be used as a red ink in the 1800's
- Urine was used to sterilize needles
- Sailors tattoos meant different things
- Tom Leppard from the Isle of Skye, Scotland, has 99.9% of his body covered with Leopard skin tattoo:
Thursday, 12 November 2009
Tattoo Process
Modern tattoo machines have several basic components:
- A sterilized needle
- A tube system, which draws the ink through the machine
- An electric motor
- A foot pedal, like those used on sewing machines, which controls the vertical movement of the needle.
Monday, 2 November 2009
Ink strokes
The tattoo itself involves several steps:
- Outlining, or black work: Using a single-tipped needle and a thin ink, the artist creates a permanent line over the stencil. Most start at the bottom of the right side and work up (left handed tattooists generally start on the left side) so they don't smear the stencil when cleaning excess ink from the permanent line.
- Shading: After cleaning the area with soap and water, the artist uses a thicker ink and a variety of needles to create an even, solid line. Improper technique during this step can cause shadowed lines, excessive pain and delayed healing.
- Colour: The artist cleans the tattoo and then overlaps each line of color to ensure solid, even hues with no holidays -- uneven areas where color has lifted out during healing or where the artist missed a section of skin.
- Final cleaning and bandaging: After using a disposable towel to remove any blood and plasma, the artist covers the tattoo with a sterile bandage. Some bleeding always occurs during tattooing, but most stops within a few minutes.
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Window Shopping
I want some body art. How do I choose a tattooist?
All tattooists have their own approaches on designs, choosing one you want is very much a matter of taste. some examples vary, old school, new school, portraits, greyscale, colour, traditional etc
The Tattoo Club of Great Britain recommends you visit the tattooist's studio, preferably when it's busy, and take a look around. It's a chance to see the designs the tattooist has done as well as to look at the way they work.
You'll also need to check that the tattooist's studio is registered with the local Environmental Health Department.
Can anyone be a tattooist or are tattooists regulated?
Tattoo parlours have to be licensed by the local authority, and tattooists should display their certificates to prove it. This is to make sure tattoo parlours meet relevant standards of cleanliness and hygiene.
What sort of standards are we talking about?
Standards of cleanliness should be extremely high. For example, all equipment used for tattooing should be single service. This means that it should be individually packaged and sterilised using a machine called an autoclave. Ask about safety policies before you make your choice.
Does having a tattoo hurt?
According to tattooists, thanks to modern equipment it doesn't hurt a lot. Generally, getting a tattoo hurts more if it's done over the bone. So being tattooed on a fleshy part of your body shouldn't be too excruciating from my personal experience (having my hip to neck done) areas around the hips, ribs, abs and sternum are the most painful.
Is it OK for teenagers to be tattooed?
By law, tattooists are not allowed to tattoo anyone under the age of 18. If they carry this out
the tattooists could lose their license and have a jail sentence for braking the law.
I've gone off my tattoo. Can I get rid of it?
It's possible, but expensive. There are several ways to remove tattoos—laser treatment, dermabrasion or simply cutting away the tattoo, although the latter may involve a skin graft. Another option, of course, is to get another tattoo to cover the one you don't like. statistics
prove that many cover ups are from drunken mistakes or impatience.
How do you become a tattooist?
There's no clear career path to joining the ranks of tattooists. Sometimes tattooists take on apprentices who are expected to buy their own equipment and sterilising units. It takes between three and five years for tattooists to become fully trained. A shop in Wigan I use to get my tattoos from the women Laura did Graphic Design prior to her apprenticeship. You need to be able to draw to be a good tattooist.
How much do tattooists charge?
It depends on the size and design of the tattoo. Some tattooists charge by the hour for larger tattoos. I use to get my tattoos for £50 an hour, now I pay £100 an hour and a half and I am much more satisfied with the outcome of my tattoos.
Tattood
Aftercare
ALWAYS be sure to thoroughly wash your hands with antibacterial soap before touching your new tattoo. Contact with dirty hands is a major contributor of infection.
Once tattoo is exposed, wash it thoroughly with antibacterial soap and warm water. Be sure to rinse away any & all secretions and be sure that all soap residues are rinsed off.
After washing tattoo, lightly pat dry with clean towel, apply a small amount of Bacitracin ointment and massage into tattoo. DO NOT apply a thick coat as your skin must be able to breathe (If Bactracin is unavailable, alternatives are Neosporin or A&D ointment. If rash develops, Lubriderm or Dermassage lotion may be applied).
Depending on the nature and extent of your tattoo, it may be necessary to wear clothing heavy enough to protect it, particulary if you work around grease, oil, dirt, metal, etc.
Be sure that any clothing that touches your tattoo is soft and clean.
Your new tattoo will develop a layer of dry skin, DO NOT PICK this off. Apply ointment three times daily until the layer falls of on its own. After the dry skin has fallen off, there will be a period of adjustment for the new skin. It is advisable to use a skin lotion during this time.
DO NOT let the tattoo dry out.
DO NOT reapply bandage as the tattoo needs to breath to speed healing.
DO NOT use Vaseline, petroleum jelly, alcohol, or peroxide.
DO NOT rub, scratch, or pick at tattoo.
DO NOT expose new tattoo to direct sunlight for 2 weeks. After that, you can use sun block (SPF 35 or above) to help keep tattoo from fading.
DO NOT submerse tattoo in water for 2 weeks. This includes baths, swimming, and saunas. Saltwater and chlorine act as a bleach and can ruin your tattoo and too much water exposure can cause wrinkling and puckering of skin which can also damage your new tattoo.
The healing process usually takes between 2-3 weeks, but can vary from person to person.
At the end of the day
the tattoo is you're responsability
Friday, 30 October 2009
Standard living
Below is an image of prejudice characteristics of who someone is by where they are tattooed:
Prejudice
When people get tattoos they don't think about what some people may think.
Many will judge you to be a jouvenal criminal. (dependant on age) and what not.
'The only difference about a tattooed person and a person without tattoos is the tattoeod person doesn't care if you have tattoos'
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Abroad tattoos
You should follow the same practice as you would with getting a tattoo anywhere:
Sterilisation: How do they sterilise their equipment?
Do they use fresh needles everytime, can you see them open them for each tattoo?
(Dont take their word for it, ask to see their autoclave) Sonic cleaners and bleach do not mean sterile!
Does the shop look clean, well lit and sanitary?
A good tattoo shop should have the same feel as a dentists office, very clean and you should see the artists using a lot of disposible plastics, gloves, barrier film, aprons etc etc.
Ask to see their portfolios, Good artists have records of their work. Ask for real photos as many scam artists simply take other peoples digital work off the net and print it out.
If their work looks good then see if they can provide the peice you want, if it looks shady there is no reason for you to settle for that. If you don't find a place you want you can always come back and get it.
Finally: while over there, remember that when you have a fresh tattoo you can not expose it to sun or submerse it in water for three weeks without risking irreparable damage.
e.g. No sunbathing and no swimming with a fresh tattoo, If you think you can do that for your entire holiday go for it, However if you can't, don't get one, unless you would like to pay off the roof prices to fix the tattoo back in the Uk.
Here are some Bad examples of what tourists tend to get on holiday: