So… You want to get tattooed. Excellent! This can be a rewarding and enriching experience… IF done right. Knowing HOW to get tattooed is key to being happy with this decision. I hope the following paragraphs help you, as a potential client, learn the skills necessary to get a good tattoo, one you can live with.
People get tattooed for various reasons… some good, some not so good. Tattoos can be a scrapbook of a person’s life. They tell us about the user’s loves, hates, hopes, fears, achievements, and regrets. They can be purely decorative. They can tell where a person is from or where they want to be. . It can be done as a way to be “different” or “rebellious”, or to fit into a larger group identity.
Ideally, they are applied in an attractive way, by a skilled artist, fitting the wearer’s body and personality, with lasting personal meaning and a timeless style that will not fade with today’s trend. Tattoos of this type are rarely lamented and can be a source of pride for their owners. I don’t know of a single person with a good quality, properly sized, personally significant tattoo that they wish they hadn’t gotten.
For many, however, this is an impulsive act, one eventually regretted for that very reason. Often, not much thought is given to the meaning of the design or its overall effect on one’s self-image. Many times, tattoos are done because they are in style. The problem is that fashions change and unlike other fashion accessories, you have to keep your tattoo.
That’s why it’s important to know HOW to get tattooed. For many, this is a daunting and confusing endeavor, especially the first time. After all, it is permanent. This single thought can be stressful enough. Most people never do anything permanent. Half of all marriages today are much less than that, and the idea of ​​committing to an aesthetic seems so much more difficult than committing to a soul mate.
The first step is to know yourself. What are you into? What do you have dear? What do you want? What do you think? What types of images do you find pleasing and what part of your body would you like to accentuate with a tattoo? These are good places to start.
Location, scale, and flow are all important. Good tattoos, in my opinion, should look like clothing or jewelry from a respectable viewing distance. A good example is the traditional Japanese tattoo. Another would be Pacific Islander. Optimally, they should read just fine from across the street. If so, they will age well. Small, malignant, isolated tattoos look like melanomas and only get worse over time. These are to be avoided.
Then you need to decide on the image. A good design reference can be found anywhere; Internet, library, magazines, comics, greeting cards, even wallpaper. This part is subjective. Look for TYPES of images you like, not necessarily specific tattoo designs. A good tattoo artist can help you develop a basic idea into a beautiful finished piece, but they need your direction.
The next thing you need is to find that artist… the one who can do the mental math for you, adding up your expectations and ideas to give you exactly what you never knew you wanted. Word of mouth is invaluable. If you see a tattoo you like on someone, ask who got it. Look in tattoo magazines and on the Internet to find out about local tattoo artists. Once you’ve found a few prospects and located their studios, take some time to visit them and view their studios and portfolios.
The wallet is key. The way artists present their work says a lot about them professionally. Look for HEALED images of quality work, a style that speaks to you. Look for consistent lines, smooth shading, and solid colors. A tattoo artist will usually put their favorite work in their book, so you can see what they prefer to do or specialize in. Do not skip this step. If you forget to look at a wallet, you deserve what you get. If you ask and they say “Portfolio?”… run like hell!
So there you are. He’s brainstormed for weeks, going to all the local tattoo shops, browsing through portfolios, choosing the “perfect” artist AND settling on a design (WOW!). He is now ready to sign the waiver form and make his skin art dreams come true… right? Not yet, there, Turbo! A much needed part of the big picture should be considered before performing ANY type of invasive procedure. It’s always a good idea to look at your chosen artist’s practices to make sure this isn’t a decision you’ll regret. If you’ll be so kind as to read on, I’ll tell you what you need to know and look for to make sure you get a safe tattoo.
First, let’s discuss the risks inherent in this type of procedure. Like any other activity that involves needles and blood, there is always the possibility of transmitting disease if proper standards are not met. Bloodborne pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis are the biggest popular concern, with most people believing that their greatest risk is “getting AIDS.” In fact, HIV is not a concern in tattooing, mainly due to the large amount of blood that must be transmitted to infect someone with the virus. HIV is also relatively weak and survives for a short time when exposed to the environment. Hepatitis, a disease that attacks the liver, is much more worrisome, being a much stronger pathogen that requires a much smaller amount of bodily fluid transfer, although it should be mentioned that according to the Centers for Disease Control, it has NEVER there has been a documented case of Hepatitis OR AIDS caused by a tattoo. However, there is always a first time for everything, and nobody wants to be, so it is always good to take universal precautions. Also remember that there are many other diseases you can contract through contact with infected blood, such as tuberculosis. However, this not all. We must also take into account the plethora of different bacterial and fungal infections that are waiting for the opportunity to develop inside your new tattoo. So be careful… the skin you save could be yours.
The first step in this process is to ask about the study’s universal precautions…a set of practices used with each and every client to prevent infection and disease transmission (hence the term “universal”). Do they use new needles? Do they wear latex or similar examination gloves while working? Do you use an acceptable hard-surface disinfectant on all of your tools and work surfaces between tattoos after removing all disposables (razors, ink, ink cups, Vaseline, plastic barriers, rubber bands, etc.)? How do you sterilize your non-disposable equipment? These are the questions you should have answered BEFORE getting tattooed or pierced… as well as others that come to mind. Remember, it is YOUR health and it is your responsibility. Do it for yourself, as well as your friends and loved ones. You don’t want to end up with a Typhoid Mary amputation, do you?
When it comes to sterilization, there are three commonly used methods… cold chemical sterilization, dry heat, and autoclaving. An autoclave is a device that uses steam, heat, and pressure to kill all known microorganisms and the spores with which they reproduce, and is the preferred method of sterilization, especially for equipment that has been in contact with potentially infectious body fluids. Chemical and dry heat sterilization are considered adequate for uncontaminated items (those that have not been in contact with body fluids) or items that cannot be autoclaved, but are not the most effective practices because the steam pressure of an autoclave (what these two methods lack) is what kills the reproductive spores and gets into all the little nooks and crannies of the equipment. Autoclaving is carried out when cleaned, dry, and individually packaged items are processed at 15 pounds per square inch and 250 degrees Fahrenheit for twenty minutes at temperature and pressure (although this is the most common standard, these figures vary. more heat or pressure may decrease the exposure time needed).
The next thing you should try to do is observe the tattoo artist’s work. This is usually not a problem and most good tattoo artists will really appreciate it if you care enough to ask. Things to look for include: “Is the work area clean, organized, and well lit?” “Do you wash your hands between customers?” “Do you refrain from touching things like doorknobs, lights, the phone, or the radio with dirty gloves? Greater confidence can be had with an artist who also uses plastic barriers on their power supply, tattoo machines, spray bottles, and work surface, because they reduce serious blood and ink contamination, thus making cleanup easier. between clients easier and more comprehensive. Great care must be taken to avoid cross-contamination, which occurs when potentially infectious material from one client comes into contact with a surface and the tattoo artist touches that surface while working on the next, thereby “cross-contaminating” a client. client to another. Keep in mind that the care the artist takes in cleaning it is a good indicator of the level of care they will take in executing your tattoo. There is no such thing as a good and dirty tattoo artist.
If you keep these things in mind and keep your eyes peeled, asking any and all questions that come to mind, you should be fully able to decide whether or not your decision to get tattooed will be a good one. There are few things in this world more satisfying than having a beautiful new tattoo… except not having to worry about getting sick from it. If you need any other reason to go through all this hassle, just close your eyes (I’m waiting…) and imagine a two week old, oozing, oozing fungal infection on that very tattoo and the resulting scar that will be left there. once I FINALLY heal. All it takes is a little time and common sense to avoid making a decision you will regret. Isn’t it worth insuring your health and that of your loved ones?