Inked Talk

Browsing Kat von D and company’s LA Ink website today I noticed a feature called “Tattoo Mistakes,” which was a brief article outlining some common mistakes that people make when getting a tattoo. The advice was certainly good:

5. Poorly Sized Tattoo - getting a tattoo that is too small or that doesn’t fit well on the body part where it is placed. A tiny tattoo can certainly be beautiful if done well, but getting a dime-sized flower on your thigh just for the sake of having a tattoo is likely to lead to future regret…or a tattoo that from a distance looks like an ugly bruise.
4. Cheap Tattoos - a common tattoo shop sign says “a good tattoo ain’t cheap, and a cheap tattoo ain’t good.” Be thrifty when it comes to car insurance - don’t skimp when you are permanently marking your body.
3. Lover’s Name Tattoos - A Harris poll from 2003 cited getting having a former lover’s name in a tattoo as the biggest reason for tattoo regret. Opinions differ strongly on this one, but that tattoo is going to stay forever so make sure you’ll still want to read “Lisa” on your arm even after Lisa has left you for your brother.
2. Impulsive Tattoos - I wonder how my friend from high school likes the Kermit the Frog she had tattooed on her inner thigh now that she’s in her thirties. While it may seem cute or funny now, are you going to think so a few years down the road? Or even the next day? My personal tattoo litmus test is if I have an idea for a tattoo I have to like it for at least a few months before I decide to get it done.
1. Being Drunk - Tattoo parlors simply shouldn’t tattoo someone who is obviously intoxicated, but the real responsibility lies in the customer. Don’t make any decision that you have to live with forever while you are drunk.

While the LA Ink suggestions were excellent, other artists have had additional suggestions to avoid making tattoo mistakes:

Be comfortable with your artist and his work. If you aren’t sure about your artist’s work - if you don’t like his style or you aren’t comfortable with his take on your tattoo idea - don’t do it! Don’t get pressured into someone else’s vision of your tattoo. Shop around - there will be someone out there who understands what you want and who can help you make that idea work for you.

Do your homework on the tattoo shop. Tattoos really can be hazardous to your health if done in an unclean environment. Be sure that your tattoo shop has a good track record of cleanliness and compliance with health codes. If there’s anything about the shop that makes you feel uncomfortable or question its cleanliness, leave. There are other tattoo shops that will be happy to help you out - don’t risk your health on a bad one.

Ask questions. Particularly for a first tattoo, if you have questions about the tattoo procedure, about aftercare, or about anything, don’t be afraid to ask. It is better to ask than learn something the hard way later. The tattoo guy may look scary, but if he’s truly a professional he’ll have an answer to your question.

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Current Event Watch

Not quite ready for permanent ink? Henna tattoos seem like attractive alternatives: they are much less expensive, they can look very beautiful, and they wash out in a matter of weeks. So what’s not to like?

The henna plant, Lawsonia inermis, itself is a pretty benign substance. It produces a brownish red dye and for years it has been used for body art as well as leather and fabric dying. Few people experience allergic reactions to the plant material.

Unfortunately, in an effort to produce darker colors of dye, it is not entirely unusual to see “black henna” tattoos. This “black henna” is often not henna at all. It is made with black hair dye, a substance containing para-phenylenediamine (PPD). The result is a jet-black henna-style tattoo. However, PPD is not approved for use on the skin (although for some reason it is approved for use in hair dye), and in a good percentage of the population, PPD produces a severe allergic reaction, including blistering, scarring, itching, and a permanent sensitivity to PPD and other related chemicals. Depending on the placement of the “black henna” tattoo, this kind of damage can be extremely severe and permanent. Once a sensitivity is obtained, something as simple as dying one’s hair can become life-threatening.

Permanent damage from a “black henna” tattoo:

These so-called “black henna” tattoos are found most commonly in tourist areas, and because the allergic reaction often does not show up for a few days, the “tattoo artists” using this black henna rarely see the damage that they have done to their customers.

If you are still interested in getting a henna tattoo, educate yourself first. How do you know that your artist is using pure, unadulterated henna?

* Ask. Good henna artists will be very aware of the dangers of PPD and will discuss them with you. If you don’t feel the artist is being fully honest with you, go with your gut feeling and proceed accordingly.

* Black henna will be jet black, and it will stain the skin quickly. Regular henna is more brownish and must be left on the skin for hours, or even overnight. Ask the artist how long the “henna” should be left on the skin.

* Ask how long the henna tattoo will last and what color it will be. Regular henna will last for a few weeks, but it will be brown. A PPD-adulterated substance will be jet black for longer than a week. There are some safe black “body paints,” but they only last a few days. If your artist tells you that the tattoo will be jet black and last longer than a week, you are probably dealing with a substance containing PPD.

The bottom line is: be careful. Henna tattoos can be a beautiful, temporary alternative to traditional ink, but a lifetime of medical problems and suffering aren’t worth it. Do your homework before you get a henna tattoo.

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Globally Green Living

I ran across this blog post by a plastic surgeon. She compares tattoos on the body to graffiti on buildings. She says a “tattoo on a woman’s shoulder ruins the lovely evening gown or sundress she wears.” Well I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinions.

I’m not into evening gowns and sun dresses so this doesn’t apply to me. Oh and I am quite fond of graffiti as well as fine art and murals.

She also talks about ink saftey and ways to remove tattoos.

Check out the blog post here.

This article by Le Ann Lambert lays out the guidlines for older women who want to get tattoos or get more tattoos.

check out the article here: http://www.womens-homepage.com/tattoos-for-the-grown-up-girl.html

Even though this info is targeted at teens the information is valuble for everyone. The article in the context in which it is being delivered is targeting teens and kids. Both groups are very curious about the topic, especially since a lot of mommies and daddies have them.

click here for the article at kidshealth.org.

With the lack of state regulations regarding tattooing you should watch out for dirty shops. Good artists follow a protocol. A good artists workspace Is usually like a doctors office, only with cooler art. They take care of their equipment and insure there is no cross contamination.

This doesn’t seem like its a big deal. And if you are getting a tattoo its probably the last thing on your mind. You probably have your local shop or shops in mind and take this subject for granted. Well don’t. Who wants to contract HIV or Hepatitis when getting a tattoo? Not I.

Check out your artist and his/her reputation, Ask about their sanitation policy, and possibly drop in a couple times before your appointment. Yes, a tattoo is forever, but a disease will kill you.

Caring for your tattoo is as important as finding the right tattoo. Your new tattoo is considered an open wound and is susceptible to bacteria and infection. Listen to your tat artist. DON’T think you know whats best for the tattoo. Unless you have had work done already, you should listen to you artist.

After the artist is done they clean the newly finished tattoo up. Some artists apply a bandage some use plastic wrap. The plastic wrap is used so a person could still show their tattoo without taking the protective covering from it. Whatever the case you are usually advised to leave the bandage or plastic on for at least a minimum of 3 to 4 hours afterward.

To clean your tattoo use an anti-bacterial soap and lukewarm water. Don’t use a wash cloth. This could irritate the skin and besides, it hurts. To Dry, pat lightly with a towel or a paper towel. The use of ointment differs with artists. The top three are Bacitracin, A&D ointment or perfume free lotion Such as Curel. DO NOT use Neosporin. After about three days continue to keep it clean and keep using a lotion to keep the skin soft.

Scabbing isn’t something that is supposed to occur after a tattoo. Scabbing indicates a bad tattoo. If a little scabbing occurs, don’t trip, a little is common. It is a healing wound so your tattoo will start to itch. Don’t scratch! Scratching or picking could ruin your tattoo. If it is dry or itchy put lotion on it. If it scabs, don’t mess with it.

Protection from the sun is important in preventing colors from fading. Use a minimum SPF 30 before you spend anytime in the sun. The harmful UV rays will fade your colors not to mention damage your skin. Protecting it will keep your tattoo looking vibrant for years to come.

Using your artists instructions and some common sense will heal your tattoo correctly and keep it looking great.

Different artists charge different prices. Some things to consider are:

• Quality
• Tattoo placement
• Size of tattoo
• Tattoo detail

Quality of the artists work has a big impact on the price of the tattoo. A tattooist reputation is something to consider when getting tattooed. Look through their portfolios (they usually have something available in the shop tot look at) and decide if you like their work.

Tattoo placement seems like something irrelevant to pricing, but some places on the body are harder to tat or more sensitive. Ask if they charge more for placement or if that is included already in the price.

The size of the tattoo is obviously something to consider when you are putting money out for a tattoo. The bigger the tattoo the more you pay. There is also more detail involved in bigger pieces.

The amount of detail in a tattoo is something to consider. As I said before bigger pieces usually have more detail. Small pieces usually have less.

You want to get the best tattoo for your money. You might even end up spending more than you want. Remember, you will have it forever.

Getting a tattoo is more than just keeping with the latest fad. Tattoo’s are long time commitments. Choosing a tattoo that is right for you is essential in getting a tattoo. Maybe something you get when you are younger won’t appeal to you anymore when you are older. To find tattoo ideas look online. inkednation.com is a great community site where you can talk to artists, other tattoo enthuseists and look at tattoo flash art.

Placment of the tattoo on the body is important also. Do you want it to show? What is the tattoo policy at your place of employment? There is a growing number of employers that allow tattoos to be shown in offices. I used to work in an office and nobody had a roblems with me showing my tattoos. Getting a tattoo really involves taking your lifestyle into consideration.

Choosing a tattoo shop is just as important as choosing your tattoo. You probably want to start with one that has a good reputation for work as well as sanitation. Talk to the artist and check out the shop. Each state has its own set of tattoo regulations. Click here to see a list of regulations by state invloving minors and medical matters. If you aren’t comfortable with the shop or artist find another shop until you are comfortable with your choice.

In the end you need to be happy with your tattoo. Your tattoo will be with you for a long time.