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Q. Does it hurt?
A.
If you are worried about
the pain, Alcohol does
nothing for pain. Likewise,
other illegal substances
do not do a whole lot
for your pain either.
Some of them actually
make it worse by
increasing your
sensitivity, making the
tattoo seem like it is
taking much longer than
it actually is, or
making you more likely
to get light-headed.
Stay sober.
Going when you are sick
is not a good idea
either. Your body is
already dealing with
whatever illness you
have and making it deal
with a tattoo can be too
much for it. Eat an hour
or so before the tattoo.
Having low blood sugar
makes it more likely to
become light-headed.
Q. How long does a
tattoo take to heal?
A. This depends on where
you are getting the
tattoo, who does the
tattoo and how you take
care of it.
Q. How old do you have
to be to get a tattoo?
A. The laws about the
minimum age for getting
a tattoo vary from state
to state. To answer this
question, you would need
to call a tattoo artist
in your area for an
accurate answer. I will
not tattoo anyone under
the age of eighteen for
several reasons. A
tattoo lasts forever. A
person who is under 18
is not able to make
decisions that could
potentially affect all
aspects of their life.
Because they are so
permanent, there really
is no rush. Some people
that are under 18 have
not finished growing
which could affect how
the tattoo is placed
later on.
Q. I want to get a
tattoo, but I do not
want to get something
that is on the walls of
a tattoo shop. What
should I do?
A. Most tattoo artists
will be more than happy
to do something that you
have designed or found.
Finding your own design
is also better for you,
because you are getting
a tattoo that is more
personal and unique. I
always tell people that
ideas for tattoos are
everywhere. Most
tattoo artists will also
draw a tattoo for you
without any type of
picture from you,
usually at no extra
charge. If you want
something like this, it
is a good idea to try to
find something that is
similar to what you are
thinking about so that
the artist has a better
idea of what you are
looking for. If you can
sketch something. I tell
people to draw
something, they tell me
that they cannot draw.
Find a friend who can,
but even if you think
you cannot draw, any
type of drawing that you
give the artist will
help. It is really hard
to read peoples' minds,
I would take a drawing
that at least gave me
some idea of what the
person is looking for,
over trying to figure
out what they want by
drawing a hundred
different ideas out.
Understand that if you
want your own tattoo, or
if you want a tattoo
artist to draw
something, you may not
be able to get the
tattoo that day. Often
times the tattoo artist
will work on the design
when they are not busy
tattooing, or when they
go home. Sometimes the
artist needs to look at
reference material that
they may not have at the
shop. An extra day or
two is worth it for your
very own unique design.
Q. What is a sterile
chain of events and why
is it so important?
A. The term sterile
chain of events means
that when a tattoo is
being done, care must be
taken to ensure that
everything that is
touched during the
tattoo process is either
disposable,
autocalveable, or
covered with something
that is thrown away
after the tattoo is
done. Anything that a
tattoo artist touches
during the course of a
tattoo is potentially
contaminated. This
includes light switches,
telephones, power
supplies, cords, and
chairs. The tattoo
artist must either put
on a new pair of gloves
before touching anything
that is not covered, or
have that item covered
with some sort of
plastic. If a tattoo
artist does not do this,
you may be able to catch
something from whoever
was getting a tattoo
before you.
1) tattoo artist does
tattoo
2) person getting tattoo
has hepatitis
3) tattoo artist has
hepatitis virus on his
gloves
4) tattoo artist answers
phone that is not
covered
5) you come in to get a
tattoo
6) tattoo artist uses
new gloves, inks,
needles, etc., but
answers the telephone
while tattooing you.
7) Tattoo artist's
gloves have hepatitis
virus on them again, and
now you may get it in
your bloodstream.
This is called
cross-contamination.
This is something that
tattoo artists may not
be aware of.. A sterile
chain of events means
that care is taken NOT
to cross contaminate
anything, to ensure that
each and every thing
that is in the work area
stays clean and
uncontaminated..
Q. How should I find an
artist?
A. Finding a good tattoo
artist is something that
takes a little bit of
research and time. I
always recommend that
people start by looking
at tattoos that you see
around town. If you see
some tattoos that you
like, ask the person
where they got it and
WHO did it. If you
find an artist that you
like just from asking
around, great. If not,
you have to do a little
more research. It is
good to go to EVERY shop
in the town that you are
in and look at several
things. When you walk in
the shop, is it clean?
Is it well lit? Does it
smell good? Do you feel
comfortable in the shop?
I strongly believe in
first impressions when
it comes to tattoo
shops. If you are not
comfortable there, there
is probably a reason.
Look somewhere else.
After you have gotten a
feel for the shop
itself, ask to see the
portfolios of the people
that work there. Each
artist should have a
portfolio of photographs
of tattoos that they
have done. Really look
at the tattoos in the
pictures. You do not
have to like what the
tattoo is; you have to
like how it looks. Are
the lines straight and
even? Is the color
bright or patchy? Do the
tattoos look like they
are placed well?
When you see some
pictures that you like,
talk to the artist. Ask
them all questions that
you have about the
tattoo that you want,
their sterilization
procedures, and price.
Ask to see the
autoclave. All of the
questions that you have
are legitimate concerns
that you have the RIGHT
to ask.
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