Tattoo Making Tips

Did you know that about twelve million Americans have one tattoo! A tattoo is a design made on the skin by a process of pricking and ingraining an indelible pigment. The design is made on the skin with a temporary dye such as henna or ink. “The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian "tatu" which means "to mark something.” Tattoos date back to 3300 years B.C. and have been known to be found on Egyptian and Nubian mummies. Many societies wore tattoos as part of their culture but in todays society, tattoos are widely accepted and are used to convey a message or display artwork.

A tattoo is a permanent marking made by inserting ink into the layers of skin to change the pigment for decorative or other reasons. Tattoos on humans are a type of decorative body modification, while tattoos on animals are most commonly used for identification or branding. Tattooing has been practiced worldwide. The Ainu, the indigenous people of Japan, traditionally wore facial tattoos. Today one can find Berbers of Tamazgha and Maori of New Zealand with facial tattoos.

There are five key things you need to know before heading off to the Tattoo Parlor on tattoo appointment day. This article will cover those five key points to help ensure that when you finally put ink to skin, you are completely ready and do not have any last minute snags in your tattoo plan.

Tattooing Tips

1. Before visiting the tattoo studio make sure that the tattoo studio has biohazard containers for blood-stained objects, sharps containers for old needles, autoclaves and accessible facilities for washing the hands with hot water and soap.

2. Go for a knowledgeable, well-mannered and helpful tattoo artist.

3. A knowledgeable tattoo artist will not tattoo minors, mentally ill and also the drunken ones.

4. Educate yourself about the techniques, the pain of getting a tattoo, as well as after care and potential complications. You can find more information here.

5. Research the procedures for removing a tattoo: laser treatment, dermabrasion, salabrasion, scarification… Realize that these are as painful and expensive as they sound, and not always successful. Read more here.

6. Rinse the soap off under running water. Again, avoid using a washcloth to remove the soapy water. Letting clean, lukewarm water run over the area carries away all the soap and germs.

7. Do not rub your fresh tattoo dry. The best way to dry your tat is to let it air dry. If you don't have the time to do that, you can gently pat it dry with a soft towel. An even better technique is to cover it with a clean paper towel and let it wick up the moisture on its own. This will only take a few moments and is well worth the time.

8. If the tattooist is a qualified professional, they will have no problem complying with standards above and beyond these simple guidelines.

9. If the tattooist or studio does not appear up to these standards or if they become evasive when questioned, seek out a professional tattooist.