Archive for Tattoo Guidelines
Neck Tattoos and Military Don’t Mix
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Thinking of getting a new tattoo? Maybe you were considering one on your neck? If so, you need to know that your new tattoo could cost you a chance to serve in the military. State Senator Ron Crimm for Kentucky wants to pass a bill that would require tattoo parlors to post a warning, because he says that many who go into the parlors for tattoos are not aware of this fact. The reality is that in the military they can decide on a case by case basis, but on the whole any tattoo they decide is racist or sexist they can ask to have removed before they can accept a person who is applying to enlist.
So what kind of tattoos are the military concerned about? It is pretty much up to the recruiting battalion commander for each state. The general rule of thumb is no tattoos that are offensive to others or degrading to women; and that is a pretty wide rule. So if you aren’t sure, and you are thinking of getting that next tattoo somewhere pretty upfront and out there, you might want to consider if it is offensive to anyone before getting it done.
So what does this mean to tattoo parlors? On the whole, most of them agree that anyone coming in to a tattoo parlor to get a new tattoo will know if they are in the military or thinking of signing up, that they need to restrict what they have. In fact, most tattoo artists can tell at least one story of someone coming in to get a naked woman tattoo “cleaned up” for military inspection by adding some clothes to it.
Of course, most people who come in to get a tattoo on their neck will probably have a discussion with the artist about why and what they want tattooed in such a prominent place. But the bottom line for most people is that they want to get tattooed what they came in to get tattooed, and having a sign telling them that the military may not want them if they get an offensive tattoo on their neck will probably not slow anyone down who is determined to get that four letter word above the collar line.
What to Look For In a Tattoo Artist
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One of the most important decisions you’ll be making (after first deciding to get a tattoo done of course) is picking the right tattoo studio and artist. There are many articles that talk about the importance of cleanliness and hygiene (click here for information on picking the right tattoo studio), so I’m not going to repeat that information here. But let me reiterate, the cleanliness of a tattoo shop comes foremost, before you even think about which artist to pick.
After you have narrowed down your choices to a few good tattoo shops, now it is time for you to look at the artist’s work. Remember this, just because an artist works in a very impressive shop, doesn’t mean he/she is actually good. For all you know, they could be working there part-time or as an apprentice. So if your tattoo is really that important to you, you’d want to spend some time checking out several artists before you settle on one. A good tattoo artist makes a world of a difference. Not only will they get the job done right but they can even give you some fantastic, fresh ideas on the kind of design you want.
Always ask to look at an artist’s portfolio / previous work. Every artist has a unique style, first make sure you like their artistic style. Ask them how long they’ve been in the industry. Some people may be prodigies, but for most folk, perfection only comes with experience. Ask them how many tattoos they have done so far and how many tattoos they approximately do in a year. These numbers will give you an accurate picture of their background. Again, just working in a tattoo shop doesn’t give you actual tattooing experience. If the number of tattoos they create in a year is something more than 100, then they must be good. But if the number is too less, then they’re obviously doing something wrong! Ask them if they have been professionally trained. Handling a tattoo machine requires tremendous precision. It is an added advantage if they have had formal training.
Ask among friends. Of course it will help if your friends actually have tattoos! Also make sure the artist you have narrowed down has some experience with the kind of design you want. For example, if your design has some lettering in them, your artist should have had experience with them. Just because an artist is fantastic with the old school designs does not mean they can pull this off. In the NY Ink tattoo show Ami admits that his lettering skills aren’t that great. And this is the case with most artists. Very few people are good at everything!
Tattoo Studio Safety
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Since the process of tattooing requires breaking our outer layers of skin and injecting ink into the deeper layers of the tissue, I can understand why some people fear that the process may possibly be unsafe. People commonly fear being infected with the dreadful HIV virus or some of the other diseases commonly associated with tattooing – like, syphilis, tuberculosis, and hepatitis. All it takes is a momentary contact with an unsanitary needle and you can wind up with one of those serious infections! So yes, hygiene is THE most important thing to consider when you’re contemplating a tattoo and with the necessary precautions, tattooing can be a safe procedure! Since it is up to us to determine whether we want to take the risk, I’d suggest, you learn as much about the process as you can, before you decide to go through with it.
One of the easiest ways you can get infected in a tattoo studio, like I mentioned earlier, is through unsanitary equipment. All equipment must be either sterilized or disposable. So when you walk into a tattoo studio here’s what you need to ask yourself:
- Does the shop have an autoclave? – This is a unit that sterilizes the equipment used.
- Does the shop re-use ink left over from the previous procedure? – Things like ointment, water, ink, ink cups, and gloves should be used only once. Artists must pour the ink from the bottle into a small cup for every use and any ink that’s left over in the cup at the end of the session must be thrown away, including all the others that I mentioned.
- Does the Artist wear gloves for every procedure? – Well, they must; they should also use a fresh pair for every client.
- Does the shop have a proper place to dispose used needles etc.? – This is equally important to sterilizing the equipment. Some viruses like the HBV (one that causes Hepatitis B) can survive on dry surfaces for at least 7 days! So you don’t necessarily need a dirty needle, all it takes is an open wound coming in contact with a dirty surface.
- Are the floors, counters and tables clean? – If they look dusty or stained (like they haven’t been wiped in a few days) chances are they can be careless about other aspects of hygiene as well!
I hope this information helps put things into perspective for you… and good luck with that tattoo!
Questions to Ask a Tattoo Artist – Part II
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Another way you can establish an artist’s credibility is by asking them for samples of their previous work. Any tattoo artist worth his or her salt should be able to provide you with their portfolio. Some artists are even able to show you their work in real time! So if a tattoo artist appears to be dodging your question or is unable to provide references for their work, it’ll be a good idea for you to avoid their workmanship!
In order to avoid any misunderstandings and ugly surprises, its better to ask how much your design will cost upfront. Tattoos can be very expensive – depending on the size and nature of the design it can range anywhere between a hundred dollars a thousands of dollars. If you are on a tight budget, its better to ensure the full cost of the tattoo before you begin any work. Trust me; you wouldn’t want to walk around with just half the design because you ran out of money before the design could be completed!
More often than not when the payment is already made with no refund policy, you’ll find that the quality of service actually takes a dip! This is true not just for tattoo artists but in any business unfortunately. So before you begin any work, you might want to find out if they guarantee their work. Find out what happens if you’re not happy with the work – will they give you a discount or refund you?
It’s always advisable to know as much about the process before you start with it, especially if it’s your first time. Make sure you know what is going to happen and that you’re fully comfortable with it. Ask questions like how long the design will take etc. You’ll find that the more complex and elaborate designs will naturally take longer, perhaps even more than one session.
Another important question you need to consider is if there are any medical conditions (and there are) that can prevent someone from getting a tattoo. Your tattoo artist should be able to give you some general advice in this area. It is also advisable to consult a medical authority on such matters if you are aware of any such conditions.
Some other questions you should be asking are how you should care for your new tattoo and how you can avoid infections. Your artist should be able to advise you on proper after care procedures and what you should do if an infection develops. Often, the seriousness with they treat this question is also an indication of their level of professionalism.
Questions to Ask a Tattoo Artist – Part I
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Nobody wants to walk around looking like a big blotch of ink. So I understand why you would want to research on the subject as much as you can, before you finally get that tattoo done; and you should! Most importantly, follow your gut feeling. If you’re not a hundred percent comfortable with an artist’s style, it is better you postpone your appointment till you are or till you find some one else you are comfortable with.
Here are some of the most important questions you should be asking a tattoo artist before you let them do their thing on you. An artist’s reputation is probably the best way to judge his or her workmanship. Most of the time, a reputation doesn’t build over night! So if a tattoo artist has a good reputation you can be sure that they have been in the business for a long time and that their experience is extensive. I’ve never known anyone with a bad reputation last in the industry very long. If no one in your circle of trusted people has heard of the artist before, then it’ll be a good idea for you to see if any complaints have been registered against either the artist or the tattoo shop with Better Business Bureau. A check that goes back three years should be good enough. Just simply ask them how long they’ve been a tattoo artist.
You can also ask them how many tattoos they have done so far. This is a good indicator of their skill level and experience in the field. After all, tattoos are a form of art and the more tattoos one has done the more practice they have had to perfect their artistic ability. This also indicates how popular or well reputed the artist is. If they have done at least a hundred designs or more in a year’s time that means they are well reputed in the industry. If the number of tattoos per year is too less then maybe it is because of poor quality work. You might also want to think twice about a tattoo artist that works part-time or is an apprentice. Clearly, they are only just beginning in the field.
As with any other profession, being a tattoo artist too requires certain qualifications. It is a job that requires handling needles and tremendous precision. So if an artist is professionally trained and has complete knowledge on hygiene procedures, that is definitely a plus. Regrettably, there is no universal standard for tattoo artists. These rules vary from place to place; some states have more rigorous training requirements. On the other hand, some places allow just anyone to set up shop! In such cases, it is a good idea to ask them for their qualifications.
Glow in the Dark Tattoos
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Now, isn’t that a great idea – tattoos that glow in the dark or under black light. It sounds like the perfect tattoo; no one can see it during the day – when you have to work or be your responsible self, but at night – your real self comes alive… like Batman! Ok, maybe not so much. But honestly, if these tattoos are applied correctly, they can be completely undetectable by day!
As they say, every coin does have two faces and so does this one. So, before you get sucked into the idea, there are some things you probably ought to know! The most important question you should be asking is ‘what makes something glow in the dark?’
By design, all things that glow in the dark contain phosphors. Phosphor is a substance that is energized by light that is visible and radiates that light when in the dark. Although these inks are being used in tattooing (with inks made available from overseas), none of these ‘glowing’ inks have been approved by the FDA (the Food and Drug Administration); and there is a reason why they haven’t been approved!
One of the main reasons these inks haven’t been approved is because they are one of the known cancer causing substances and as you can plainly infer, are detrimental to health. In order to make these phosphors retain more energy (and therefore more visible in the dark), a certain type of radioactive substance is added. You would see this commonly in the manufacturing of high quality watches.
There is another type of tattoo that also glows. These tattoos don’t glow in the dark but seem to glow under black (also known as ultraviolet) light and are made from florescent material. Until very recently UV reactive inks were also made from phosphors. However, there are a lot of commonly used materials that glow under black light. 
Black light emits extremely energetic ultraviolet light that is invisible in the light spectrum (and hence the name “black light.”) Fluorescent substances absorb this black light and re-emit it almost immediately. This re-emitted light has a longer wavelength (as some of the energy is lost in the absorption process) and thus seems to glow.
This is the newest technique in body art so far. Although black light inks have been approved for use, it is important to remember that the original idea still remains unapproved by medical authority. There have been numerous accounts of bad skin reaction to these inks that most reputed tattoo parlors don’t offer these types of tattoos.