I've been coming across a lot of blogs about tattoos today, and so I thought I would share some advice that was given to me about tattoos and tattooing.
Pre-tattoo
1. If you can, design your own artwork. If you can't, have a trusted friend or your tattooist design it to your specifications. One of the things tattooists hate most is when people come in and just pick a design off the way that has no importance to them. (Also, never ask your tattooist "What do most people get?" they hate that.)
2. Think about the design for at least a year before you get it. It's permanent, and you need to live with the image on your mental-image of yourself for long enough that you know you won't hate it a week later.
3. Your image should have some personal meaning. You don't have to tell people about it, you don't even need to be able to fully articulate why it's so special, but at least have the conviction to know what your body art is about.
4. Make sure your tattooist can draw before you even make the appointment to get inked.
5. Always go to a reputable place, one that proudly displays certifications and lisences. You're more likely to get some sort of blood-born pathogen if you go to the guy down the street who's just gonna charge you $50 for your tattoo. Trust your gut on this one.
Tattoo
1. NEVER get a tattoo where a judge (or a rabbi) can see it. Should you end up in front of a judge, you want as many things going for you as possible. In other words: no facial, neck or hand tattoos. You never know when you're going to need to appear "normal".
2. Anywhere you get inked is going to hurt.
3. Tattoos on bone hurt more than just on flesh.
4. If you're not feeling well the day of your appointment, reschedule. Tattooists do not like being puked on, and they won't ink you if you pass out.
Post-Tattoo
1. ALWAYS TIP your tattooist.
2. Follow the instructions that your tattooist gives you for taking care of your tattoo. A lot of tattooists have different regimens for care, but the general one is that you need to treat it like a really bad sun-burn. If your tattooist doesn't give you instructions for care, ask. If they have none, go somewhere else and ask. (A&D ointment is good.)
3. DO NOT pick at it. If you pick, it'll scar. And that sucks.
4. Full healing takes a few weeks, depending on your immune system.
Remember, it's permanent, so I would also advise never getting words or letters tattooed on your body because you have to live with that image the rest of your life. (Tattoo removal hurts more than getting the tattoo in the first place.) If you think your parents are gonna flip, wait until you're 18 (most good tattoo shops aren't going to ink you without ID that says you are legally an adult any way; if they don't ask for your ID, it's a bad sign) and tell them "I'm an adult, get over it".
I hope that helps those of you who are thinking about getting inked. Those who are inked, feel free to add advice to the list. Because it's a permanent and painful proceedure, it's best to go about tattooing as wisely as you can.
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Thanks for the advice. I want a cross tattoo really badly and I've been considering it for the past few years, but I just don't know if I oculd handle the pain. I mean, my only piercing is my ear cartilage piercing, but obviously I know a tattoo will hurt more than that.
Talk to a tattooist about it. Everyone's tollerance for pain is different, so it's really up to your body whether you'll be able to handle it. It doesn't take too long to get a tattoo, and if you're really dedicated to your design in the sense that you want it as a permanant part of your body; the pain is worth it.
Whoah, peppermint, I don't know about that. See, I wanted a cross tattoo a long time ago, but then I prayed about it, and God said I'd burn in hell. Soooo....just warning you :-/ . good luck.
Michael Allen Yarbrough (PBUH)
Yea, see, I don't know if I want it for my religious reasons. I know my body's a temple of the Holy Spirit, but I didn't know if it would be bad if I got a tattoo in His name. I know some very devout Catholics...even priests with religious tattoos, who feel that it's fine. But then other people don't. So I don't know what I'm going to do yet.
Apparently, it's all right to have a tattoo if you're a Catholic whereas it's a crime if you're a fundamentalist. Catholics are so rebellious.
I direct you to Levitticus 19:28: "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD."
Jesus definitely counts as "the dead."
--Mike
HEY! HEY! Keep the religious discussion out of this blog. There are lots of other places you can quote the bible, and if you're really interested in the religious morality of tattoos, start your own blog. This is supposed to be HELPFUL not a theosophical debate.
Oh, come on. I know you can appreciate the irony of cross tattoos and piercings.
--Mike
But I don't care. Take it somewhere else if the debate is really that important. I may even participate in that debate, but it doesn't belong here.
Fine, fine. Your blog; your rules. I apologize.
--Mike
No apology needed, Mike.
Aw, too bad. And he was being sincere, too.
As was I.
Please, get real. Oh my gosh don't talk religion. Then don't put religion in your article, hence Rabbi, nothing religious about now is there. Grow up.
She didn't want a flame war starting in the comment boxes and didn't want it to take away from the purpose of her post. I'm cool with it; why aren't you?
--Mike
"Think about the design for at least a year before you get it."
I dont think that is necessary, seems excessive.
"NEVER get a tattoo where a judge (or a rabbi) can see it. You never know when you're going to need to appear "normal"."
That is very sterotypical.
For most of the people I know, it takes at least 6 months to save money to get their tattoo. They're expensive and permanant, so sitting on the design for an extended period of time is useful not only to secure yourself with the design, but it also helps to reduce buyer's remorse later on. (Though, it's been my experience that a little buyer's remorse is normal.)
But it's also true. People judge and weather you like it or not, people judge tatoos as something that criminals and tough guys get. It's something to have to deal with...
I thought that was good information to know for someone who wants to get a real tattoo. But, what is the etiquette for someone who wants to get a temporary tattoo?
If you want a temporary tattoo, you just get a box of pop-tarts. I got the Spiderman one once.
Sharpie.
Have fun.
You really know a lot about tattoos. Are you actually a tattooist, or you just have one/some and you want to share your experience?
Anyway, good advices! Thanx, cause I'm considering getting a tattoo myself.
I'm the third and final generation of tattooed people in my family (unless my siblings breed and their children get tattoos, but that's almost a different line... long story. Bygones), and when I was younger I wanted to be a tattooist, and during that time I job shadowed a tattooist. I decied to go to art school instead.
I have two tattoos (thus far), and a few good friends who are tattooists -- and they really do hate when people ask "what do most people get?". Some of my advice has been passed down by celebrities. Axl Rose said to think about a tattoo for a year before getting it, and Brian Setzer (no relation) advised the youth of America to never get a tattoo where a judge can see it -- though the bit about the rabbi is all me cause it's not technically allowed in Judaism for a person to get tattooed.
The rest of it is just my personal advice as a tattooed person.
Hi, I am a tattoo artist/ shop owner and came across your post while googling... you gave very sound advice on getting a tattoo, but I would add just a few things... what is most important is making sure your tattoo artist can actually tattoo... in my experience i have met quite a few good artists who can not translate their art over to their tattooing... check out photos of tattoos they have done.. is the work clear and consistant.. does it match "the look" you are going for in your tattoo? Are their lines clean and consistant? Like the article stated go with your gut... but remember all tattoo artists are not created equal and you want the best work possible... price should not be your number one concern.. it should be getting the best artwork possible... and ps... we Do like to be tipped...
A really good friend drew my tattoo for me, theres a moon in it and he shaped the moon like a C, its really cool and it was my birthday present (the desighn of it anyway) he even went with me to get it done. It means alot to me but i had been describing what i wanted over a year to him! Also make sure you eat, your blood sugar will drop and that s never good
remember not getting something because everyone else has it is just as bad if not worse than getting something because other people do. If you go to a good custom shop you will find that the designs on the walls should be the artists best work. Rarley do people actually come in and ask for anything off the wall they are always asking for something that they or thier budy drew up that usually does't work as well as a tattoo as the designs that the tattoo artists have spent so long developing and drawing and redrawing to make them perfect. Bad artists have bad flash on thier walls that is true, but who cares,, you should go to a shop that has good art everywhere. I have been tattooing for twenty years now and my favoite thing is when someone comes in and is impressed by one of the paintings on the wall and says 'I want THAT". No one ever does that.
Good advice, some people really need to read stuff like this before they go in.
Another option before getting a tattoo might be to either get your tattoo done in either HENNA or AIRBRUSH before you decide to get it done for real.
I have never gotten a tattoo, but I'm absolutely fascinated by them. So, if I want to do something like that, I get henna because it's very natural, and the designs are Indian, and they are soooo beautiful! Henna's basically a stain that is applied directly to the skin and it stays there for up to 2 weeks. There are no needles involved, so it doesn't hurt, but you'll get the idea of what having something on your body for a while feels like. If I ever were to get a tattoo, I'd check out henna first thing!
The same could be said about the process for airbrushing. The only thing about airbrushing is that you don't get a very detailed design, usually because they have to use stencils. Although, I did get a gecko on my leg once and it looked really cool. The airbrush allowed for the gecko to look green, but also kinda tye-dyed because they had to used separate yellow and blue stain.
You can still get a tattoo and it doesn't have to be permanent. That's one reason I have already decided that I don't want one, even though I love them. I would pick one out, get it, and then 2 weeks later, I'd say to myself: "I wish that was like an inch higher." Also, any good tattoo parlor will draw the design out with pen on tracing paper and place it wherever you want it as a guide for the real thing... if you really want one, make sure they do that first!
Laters,
Em
Hey, could you make me a recommendation? I'm looking to get a black seahorse tattoo, but I don't know where to get it. As well as a place that's hidden, I also don't want to get it in a place that may stretch (I'm really skinny and don't expect to stay that way).
--Mike
I had no idea there was etiquette to tattooing
www.worldcantwait.com
You know, I was a lurker on this topic for awhile but have to jump in here as an innocent bystander with some observation. On a site about personal freedom and liberty, I just found it ironic that the topic of tattoos and religion was being barred. Heck, the free flow of ideas is supposed to be allowed in democratic nations. Ones personal views on a topic shouldn't prevent alternative points of view from being discussed, even though the thread was started in the spirit of promoting body tattoos. No one got out of line in expressing their viewpoints until the censorship was suggested...that's dangerous in America.
Turn the situation around and think about, maybe, a blog entry about the joys of menthol cigarettes. Should we be barred from adding a voice of reason to represent those who think cigarettes might not be so wonderful? Tattooing is a controversial and exciting topic. Keep the ideas free flowing!
..."Progressive U is the antidote to MySpace. We provide a community space where you're more than a face (in a book). You'll feel refreshed, invigorated, and empowered after blogging, discussing, and debating..."
The Bible says to not defile your body (God's temple) with tattoos and such. It is disrespectful to mar your beautiful skin with some two-bit pot smoker's interpretation of Walt Disney's interpretation of a duck in a sailor's hat. I was so drunk and high and withhout a God when I got the 7 dwarves across my shoulders.
Buy a painting or paint a window, or write a book if your story is so darned important you believe you need to wear it around. Do some nice batik kaftan with a picture of your drowned nephew and the date God swept him away from your family? Sorry.
Seems tattooing has BECOME the religion and defended to the death. I'd sooner not identify myself as tattooed. Hi, I'm male, an American, 7 tatts, married, 2 kids...notice the hierarchy? Those with tattoos are now the SHEEP!...where the typical person now HAS a tribal armband tatt and he is no longer the radical, but is now just "regular" just to fit in and have an identity through ink. It's as silly and sheeplike as the urban fauxhawk, three steps away from being the true original punk who wore a 3 ft shellacked mohawk. Sad, sad... so sad. I feel ashamed and the cost to remove the ink from my precious body would be better suited given to my local women and children's shelter.
I am a devout reformed Jewess, and our Torah expressly prohibits tattoos also. j"You shall not scrape your flesh for a (dead) soul, and tattoos do not put upon you, I am the L-rd." This is Leviticus for us also.
Our temple elders and Rabbis looked upon tattoos and all forms of body modification as an abomination, as can be seen from the following Midrash "...Yehoyakim stretched his foreskin as it is said (II Chronicles 36:8) And the rest of Yehoyakim's matters and his abominations that he did and that was found upon him.... What was found upon him? That he stretched his foreskin. And there are those that say that he tattooed himself." My boyfriend has neither tattooed nor stretched his foreskin nor his balls or gotten a "prince albert" on the head of his penis so that he pees like a water sprinkler all over the back of the toilet. I hate that.
I liked Leviticus' comment about the seven dwarves. I was also considering a tattoo when I was younger but turned against it when I started considering how this literally "shits on" the human body. I also think gays get tattooed a lot because I've seen their use of the word "tatts" in their online ads to attract sex partners.
"I was also considering a tattoo when I was younger but turned against it when I started considering how this literally "shits on" the human body. I also think gays get tattooed a lot because I've seen their use of the word "tatts" in their online ads to attract sex partners."
Therefore, tattoos must be bad because gays get them (alot)?
Friend, gays do not get tattooed alot. We get tattooed as often as heterosexuals get tattooed.
Some like "tatts" while other don't. Same as heterosexuals. No difference (in that topic at least).