Tattoo To Do's

Before traveling down "Tattoo Blvd." there are several things everyone should do, because when it comes to something permanent, you can never be too prepared.

Think Before You Ink
People considering tattoos should be positive of what design they want and ask themselves a few questions. Will this image be as important in the future as it is now? Will this effect my career? What messages is this saying about me? Am willing to take the chance of infection or risks? And why do I want this tattoo? Like I mentioned before, people get tattoos for all different reason, just be willing to live with the consequences. Make sure the choice of design is personal, not something that will later be regretted. I’ve heard it is best to wait a few months after deciding what you want to insure that it is something you love. Getting a name of a love interest isn’t recommended, relationships are tricky and you must think about whether or not you will be with the person years down the road.

Finding the Perfect Shop and Artist for You
When buying something such as a car, we tend to shop around, tattoos are no different. One should make sure that they find a place that is clean and experienced. Along with finding a place comes finding an artist. According to Tattoo Johnny there are three things to look for in an artist; experience, portfolio and attitude. It’s great to find an artist that specializes in your type of design (e.g. portraits). By examining an artist’s portfolio it is easy to see their style, strengths and possibly weaknesses. “The artists should be open to answering your questions. They should share in your ideas and enthusiasm for your tattoo. If the artist does not like your ideas or tries to steer you into something you are not looking for, then you might be in the wrong place. Find an artist whom will to give you what you want.” It is an artist's job to give you what you want, don’t be afraid to speak up.

No Turning Back
With all the preparations done, there is one thing left to do, get the tattoo. Being anxious is part of the big day, but getting in a good meal and a good night’s rest is helpful. I was told that eating a bit of chocolate before will cause your blood to thicken and you to not bleed as much. Whether it claimed true or not, I enjoyed it. Some things advised by this site include not taking painkillers because it may increase bleeding, not being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and get any necessary paperwork ready, like an I.D. and a picture of the design if possible. The more still a client is the more an artist can focus on their work.

Take Care
When all’s well and over the artist should share how to care for the tattoo, which consists of keeping it clean, and applying antibiotic ointment. For the first week redness and swelling will occur.

To insure that you get a perfect tattoo you need to do your homework, but the most important aspect of getting a tattoo is to enjoy it!

Top 3

Great Tattoo Blog Sites:

Tattoo Blog: Colors of Freedom

InkedBlog

My Tattoo Blog


These sites were very up to date and provided information about the most recent trends in tattooing.

Those interested in tattooing, those that have tattoos, or those that are thinking about getting a tattoo would be interested in my blog along with these others. Tattooing is an art form and appeals to all sorts of people, young to old, male to female, of all different proffesions and races.

Topic Introduction: Tattoos

Tattooing has become a popular trend in modern times. I recently got a tattoo, something I've been wanting for awhile. These new shows such as Miami Ink on TLC really sparked my interest. I'm a big fan of art, to me this is all just another version.

I had a friend last year who got a tattoo of three stars on her foot. She wasn't eighteen yet, but her mom went with her to get it. I loved the way it turned out and it only made me more eager to get one. My AP Biology teacher would constantly make comments about it. He'd often joke about the health risk involved, one of the reasons I was reluctant to tell him about mine when I went back to visit for homecoming.

At first I was really anxious for one, but slowly I began to second guess myself and if I wanted one at all. It's something I was dying to experience, but I wasn't sure if I was willing to live my whole life with this current desire. I knew I wanted something classy, something I wouldn't regret later in life. I went back and forth many times about what exactly I wanted. I figured I'd choose something religious, because even though I'm not too religious, it'd be something that's meaning is significant and endless. I decided on a dove. A dove can represent many things, much more than I knew before looking into them. I remember hearing the story of Noah and the Ark, the dove brought back the olive branch, a sign of hope. Dove's are most commonly associated with being a symbol of peace, but they stand for numerous things that I value; love, hope and spirit.

The experience was worth waiting for. I'm glad I put in the effort into finding exactly what I wanted . The toughest part was probably asking for my dad's approval. My mom shares my interest in tattoos, she doesn't have any though. My dad fits the whole marine stereotype, a bulldog on his right arm, "USMC" etched underneath.

I like to think that I would've got one slightly after turning eighteen (April 9th) if I wasn't so dedicated to donating blood for our NHS blood drive (May), my parents thoughts might be different. After that month passed I wanted it in time for my senior trip to Myrtle Beach, which was the end of May. That passed too, along with summer. My mom promised me that the next time we went on vacation to Texas I could get my long awaited tattoo. So when we went for my cousin's wedding in September, I wasn't going to comeback without my tat!

I have an uncle covered in tattoos, he choose a place that he knew the owner of, House of Pain Tattoo. He agreed to take me, but it turned into a family event. My grandma, mom and cousin all came with us. I walked in with a pretty good idea of what I wanted. It all happened so fast that it's now hard to remember what exactly I was feeling. The actual tattooing process scared me a bit, something I couldn't prepare for. I'm able to tolerate pain well, and have no problem with needles, like I said earlier, blood drives are a breeze for me, no bother at all. He put the stencil on my back and asked me if it was alright. I'm a reserved person and quiet for the most part, I found it a little higher than I wanted, but didn't want to make him have to do it over, not exactly the time for my timid behavior. Everyone else said it looked fine so I just went along with it. The initial pain I felt wasn't as piercing as I thought it was going to be. Over time the skin got more tender and it hurt a little more, but overall, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. The rest of the day I was mesmerized by it. To this day when I catch a glance of it, I'm amazed by it.