A sidepoint to keep in mind, though: remember that photos can be stolen from other artists. If you have the time to spend, stay and watch the artist you are considering.
Don't be shy to ask questions! Trust your instincts, and always remember......If in doubt, don't!
http://tattoo.about.com/cs/beginners/a/blportolios.htm
Used needles, and anything else contaminated and not scheduled for autoclave sterilization should be placed in these containers and removed in a timely manner.
For more information:
Sharps Waste ManagementInformation and photo examples of different types of sharps containers and how they should be disposed of.
Biohazardous Waste Description of what qualifies as biohazardous waste, and how it should be safely and effectively removed.
http://tattoo.about.com/cs/beginners/a/blsharps.htm
The artist should be using these tiny little cups called "ink caps" to put just enough ink in for your tattoo, and whatever is left should be thrown away. The same goes for the water and ointments.
This brings to mind another point: Many artists will use deodorant to create a darker impression of the transfer copy on your skin before they begin tattooing. This is a very effective method, but the artist should never use the deodorant stick directly on your skin. It has been used by other clients. Instead, the deodorant should be wiped onto a tissue, and the tissue placed on your skin.
You should never have direct contact with the deodorant stick. If they touch you with the stick, who knows how many others they have also touched with it.
Yes, I have tattoos! I get that question a lot, so if you'd like to see the ink I currently have, you can take a look at my tattoos. So, needless to say, I was once a newbie, feeling the vibration and the sting of the needle against my skin for the first time.
I try to never forget my first experience, and how nervous I was when I first started thinking about getting a tattoo. I had so many questions, and no one could seem to answer them to my satisfaction. The answers I got only led me to more questions.
I was told to make sure my artist used an autoclave...what the heck is that? And I read somewhere that the machine and clipcord should be covered with plastic...the whoosywhatsit? I started realizing I had so very much to learn before I was going to let anyone touch my skin with that noisy little contraption.
The more I learned, the more I loved. I became engrossed in all body art had to offer, and decided it was something I wanted to be on the inside circle of, not just a passerby. I wasn't satisfied with the idea of just getting a tattoo anymore - I wanted to learn more about the actual process and how to do them myself. As I entered my apprenticeship, I discovered a whole world of information I never saw from the outside.
I decided to make it my personal mission to share this information with everyone I come in contact with that has even had a fleeting thought of getting a tattoo. I want to preserve the longevity and respect of an artform to be truly admired, not feared. But in order to do that, people need to be educated on how to keep themselves safe, and how to identify the difference between a good tattooist and a bad one. My beginner's guide is part of my mission of spreading that information. Please don't keep this information to yourself. Pssst...pass it on.
Yes, I have tattoos! I get that question a lot, so if you'd like to see the ink I currently have, you can take a look at my tattoos. So, needless to say, I was once a newbie, feeling the vibration and the sting of the needle against my skin for the first time.
I try to never forget my first experience, and how nervous I was when I first started thinking about getting a tattoo. I had so many questions, and no one could seem to answer them to my satisfaction. The answers I got only led me to more questions.
I was told to make sure my artist used an autoclave...what the heck is that? And I read somewhere that the machine and clipcord should be covered with plastic...the whoosywhatsit? I started realizing I had so very much to learn before I was going to let anyone touch my skin with that noisy little contraption.
The more I learned, the more I loved. I became engrossed in all body art had to offer, and decided it was something I wanted to be on the inside circle of, not just a passerby. I wasn't satisfied with the idea of just getting a tattoo anymore - I wanted to learn more about the actual process and how to do them myself. As I entered my apprenticeship, I discovered a whole world of information I never saw from the outside.
I decided to make it my personal mission to share this information with everyone I come in contact with that has even had a fleeting thought of getting a tattoo. I want to preserve the longevity and respect of an artform to be truly admired, not feared. But in order to do that, people need to be educated on how to keep themselves safe, and how to identify the difference between a good tattooist and a bad one. My beginner's guide is part of my mission of spreading that information. Please don't keep this information to yourself. Pssst...pass it on.
The Pain Factor The question I get asked most is, "Where does it hurt the most?". Well, there are no hard and fast rules about this subject, but based on many opinions over the years, here are some ideas:
Consider Your Professionalism It's great to see that many white-collar professionals are getting tattooed these days.
It is becoming more main-stream and acceptable on all levels of education, background, and professions. Unfortunately, though, this does not mean it is acceptable to the employers or clientelle of the professional worker. Before putting a tattoo in a very visible area of your body, you will want to consider how it will affect those around you.
Your Tattoo Is A Reflection Of You You can pick up the latest tattoo-related magazine, and you will see some examples of great artwork of some very "outspoken" tattoos. Demons, serial killers and sexually explicit tattoos can be artfully perfect, but this may not be how you want people to view you. Whatever you have tattooed on you is the impression people are going to get about what kind of person you are. Granted, this is no-one's business but your own, but if you want to project a certain image, your tattoos should reflect that.
Need some ideas for your new tattoo? Check out The Tattoo Gallery for some great tattoo pictures sent in by fans and artists from all over the world.
Henna paste is made from a natural substance derived from a plant, Lawsonia Intermis. The plant is crushed into a powder that is used to make the paste. In its natural state, there is nothing in henna powder that can cause irritation or allergic reactions. Sometimes, the ingredients that are added to the powder to create the paste – such as eucalyptus oil – could possibly serve as an irritant to those with sensitive skin, but that is very rare. Natural henna paste leaves behind a stain on the skin that is a burnt orange or brown color.
A lot of people don’t like the natural color stain created by henna, maybe because the color itself gives away the fact that the “tattoo” is not real. Or maybe they simply don’t like the color. So, they seek out henna art that offers a black color, which looks more like real tattoo ink. Black henna, however, contains an additive that is extremely dangerous. It’s called paraphenylenediamine, or PPD for short. PPD is a chemical that contains a compound that is derived from phenylenediamine, which is a toxic substance. PPD is clear until it is infused with oxygen. The partial oxidization is what seems to cause severe allergic reactions in some people.
Black henna is not – and never was – intended for use as tattoo dye. Actually, it is hair dye. It is not meant to come in contact with skin for long periods of time and even the hair dye can be dangerous to those with an allergy to PPD. The problem is that most people don’t know if they are allergic to it until they have already received lasting damage from a reaction.
In January of 2007, two families filed a lawsuit against a distributor of black henna after their children were scarred after receiving black henna tattoos while on holiday. The PPD burned and blistered their skin so badly that the children have been permanently scarred. So, don’t assume that black henna must be safe just because the tattoos are offered to children.
Some companies also sell henna in a rainbow of colors such as red, green and blue. While these henna pastes pose no danger due to the mild color additives it should be noted that they are still a waste of money. The henna only retains the color while the paste is on the skin. Once the paste has been removed, the stain left behind will still be the orange/brown shade you would get from natural henna.
Henna art is meant to be what it is – a beautiful, natural, temporary stain. If you want a henna tattoo, appreciate it for its beautiful, earthy colors. If you want a tattoo that looks real – get a real one!
The first thing you need to know is what rejection and migration are. Some people tend to confuse the two or think that they are one in the same, but that is not actually the case. So, let's take a look at the two words and define and distinguish them clearly.
Rejection
Simply put, rejection is a cause. Rejection happens when you place a foreign object in your body (i.e. body jewelry) and your body, for one reason or another, considers that foreign object a threat to your health and safety.
In order to protect itself, your body slowly fights the object by pushing it and healing the skin behind it to eventually force the object completely out through the skin.
Migration
Migration is the symptom. The process of the movement that slowly brings your body jewelry closer and closer to the skin's surface is migration. If the jewelry is not removed, the process of rejection will cause it to migrate far enough to actually push its way entirely through the skin. Once this happens, the possibility of healing without scarring is very unlikely.
Piercings Most Likely to Reject/Migrate
Piercings that only break through a small amount of surface skin - aptly named surface piercings - are the most likely to become victim of rejection and migration. The less skin there is available to keep the piercing secure, the more chances there are that your body will find a way to push it out. This, of course, depends largely on your body and whether or not it determines that the piercing is a threat in the first place. Some people are much more prone to rejection than others.
The most common surface piercings are navel (belly button) and eyebrow piercings. The surface piercings most likely to reject are those that reside more closely to the skin's surface such as sternum, nape, and madison piercings. An experienced piercer must know how to pierce through enough flesh for a secure hold without causing tissue or nerve damage. However, even the best placed piercing can still reject if your body simply doesn't want it there.
How to Determine if Your Piercing is Migrating
Because migration is a very slow process that can take weeks or months, it may be difficult for you to know for sure if your piercing is actually changing. Here are some of the symptoms of migration:
If You Notice Your Piercing Migrating
Unfortunately, once a piercing has begun to migrate, there really isn't anything you can do to stop it. However, you can prevent it from becoming worse. As your piercing migrates, it is creating scar tissue and a hole that will be difficult to conceal if allowed to migrate to completion. The only thing you can do at this point is remove the jewelry (or have your piercer remove it, which would be best) and allow what is left of your piercing hole to heal completely.
Can You Re-Pierce?
Some fear that if their body rejected one piercing, it may or will reject all. This is not necessarily the case. If you desire to try your piercing again, try a different kind of jewelry material like niobium or titanium instead of stainless steel. Or try a larger gauge - very small gauges like 18 or 16 are much more likely to migrate than a 14 or 12. Or try a different location - somewhere that more tissue can be accessed to get a good, secure piercing to begin with. And most of all, be sure that a professional does your piercing to ensure that it is done correctly and follow their aftercare instructions.
My first bit of advice would be to wait until you have given yourself time to grieve and mourn your loved one before you make any decision about getting a tattoo. Making such a permanent decision when your emotions are especially high is not a good idea.
A memorial tattoo should reflect the personality and interests of the person you are memorializing. But it also has to be something that you yourself will be proud to wear on your skin.
A Unique Tattoo for a Unique Person
Typical memorial symbols like roses, crosses, and ribbons with the birth and death dates of the person can also be included in your design, but by themselves they are not very unique or imaginative.
Think about your loved one as an individual first. Did they have any serious interests or hobbies? What stood out about them as a person? Maybe they rode a motorcycle, collected beanie babies, were into music or had a penchant for cooking. If you can think of something that represents what made them unique, that’s a great place to start. Then start searching for pictures that depict those things.
Now think of how that person affected your life personally, and why they were special to you. If there was something in particular that bonded you together, is there a picture that comes to mind that could be incorporated in the tattoo? If you enjoyed playing pool together, shared a love for crocheting, or liked hanging out at karaoke bars together, these things all conjure up images that could be included in a tattoo design.
Memorializing a Child
There probably isn't anything more painful than losing a child, no matter what age. If the child was too young to have developed interests or a personality, there may not be any particular images that come to mind. A portrait of the child may be appropriate, as long as it doesn't cause feelings of sorrow when you see the tattoo. Images of angels, halos and angel wings also tend to be popular for child tattoos.
When You Didn't Personally Know Them
If you’re getting a memorial tattoo for someone you didn’t really know, like a fallen soldier or something to symbolize the many lives lost in a tragedy, it presents a special challenge. Think about what best depicts that person or the tragedy in a positive light, and a way that would be considered honorable to others who would have been affected by the same situation.
Whatever design you come up with, the final decision is yours since you are the one that has to live with it. But if you've taken the time to honor the person aptly, the tattoo should bring fond memories and honor them until you leave this world yourself.
A Unique Tattoo for a Unique Person
Typical memorial symbols like roses, crosses, and ribbons with the birth and death dates of the person can also be included in your design, but by themselves they are not very unique or imaginative.
Think about your loved one as an individual first. Did they have any serious interests or hobbies? What stood out about them as a person? Maybe they rode a motorcycle, collected beanie babies, were into music or had a penchant for cooking. If you can think of something that represents what made them unique, that’s a great place to start. Then start searching for pictures that depict those things.
Now think of how that person affected your life personally, and why they were special to you. If there was something in particular that bonded you together, is there a picture that comes to mind that could be incorporated in the tattoo? If you enjoyed playing pool together, shared a love for crocheting, or liked hanging out at karaoke bars together, these things all conjure up images that could be included in a tattoo design.
Memorializing a Child
There probably isn't anything more painful than losing a child, no matter what age. If the child was too young to have developed interests or a personality, there may not be any particular images that come to mind. A portrait of the child may be appropriate, as long as it doesn't cause feelings of sorrow when you see the tattoo. Images of angels, halos and angel wings also tend to be popular for child tattoos.
When You Didn't Personally Know Them
If you’re getting a memorial tattoo for someone you didn’t really know, like a fallen soldier or something to symbolize the many lives lost in a tragedy, it presents a special challenge. Think about what best depicts that person or the tragedy in a positive light, and a way that would be considered honorable to others who would have been affected by the same situation.
Whatever design you come up with, the final decision is yours since you are the one that has to live with it. But if you've taken the time to honor the person aptly, the tattoo should bring fond memories and honor them until you leave this world yourself.
http://tattoo.about.com/od/tattoosgeneralinfo/a/memorialtattoo.htm