Getting a tattoo is a big decision for most people. It is something that they will potentially have for the rest of their lives. If you are about to begin this journey for the first time ever there are several things you should know prior to the first drop of ink being applied to your body. There are many of these questions that can be answered by your tattoo artist and/or the shop staff, however, there are some questions you may want to discuss with family, healthcare professionals and even your employers.
The most important question you can ask your tattoo artist is what kind of licensing and certifications they have. According to Oklahoma law they must have their certifications and licensing paperwork on display so that the public can see. However, if a shop does not currently have a license they may be in the process of obtaining one. So, do not rule out a shop because their license is not on display. The most important certification would be the one that proves they have had all the safety and health training associated with tattooing. This includes blood borne pathogens, CPR, sterilization and disposal practices. If a shop cannot prove that they have had this training it may be time to get up and walk out immediately.
The next question that any person wanting to have a tattoo done should ask is about their sterilization and safety procedures. The shop should use disposable equipment in the ideal situation. There are some shops that may not use disposable needles and reuse needles that have been sterilized or even artists that make their own needles. If you are comfortable with reused needles or homemade needles you should see them in a sterilized bag that has an indicator on the bag that has an expiration date as well as showing that it has been sterilized according to State guidelines. All other equipment that is reused like the gun, tubes, clamps, etc. should be sterilized each time and you should again be able to see your tattoo artist remove it from the sterilization bags. If the stand is already setup when you get there and you do not feel comfortable that you were unable to see them open the sterilized package feel free to ask them to open newly sterilized equipment. They should have no problem doing this and you should not feel like it is an imposition to ask for this. Another piece of equipment that is often not thought of by the client is the ink well. The ink well is the small, generally plastic cup that is used to hold the various inks for the artist. Make sure that new inkwells are utilized and in the rare instance that you may find a shop that reuses inkwells make sure that they are made of a material that can and has been sterilized. If your preparation involves shaving the area of your body that you’re getting your tattoo on the artist must use either a single-use disposable razor or a razor that has disposable blades and the razor itself must be sterilized between uses and the blade disposed of in a Sharps container.
The above two questions obviously deal with health but the next question deals with the artistic side of the tattoo process. Don’t be afraid to ask to see the artist’s portfolio of artwork and tattoos and even if there are any people in the shop currently that they have tattooed. Remember when looking at a tattoo that has been done by an artist that you may not necessarily like the design that has been done on someone else but you’re looking at the overall quality of the work. Pay attention to things like scale, placement, lines, coloring, and shading and just to see if the tattoo is well balanced.
You also should ask about the process prior to getting a tattoo. Some of those questions would be how long the expected sitting time would be, what the total cost of the tattoo is and about aftercare instructions including how to best avoid any infections and how to promote the best and quickest healing process.
There are other factors to consider when getting a tattoo though and not all of those deal with safety. You should talk to your immediate family like your spouse, children, parents, etc. about your decision to get a tattoo. Although tattooing is an artistic expression there may be certain tattoos or locations of tattoos that may not be appropriate for all lifestyles. Weigh these thoughts heavily before deciding you want something really racy or explicit on an area of your body that is exposed. You should also discreetly check with your employer about any company policy regarding a tattoo. Some people feel that visible tattoos are not appropriate in the workplace and if you value your job it is a valid concern.
If you have any other questions about tattooing health concerns you should contact your healthcare professional. They can help alleviate any additional health concerns you may have and also have a better understanding of your current medical condition and whether a tattoo is advisable.
It is also not advisable to get a tattoo while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Not only is a tattoo something you may regret when you sober up but you also could be putting yourself at risk for severe complications. Alcohol and many drugs are a natural blood thinner and you could be prone to bleeding excessively when under the influence of these substances. The other risk for being under the influence of alcohol or drugs is that you are putting the tattoo artist under potential fire. The medical forms that you need to sign prior to getting a tattoo will ask if you are under the influence of any drugs or alcohol and you need to be honest. It is not worth risking medical complications or the career of a tattoo artist just to get your ink done immediately.
There are a few rules of etiquette you should follow when getting a tattoo. First, DO NOT haggle over the price with the artist or shop. It is a slap in the face and an insult to their professional abilities. They are earning a living just like your doctor or dry cleaner. You don’t haggle with your doctor over the cost of your health care checkup so why would you haggle over the price of your tattoo. Second, DO NOT ask the artist to draw a sample drawing just to see if they are capable of producing quality artwork. If you are having artwork done and the artist completes the sketch and you do not approve they will willingly make adjustments to ensure that you are happy with what they have drawn. You as a client will be involved in every step of the process and a tattoo artist will never put ink in your skin prior to having a completely happy client.
Just remember when getting a tattoo that you as the paying client have a right to be informed and you as a paying client have the ability to cancel any work prior to it beginning. Be courteous of the tattoo artist and shop and enjoy your new artwork.
http://www.oklahomaink.com/articles/dos-and-donts.php
