Tattoos: Inform Yourself
Tattoos are something you should budget for, at least if you are planning on getting a good quality one. Unlike the lore of drunken sailors not remembering how or where they got particular markings, you will want to shop around for the some of the best and most reliable talent. “You get what you pay for” holds as true for tattoos as for everything else in life.
Tipping is standard practice in the tattoo business. If your artist is not the proprietor of the business, he or she is only making 40 to 50% of the price you are paying. Often the artist has to provide his own latex gloves and other medical supplies, as well as needles, pigments and so on. The proprietor provides the autoclave and other supplies. Figure your tip into the overall cost to avoid any embarrassing situation.
Going through the catalog to pick a design may take you longer than you thought and you may be well advised to think your choice over a day or two beforehand. This is something you will be wearing for a long time so you had better be satisfied with your choice. It is advisable to arrive with a design idea and your personal price range in mind so as to not be overwhelmed once getting to the shop.
Do your homework to find the best tattoo establishment around. If you see a tattoo you particularly admire on someone, ask them where they got it done. A well executed piece of art on a happy client is the most powerful form of recommendation available. Finally, check out an establishment’s certifications, licenses and cleanliness.
A sterile shop is as safe as your dentist’s office. Licensed tattoo artists in most states have taken a basic bloodborne pathogen and disease transmission course. Needles and pigments are disposed of after a single user and remaining equipment parts that could conceivably increase a client’s exposure risk are autoclaved. Conscientious artists inspect their hands before donning disposable latex or synthetic gloves for their work. As a bonus, the gloves are often an impressive bad ass black. The artists are careful to keep their accoutrement on a clean tray, not allowing equipment to touch contaminated surfaces.
Once you have committed and undergone the needle artistry, your artist will instruct you on how to care for your new tattoo during the healing process and how to avoid infection. Generally, this will involve washing the tattoo area with a gentle antibacterial soap, using only your hand, no cloths. Pat dry with a clean cloth and apply a thin coating of a suitable ointment such as a vitamin enriched product. Some artists suggest avoiding the use of Neosporin or the like as this could cause an allergic reaction that once healed, would permanently affect the tattoo’s appearance. You may shower but do not soak your new tattoo in the tub or pool for about two weeks. When completely healed, protect your tattoo from the sun with a good sunscreen in order to not alter the image’s vibrancy.
What happens if you wake up one day and decide you no longer want that tattoo you so desperately needed years earlier? Depending on sources which include dermatologists, you would be keeping company with anywhere from 17 to 50% of tattoo recipients. Luckily, there is effective laser removal treatment available. But to minimize the chance of eventual buyer’s remorse, refrain from having a person’s name placed under your skin. Another word to the cautious: Get your tattoo placed in an area that will be easy to cover up during a conservative interview process. You never know where life will take you.
This author: Ms. Long has been employed in the glove industry for over thirty years. As Director of Web Support for a web retail specialist in Disposable and Latex Gloves, she manages a web-based library for disposable gloves users,Wearing Disposable Gloves