Tattoo question community service...(answers to common ques in here)?

Some additions.....

1. Honestly, it feels like someone repeatedly jabbing a needle (or group of needles) into an open wound. But, for most people, after a short while, the pain morphs from something that's really miserable to more of an annoying buzzing. Some even come to enjoy the sensation....

2. Yes. You can take a picture of what you want into an artist and have him/her tattoo it on you. However, be smart about this. The more detailed the picture is, the bigger the final tattoo will have to be to capture the detail. Tattoo artists (even the really, really good ones) aren't miracle workers....and walking into a shop with an extremely detailed picture and asking if the artist can "make it fit on my hip right here" is just asking for disappointment.

3. Artists charge by the hour for custom work. Those hourly rates can range from $75.00 per hour to $500.00 per hour (or more!). If money is an object for you, be sure you discuss the approximate cost at the outset, because you don't want to get into a situation where you and the artist are expecting different things.

4. The underside of your arm up by your armpit, your rib-cage, the top of your feet, and the top of your ankle bone are generally the most painful places to get tattooed.

5. Yes, your new tattoo looks great as you're walking out of the shop, but YOU MUST FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO YOU REGARDING HEALING OF YOUR TATTOO!!! Don't slack off here and DON'T think that because you're a doctor/nurse/undertaker that you know more about healing than your tattoo artist. Trust me, you ignore those instructions at your peril.....

6. Yes, it's safe and no, you won't get HIV or Hepatitis....AS LONG AS YOU'RE IN A REPUTABLE TATTOO SHOP!!! If you're at all concerned about sterility or cleanliness, ASK!!! The artist or shop manager should be more than happy to show you how s/he sterilizes the equipment and what they do to ensure the safety of everyone who walks into the shop.

In the same breath, regardless of how much you want to save money, do NOT get tattooed by the dude you know who learned how to tattoo from his buddy who just got out of prison!!! Not only will your tattoo likely be terrible...but you'll be running an EXTREMELY high risk of contracting an uncurable disease....

Yes, you can still get a good job if tattooed (and/or pierced). Certain areas may need to be covered up, but some workplaces are remarkably cool about tattoos and such. After hiring you may or may not have the freedom to show your ink, but in the interview it shouldn't be a problem to keep it under clothing (barring some work).

Eat a normal meal before you go in for a session. Not eating can cause problems due to low blood sugar like passing out.

It's generally recommended not to get one's wife/husband/boy/girlfriend's name tattooed on you. Children, (grand)parents, uncles, aunts - those are people who won't be breaking up with you like a spouse or spousal equivalent might, and so it's generally okay.

Addendum: don't take aspirin or related before a tattoo. They thin the blood, and remember how you're skin is being pierced?

Don't be afraid to ask the artist to realize your vision, and if you're artistic yourself (or have a precise picture), respect what they have to say about what can & can't be done, and what will & won't work for a tattoo. If you disagree, you might want to try another artist. Remember, though, that as long as you have a good artist they've been doing this for a while have quite the clue on how to proceed.

Fabulous job, everyone...now my take on aftercare...

1. Antibiotic ointments are not a good idea - people are easily allergic to them and they think they are allergic to their tattoo.

2. Antibiotic ointments, Aquaphor, Vaseline, A &D ointment ALL contain petrolatum - we don't like that for healing tattoos (most also contain lanolin and many people are sensitive to these preparations because of that too)

3. Preparation H is for a**holes not tattoos - much has been written about this by many over the years and in some forms it contains live yeast cells...ewwww on open skin.

4. No baby powder, corn starch or any such "powdering." No Desitin or similar products that gunk up the skin with heavy zinc oxide.

5. No plastic wrap ever! Plastic wrap is for left overs, not tattoos. It keeps the fluids on the surface of the tattoo that a nice dressing would absorb those first couple hours so there is NO SCABBING - that's right, NO scabbing. Scabbing is not normal in a well cared for tattoo. The slight peeling that should occur should be the top layer of skin that is mixed with the ink, similar to a sunburn peeling.

Most tattoo artists seem to prefer unscented mild lotions - they are looking for products with a minimum of ingredients - some like H2Ocean products, some like Tattoo Goo (contrary to reports, there is nothing adverse in this product) Coco butter is often used as well as Olive oil body butter - I don't prefer these, but I have no big issues with them.

I happen to give out little pillow packs of Ink Fixx ointment for the first couple days - then they can switch to the mild lotions. People like Curel which is good - so is Aveeno - I like Cetaphil. We always give the Ink Fixx to the client to use because it is not always easy for them to go right to the store to buy things.

Truth be told, the skin heals pretty well no matter the abuse and certainly even if you use nothing at all. I have even seen people use just plain old Crisco in a very thin layer. Nothing wrong with that either - (again, not preferred.)

In my studio they are also given WRITTEN directions for after care. There is NO reason for a professional tattoo artist NOT to do this for their client.

Once you remove the bandages, wash with an antibacterial soap and warm water, pat dry with dye free paper towels and apply whatever healing agent you choose SPARINGLY - this means barely covered. IF you apply too much, it will accumulate bacteria that gets stuck to it and the tattoo cannot get air.

Overall, keep it clean and don't scratch it. It will go through some peeling and other changes over the next couple of weeks. Keep dirty hands and strangers off of it!

So in the end, take what you can from everyone's advice here as no one really has the magic answers in all cases. Most of us knows what worked for them, or works for our clients in general if we are artists.

Your so wise...

I can only add a wee bit..cause you guys hogged it up..lol...

What is the best time of year to get a tattoo?

Although you can get a tattoo any time of the year, your skin gets a lot more abuse during the summer with swimming, tanning and just being exposed to the elements more. Winter time is really the best season to get a tattoo.

Take Your Time!!!!!!!!

I know that getting a new tattoo is exciting, and when you finally decide this is what you want, it is hard to wait. But this is not something to be rushed into!

Most Painful Areas:

Men - Abdomen, Spine, Chest

Women - Ankle, Spine, Ribcage

Least Painful Areas:

Men - Buttocks, Arm, Back

Women - Abdomen, Buttocks, Thigh, Shoulder

Great advice guys and the one about getting a reputable shop is the best ever my first tat was at a not so reputable shop my mother took me to the thing bleed for almost 24hrs straight and scabbed over My husband and his associate/ teacher have told me as deep as he went the guy basically turned my upper arm into hamburger and are not sure if when i get it recolored from all the ink that bleed out if it will even stay

Alright, I love you for this (and guess what I am posting next....heh).

**EDIT**

The beautiful lady above me, Tatt_Bratt, our WONDERFUL resident tattoo artist goddess, has asked me to revise my post. I am in complete agreement. I forgot the whole issue surrounding ink itself. Straight from the horse's mouth:

"Truth be told, there is documentation for allergic reactions to pretty much every color, including black. However, red of course, is the most common and that is even rare in itself. The thing about food allergies is that they have nothing to do with tattoo ink and vice versa. Almost none of the red inks on the market today use the D&C or FD&C color additives that are required for candy, or other foods, drugs, or cosmetics. When you write for MSD sheets they give you faked ones...will not disclose even the "hazardous" stuff in there...in fact, none of the ink manufacturers will disclose any of their ingredients for body inks which is annoying to me. They hide behind "trade secrets" which is BS. We have a right to know what is going into our bodies and what we are putting into people's bodies. I am actually in the process of doing something about this but it will have to wait a bit."

NO! you won't go to hell! i love that one! it's great!

Also- it will not say to others "look at me, i'm trashy!" I've always hated that some people only think tattoos are for trashy people.

It will not mean that you like a certain type of music or that you have anarchist opinions. (my 72 year old grama is thinking about getting her first tat! of a pansy!)

"The only difference between people with tattoos and people without, is that people with tattoos don't care if others don't have them"

I've got a couple:

Yes, you can still get an epidural if you have a tattoo on your lower back.

And yes, tipping your artist is always a good thing :)

The cdc has said there are no known transmissions of HIV between lesbians, however safe sex between women should consists of protecting against oral sex especially, (no one wants herpes of the mouth) and using condoms while using the toys i doubt anyones using condoms on fingers.. :x so i don't really know just get tested annually, and cautious as possible

Be prepared for a tattooist to refuse certain types of tattoos. My tattooist and his shop will not do bands or their logos, names of significant others, etc. Respect that the tattooist may have preferences for types of tattoos. Realize that what they do is art and their profession.