2. What activities can't I do after getting a tattoo? (things to consider before hand)
3. Am I putting my health at risk by getting a tattoo?
4. Should I consider a tattoo if I have a serious illness?
6. What can I do to prepare myself for the discomfort?
7. Should I use drugs or alcohol to lessen the pain?
9. Can I turn anything into a tattoo design?
10. Can I shrink images to accommodate a small tattoo?
11. Can I have a large design done all in one session?
12. What does my pigmentation have to do with the brightness of my tattoo?
13. What can I do to help my tattoo heal?
14. Can I have my tattoo re-colored as many times as I want?
15. What can I do with a bad or undesired tattoo?
16. What are my limitations with the cover-up method?
1. I want a tattoo, but where do I start?
There can many factors in this endeavor, but the most important aspect of getting a good tattoo is choosing an artist that is competent and can fulfill your artistic needs. For instance, if you want an image of an animal, find an artist that has a tattoo portfolio full of great animals. Or maybe you're looking for a portrait, bright color work or some bold tribal, the list goes on. Don't hesitate to visit as many studios as possible to check out their portfolios. Remember that just because it's right down the street doesn't mean that they're good. This is a permanent alteration to your body, so don't settle for less, and convenience should be low priority. Of course everyone has time and budget limitations but try not to let these things prevent you from getting the best work possible. You deserve it!
- Some other important things to consider when choosing a studio or artist:
- -Does the studio practice proper autoclaving? ASK!
- -How long have they been in business? -Is the studio well kept? LOOK!
- -Is the staff helpful and informative? Keep in mind that summer is the busy season for most studios. It may be necessary to schedule an appointment or consultation to have that one on one time with the artist. Good artists are in demand and are very busy.
- -Are there photos of tattoos done at the studio? Just because there are cool drawings to look at doesn't mean that they can tattoo well. The majority of flash you see at most studios is not drawn by the resident artist(s).
- -Do they offer free or low-cost touch-up(re-coloring)?
- -Once you've made an educated decision on an artist, don't be afraid to listen to suggestions they might have concerning your design. This is their buisiness, they do it every day. Making you happy about your decision now and twenty years from now is what makes them happy and able to maintain a good reputation as a good artist.
Other alternatives for finding a good artist:
-Tattoo magazines usualy list artists names next to the photos. If you see some you like, take note of who did it.
-Local and National tattoo shows are a great way to find that perfect artist, especialy when considering larger work.
-Last but not least, if you see someone with great work, ask them where they had it done. We usually don't bite at such a compliment!
2. What activities can't I do after getting a tattoo? (things to consider before hand)
-SWIMMING: This can expose your tattoo to a multitude of unwanted bacteria from lakes, rivers and ponds. Pools contain chlorine and other harsh chemicals. Both cause sever healing problems. Refrain from swimming for at least ten days.
-TANNING: Your skin gets slightly damaged in the tattoo process. Exposing this area to the sun is causing more damage to the skin. It can prolong healing and most cases cause color loss. Wait at least two weeks before exposure.
-DONATE BLOOD: The red cross does not allow you to donate blood for at least six months. It can take this long for any blood born diseases to show up in blood tests. Don't let this scare you! There has never been any disease epidemics attributed to tattooing or piercing. Unprotected sex still remains to be the biggest transmitter of disease. Hopefully with time and a more realistic testing standard, tattooed people won't be denied the gift of giving! Until then, please consider donating blood before you get tattooed or pierced.
3. Am I putting my health at risk by getting a tattoo?
If you do your homework in finding a reputable artist that uses autoclave sterilization, no.
4. Should I consider a tattoo if I have a serious illness?
Consult with your doctor and tattoo artist first. Getting tattooed puts a moderate amount of stress on the body which can be dangerous in some cases. Any immune deficiency related illness can affect the body's ability to heal properly. If a tattoo can't heal in a normal fashion, you can lose color or even scar. Different medications like blood thinners and anticoagulants can also interfere with the process. Definitely talk to your doctor, the risks may not be worth it.
That's a relative question. Most people I (carissa) have tattooed say that it wasn't as bad as they expected. It can be more highly annoying than anything. Scratchy, buzzy and sometimes even ticklish. If you can pluck an eyebrow you can take it!
6. What can I do to prepare myself for the discomfort?
Get a good nights sleep, eat right, and be in good health. Relaxation is the key! If you're sick the day of your appointment then call to reschedule.
7. Should I use drugs or alcohol to lessen the pain?
NO! In most cases this can have adverse effects, like vomiting, loss of bowel control, loss of consciousness, excess bleeding or a basic bad time. Your body is equipped to manage low levels of pain. So just relax!
Under normal circumstances it bleeds very little.
9. Can I turn anything into a tattoo design?
Absolutely! Any good tattoo artist can make an idea a reality. Maybe you have something drawn already but you want to make some changes to it, or try some different colors. Ideas for tattoos are around every corner in libraries, bookstores, the internet, tattoo flash and your own imaginations.
10. Can I shrink images to accommodate a small tattoo?
If you're going with a small design then stay simple. Beware of shrinking detailed images. Skin is a flexible canvas that deteriorates as we age. Experienced artists can tell what will "blob out" and what won't. The permanency of the matter means you must think ahead. Maybe the design can be simplified, maybe not.
11. Can I have a large design done all in one session?
Different artists work at varying speeds. Be sure to ask about your particular design. Everybody has limits with the amount of time they can sit to be tattooed as well. Again consult your artist on their recommendations. It may take more than one visit, but it's always worth it!
12. What does my pigmentation have to do with the brightness of my tattoo?
The pigment in your skin lies over or above the tattoo that has been applied to your skin. Therefore, if your pigment is light, it will allow the tattoo to show through more vividly. If your pigment is dark, it can obscure many of the lighter colors. If you have dark skin use darker colors, and if you tan use sun block on the tattooed area.
13. What can I do to help my tattoo heal?
It is always best to follow the directions the tattoo artist gives you unless you have prior knowledge of any allergies to ointments or lotions. If you DO have an allergic reaction or suspect that you are having one, do not panic. Most damage is minimal and can be remedied with a touchup. Contact the artist as soon as possible to learn of any alternative healing methods. It may require a trip to your physician.
14. Can I have my tattoo re-colored as many times as I want?
No, as stated earlier, the skin gets slightly damaged in the tattoo process. If this were to be done repeatedly it could result in a raised scar that will never keep color. Touchup a tattoo only when absolutely necessary.
15. What can I do with a bad or undesired tattoo?
First, learn from your mistake. Don't be hasty or in a hurry to be rid of it, this can make a bad thing even worse. You have two options-have it lasered off or get it covered up.
16. What are my limitations with the cover-up method?
Many people are under the impression that you can tattoo flesh color over the beast, not so. You cannot cover darker colors with lighter colors. The artist must use the dark lines and forms to create a new design. Don't ask , "What will cover this?" Rather ask yourself what you really want.
Otherwise you're in the same boat as before, you have a tattoo that doesn't hold any meaning to you. Once again, the sky is somewhat the limit idea wise. Cover-ups usually end up being at least a little bigger. If this is out of the question for you laser surgery might be a better option. In which case call your physician or consult the yellow pages.
2. How long before I am able to change my jewelry?
3. Are the paralysis rumors true?
4. What dose it mean when a piercing grows out?
6. How does a P.A. affect one's ability to urinate?
7. Can you breast-feed with nipple piercings?
8. How long should I wait to up gage my piercing?
9. Why should I change my tongue jewelry after it heals?
10. I'm pregnant should I take my navel piercing out?
11. What are the chances of scaring from my piercing?
12. Why won't you pierce the clitoris?
13. My friend was pierced and fainted will I faint?
14. Is their a way I can hide my piercing?
1. What are the chances of infection?
You are at high risk if you...
-choose a nonprofessional setting in which to get pierced.
-allow an inexperienced individual to pierce you.
-pierce with dirty, used or unautoclaved jewelry or needles.
-don't follow the proper healing instructions for your particular piercing.
-have a medical condition that inhibits the immune system or your ability to heal properly.
-you have a metal allergy.
2. How long before I am able to change my jewelry?
Depending on the piercing you may need to wait 8 weeks to a year.
3. Are the paralysis rumors true?
No, this is urban folklore for most piercings. But there is a possibility of hitting the blood sacks in a genital piercing and losing the use of it.
4. What dose it mean when a piercing grows out?
When a piercing grows out the two holes gradually move closer together or the flesh in between gets thinner and thinner until the piercing eventually breaks through the skin. This is most commonly a problem with eyebrows, navels, frenums, diodes, and to surface piercing. Their are several reasons that this might occur
-to much abuse to form a solid scare tube especially frenums and diodes.
-you are having a reaction to the metal
-the piercing is too shallow
-you are not following healing instructions
-you are having a reaction to the soap try another healing method
-the piercing is overly irritated by sweat, dirt, chemicals or other un helpful circumstances that might exist in your daily life.
-you are putting triple antibiotic other similar product on it daily. This heals too well
-your body simply dose not take to piercing . It happens, sorry you unlucky few .
5. What is the difference between a professional hollow needle piercing and the way they do it at the mall?
At a traditional jewelry or department store one is usually pierced by a sixteen year old who has no specific training and probably does not want to pierce you in the first place. Generally an old fashion plastic piercing gun is used to shoot a blunt mystery metal starter stud in to your ear .
Their are many problems with this method. the first is the possibility of cross contamination . The gun being plastic you cannot properly sterilize it. The gun cannot be put in an autoclave so the only other option is to spray it with bleach or other chemical witch kills some blood born bacteria but not all.
The second problem is the jewelry the stud is completly inside your ear which makes it impossible to clean This causes infection.
The third problem is that the standard for earring posts in the united states is twenty two gage. This is too thin. 22 gauge is darn close to the size of the wire on cheese cutter and if you get it caught on something it will cut through your ear.
6. How does a P.A. affect one's ability to urinate?
You should sit anyway be cause no matter how hard you try you still miss, you do come on admit it, you know its true. The P.A. will make you spray in unpredictably ways. TIP: at urinals or places where it is inconvenient or plain gross to sit use paper towel as a shield to protect yourself from a possibly embarrassing situation.
7. Can you breast-feed with nipple piercings?
If your piercings are completely healed and problem free there is no reason why you can't contrary to what your doctor might tell you. As long as you feel no problem there is no problem.
8. How long should I wait to up gage my piercing?
At least two weeks or until it is no longer sore.
9. Why should I change my tongue jewelry after it heals?
Initially on a tongue piercing a three fourths or one inch barbell is used to allow for swelling. It is not advisable to change the jewelry for three to four weeks. When the four weeks is up or when it is no longer sore we recommend that you change the jewelry to five eighths or half inch in depending on the thickness of your tongue. We have also been recommending wearing surgical plastic balls any plastic balls or dice or other ornaments. As long as they will break before you teeth do, it should be fine. The reason for this being that your going to get so used to it that you will forget that it is there and if its to long you bite it and break a tooth and no one wants to do that. Breaking teeth is costly painful and steep price to pay for a piercing. Remember we only get one set so take care of them and don't forget to floss o.k. kids.
10. I'm pregnant should I take my navel piercing out?
We have heard of people leaving them in, but in most cases we have seen the piercing become stretched out, inflamed and had to be removed.
11. What are the chances of scaring from my piercing?
By being pierced and leaving it in for any period of time you are making a scar. This mostly depends on your body and something called keiloids [scars]. You may scar easily, there is no way to tell how your body will react . If your piercing doesn't take and you persist on keeping it longer you wait to take it out the more you will scar. We have noticed that darker skin scars more.
12. Why won't you pierce the clitoris?
There is a chance that a blood sack could be hit in witch case you may never have an orgasm again. But this can be done buy someone who is trained to do it clitoris should be at leased one quarter inch bigger the better! I have talked to and read of many happy woman with this piercing down side is the heightened sensitivity is often temporary three or four months. Unfortunately we do not offer this service at The Crux as we think the risk is to high . If this is something you really want done, research research, research, know your piercer. May the force be with you.
13. My friend was pierced and fainted will I faint?
Not necessarily the case. It's one hundred percent nerves, if you are relaxed you more than likely will not pass out . People who faint work them selves up into a state of shock blood pressure goes way down, slowing the flow of blood through the body. The pain from the needle causes an endorphin release. The low blood pressure doesn't allow the endorphins go through the body so more are released. When it's over the tense client relaxes. WOW that was nothing no problem and then faints because they relaxed. Their blood pressure went back to normal and BAM! Endorphin overload.
14. Is their a way I can hide my piercing?
Yes their are many products available mostly Lucite call and ask about your specific piercing. These products should not be used until the piercing is healed completely.
