The art of tattooing has exploded by leaps and bounds and every one who can draw a stick figure is trying it. This unfortunate situation is leaving people confused and scared about where to go to get a tattoo. It is no secret that even the professional shops sometimes leave people sick and scarred. How do you protect yourself from diseases and life threatening illnesses ? Some of these tattoo artists recycle needles and tips without proper sterilization. It is an extremely important decision to choose your artist carefully. But How ? Let me give you some tips and advice on protecting yourself and your friends from problems.
Tattoos are extremely popular and even the older generation, who used to despise those with tattoos, are getting them. Usually different ages and it is more important to people these days how tattoo artists conduct themselves regarding proper equipment care. I make it a point to disclose my methods and show them firsthand my sterilization techniques so that people know who they are dealing with.
One of the first things to look at is the condition of the workspace. Obviously this goes without saying in almost every facet of life. A messy and unorganized workspace usually means an unorganized and messy work ethic. It is true that when an artist is busy and moving, he may not have had time to put the cap back onto one his color bottles. What I am referring to is dirty needles not properly disposed of, used ink caps laying about, dirty rags and disposable tips not thrown away. Those sort of things should not be anywhere on or around the workspace. Another thing to look for at the workspace is proper lighting. Sounds elementary but it would be surprising to know how many artists tattoo in horrible light just to get the job finished. While you suffer the pain and agony of a misaligned tattoo due to dim lights, the artist gets his money.
Another item to take into consideration are pictures of their work. It is true that most people would not hire a nanny to care for their precious little ones without consulting references. I'm sure that no one would go to a Doctor's office without seeing the proof of proper education and certificates. A professional and successful artist would have the money to spring for a good digital camera. Going back to the dishonest and unscrupulous artists, those pictures that they are showing you may not even be of their work. So one thing you can check for are the styles of the tattoos in the pictures. Look for line and shading consistency of each tattoo. Believe it or not, each artist has their own style that is obvious in most of their work. Some like to draw with thicker lines and darker shading, while others prefer thinner lines and lighter shading. Another item to check for is the age of the pictures. If the artist has not tattooed since 1979, I would consider another artist. Tattooing is not like riding a bike and people do lose their ability to tattoo properly.
An important piece to inspect is the location of the needles. When choosing an artist it is important to see that the needle comes out of a clean sterilized packet that must be peeled open in order to get to the needle. It is possible to order pre-sterilized needles in packets through the Internet so there should be no excuse why they would not have the package. Be aware of where they get these from within their shop. Unfortunately, it is possible to reseal these packages to make it look like its a new needle. Be sure that they open the packet directly in front of you and remove the needle right in front of you. Again, there are those dishonest and unscrupulous artists who are trying to make a buck and do not want to buy new needles. Needles cost anywhere from $1.00 to $5.00 depending on their distributor.
The tip of the tattoo machine is also an important item. The needle travels in and out of this piece and must be manually connected to the machine. Some artists are okay with the disposable tips which are used once and then thrown away. Others prefer the steel tips which require proper sterilization. Either way, just ensure that the tip is sterilized properly any way you can.
How can you avoid scarring was another tip I had promised. In reality, assuming that you take care of the tattoo once finished, you as "tattooee" are at the mercy of the "tattooer" in terms of scarring. But what this section is referring to is the artists style. If someone pokes you with a needle, you will be bleed. I hope that is common knowledge. In my years of tattooing, I have noticed that people who bleed profusely have been tattooed by a "heavy handed" artist. This type of tattooing tends to leave scars more often than not. Although there are those folks who are bleeders no matter what, but more likely, the major bleeders are getting stabbed not tattooed. This leaves scars and an ugly tattoo. To avoid this, you can watch them do other tattoos and be aware of their style in terms of a heavy or light hand.
Wherever you go to get your tattoo, be sure to use caution especially when going to a stranger. I would recommend going to someone who tattooed a friend and it turned out good. It is true that just because your friends tattoo came out good, there is not guarantee that yours will. Going to a shop is absolutely not a guarantee of a good tattoo either. It is up to you to use due diligence regarding your research and investigation as to which artist you will allow to tattoo you.
