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So, you’re thinking about getting tattooed, but have no idea how the whole process works? Since a tattoo is for life, it’s good to know what you’re getting into, and the first step is understanding how a tattoo works and what you’re actually doing to your body when you decide to get tattooed.

The Tattoo Gun

Tattoos are accomplished by using an electric-powered tattoo gun.  The tattoo gun has a needle at the end of it that is used to put ink inside of your skin deep enough so that it does not come out. When the gun is turned on, the needle moves up and down rapidly (up to 200o times a minute) and is able to deposit a small drop of ink deep into your skin with each puncture.

Tattoo guns have come a long way since the early days of tattooing but are still made a few basic components, those being an electric motor, a sterilized needle, and a tube system. There is also a foot pedal, similar to a sewing machine, that allows the tattoo artist to control the movement of the needle.

Tattoo Safety

Safety has always been a big concern with getting tattooed, since anytime you are dealing with puncture wounds, you have a risk of infection.
Fortunately, it is much more commonplace these days for tattoo artists to open brand new, sterile needles from the packaging right in front of you before you get tattooed.

To ensure the safety of both the customer and the tattoo artist, tattooing materials like ink, needles, and gloves are all made for single use only.

Tattoo Preparation

Minutes before your tattoo session begins, your artist will  often  begin chatting with you to make you feel relaxed.  The chatter is usually accompanied by the artist washing their hands, checking themselves for cuts and abrasions, and disinfecting the entire work area to begin preparation for your tattoo.

When the cleaning of his work area is finished, he will then shave the area of your body that is getting tattooed, disinfect it with soap and water, and open the sterile equipment needed to get the job done.

Getting Tattooed

Once the tattooing begins, you will feel some pain, but how much largely depends on your tolerance and the location of your tattoo on the body, as some areas will obviously be more painful than others.

During the entire tattoo process, the tattoo artist will continue to clean the tattooed area until it is finished.

Tattoo Aftercare

At this point, when you’re tattoo has been completed, the artist will put some ointment on the area and give you a rundown of how to take care of your tattoo so that it heals properly.

Most of the time, you will receive an information sheet so you don’t forget what’s needed to be done. It is extremely important to follow the instructions you were given for tattoo aftercare. Not only are you lowering the risk of infection, but you will be decreasing the chances of your tattoo not healing properly and losing ink or not looking like it’s supposed to.

Your tattoo is impressive, and looking just exactly how you imagined it to. You’re examining it out in the mirror at the tattoo studio, admiring the artist’s work. Now, it’s time to show it off to the world.

However, in order to maintain your tattoo looking attractive and avoid any problems such as infection or fading, you’re going to need to adhere to a few tattoo aftercare rules. As soon as the tattoo artist finished your tattoo design, he likely cleaned it with soap and water and applied a small layer of healing ointment or moisturizer. During this time, he should have been giving you a rundown of how to take good care of your tattoo until it heals.

There also should have been a sheet of tattoo aftercare instructions given to you so that you can remind yourself at home what you need to do to help your new tattoo heal properly. Here are a few of the important basics of tattoo aftercare:

1. Avoid Bandages; You would likely leave the tattoo studio with a bandage on your tattoo, but after you remove the first one, don’t put another bandage on. Your tattoo will heal better if it open to the fresh air.

2. Stay Out Of The Sun; Although it’s a good idea to have your tattoo exposed to air, you will want to keep it out of the direct sunlight for at least the first month. Even after it has completely healed, be sure to always cover it well with sunblock to avoid fading and color loss.

3. No Swimming; You will also want to avoid swimming or any other activity that would submerge your tattoo in water for about a month as well. A shower is ok, but you do not want to soak in a hot bath. Another no-no while we’re on the subject is rubbing down your tattoo too hard with a towel. Simply pat the area and let the excess moisture air dry.

4. Keep It Clean; It’s important to keep your new tattoo clean and moisturized with a non-fragrance lotion or a light layer of healing ointment like Neosporin. Also, be sure to avoid scratching your tattoo if it itches. If a scab forms, do not peel it off and let it heal naturally.

The most vital thing about getting tattooed is settling on a design that you know you’ll be OK with for life. even if you were completely sure at the time, infrequently people change, and you finish up with a tattoo that no longer suits you and your way of life. In that case, you could be considering tattoo removing and pondering what your options are. The common understanding is that tattoo erasure is intensely distressing, but that idea comes often from the old days before technology provided us with better methods to remove a tattoo.

There are presently 2 favored tattoo removing options at the instant and those are performed using laser technology and light based technology. Both these techniques use light energy to get rid of your tattoo. The ink within your skin will soak up the light and then break it up, permitting it to be simply filtered out of the body.

The majority who had one of these kinds of tattoo removing surgeries describe the sensation as an aggravating elastic band snapping at your skin frequently. However, like when you are getting a tattoo, the dimensions of it’ll make a difference of how much discomfort you will feel and it’s magnitude. Also, if you have an enormous tattoo that has to be removed, you could have to spend a night or 2 in the hospital so they can observe your skin afterward.

Fortunately, complicated technology has made it so these strategies work without leaving much of a scar, but there are risks of ending up with a different skin colouration in the area of your tattoo. It can also be quite costly and need a few visits to permanently take away the complete tattoo. If you decide that you would like to push ahead with a tattoo removing surgery, it is critical to raise questions and research the process. You’ll also wish to select a doctor who’s experienced in performing the process and has had successful results.

Once you have decided that you’re prepared to get a new tattoo, you are going to have to make one or two more choices before really getting permanently inked.

One of the gigantic ones is deciding on your position. So, how does one discover how much your tattoo is going to cost? The very first thing you are going to must do is decide on the tattoo design that you need.

Before anything else, selecting a tattoo that you are one hundred percent sure of is more important than the price.

Your tattoo is forever and it is not a call that you wish to base only on cost. After you are positively certain of which tattoo design you need, you can move on to selecting the studio and the artist.

Irrespective of what anybody may tell you, when it comes to tattoos, you get what you pay for. That doesn’t mean that your tattoo must be pricey to be good, but there are a couple of things which will establish the price:

1. Custom tattoo design: If your tattoo design idea is one that’s one hundred percent unique and you want the tattoo artist to design it for you, you are probably going to pay quite a lot more for his time and abilities to create that design for you.

2. Artist Reputation: Artists can charge whatever they need and it can can range anywhere from $50 to $300 and up an hour. Usually the more reputable and famous the artist becomes, the more you are going to pay to have that artist do your tattoo.

3. Size matters: Yes, this is one of those times where size basically does matter. For example, a tiny heart tattoo on your wrist is going to cost significantly less that a complicated full back piece design. Is it really possible to discover a tattoo studio which has super inexpensive pricing? Naturally, and it’s even possible that they have pro artists with great talent, but never rush into selecting a tattoo studio, particularly based mostly on cost.

The majority of tattoos heal without any complications at all, but understanding that there are risks involved is important. Regardless of how safe you may think you are, there is always at least a slight element of risk when you’re dealing with needles, puncture wounds, and possible infection.

The number one issue to be concerned about when you’re getting tattooed is your tattoo artist using unsanitary equipment. All of the equipment needs to be sterilized after every use, otherwise there is a high risk for the spread of disease and infection.
In fact, the entire tattoo studio should be clean and disinfected on a regular basis.

So, how do you know if there’s a problem with your tattoo?

If you notice any excessive redness or swelling in and around your tattoo, it’s important to see your doctor immediately. Do not shrug it off as it can quickly lead to something more serious if it is infected. If you see the doctor during early stages, then it can likely be cured by taking some medicine.

If your tattoo infection is severe, then you may have to have surgery in order to remove the tattoo and prevent further infection and more serious problems. Another downside of a severe infection is that although the tattoo removal is usually a safe procedure, surgery always comes with risk as well.

What other risks are there when getting a tattoo?

Aside from the health risks, another huge concern for most people getting a tattoo is the outcome of the appearance. Let’s face it, everyone has seen an example or two of a botched tattoo and it’s not something you want on your body.

Remember that your tattoo is for life and don’t think that removal is your back up plan because it can also be risky, expensive and you will often still end up with a scar in the same area anyway.

So how do you avoid getting a bad tattoo?

Like every other decision you make in life, think it through. Ask yourself why you are getting the tattoo and if it’s something you will still want on your body in years to come.

Visit several tattoo parlors before deciding on an artist, and ask lots of questions. Be absolutely sure that you are 100% sure you want the tattoo and that you have chosen a professional artist with a stellar reputation and a spotless tattoo studio.

There’s absolutely no question that getting a tattoo is a big decision that requires a lot of thought. Not only do you have to be 100% sure that you want a tattoo, but you have to be certain of the design as well. Once you’ve made it to that point, there’s still another important step you have to take, and that’s choosing a tattoo artist.

Choosing a tattoo artist is not something to be taken lightly, and it’s wise to take the time to research your options. It may seem dull compared to the excitement of getting inked, but if you skip this step, you are putting yourself in a risky situation.

If you choose a tattoo artist that doesn’t do a good job on your tattoo design, there’s no going back.

So, here’s a few tips to keep in mind when you’re looking for a tattoo artist to give you a tattoo:

Reputation And Professionalism

Word of mouth spreads fast in the tattoo world and developing a stellar reputation means everything to a tattoo artist. So, the first thing you should do is ask around. If you happen to know people who have nice tattoos, ask them where they got them done and who they think is the best artist in your area.

Find out the names of all the tattoo parlors in your city and Google them. Try and find reviews and photo galleries from past customers and if it’s a forum environment, ask questions.

Go down to the tattoo parlors. Give them a call beforehand as well to see if you can make an appointment to speak to a tattoo artist for a few moments. Write down any questions you may have so that you don’t forget them when you get there.

Pay attention to the professionalism of the shop. Is it clean? Is the artist you are talking to helpful, friendly, and polite?

Ask to see their portfolio of past customers to see if their work is high quality.

Experience And The Right Style

Ask the tattoo artists that you are considering how long they have been doing tattoos and what kind of experience and training they have as an artist. Typically, they will be more than happy to chat with you and answer your questions.

You will also want to ask what style of art they do best. For instance, an artist that can tatoo the most beautiful dragon design you’ve ever seen, might not be able to design the black and white portrait tattoo that you want. Always ask to see portfolio examples that match the style of art you want to get.

Take A Trip

A tattoo is for life, so if you can’t seem to find a tattoo artist in your city that makes you feel confident about getting the tattoo, then head out of town to reputable shops outside of your locale. It may be more time consuming and expensive, but it will be worth it in the end when you get the perfect tattoo.