Choosing an Artist
One of the first questions you should ask yourself is who is doing the tattoo. The quality of the tattoo depends on the quality of the artist, so look for the following things, and make your decision very carefully.
A professional attitude:
If this is your typical biker dude with a dirty pen, you should definitely consider an alternative.
Clean atmosphere:
A tattoo parlor is definitely not the place you want to find unsanitary conditions, so if the joint doesn't look clean, hit the road!
A good selection of tattoos, and skilled employees:
A tattoo is very permanent, and you don't want to end up with a tattoo looking like it's straight out of a sailor flick, so be absolutely positive the artist knows what you want.
An unprofessional tattoo artist is usually called a "scratcher" - somebody who:
does not have proper training.
does not know about/does not care about sterilization methods.
may hurt you because they don't know what they're doing.
may give you a horrible tattoo that you will regret for your whole life.
FUN FACT!!
"Love is forever." Yeah, right! Most places will only tattoo the name of a "significant other" in red or green because this makes it easier to change into a flower later.
Helpful Tips
Number one rule in tattoos:
if you don't know what you want, then you're not ready for a tattoo.
Get the permission of another person before you have their name tattooed on your body!!
If you are under eighteen, do not even attempt to get a tattoo. If someone will consent to giving you a tattoo even though you are underage, you don't want a tattoo from them anyway!
It must be stressed not to get a tattoo while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. You will most likely regret it later if you do.
Did we mention that the removal of a two-inch square tattoo could end up costing you over $1,000? And most health insurance companies DO NOT cover tattoo removal.
Tattoos do stretch and fade over time, so getting one on an obvious place on your body is probably not a good idea.
The Bottom Line
Tattoos can be an attractive addition to your body, but they can also be disastrous. Our recommendation: get yourself a new outfit instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do tattoos hurt?
Getting a tattoo is not as painful as most people expect, it is more of an annoying discomfort than a horrible pain. Some people say it feels like plucking your eyebrows, not something you would care to feel every day but something you can surly survive.
Do you use new needles?
Yes, we do use new needles for tattooing and piercing that have been autoclave sterilized. Other equipment such as the tattoo tubes and all piercing instruments are all autoclave sterilized before use. Our autoclave is tested monthly to insure proper sterilization and meets the guidelines recommended for infection control by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service and Centers for Disease Control. All our artists are members of the Alliance Of Professional Tattooists and have completed their seminar, "Preventing Disease Transmission In Tattooing" and have been trained in proper sterilization procedures.
How long do they take to heal?
With proper care tattoos will usually take about two weeks to heal.
Why does my tattoo look like it is pealing off?
Tattoos will usually peel like a sunburn within a few days to a week. There will be color in the skin that peels away but this is totally normal. DO NOT pick or peel the skin off, let it do what it needs to do on it's own.
Can we bring in our own design?
Of course you can bring in any type of design you like such as your own drawing, something from a book, t-shirt, off the internet, etc. We can also custom design something for you based on you ideas or reference material. If we are to design a custom tattoo for you we will require the deposit before starting any artwork. We will work with you and make changes and modifications to your design to suit your liking but within reason. There are artistic, body placement and size issues that will be determined by the artist to give you the best tattoo possible. If, after your tattoo is drawn, you choose not to have it tattooed your deposit will be used as an art charge to cover the artists research and drawing time.
Can I smoke while I get my tattoo?
NO, we do not allow smoking in the tattoo shop so that we may keep a cleaner and more sanitary shop. During medium and larger tattoos you will usually be offered a short break, so feel free to step outside and have a smoke if you like.
What forms of payment do you take?
We accept Cash, Visa, Master Card, american express and Discover.
How much do tattoos cost?
Tattoos start at $50 and go up. DO NOT call us to ask for a price quote as we cannot give one without seeing the actual design in person. The cost of a tattoo is determined by size, detail, color, placement on the body, and the work and time involved in doing the tattoo. We do the highest quality tattoos at very reasonable prices so please do not try to haggle price. This is not a flea market!!! If you are looking for bargain basement prices, go to you local basement scratcher and don't waste our time.
Good work is not cheap and cheap work is not good.
Can you cover up old tattoos?
Yes, we can cover up unwanted tattoos with new ones. Keep in mind that you are somewhat limited in what will actually cover existing tattoos. The new tattoo will most times be a bit larger than the old one. An easier and less expensive alterative to covering one up is to redo the old design. We can rework your old tattoos and make them look like new and in most cases better than the day you got it the first time. If you have a tattoo that you would like covered or reworked please stop in for a consultation and we would be happy to help you.
Can I drink before my tattoo?
We DO NOT recommend drinking before getting tattooed. Alcohol thins out your blood making you bleed more during the tattoo procedure which in turn pushes the ink out of your body leaving you with a faded looking tattoo that will need to be touched up. We will not tattoo you if you are noticeably intoxicated. Drunk people quite often become rude and obnoxious, move around a lot and tend to make poor decisions that they may regret in the future, like a tattoo they would not have gotten while sober.
Do you do touch ups and what do they cost?
We guarantee our tattoos and will touch them up free of charge within 3 months of when they were done, provided that you cared for them according to our healing instructions. After 3 months you will be charged based upon the work involved. We also touch up other peoples work at a fee determined by the work involved.
Can I get a reaction?
Allergic reactions: Although allergic reactions to tattoo pigments are rare, when they happen they may be particularly troublesome because the pigments can be hard to remove. Occasionally, people may develop an allergic reaction to tattoos they have had for years.
Granulomas: These are nodules that may form around material that the body perceives as foreign, such as particles of tattoo pigment.
Keloid formation: If you are prone to developing keloids -- scars that grow beyond normal boundaries -- you are at risk of keloid formation from a tattoo. Keloids may form any time you injure or traumatize your skin.
TATTOO REMOVAL
https://www.angelfire.com/gargoyletattoo/tattooremoval.html
