I guess this is the part where I get long winded and spout off some opinions......But more than that I want to share some personal experience and knowledge that is VERY important if you want to get a good quality safe tattoo.
As The Raven Sees It What kind of sterilization do you use? The answer should be....Autoclave sterilization, accept nothing else. Even if they tell you the needles are brand new who's to say the factory is sterile because it is NOT.The only thing that will kill a hepatitis spore is an Autoclave.It uses high heat and high pressure to "pop" the spore. A hepatitis spore is like a little turtle with a hard shell and it is as DEADLY as AIDS. Not one case of AIDS in the world today has been linked to tattooing but I know personally of cases of hepatitis that were contracted by a bad tattooist. Where did your tattooist learn to tattoo?
I been in and around this business for almost twenty years now and let me tell you something. There have been some great things that happened in the business and then to go with it some things that were equaly as bad.
To start with our tattoo technology and knowledge of the art has advanced so rapidly in the last 15 years it is amazing. The quality of work and standards have well surpassed anything I could have imagined way back when. I have seen work that I could say was truley fine art and that makes me proud of what I am.
And now the downside of that...Unfortunately there are some unscrupulous individuals out there who are looking to take your money, scar you up, and send you out the door. This business has become WAY too popular.People are ordering home tattoo kits and butchering people left and right.But the good thing is,with a little education under your belt you don't have to end up one of the butcherees.
Here are some questions you should pose to your prospective tattooist.....
If your tattooist tells you they are self taught be VERY wary. I was trained in a formal apprenticeship and I have to say I could never have learned all I needed to know by winging it on my own. Tattoo machines break down and run poorly without proper maintenance they dig and gouge.You don't magically learn sterilization by ozmosis it takes study and practical application with someone who knows what they are doing.
Color formulas, theory, study of human anatomy, knowledge of electronic components, and a miriad of other things are neccassary to become a good tattooist. You get the idea I need say no more about this.
Is The Tattooist Using Single Service Needles?
Single Service Needles are those that are used ONE TIME ONLY on you and then destroyed the reputable above the board tattooist will always use new needles. Needles get dull and rip through the dermis and make for a mushy faded tattoo. To get good clean lines you need a new needle. Here's a little tip.....Ask to see the package before the tattooist opens them, they shouldn't mind if they have nothing to hide. Inspect the outside of the pack. There will be an indicator on it, if it is brown it has been Autoclaved. Look at the needles do they look shiny and new? Are the shader needles spread apart already? The shader is the flat one with more than one needle side by side they should be tight together if thay are new. You should be able to tell.
Have you seen work that the tattooist has done? How does it look, know how to judge.
Are the lines smooth and uniform? How does the shading look? Is the work choppy and faded looking? Does the color have spots in it? Take a good look would you want to wear something of this quality for the rest of your life?
All in all it's alot of common sense stuff and a little finesse.
Look around the shop you are in is it clean? How does it smell? If it looks dirty and smells like an old basement maybe you are in the wrong place. Just because they are in a shop front doesn't mean they are legit either. Many places in the country that I have been are rather lax about their regulating the tattooist in the area so let the customer beware. A little knowledge goes a long long way.
If you have questions about tattooing that are not covered here drop me an e-mail and I will try my best to get back to ya.DARK HORSE TATTOO @ EARTHLING.NET
Good luck on your search for the perfect tattoo and remember if the tattooist acts like you are asking to many questions you gotta wonder what they are hiding. Most of us are happy to explain proceedures to you to ease your minds. Now we aren't gonna give ya any color formulas or the like but your concerns should be addressed.
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