Getting Inked Up? - Remember This

Everyday I hear stories about tattoos, some are good and some are bad. Most people life happily for the rest of their lives with their Ink and some simply regret having it applied to their body, it makes me wonder why, why the regret. What can make someone regret having a tattoo done, here's what I believe.

Possible reasons to regret a tattoo

1) Ignorance: Sometimes people decide to go get tattooed without doing research first, just because someone like a specific artist does not meant you have to like the same artist too. Someone might think that a tattoo done at someone's backyard that costs twenty dollars might look good in their eyes but that does not mean it has to appeal to everyone.

I've seen people who like certain styles, designs, artists, etc. they see in the magazines and they wish they could have something in their body that looks as good as what they see but never go for it, they decide to stick to the basics and after they get the work done they still wish what they got looked as good as they one they saw in the mag.

Remember this

The basics on getting the best tattoo are easy
a) Do research: Don't go for the first tattooer you cross paths with, you have to like their style, it really has to be appealing on a high level. If you look at a tattooers work and you really think looks good enough (magazine appeal), go for it.

b) Hygiene: That's one of the most important to have in consideration. Tattoos do get infected and the scar it leaves behind is even worst. Most tattooers have knowledge on how important hygiene is regardless of the size of the studio they work at.

c) Appeal: When you're waiting for you turn to get tattooed you want to feel at peace, confortable and confident that the work will come out good, at relaxed environment helps a lot. Believe it or not, a chaotic environment is not the best environment to get Inked. I've seen tattoo shops where people are screaming, yelling, using foul language, sexually explicit jokes and even fighting while having customers and they simply don't realize they're creating a hostile work environment which is not good for them and the customers.

If you go to a tattoo parlor and you don't feel confortable the best thing to do is leave. Reputable shops make sure that thier customers are confortable being in an appealing environment, also most reputable shop employees have excellent customer service skills (who knew!).

d) Customer's Health: If you have a health issue that concerns you at the time you're about to get tattooed make sure you get advice from the artist. He or She will be open about what's best, your health comes first.

Unaceptable Tattoo Disaster

The worst thing and the biggest fear most people have is to have a fucked up tattoo. I do my best to keep this site kind of clean when it comes to the postings, sharings, etc. I must say that something can be fucked up to an extent of incomprehention, for example the picture in this posting.

The portrait is flawless and the name is awesome but if you look closely (obviously) you see a Jimmy Hendrix portrait but the name is Bob Marley. The asshole who bursted the customer's bubble should be fined (if it was possible of course). It is a major dissapointment to trust your body to someone and end up with a fucked up work.

Major Mistake or Major Sabotage

Getting a new tattoo shouldn't be a turn off at all but if you do a tattoo with a non- professional in the field it can really turn into a real nightmare. For example, this guy featured in the photo wanted to honor his Mom by doing an at home tattoo with someone that happens to be a non-reputable artist.

Perhaps he got referred by a friend who told him of knowing someone that does the kind of work that some people find "amazing". Today plenty of people still practice the "trying to find a cheap tattoo artist" thing or going to someone who does cheap tattoo and just because the friend like that type of work they decide to follow the same path to then realize they just got screwed over.

Beware of Scratchers - Tattoos Gone Wrong

They're part-time tattooing wannabes called "Scratchers." It's a group of people who have taught themselves the art of "permanent ink." It's growing in popularity and leaving people right here in the Tri-state with more than just a design on their body.

From the beginning, Steve Cupp - the owner of Vertigo Tattoo in Oxford - has been outspoken about safe tattooing practices. He's been creating body art since 1997, but what he's seen grow in popularity lately is just plain shocking.

"You know they will come in with holes in them, puss and all kinds of stuff and they end up hospitalized," said Cupp.

Steve's talking about the aftermath of "scratching."

"As a general rule we'll get five or six clients a week or so they will come through the door with something God awful," said Cupp. "As it grows people think they want to be a part of it and they'll get on the Internet and find a machine and find some needles and with absolutely no training what so ever start trying to tattoo their friends."

This may sound harmless enough in itself, but Scratchers have been coming under serious attack by real tattoo artists because the un-trained practice could be deadly.

"There are tons of infections you can get - Hepatitis A, B and C, there's Staph infection there is MRSA," said Cupp.
Scratchers usually teach themselves how to ink with the help of videos and homemade tattooing equipment, then those Scratchers put their services out there for un-knowing takers.

Alex Cooper became a victim at 16.

"I talked to one of my friends who I went to school with and he got a tattoo from a guy in a house and I didn't know the dangers of it so I got one," said Cooper. "Saran wrap on the kitchen table, no kind of clean substance, basically dry wiping."

"You could be Picasso with a tattoo machine but what your doing is not right," said Doug Paxton, a professional tattoo artist. "It's always been and up and down phenomenon that it will be a fad for a couple of years then it goes up and down its always been that way but these other reason is it's a fast and easy way to make money."

Doug Paxton told us this type of tattooing could literally be the death of a customer if proper health procedures aren't strictly carried out.

"It's nasty and if it's not taken care of properly, you're going to the hospital or worse," adds Paxton.

So how popular is a tattoo? The Pew Research Center in January of 2007 said 36 percent of 18-25 year olds have at least one tattoo.

"I feel like I was extremely lucky to not have any of that happen like the mesa or any kind of staph infection…really," said Cooper.

Professionals say if you're thinking about getting a tattoo make sure the artist follows strict health and safety precautions with sterilization techniques monitored by health officials. They say if a studio is run by a professional you're going to see equipment packaged in a protective pouches that remain sealed until it is opened in front of a customer.

Local health departments regulate tattoo studios in many jurisdictions, which should give the person getting a tattoo some piece of mind about health risks but you want to do your homework. Make sure you ask a lot of questions before you decide to let someone put that tattoo design on your body.



Here are some of the question you should ask.

What are the laws in your city/state on tattooing?

What certifications and/or licenses are required to tattoo legally in your city/state?

What is the procedure of operating an autoclave? what temperature must the autoclave reach and for how long?

What is a blood-born pathogen and how do you prevent the spread of it, and cross-contamination?

How do you thoroughly clean and disinfect needles and tubes before autoclaving?

What layer of epidermis of the skin must you not enter to prevent scarring of a tattoo?

What is plasma, and what does the leakage of plasma during a tattoo indicate?

These are only a few of the things that are absolutely necessary for a tattoo artist to know, and if you can't answer all of these questions with concise understanding, you are not ready to be a tattoo artist.

Here is the Cincinnati Health Department's Requirements of Operators:

(A) Compliance. All operators of tattoo and/or body piercing services must comply with all provisions of OAC 3701-9-05 and 3701-9-06.

(B) Training and Education. All person(s) involved in the operation that have access to the tattoo and/or body piercing equipment shall have annual training for:

(1) Basic first aid, similar in content to course offered by American Red Cross.

(2) Universal Precautions against blood-borne pathogens that meet requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) specified in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.1030.

(C)Operator Responsibility. The operator shall be responsible for all persons performing tattooing and/or body piercing within the operator's establishment.

(D) Other Requirements. Any additional requirements requested by the Health Commissioner.


Sources
La Sumisa
Fox 19


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