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Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts

Monday, October 20, 2008

The Simple After Tattoo Care Methods

Many people, when they get tattoos, don't consider the fact that after tattoo care is very important. Tattoos are so popular, in fact, that many people don't think at all, before they get one. Tattoos are everywhere and everyone wants to get in on the popular craze. They get caught up in the excitement, without considering the consequences.

Not only do many people not consider after tattoo care, but many of them don't even think about which tattoo design to get. They just get the first tattoo that they see or the first design that pops into their head. If you go that route, you're going to deprive yourself of many choices and opportunities, though.

Everything from choosing a tattoo to after tattoo care is, after all, very complicated and important. There are thousands, perhaps even millions, of tattoo choices, so make sure to do some research, first. You might even choose to design your own tattoo or modify a tattoo pattern that you find. That will ensure that you get a completely different look from other people.
Internet tattoo galleries are also a great source of information for you. You can browse through as many tattoo designs as you could possibly think of online. You can take patterns you find online and show them to your tattoo artist, who can put a totally unique and original spin on the pattern. Not only that, but Internet tattoo galleries and forums can even provide you with lots of after tattoo care tips, as can your tattoo artist.

Before you deal with after tattoo care, though, you need to first consider where on your body to get your tattoo. Depending on whether the tattoo you choose is small or large, it can change where you plan to place it. For example, the back or the stomach are the best places for large tattoos. Small, on the other hand, can go almost anywhere.

Since tattooing involves puncturing your skin with needles, pain will be a factor and infection could happen. If you want to avoid infection, you need to follow after tattoo care tips.

When it comes to after tattoo care tips, one of the most important ones is to walk a line between keeping it moist and getting it too wet. You shouldn't take a bath or swim when the tattoo is first healing. However, you should use ointments to keep it moist and clean it with a wet cloth.

The next after tattoo care tip to follow is to keep your tattoo out of the sun. Tattoos can easily fade over time, especially when they are exposed to too much sunlight. You should, therefore, stay inside, at least when the tattoo is first healing.

If you got a tattoo on your foot, you need to follow a unique after tattoo care tip. You need to take time off from work and stay off your feet until it heals. That's because walking or having your shoes rub on your foot tattoo will be quite painful. In fact, you should try not to wear shoes at all until it heals.

So, once you've chosen the perfect tattoo for you, remember that the process doesn't end there. You don't want something to go wrong with your tattoo, so you need to be very careful about after tattoo care.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Painful places to get nice tattoos

Part of the experience of getting a tattoo is not knowing in advance how much it will hurt. For some it can be a terribly painful procedure. Others describe it as simply irritating, a "hot scratch" that is easily forgettable compared to the pleasure of wearing a work of art. If you want a tattoo but have a low threshold for pain, opt for fleshy spots like the thigh or bicep. The most painful places are generally the areas with a dense concentration of nerves or wherever the skin and bone are close together, without a layer of fat in between. Unless you go to a doctor for "permanent makeup" tattoos (like eyebrows) rather than a design, you won't get much help with the pain, says Charles Zwerling, a Goldsboro, N.C., eye doctor who specializes in permanent makeup (he uses local anesthesia). Only a doctor can give you a shot of painkiller, and tattoo artists often avoid numbing creams because they require 20 minutes or so to take effect and can prolong the procedure. Like the tattoo itself, pain is personal. What one person finds excruciating might be quite bearable to another. But since you may not know what your tolerance level is until you actually go under the needle, here's a short list of the most potentially painful places for body ink:

1. The eyeball. Believe it or not, some people do get permanent makeup inside the eye, says Zwerling About once a year, a patient asks him to put pigment into a disfiguring blind eye to make it look like a normal one. The many nerves going into the front of the eye would make this an excruciating procedure without anesthesia. (Two other popular spots for permanent makeup—the eye brows and lips—are also painful, the lips especially so because of the many nerve endings located there.)

2. The mons pubis. The pain of getting a tattoo down under runs a close second to the lips, says New York laser surgeon Bruce Katz, who specializes in removing tattoos. There are a lot of nerves, which provide pleasure (as opposed to pain) under different circumstances. If you try this in a tattoo parlor, ask for a cream, advises Katz.

3. The top of the foot or ankle. Lots of women opt for tattoos in this area so the eye-catching designs will be visible when they're barefoot or wearing sandals during the summer months. But it's also ouch-inducing because of the absence of fat.

4. Behind the ear. A tattoo here can be endearingly sexy. Just remember ladies, there's nothing in this spot but skin and bone—and nerves (though not as many as on your lip surface).

5. The chest (above your rib cage). If you're thin, this might be one time you'd be grateful for a layer of fat around your middle.The absence of padding makes this one of the most painful places for men to get a traditional tattoo.

Some other tips: Don't take aspirin before getting a tattoo, as it can increase bleeding (though other pain-killing pills can help). Schedule a time when you won't feel rushed, advises Karen Hudson, editor of "Chick Ink: 40 Stories of Tattoos—and the Women Who Wear Them." An average-size tattoo takes about two hours; ask the artist beforehand for an estimate of how long yours will take. If you're afraid of needles, consider a spot where you can't see the needle go in, or resolve not to look. Another option: a henna tattoo painted on the outer layer of the skin. There are no needles involved. As the skin exfoliates, this kind of tattoo slowly disappears. If you miss it, you can replace it with permanent body art. If not, you'll be relieved you only got a temporary tattoo. Removing an inked tattoo is painful, too.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Tattoo Process

Deciding to get a tattoo is a very personal decision. You've put a lot of thought into what you want your tattoo to look like and where you want to put it. Unfortunately, many people who want to get a tattoo actually stop right there because they're nervous. They may not know what exactly to expect when they are getting a tattoo. Knowing what goes on when you get a tattoo can go a long way toward making you feel more confident about getting a tattoo.

The process of getting a tattoo begins with choosing your tattoo artist. Take your time finding a tattoo artist you like. Look at samples of their work. Pay special attention to the line work. Lines that look wobbly or uneven are a sign of a less experienced artist. Getting a tattoo is one time that you really need to be willing to pay for quality and experience. Remember that your tattoo is a piece of art that will be on your body for the rest of your life. This isn't a time to bargain shop.

Once you have chosen your artist, it's time to talk to him about what you want your tattoo to look like. You may have an exact design that you want done, or you may have some ideas that you want the artist to incorporate into a custom design. When your tattoo design is just the way you want it, your artist use a machine that will copy the design onto a piece of thermal paper.


Now it's time to sit in the tattoo chair. The area that is being tattooed will be shaved with a new disposable razor so that any tiny hairs won't get in the way. The thermal paper with your tattoo design will be applied to the area and the design will be transferred directly onto your skin. Your tattoo artist will apply ointment over the design so that it won't rub off and so that the tattoo needle will glide more easily over your skin.


Your artist will do the line work first, following the design exactly. For most people, the first couple of minutes are the most uncomfortable, but then you get used to the sensation and start to relax. Once the line work is done, your artist will finish your tattoo by doing the color and shading.

When your tattoo is finished, your artist will clean the area and let you take a few minutes to admire your new body art. The artist will then apply ointment and a bandage to your tattoo. Be sure to keep the bandage on for the amount of time that your artist instructs.


Your artist will give you aftercare instructions and explain them step by step. It's important to follow these instructions carefully in order to protect your tattoo from infection. If your tattoo becomes infected not only is it a health issue for you, but it can actually mess up the tattoo. If your artist recommends specific aftercare products, it's a good idea to purchase them. Your artist has a lot of experience with all aspects of the tattoo process and knows which products work best for aftercare.

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