Tattoo Etiquette
Its that time, time for another note that might get read but probably wont be understood by those who need to understand it- which makes it simply brain candy, cannon fodder, for everyone else. Its just something to read because you have nothing to do, but lets get this straight. This has pertinent information in it, feel free to share it, explain it, and understand it. Thats what its for.
Lets start with Quantity over Quality. What? You think Ive typed that wrong? Well, nope, I havent. You see, there is a problem spreading across the world like a disease. It goes like this: I want as many tattoos as I can get because I saw that person on television with a lot and he/she is soooo cool. So, some people collect, and I use this term with great sarcasm, tattoos: as many as they can get, anywhere they can get them, as cheap as they can get them, of anything they can get. What results is a body full of crappy art that the wearer inevitably doesnt realize is crappy because its so cool.
Not the dripping of my sarcasm and disdain
Consider, the 20 dollars you spent for that horrifically flat, shaky lined, poorly shaded, misplaced tattoo put into a jar and left alone. Now, take the 20 from the next, the 30 for that sweet buy one get one free deal you got, the 10 you spent when youre buddy made a machine out of a vibrating toothbrush, the 15 you spent to get the tattoo from youre cousins friend who knows a dude who will tat anything you want on you for 15 dollars: and put all that together. Now in your jar you have approximately 90 dollars. Youre about halfway to one very nice (average size tattoo) that your friends, and those hotties you meet at the club, will think is the most amazing thing theyve ever seen. Why? Because youll be the only person there that has GOOD ink.
There is a very distinct difference between a great tattoo, a good tattoo, and a bad tattoo. A great tattoo (in my definition) is probably something youve waited on a list for over a year to get and has cost more than your rent. There are a few handfuls of amazingly gifted tattoo artists (Niko Hertado, Niki Norberg, Dmitriy Samohin, Kelly Dotty, Theresa Sharpe to name a few) out there in the world that have that something amazingly special. If you can wait and you can afford that- I suggest you get one of those. Hell, I suggest you get ME one of those. *Drool* For the rest of us schmucks there are good tattoos, and there is nothing wrong with getting a good tattoo. Good tattoos have clean line work, smooth shading, solid coloring, good placement, original artwork, and an attention to detail.
Bad tattoos, well, are just Bad Tattoos. I see people every day with bad tattoos. They show them off to me. They are PROUD of their bad tattoos. They dont know they are bad tattoos. How could they not know, you ask? Good question, when I figure that one out Ill let you know. Lets move on.
Now, before I get much further into this little diatribe, let me just step on down from my soapbox and say something really quickly. Not all inexpensive tattoos are bad. Not all bad tattoos are inexpensive. Not all tattoos from shops are good and not all tattoos not from shops are bad. (This is the part where someone bitches me out for saying this.) And this brings me to my next very important point: cleanliness.
You know they say that cleanliness is next to godliness? Well, I dont know anything about that but I do know that diseases, bacteria, and viruses do exist! Oh yes, dont fool yourself my friend. Even you can get TB, Hepatitis, AIDS, MERSA, Staff, and a host of other evildoers if the shop/artist you choose isnt clean. Im going to give you a list of stuff to look for when you go to your next shop looking for a tattoo, and all of these things I have SEEN with my own eyes done at shops. (Shops will not be named so dont ask.)
1. Are there people sitting around EATING in the shop (other than in a specified lounge/break room area)? Yes. Move on to the next shop. Why? Well lets start with the obvious first. When you eat you create crumbs some maybe more than others but there you have it. They get on the stuff around the area you are eating. Something could be spilled; hands that touched that greasy chicken are now touching the counter where your sterile inks will be.. Not to mention the risk from the area contaminating the food that is being consumed. Its just yucky. Dont do it.
2. Are there BUGS in the shop? Take a quick look around. If you see insect activity- leave. This should be common sense but it is not. I was recently in a shop that was overrun with cockroaches that would crawl on the counters during the middle of the day right in front of people about to get tattooed and they never said a thing. Bugs and germs go hand in hand. They are best friends.
3. Do the counters, floors, chairs, and other furniture pieces look clean? No? Leave. You are having your flesh opened and you deserve a clean and sterile environment in which to have that done. Period.
4. Are the work stations cluttered with debris, used paper towels, open bubble packs from needles/tube, ink left out in ink caps, machines still hooked up with used needles just laying around in them? This is a hazard, its a contaminated mess, and its no good. Leave.
5. So, the shop you picked looks clean. Thats an awesome start. Now look closer.. closer. If you EVER see an artist using a roll of paper towels to prop someones body part on- leave. Ive seen this a DOZEN times at least. You CANNOT disinfect a roll of paper towels!!! They should not be used as a pillow, a prop under a leg or arm nothing. And, chances are, that roll of paper towels they just used to stuff under your oozing tattoo to hold your arm out is going to get used again on someone else or as the towels the artist is using to wipe your tattoo. This is not a joke. I have seen this happen more than once. Please, understand that once that roll of paper towels comes in close proximity to the area where you are being tattooed: it is CONTAMINATED. It is a soft surface and cannot be properly disinfected to be used again. If your artist insists on using a roll to prop up your arm: be damn sure that it is a NEW, freshly opened, roll and that it will thrown away directly after. Yes, the entire roll.
6. Now, time to watch your artist set up. Here is a quick sub-list of things that should happen.
a. The Artist washes their hands.
b. The area to be used should be cleaned with a specified cleaner (opticide, calvacide or the like.)
c. The Artist washes their hands.
d. The Artist washes their hands. Did you get that? Make sure they wash their hands before touching ANYTHING!
e. The Artist puts on a clean pair of disposable gloves.
f. The Artist puts barrier film (its kind of like plastic wrap) over any surface that is on the work station where the ink/needles/machines will be. For example: if the counter top where the artist is setting up has a bunch of toys/jars/stuff on it every bit of that stuff should be covered with barrier film OR a separate tray/stand should be used for the setup. Got that? You do not want mister fuzzy cute toy in the corner next to your ink. Why? Well Mr. Fuzzy is about to be contaminated because small amounts of splatter, even microscopic ones are about to get onto Mr Fuzzy, and Mr. Fuzzy is a soft surface and cannot be properly disinfected. Ohh, Mr. Fuzzy has been there for a year and theyve had NO problems well what if today is that day and youre the luck number 366th customer? Its not worth getting sick over for you or the Artist.
g. The Artist bags just about every damn thing on the work surface. Any squirt bottles should have bags on them, the machines (guns- grumble) should have bags on them. If the power supply is sitting on the area with the setup it needs to be covered too! The clipcord should have a bag over it called a clipcord cover. It looks like a really long condom for the cord that runs from the tattoo machines to the power supply.
h. Vaseline or other goo: the container should not touch the setup (sterile) area. A clean, new tongue depressor should be used to scoop a blob from the jar and then that blog can be laid on the sterile surface. That tongue depressor (thing that looks like a Popsicle stick) should not be reused! If more goo is needed a new stick should be used to get it. You do not want to trail germs from your contaminated area into the goo jar which will then be used again for another person after you. Eww.
i. Ink caps should be set up on the sterile surface. They should be NEW not used. Woo, were getting somewhere here.
j. Needles and tubes should be in bubble packs. STERILE bubble packs. It is OK to ask to see the expiration date on the bubble packs. They do expire! If the pack is open before you see it, ask for a new one. The Artist should open them in front of you, assemble them into the bagged machines, and place them on the sterile surface.
k. Now we need some paper towels we are back to this again. If the rolls of paper towels are set on the sterile surface they have to be thrown away after each tattoo because they are contaminated! If the artist pulls towels off while tattooing you that roll is contaminated from the Artists gloves and has to be thrown away. So, what do you do then? Well, you tear off as many sheets as you think you will need and put them in an easy accessible place next to you, near the setup. If the Artist runs out mid tattoo they need to take off their gloves, use hand sanitizer, before getting more.
l. INK. Ink also has expiration dates. DO NOT let an artist use expired ink on you! I should not have to explain why this is a bad idea. Just dont do it. You can ask to see the expiration dates if you want. Also, be sure your artist is using quality ink products. There are lots of distributors of inks, some very good, some very bad! DRAGON INK is horrendous! Do not let anyone put that in your skin. You have been warned. Some good brands are Eternal, Starbright, Silverback, Intenze, Skin Candy, Kuro Sumi. I personally think that Eternal Ink is the absolute top brand of Ink.
m. Now youre artist shakes the shit out of the ink and it is poured into the ink caps on the sterile surface and the bottle is NOT set on the sterile surface. It is put back where it came from. If for some reason the artist did not put out the sufficient amount of ink and needs a refill during your tattoo he/she should remove their gloves, use hand sanitizer, put on clean gloves, put new ink in a new ink cap. Why? Well, lets have a chat about the mechanics of tattooing for one quick second. When you dip into ink, let say its black, and then put that in the skin of someone, blood is mixed with the ink now in the tube. Now, you go back, get more ink: that blood is now mixed into the ink in the ink cap. After a while this dilutes the ink in the ink cap when it nears the last bit in the bottom so its best to use a whole new cap for more ink.
n. Now, you have everything set up for your brand new tattoo and its all looking clean and professional and you are ecstatic! Go you!
o. Now, here is a thing for you to remember. Your Artist should NOT touch anything out of the sterile environment they just made for you with their gloves on. This includes PHONES ( I see this one a lot). If they need to mess with something they should take off their gloves, throw them away, and then WASH THEIR HANDS when they are done and put on a new pair of gloves. You deserve cleanliness.
p. When your tattoo is finished everything should be disposed of and cleaned/disinfected including the chair you were sitting in, everything.
q. Now, you just got a really awesome tattoo! Go you! And youve limited your chances of getting a nasty infection because you know how things should be done. Remember, it is OK to make sure things are being done correctly. You do not have to get a tattoo if the setup looks shady, the place is dirty, or something feels off. And, its OK to ask to see expiration dates and to watch everything being set up for you. Its your right as a customer to get the best experience.
7. Now that Im sure Ive pissed off a lot of slacker artists out there, let me tell you a thing or two. I have been in only 2 shops that I have seen every artist doing the setup and cleaning correctly. Two. I have been in shops all over the US. I have been in home studios that have been cleaner and properly set up. (Im about to get bitched at again) BUT, there are a LOT of people at home tattooing people and they have no idea what they are doing! A LOT! There is a huge difference between a home studio and getting a tattoo on your couch. What Im saying is: pay attention to your surroundings, shop or no. Please dont get tattooed if something doesnt look right! Learn the difference between a good tattoo and a NOT good tattoo. Learn the difference between a clean setup and a dirty set up. *note* I did not write this to teach scratchers how to set up their area. However, if youre out there reading this I do hope you learned a thing or two. It is not ok to risk the health of other people because you arent equipped with the knowledge to keep them safe. If youre going to give people shitty tattoos, at least give them shitty tattoos in a sterile environment.*
8. Now, lets say you are going to get a tattoo and you look on google and you see the perfect tattoo, on someone else. So, you print it out and you take it to the artist at the local shop and ask them to put that tattoo on you. DO NOT DO THIS. DO NOT show up at a tattoo shop and ask an artist to copy a tattoo you found on the internet for you. It is rude and it is plagiarism. Any artist worth going to is going to tell you that they cant put that custom tattoo on you. You know why? Because that is someone elses custom tattoo you are asking for! That was artwork, drawn by an artist, specifically for that one person. Copying that artwork is plagiarism. A good artist will tell you exactly that and then kindly explain to you that while they wont be able to put that exact tattoo on you, they can draw you something resembling the original idea that will be custom for YOU. Imagine how amazing you will feel having a ONE OF A KIND piece of art on you that is all yours! Now imagine someone else printing that out and getting it copied. Yeah, now you see, dont you? If your Artist cant draw you something, you shouldnt get tattooed by them. Find a new artist.
9. However: and this is a big however. There is art out there that is meant to be copied. Its called FLASH. Flash is drawn by an artist and then sold to a flash company and distributed for mass reproduction. It is ok to copy flash. Your artist should know what is flash and what isnt if they are worth the ink in their caps.
10. A deposit? Yep, it is customary for you to leave a deposit when an artist is drawing up a tattoo for you. Why? Because unfortunately there are people who come in and say they want something, ask for a drawing and never come back. It happens all the time. You are paying the deposit because the artist is taking their time (working) to create a drawing for you. You dont want to work for free and neither do we. And no, youre small deposit fee does not entitle you to take the artwork home with you if you decide not to get a tattoo. Why? Because selling art is not the same thing as drawing a tattoo. To buy a piece of art you would pay a LOT more than the small deposit you left to get your drawing started.
11. Freehand? So your artist is going to freehand a tattoo on you. Cool! But be wary. Freehand does not mean picking up a machine and tattooing on blank skin. Freehand means the artist draws the design on your skin instead of paper, but make no mistake, it is drawn on first!
12. Walk-in? Sure thing. Most shops take walk-in business, some dont. If you are going to make an appointment: you are going to need to leave a deposit. Yes, that word again. A deposit. Why? Because people make appointments and then never show up. I dont know why people do this; maybe they are intimidated and feel like they need to say they will be back in a day/two. Who knows! It happens a lot more than you think. People who leave deposits are more likely to come back so they dont lose their money! Also, when you book an appointment you are blocking out that time on an artists schedule. Say you are going to be getting a tattoo that takes 4 hours. Well, the artist cant book anyone else for those 4 hours, thus losing out on business if you dont show up. So, deposit!
13. Tipping: it is not a city in China (that I know of). In some countries they do not tip. In the USA there is tipping. You should tip your tattoo artist! Now here comes a big ol rant in 3, 2, 1:
a. You tip the chick at the bar that mixes your drinks. If she is a good hostess, is polite, friendly, and does a great job, you give her a tip. Its the same with tattooing. If your Artist does a great job, you should tip them. If youre artist has give you a good deal, you should tip them. If your artist gives you a great deal: you should definitely TIP them! Why? Youre about to find out in a few moments.
b. If you win a contest or somehow end up with a quality tattoo you didnt have to pay for, then you should absolutely most definitely TIP your Artist!
c. Why? Because there is no such thing as a FREE tattoo. Someone is paying for your tattoo, even if you are not and that someone is your Artist. The supplies for tattooing are expensive, really expensive actually. On average, setting up for one average size tattoo, is approximately 30 dollars spent. The ink, caps, rubber band, grommet, machine covers, clip cord cover, barrier film, tongue depressor, skin pen, razor, green soap, opticide, bottle covers, paper towels, dental bibs (those things used to keep ink off your clothes), surgical tape, transfer paper, bandage, ointment, needles, tubes, and electricity. Your Artist is PAYING for all those things to do your once free tattoo. Not to mention the time and effort they put into designing that tattoo for you. A Free tattoo is Never Free. Tip your artist!
d. How much should you tip? Well if you just got the worst tattoo of your life 0 dollars. If you are happy with your new tattoo then tip accordingly.
14. Touch Ups! Yes, you should get one free touch up within the first 3 months of your new tattoo IF you havent created a mess of it by something you have done. If you go out and get your brand new tattoo sun burnt to a crispy mess, you go deep sea diving or sit around in a hot tub with a fresh tattoo, or any of the plethora of other things we inevitably tell you NOT to do- then yes, you need to pay to fix that up. Otherwise, a small touch up if perfectly normal and generally free.
a. Its come to my attention recently that some people do not understand the idea of a touch up. Youre touch up is free from the PERSON who gave you the tattoo. You cannot go to another artist and expect them to touch up your tattoo for free even if they do work in the same shop and the person who did your tattoo. This should be common sense, but it is not. If for some reason your artist leaves town and you cannot get in touch with them: occasionally, but not always you can speak to the owner of the shop and have your problem resolved. But, tattoo artists are independent contractors. They are not working FOR a shop but IN a shop. You are paying the individual artist who is in turn paying the shop. Not the other way around. Make more sense now?
15. Anyway, lets get back to that part where you want a good tattoo! Doesnt everybody? I know I do. So, Id never walk into a shop and just get a tattoo from some artist without EVER EVEN BOTHERING TO LOOK AT THEIR PORTFOLIO of work!!!!!! Thats putting a lot on faith. What if that artist doesnt even do the type of tattoo you are wanting them to do? Would they tell you? Well, Id hope so, but sadly, not usually. There are a lot of artists out there now just trying to make a buck as quick as they can. They can whip you up a tattoo in 5 five minutes or less by printing out something already done and making a copy of it. Then they will put it on you as fast as they can, leaving what we like to call holidays in your tattoo. ( A holiday is where the artist just decided to go on vacation and skip right over that spot. They are small spots in solid tattoos that are just empty.)
16. If youre paying by the hour for your tattoo, chances are your tattoo is pretty darn big. Just because you are paying hourly does not mean that faster is better. Find a good artist not one who just wants to get your money and get you out of their chair.
17. For the love of all things holy: DO NOT:
a. Come to the shop dirty. Take a shower. We have to get close to you and we do not want to smell you!
b. Come to the shop drunk. Its illegal to tattoo you if you are wasted or in an altered state. Drinking thins your blood. Thin blood bleeds easier. Tattoos make you bleed. If you are wasted you will never get a tattoo from me. Period.
c. Come to the shop with dirty feet or smelly shoes if you are planning to get your foot tattooed. We do not want your smelly/dirty feet in our faces. Please be sure to have clean feet if you plan to get them tattooed. Please and thank you.
d. Come to the shop with an attitude problem. If you are a raging cunt/bitch/asshole we have the right to refuse service to you. Take your problems elsewhere.
e. Come to the shop pregnant with the expectation of getting a tattoo. We cannot tattoo pregnant women. Period.
f. Waste our time. If you arent actually ever planning to get tattooed please dont waste our time by having us come up with ideas for you.
18. For the Love of all things Holy: Please DO
a. Eat before you come to get tattooed.
b. Shower
c. Wear clothes that are suitable to the area you are getting tattooed. Jeans probably arent the best idea when getting a thigh tattoo because youll have to take your pants off. Think before you dress. Realize that wherever you get your tattoo its going to be sensitive after. Wear something comfortable.
d. Bring your ID. Even if you are 80 we still have to see it.
e. Have at least a general idea of what kind of tattoo youd like to have
f. Be prepared. A lot of people like to listen to headphones while being tattooed to take their mind off of the tattoo.
Well, I think that about sums it up for now. Im sure Ill think of something else in the near future and make another giant note no one will read. If you did make it through this entire thing: good for you! I hope youve learned a little something or at least had a good giggle here and there. Its my bedtime and Im starting to become delirious. Ill see you all on the flip side.
Questions and comments can be emailed to me, messaged, or left as comments under this post. They will all be answered as long as they pertain to the above ramblings.
Its that time, time for another note that might get read but probably wont be understood by those who need to understand it- which makes it simply brain candy, cannon fodder, for everyone else. Its just something to read because you have nothing to do, but lets get this straight. This has pertinent information in it, feel free to share it, explain it, and understand it. Thats what its for.
Lets start with Quantity over Quality. What? You think Ive typed that wrong? Well, nope, I havent. You see, there is a problem spreading across the world like a disease. It goes like this: I want as many tattoos as I can get because I saw that person on television with a lot and he/she is soooo cool. So, some people collect, and I use this term with great sarcasm, tattoos: as many as they can get, anywhere they can get them, as cheap as they can get them, of anything they can get. What results is a body full of crappy art that the wearer inevitably doesnt realize is crappy because its so cool.
Not the dripping of my sarcasm and disdain
Consider, the 20 dollars you spent for that horrifically flat, shaky lined, poorly shaded, misplaced tattoo put into a jar and left alone. Now, take the 20 from the next, the 30 for that sweet buy one get one free deal you got, the 10 you spent when youre buddy made a machine out of a vibrating toothbrush, the 15 you spent to get the tattoo from youre cousins friend who knows a dude who will tat anything you want on you for 15 dollars: and put all that together. Now in your jar you have approximately 90 dollars. Youre about halfway to one very nice (average size tattoo) that your friends, and those hotties you meet at the club, will think is the most amazing thing theyve ever seen. Why? Because youll be the only person there that has GOOD ink.
There is a very distinct difference between a great tattoo, a good tattoo, and a bad tattoo. A great tattoo (in my definition) is probably something youve waited on a list for over a year to get and has cost more than your rent. There are a few handfuls of amazingly gifted tattoo artists (Niko Hertado, Niki Norberg, Dmitriy Samohin, Kelly Dotty, Theresa Sharpe to name a few) out there in the world that have that something amazingly special. If you can wait and you can afford that- I suggest you get one of those. Hell, I suggest you get ME one of those. *Drool* For the rest of us schmucks there are good tattoos, and there is nothing wrong with getting a good tattoo. Good tattoos have clean line work, smooth shading, solid coloring, good placement, original artwork, and an attention to detail.
Bad tattoos, well, are just Bad Tattoos. I see people every day with bad tattoos. They show them off to me. They are PROUD of their bad tattoos. They dont know they are bad tattoos. How could they not know, you ask? Good question, when I figure that one out Ill let you know. Lets move on.
Now, before I get much further into this little diatribe, let me just step on down from my soapbox and say something really quickly. Not all inexpensive tattoos are bad. Not all bad tattoos are inexpensive. Not all tattoos from shops are good and not all tattoos not from shops are bad. (This is the part where someone bitches me out for saying this.) And this brings me to my next very important point: cleanliness.
You know they say that cleanliness is next to godliness? Well, I dont know anything about that but I do know that diseases, bacteria, and viruses do exist! Oh yes, dont fool yourself my friend. Even you can get TB, Hepatitis, AIDS, MERSA, Staff, and a host of other evildoers if the shop/artist you choose isnt clean. Im going to give you a list of stuff to look for when you go to your next shop looking for a tattoo, and all of these things I have SEEN with my own eyes done at shops. (Shops will not be named so dont ask.)
1. Are there people sitting around EATING in the shop (other than in a specified lounge/break room area)? Yes. Move on to the next shop. Why? Well lets start with the obvious first. When you eat you create crumbs some maybe more than others but there you have it. They get on the stuff around the area you are eating. Something could be spilled; hands that touched that greasy chicken are now touching the counter where your sterile inks will be.. Not to mention the risk from the area contaminating the food that is being consumed. Its just yucky. Dont do it.
2. Are there BUGS in the shop? Take a quick look around. If you see insect activity- leave. This should be common sense but it is not. I was recently in a shop that was overrun with cockroaches that would crawl on the counters during the middle of the day right in front of people about to get tattooed and they never said a thing. Bugs and germs go hand in hand. They are best friends.
3. Do the counters, floors, chairs, and other furniture pieces look clean? No? Leave. You are having your flesh opened and you deserve a clean and sterile environment in which to have that done. Period.
4. Are the work stations cluttered with debris, used paper towels, open bubble packs from needles/tube, ink left out in ink caps, machines still hooked up with used needles just laying around in them? This is a hazard, its a contaminated mess, and its no good. Leave.
5. So, the shop you picked looks clean. Thats an awesome start. Now look closer.. closer. If you EVER see an artist using a roll of paper towels to prop someones body part on- leave. Ive seen this a DOZEN times at least. You CANNOT disinfect a roll of paper towels!!! They should not be used as a pillow, a prop under a leg or arm nothing. And, chances are, that roll of paper towels they just used to stuff under your oozing tattoo to hold your arm out is going to get used again on someone else or as the towels the artist is using to wipe your tattoo. This is not a joke. I have seen this happen more than once. Please, understand that once that roll of paper towels comes in close proximity to the area where you are being tattooed: it is CONTAMINATED. It is a soft surface and cannot be properly disinfected to be used again. If your artist insists on using a roll to prop up your arm: be damn sure that it is a NEW, freshly opened, roll and that it will thrown away directly after. Yes, the entire roll.
6. Now, time to watch your artist set up. Here is a quick sub-list of things that should happen.
a. The Artist washes their hands.
b. The area to be used should be cleaned with a specified cleaner (opticide, calvacide or the like.)
c. The Artist washes their hands.
d. The Artist washes their hands. Did you get that? Make sure they wash their hands before touching ANYTHING!
e. The Artist puts on a clean pair of disposable gloves.
f. The Artist puts barrier film (its kind of like plastic wrap) over any surface that is on the work station where the ink/needles/machines will be. For example: if the counter top where the artist is setting up has a bunch of toys/jars/stuff on it every bit of that stuff should be covered with barrier film OR a separate tray/stand should be used for the setup. Got that? You do not want mister fuzzy cute toy in the corner next to your ink. Why? Well Mr. Fuzzy is about to be contaminated because small amounts of splatter, even microscopic ones are about to get onto Mr Fuzzy, and Mr. Fuzzy is a soft surface and cannot be properly disinfected. Ohh, Mr. Fuzzy has been there for a year and theyve had NO problems well what if today is that day and youre the luck number 366th customer? Its not worth getting sick over for you or the Artist.
g. The Artist bags just about every damn thing on the work surface. Any squirt bottles should have bags on them, the machines (guns- grumble) should have bags on them. If the power supply is sitting on the area with the setup it needs to be covered too! The clipcord should have a bag over it called a clipcord cover. It looks like a really long condom for the cord that runs from the tattoo machines to the power supply.
h. Vaseline or other goo: the container should not touch the setup (sterile) area. A clean, new tongue depressor should be used to scoop a blob from the jar and then that blog can be laid on the sterile surface. That tongue depressor (thing that looks like a Popsicle stick) should not be reused! If more goo is needed a new stick should be used to get it. You do not want to trail germs from your contaminated area into the goo jar which will then be used again for another person after you. Eww.
i. Ink caps should be set up on the sterile surface. They should be NEW not used. Woo, were getting somewhere here.
j. Needles and tubes should be in bubble packs. STERILE bubble packs. It is OK to ask to see the expiration date on the bubble packs. They do expire! If the pack is open before you see it, ask for a new one. The Artist should open them in front of you, assemble them into the bagged machines, and place them on the sterile surface.
k. Now we need some paper towels we are back to this again. If the rolls of paper towels are set on the sterile surface they have to be thrown away after each tattoo because they are contaminated! If the artist pulls towels off while tattooing you that roll is contaminated from the Artists gloves and has to be thrown away. So, what do you do then? Well, you tear off as many sheets as you think you will need and put them in an easy accessible place next to you, near the setup. If the Artist runs out mid tattoo they need to take off their gloves, use hand sanitizer, before getting more.
l. INK. Ink also has expiration dates. DO NOT let an artist use expired ink on you! I should not have to explain why this is a bad idea. Just dont do it. You can ask to see the expiration dates if you want. Also, be sure your artist is using quality ink products. There are lots of distributors of inks, some very good, some very bad! DRAGON INK is horrendous! Do not let anyone put that in your skin. You have been warned. Some good brands are Eternal, Starbright, Silverback, Intenze, Skin Candy, Kuro Sumi. I personally think that Eternal Ink is the absolute top brand of Ink.
m. Now youre artist shakes the shit out of the ink and it is poured into the ink caps on the sterile surface and the bottle is NOT set on the sterile surface. It is put back where it came from. If for some reason the artist did not put out the sufficient amount of ink and needs a refill during your tattoo he/she should remove their gloves, use hand sanitizer, put on clean gloves, put new ink in a new ink cap. Why? Well, lets have a chat about the mechanics of tattooing for one quick second. When you dip into ink, let say its black, and then put that in the skin of someone, blood is mixed with the ink now in the tube. Now, you go back, get more ink: that blood is now mixed into the ink in the ink cap. After a while this dilutes the ink in the ink cap when it nears the last bit in the bottom so its best to use a whole new cap for more ink.
n. Now, you have everything set up for your brand new tattoo and its all looking clean and professional and you are ecstatic! Go you!
o. Now, here is a thing for you to remember. Your Artist should NOT touch anything out of the sterile environment they just made for you with their gloves on. This includes PHONES ( I see this one a lot). If they need to mess with something they should take off their gloves, throw them away, and then WASH THEIR HANDS when they are done and put on a new pair of gloves. You deserve cleanliness.
p. When your tattoo is finished everything should be disposed of and cleaned/disinfected including the chair you were sitting in, everything.
q. Now, you just got a really awesome tattoo! Go you! And youve limited your chances of getting a nasty infection because you know how things should be done. Remember, it is OK to make sure things are being done correctly. You do not have to get a tattoo if the setup looks shady, the place is dirty, or something feels off. And, its OK to ask to see expiration dates and to watch everything being set up for you. Its your right as a customer to get the best experience.
7. Now that Im sure Ive pissed off a lot of slacker artists out there, let me tell you a thing or two. I have been in only 2 shops that I have seen every artist doing the setup and cleaning correctly. Two. I have been in shops all over the US. I have been in home studios that have been cleaner and properly set up. (Im about to get bitched at again) BUT, there are a LOT of people at home tattooing people and they have no idea what they are doing! A LOT! There is a huge difference between a home studio and getting a tattoo on your couch. What Im saying is: pay attention to your surroundings, shop or no. Please dont get tattooed if something doesnt look right! Learn the difference between a good tattoo and a NOT good tattoo. Learn the difference between a clean setup and a dirty set up. *note* I did not write this to teach scratchers how to set up their area. However, if youre out there reading this I do hope you learned a thing or two. It is not ok to risk the health of other people because you arent equipped with the knowledge to keep them safe. If youre going to give people shitty tattoos, at least give them shitty tattoos in a sterile environment.*
8. Now, lets say you are going to get a tattoo and you look on google and you see the perfect tattoo, on someone else. So, you print it out and you take it to the artist at the local shop and ask them to put that tattoo on you. DO NOT DO THIS. DO NOT show up at a tattoo shop and ask an artist to copy a tattoo you found on the internet for you. It is rude and it is plagiarism. Any artist worth going to is going to tell you that they cant put that custom tattoo on you. You know why? Because that is someone elses custom tattoo you are asking for! That was artwork, drawn by an artist, specifically for that one person. Copying that artwork is plagiarism. A good artist will tell you exactly that and then kindly explain to you that while they wont be able to put that exact tattoo on you, they can draw you something resembling the original idea that will be custom for YOU. Imagine how amazing you will feel having a ONE OF A KIND piece of art on you that is all yours! Now imagine someone else printing that out and getting it copied. Yeah, now you see, dont you? If your Artist cant draw you something, you shouldnt get tattooed by them. Find a new artist.
9. However: and this is a big however. There is art out there that is meant to be copied. Its called FLASH. Flash is drawn by an artist and then sold to a flash company and distributed for mass reproduction. It is ok to copy flash. Your artist should know what is flash and what isnt if they are worth the ink in their caps.
10. A deposit? Yep, it is customary for you to leave a deposit when an artist is drawing up a tattoo for you. Why? Because unfortunately there are people who come in and say they want something, ask for a drawing and never come back. It happens all the time. You are paying the deposit because the artist is taking their time (working) to create a drawing for you. You dont want to work for free and neither do we. And no, youre small deposit fee does not entitle you to take the artwork home with you if you decide not to get a tattoo. Why? Because selling art is not the same thing as drawing a tattoo. To buy a piece of art you would pay a LOT more than the small deposit you left to get your drawing started.
11. Freehand? So your artist is going to freehand a tattoo on you. Cool! But be wary. Freehand does not mean picking up a machine and tattooing on blank skin. Freehand means the artist draws the design on your skin instead of paper, but make no mistake, it is drawn on first!
12. Walk-in? Sure thing. Most shops take walk-in business, some dont. If you are going to make an appointment: you are going to need to leave a deposit. Yes, that word again. A deposit. Why? Because people make appointments and then never show up. I dont know why people do this; maybe they are intimidated and feel like they need to say they will be back in a day/two. Who knows! It happens a lot more than you think. People who leave deposits are more likely to come back so they dont lose their money! Also, when you book an appointment you are blocking out that time on an artists schedule. Say you are going to be getting a tattoo that takes 4 hours. Well, the artist cant book anyone else for those 4 hours, thus losing out on business if you dont show up. So, deposit!
13. Tipping: it is not a city in China (that I know of). In some countries they do not tip. In the USA there is tipping. You should tip your tattoo artist! Now here comes a big ol rant in 3, 2, 1:
a. You tip the chick at the bar that mixes your drinks. If she is a good hostess, is polite, friendly, and does a great job, you give her a tip. Its the same with tattooing. If your Artist does a great job, you should tip them. If youre artist has give you a good deal, you should tip them. If your artist gives you a great deal: you should definitely TIP them! Why? Youre about to find out in a few moments.
b. If you win a contest or somehow end up with a quality tattoo you didnt have to pay for, then you should absolutely most definitely TIP your Artist!
c. Why? Because there is no such thing as a FREE tattoo. Someone is paying for your tattoo, even if you are not and that someone is your Artist. The supplies for tattooing are expensive, really expensive actually. On average, setting up for one average size tattoo, is approximately 30 dollars spent. The ink, caps, rubber band, grommet, machine covers, clip cord cover, barrier film, tongue depressor, skin pen, razor, green soap, opticide, bottle covers, paper towels, dental bibs (those things used to keep ink off your clothes), surgical tape, transfer paper, bandage, ointment, needles, tubes, and electricity. Your Artist is PAYING for all those things to do your once free tattoo. Not to mention the time and effort they put into designing that tattoo for you. A Free tattoo is Never Free. Tip your artist!
d. How much should you tip? Well if you just got the worst tattoo of your life 0 dollars. If you are happy with your new tattoo then tip accordingly.
14. Touch Ups! Yes, you should get one free touch up within the first 3 months of your new tattoo IF you havent created a mess of it by something you have done. If you go out and get your brand new tattoo sun burnt to a crispy mess, you go deep sea diving or sit around in a hot tub with a fresh tattoo, or any of the plethora of other things we inevitably tell you NOT to do- then yes, you need to pay to fix that up. Otherwise, a small touch up if perfectly normal and generally free.
a. Its come to my attention recently that some people do not understand the idea of a touch up. Youre touch up is free from the PERSON who gave you the tattoo. You cannot go to another artist and expect them to touch up your tattoo for free even if they do work in the same shop and the person who did your tattoo. This should be common sense, but it is not. If for some reason your artist leaves town and you cannot get in touch with them: occasionally, but not always you can speak to the owner of the shop and have your problem resolved. But, tattoo artists are independent contractors. They are not working FOR a shop but IN a shop. You are paying the individual artist who is in turn paying the shop. Not the other way around. Make more sense now?
15. Anyway, lets get back to that part where you want a good tattoo! Doesnt everybody? I know I do. So, Id never walk into a shop and just get a tattoo from some artist without EVER EVEN BOTHERING TO LOOK AT THEIR PORTFOLIO of work!!!!!! Thats putting a lot on faith. What if that artist doesnt even do the type of tattoo you are wanting them to do? Would they tell you? Well, Id hope so, but sadly, not usually. There are a lot of artists out there now just trying to make a buck as quick as they can. They can whip you up a tattoo in 5 five minutes or less by printing out something already done and making a copy of it. Then they will put it on you as fast as they can, leaving what we like to call holidays in your tattoo. ( A holiday is where the artist just decided to go on vacation and skip right over that spot. They are small spots in solid tattoos that are just empty.)
16. If youre paying by the hour for your tattoo, chances are your tattoo is pretty darn big. Just because you are paying hourly does not mean that faster is better. Find a good artist not one who just wants to get your money and get you out of their chair.
17. For the love of all things holy: DO NOT:
a. Come to the shop dirty. Take a shower. We have to get close to you and we do not want to smell you!
b. Come to the shop drunk. Its illegal to tattoo you if you are wasted or in an altered state. Drinking thins your blood. Thin blood bleeds easier. Tattoos make you bleed. If you are wasted you will never get a tattoo from me. Period.
c. Come to the shop with dirty feet or smelly shoes if you are planning to get your foot tattooed. We do not want your smelly/dirty feet in our faces. Please be sure to have clean feet if you plan to get them tattooed. Please and thank you.
d. Come to the shop with an attitude problem. If you are a raging cunt/bitch/asshole we have the right to refuse service to you. Take your problems elsewhere.
e. Come to the shop pregnant with the expectation of getting a tattoo. We cannot tattoo pregnant women. Period.
f. Waste our time. If you arent actually ever planning to get tattooed please dont waste our time by having us come up with ideas for you.
18. For the Love of all things Holy: Please DO
a. Eat before you come to get tattooed.
b. Shower
c. Wear clothes that are suitable to the area you are getting tattooed. Jeans probably arent the best idea when getting a thigh tattoo because youll have to take your pants off. Think before you dress. Realize that wherever you get your tattoo its going to be sensitive after. Wear something comfortable.
d. Bring your ID. Even if you are 80 we still have to see it.
e. Have at least a general idea of what kind of tattoo youd like to have
f. Be prepared. A lot of people like to listen to headphones while being tattooed to take their mind off of the tattoo.
Well, I think that about sums it up for now. Im sure Ill think of something else in the near future and make another giant note no one will read. If you did make it through this entire thing: good for you! I hope youve learned a little something or at least had a good giggle here and there. Its my bedtime and Im starting to become delirious. Ill see you all on the flip side.
Questions and comments can be emailed to me, messaged, or left as comments under this post. They will all be answered as long as they pertain to the above ramblings.
VIEW 18 of 18 COMMENTS
Jody