The Truth Behind Tattoos

By: Shannon McCormick
Posted In: Opinion

Isn’t being over 18 wonderful? You can vote, buy those scratch lotto tickets and legally alter your body.

The arts of body piercing and tattooing have been around for centuries. These alterations should not be made without proper knowledge of the process. This decision, specifically with a tattoo, is permanent, and research should be done ahead of time.

But, being a college student and already having to do hours worth of research, you may be inclined to skip this part of the process. So, to save you a bit of time, here are some important things to know before sitting in that chair.

Tattoos are actually wounds. A tattoo is made on the dermis of the skin with a needle and color pigments. The skin heals over this wound making it permanent.

Many people ask about the pain associated with a tattoo. Want a way to test to see if you can handle it? Take your finger nail and scratch the surface of your skin. If you can do this until you see a mark resembling a sunburn chances are safe you can handle the tattooing process. The bleeding associated with tattooing is minimal.

Tattoos require “after-care.” This is important to remember when choosing when to get your tattoo. Summer is a popular time of year but new tattoos should not be exposed to the sun and cannot to submerged in water (a la swimming) for two weeks after they are done. Consider fall or winter as you can protect your tattoo, you will also have an easier time getting an appointment.

The next step on your journey is choosing the shop or parlor. Go on-line and search for parlors in your area. Jennifer Clinch of Anchor Steam Tattoo recommends asking people who already have tattoos if they were happy with the work. Most likely, they will share this information.

Visit several parlors and ask to see the artists’ books to check for consistent work. Try to visit the parlors during off hours so you can speak to the artists and ask any questions you might have. This is also a good time to discuss prices so you will not be completely surprised at your sitting.

Also, find out if your desired parlor accepts walk-ins or if you must make an appointment. Ask about cleaning techniques – if the artist is reputable, they will have no problem discussing the process with you. In fact, if they have time, they may even show you the process.

After choosing a parlor, it is time to think about the design. While at your parlor of choice, examine the “wall work.” These designs on display are available to anyone who is tattooed at this parlor. If the design you are looking for is not on the wall, many artists will still do it for an extra fee. However, by bringing in the design it is available only to you and will not be commercially sold to others.

David Villiard of Renaissance Tattoo recommends staying away from trendy designs, music groups and the like. Villiard suggests picking a design and putting it somewhere in your house where you will see it daily for at least a month. “If it still appeals to you, chances are you are safe.”

Start with a small design, you can always expand on it later. When choosing between color and black tattoos, remember that while in the sun, tattoos, especially colorful ones, require extra care as they can fade. Also, the more colors, the more money you will spend.

The final hours before getting a tattoo are very important. What you do during this time can make your tattoo experience very pleasant, very unpleasant, or may actually prevent it from happening.

Here is a checklist for those last few hours:

• Finalize which area of your body to tattoo.
• Have your design style narrowed down to two or three possibilities. You can ask the artist for their input but the decision is up to you.
• Get plenty of sleep the night before and if possible rest during the day.
• Make sure your body is free of alcohol and drugs (this includes pain killers which can thin your blood). Artists will not work on someone under the influence.
• If you have a cold, don’t go. While being tattooed, endorphins are released into your system, and if you are sick, these natural painkillers will work against you.
• Eat regular meals and try to eat a full meal about an hour before going to the parlor. A low-blood sugar level will leave you feeling light headed.
• Get a friend to drive you, or bring someone who can drive your car in case you are unable to drive. It would be bad to get stranded at the parlor with your best friend who can’t drive your stick-shift.
• Most importantly…RELAX

Well, now you have the basics of tattoos at your disposal. Remember, this is a decision you will have for life…it is not one to be taken lightly. As can be said of such alterations and academics, the more information you have, the better. And a word of caution, according to Clinch, once you get one tattoo, it can become addicting!