How the tattoo process works -- get started on your own tattoo journey
March 28, 2006
By: Alice Osborn
Once you are sure you want to get a tattoo it's always a good
idea to understand how the tattoo process works. You may wonder
about the amount of pain involved or you may ask how the tattooing
process makes the tattoo permanent. Getting a tattoo is a lifelong
commitment and one that entails some risks, but if you know what to
expect, the whole tattoo process will be easier.
A good first step is to shop around for a reputable tattoo
artist, as well as spend some time using books, magazines, and the
Internet to locate your
perfect tattoo design. Armed with
information, you can be sure your tattoo journey will be a safe and
fun one. After all, you'll be enjoying your tattoo or tattoos for
years to come.
How the ink is applied to the skin in the tattoo process
Remarkably, the modern tattoo machine is not much different from
the original version patented one hundred years ago. Although Samuel
O'Reilly patented the first tattoo machine, Thomas Edison developed
tattoo technology almost fifteen years before when he was working on
an autograph printing machine. He wanted to speed up the printing
process, so he combined a needle attached to a long bar with
electrically charged electromagnets. The needle would go up and
down, as the operator would draw onto the hard surface.
Today's tattoo machine uses metal needles to imprint the dermis
with ink, which is below the first layer of skin, the epidermis. By
injecting the dermis, where collagen fibers, sweat glands, hair
roots, and nerve cells reside, you obtain a permanent mark on the
body.
The handheld tattoo machine has four main components:
- The sterilized needle to penetrate the skin and inject the ink
- A tube assembly that guides the needle, holds a reservoir of
ink, and provides a gripping surface for controlling the tattooing
process
- A power supply (that can be controlled by a foot pedal) that
supplies electric current to enable movement of the needle ]
- The electromagnetic coil based device (sometimes referred to
as a tattoo gun) that moves the needle up and down at a rate of 80
to 150 times per second
How artists create tattoos
When you arrive to get your tattoo, the tattoo artist will don
latex gloves and invite you to sit or lie down in his chair. Then he
will shave the area that will be tattooed and then wipe off that
area with alcohol. The next step involves applying the special
transfer paper to the skin, and once it's removed, it gives the
artist rough outline of the tattoo. Then the artist will gather his
inks (which he mixes or buys mixed), load them into the machine, and
then attach the needle to the machine.
Then the tattoo process begins. The artist will start with a
black outline and then either change needles for different colors or
for thicker outlines. When he's done with your tattoo, he'll apply
Vaseline and wipe off any excess ink and bodily fluids. When you
look at your tattoo for the first time, you'll see an image from ink
located in both the dermis and epidermis. After two or three months,
the ink pigment will leave the epidermis and remain captured in the
dermis.
Finally, when the tattoo artist has finished his work, he will
sanitize all of his materials in the autoclave. An autoclave is
essentially a high pressure cooker also used for medical
sterilization by hospitals.
Tips on tattoo shop selection
Visiting the tattoo shops in your city and talking to the tattoo
artists is one of the best ways to select a tattoo shop. After all,
the quality of your tattoo rests upon the quality of the tattoo
artist's work. When you visit the tattoo shop, you can get a feel
for its cleanliness, for its customer service, and for the
satisfaction of its clients. It's a good idea to also attend tattoo
conventions to meet the different artists and check out their
portfolios and experience levels.
Here are some questions to ask your potential tattoo artist:
- How long have you been in the tattoo business?
- Where did you apprentice? (tattooing is a skill learned by
doing)
- How do you sterilize your equipment? (all of the needles and
tubes should be individually packaged)
- How do you know your autoclave is working properly?
Above all, you should find a tattoo artist who is willing to
communicate with you and with whom you feel comfortable asking
questions about the tattoo process.
Choosing a tattoo design
It's a good idea to have a tattoo design in mind before you enter
the tattoo shop. If not, you'll have to look through pages of flash,
which are tattoo design samples. If it's your first tattoo, choose a
design that is large enough to reveal the artistry and that will be
appropriately placed on your body. It's also important to research
your tattoo and to make sure you're not placing the wrong meaning on
your body. For example, make sure you're choosing the Japanese
symbol for courage, and not something else. It's also vital that you
choose your own tattoo design, and not let anyone talk you into a
tattoo that you're not sure about.
The Internet, magazines and tattoo enthusiasts are a good place
to start researching your tattoo design. Once you have the design in
mind, some
tattoo gallery websites allow you "test-drive" your
tattoo to check out its placement and shape on your skin through
transfer sheets and downloadable designs.
Cost of tattoos
Good tattoos aren't cheap and one should expect to pay for
artistic detail and for the tattoo artist's time. Generally, all
tattoo artists charge by the hour and by the type of tattoo being
done. On the low end, a small heart tattoo may run $50, while a
large Chinese dragon tattoo could run upwards of $800. If tattoo
artists charge by the hour, they could charge $100 to $175. You also
need to consider the amount of color, shading, and intricacy in the
price. You should also tip your tattoo artist between 10 and 20
percent, depending upon the quality and service.
The tattoo pain factor
When Vernice Speight of Greensboro, North Carolina received her
first tattoo (she has four tattoos now), she said, "It felt like a
thousand bee stings and when it felt like I couldn't take it
anymore, he was done." Many times the pain depends on the person's
threshold and where the tattoo is placed. Body areas that are
fleshier, like the legs and arms, will absorb more of the pain as
compared to more bony areas such as the shoulder or lower back.
However, be prepared for some pain because the tattoo machine
uses metal needles to inject the dermis with ink. The best way to
endure the process is to lie extremely still and practice a
breathing exercise to manage the pain.
Tattoo safety issues
You may wonder if tattoos are safe and if you'll be free from
infection. Be aware that if you have a skin condition such as lupus,
psoriasis, eczema, or dermatitis, you could be putting yourself at
risk if you get a tattoo. Tattoo artists enjoy working on skin that
is tight, in good condition, and hasn't been sun damaged. The better
the skin, the better the tattoo.
Tattoo shops are aware of the risks of contracting hepatitis B
and C through blood and bodily fluids. As a result, tattoo artists
individually package their needles and inks and use their autoclaves
to kill bacteria.
Tattoo aftercare
If you take good care of your new tattoo in the first days and
weeks, you'll be rewarded with a tattoo that retains its ink. Tattoo
artists want you to follow their instructions, since you are wearing
their work, which has a bearing on their reputation. To make the
tattoo aftercare steps easy for their clients, tattoo artists
usually print these instructions on the back of their business
cards. Here is a typical set of aftercare guidelines one could
expect to receive:
- Right after you're tattooed, leave your bandage on overnight
- When removing the bandage the next day, but be sure your hands
are clean. Gently wash your new tattoo
- Pat it dry, NEVER rub it, especially when the tattoo turns
into a scab after two weeks
- Use a cream to moisturize the tattoo
- Don't swim or use a sauna
- Where loose clothing around your new tattoo
- Keep the tattoo out of the sun and use a good sunscreen when
you're outdoors
Your tattoo should be healed after two or three weeks, but you
should still watch your sun exposure. Remember, tattoos don't like
the sun.
You're on your way to having a fantastic tattoo experience
Getting a tattoo is a fun process and shouldn't be a stressful
one. Consider it a right of passage and a good learning experience
that teaches you more about who you are and why you got the tattoo
in the first place. The hardest part about the tattoo process is
learning how to find out information on tattoo artists and what
questions to ask tattoo enthusiasts. But if you're prepared, pretty
soon your friends will be admiring your new tattoo and asking you to
explain the tattoo process to them.
Disclaimer: All tattoo
aftercare information provided by Body-Jewelry-Useek.com is for
information purposes only. It is not meant to be a guideline to follow for
tattoo aftercare, but a starting point in making an informed
decision concerning the tattooing process. If you have any questions or
proceed with obtaining a tattoo, please be sure to discuss the
procedure with a medical or tattooing professional and get complete
and clearly understood tattoo aftercare instructions at that time.
Body-Jewelry-Useek.com claims no responsibility for the accuracy
of this content, which is based on the general consensus of the
tattooing community, which is constantly evolving and changing.
About the Author:
Alice Osborn is a successful freelance writer and contributor to
Body-Jewelry-USeek.com.
Your definitive guide to body jewelry, piercing and tattooing information to perfectly adorn your body.
Also See: [ This online
tattoo gallery can help you find the perfect tattoo ]
[ Looking for tattoo
designs? Find the coolest tattoo design ideas here ]
[ History of tattoos -- a
timeline journey of tattoo history & origins ]
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