Tattoos
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"Creative fluidity through motion, synchronised with sound, is the Art of Dance...We merely focus our creative fluidity through our hands, bringing you the Art of Tattooing"
Understanding ~ Deciding ~ Preparing ~ Doing ~ Taking Care ~
Understanding what tattoo you want starts with "why" you want the tattoo...don't be fooled or tricked into the "competing with the Jones family" cliche or "I want what my idol wants". You need to be 100% ready for yourself as the art you choose is the art that stays with you for life. We often hear the wise words "I should have waited" or "I got the piece when I was too young"...here is your opportunity to avoid regret. If you are unsure then come into one of our shops and speak to an artist...we will help you establish if you are ready or not. Spur of the moment decisions lead to regret later on. If you have been itching for a piece for a while and have been asking yourself if the piece is indeed what you want then wait a bit more until you are completely sure with yourself that you KNOW what YOU want !
Deciding where to go is probably one of the biggest decisions. There is never a guarantee that the parlor you choose will have the best outcome however some essential guidelines will help avoid a "horrible outcome". Go and visit the parlor you are thinking of choosing. Get a feel for the look and feel. If you don't feel good or welcome then that parlor may not be the right one for you. Try visit the same parlor a few times at different times of the day, week or month to see what the flow is like. Ask friends who have had work done there before. LOOK at the portfolio of work of the artist in question. ASK your artist how long they have been tattooing for and where did they do their apprenticeship. Find out what STYLE they prefer doing. Is the store clean and presentable. It is not a condition but if the parlor is certified with the CPTP it does indicate a certain level of adhering to basic codes and conditions. The bottom line is you need to feel comfortable with the parlor itself, the environment and the artist. You are the customer and you have the right to ask any questions you need to in order to feel comfortable. It helps if you ask the parlor how they handle hygiene and what equipment they use to clean their own equipment (words like autoclave and ultrasonic should appear somewhere there). Artists should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A and B and should be able to show you that they have been by providing you with a certificate.
Preparing for your piece starts with YOU. Don't drink at least 10 hours before you get your piece. Alcohol thins the blood and this makes the work for the artist much harder. Have a nice meal an hour before you get your piece. You will be more relaxed and you will have a better experience. Don't apply any creams, lotions or body oils onto the area where you are going to get your new piece. It needs to be as clean as possible. It also helps if you bath or shower before your piece so that you are as clean as possible to avoid any contamination of the area. If you suffer from any skin conditions, pregnant and or are taking strong medication GET advice from your medical professional before you get the piece. Tattoo artists are not qualified to give you medical advice and should tell you to get professional medical advice first. Generally it is a NO NO if you suffer from the mentioned conditions. Bringing your friend and family along is great for support however in YOUR interest it is best they stay OUT OF THE BOOTH while you are being tattooed. Cross contamination is a serious danger to the healing of your piece.
A few things to be aware of when the time comes...Always ask to see the opening of the needle. VERY IMPORTANT. Make sure that the artist or apprentice is NOT TOUCHING any of the needles and or tattoo consumables with their bare hands. They must be wearing gloves to avoid contamination. Good house keeping rules is NO FOOD OR DRINK permitted into the booth at all times, for you or your artist ! Some artists use coil machines that make the traditional "tattoo gun sound" and others use a rotary machine which has almost no sound. Make sure that you are relaxed. DO NOT MOVE...you are the canvas. The hype is bigger than the experience...you will be pleasantly surprised that it is actually NOT THAT PAINFUL...Everyone is completely different with pain thresholds, if you really cannot handle or feel a bit dizzy always let your artist know so they can plan and assist where necessary.
Well done...you got your first tattoo. BIG SMILES all round. The artist has done their bit NOW IT's YOUR TURN...You have an open wound which will be cleaned and dressed for you by your artist. The moment you walk out the door it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to make sure the next 4-6 weeks you are caring for your new tattoo. No direct sunlight on your tattoo. No friction on your new tattoo. No swimming or bathing with your new tattoo. Keep the piece as dry as possible. Showering is the best while being mindfull not to let the tattoo soak in water. No gym or heavy exercise which may cause friction or excessive sweating on the tattoo. Your tattoo will bleed out and some ink may escape...Please don't drink afterwards as your blood thins out and your new piece will bleed more than it should. A grey flakey scab should appear on your tattoo a few days later indicating that the piece is healing very well. It will get itchy - NO SCRATCHING or PICKING. Let it heal itself naturally. All of the above will help you to ensuring the lifespan of your new tattoo. Avoid typical creams for a few weeks unless indicated by the artist. If you feel that the cream you are using is causing a bad reaction then stop using the cream. If it burns or swells then stop using the cream.
REMEMBER - "The outcome of the tattoo depends on you...you can increase the lifespan and quality of the work if you pay proper care and attention to your tattoo during it's healing process."
All clients must sign an indemnity form before receiving any work.
