The general public is bombarded with tattoo iconography and reality shows. These shows are intended as entertainment, unfortunately people don't realize that television is make-believe. Modifications: tattoos, piercing brandings, scarification: are a serious life-altering decision. Every time you modify your body you are putting your life in someone else's hands. People are taught that unprotected sex can led to disease, what about an unclean artist? Upstart chop shops pop up on every corner offering $20 tattoos & $20 piercings, with the tattoo culture being embraced by pop culture people make the mistake of thinking one studio is just as good as another.
Bargain hunting is great for clothes and mascara but not when it comes to something that will last a life time. Aside from occasional inspections and yearly licensing fees, the state is relatively uninvolved, the remainder of the time the studio and artists are left on their honor. What if the studio you walk into has no honor? Each studio is different, you can't assume a place is safe simply because they have a license. There are basic things you should know about the industry before handing your life over to someone you just met.
Between 30-70% of the population carries Staph in the nose and on the surface of the skin. In daily life Staph does not affect you, once it enters the bloodstream however it can become deadly. Staph manifests itself as Staph causes many complications & derivative infections. Staph is the number one concern of poorly done modifications. HIV is delicate & cannot exist outside the human body. The design of tattoo needles does not lend itself to the transmission of HIV. There has never been a reported case of HIV/AIDS in the US from a tattoo. Hepatitis is a concern if the studio is unclean. Hepatitis is a very hardy virus that can survive long periods outside the human body. A minor scratch with a dirty needle is all it takes to transmit the virus.
Where Hep can only be detected by a blood test, Staph has a number of visible symptoms including pustules, pimples & boils. The pustules contain the bacteria & make this so easily spread because touching the infected site then touching another surface transmits the bacteria to the new surface & contaminates it, putting everyone who comes into contact with it at risk for infection.
How do you prevent this from happening? Know what to look for when you walk into a studio, what to ask to make sure they are safe, what to look for in a portfolio to insure your artist is worthy of your skin, how to take care of your modification to insure proper healing.
Search online for local studios. www.inkednation.com is an awesome site that showcases studios & artists & allows you to search by zip code. Once you decide on the studio you want to use, visit the shop prior to getting your work done.
When checking out shops keep in mind you are interviewing these people to permanently alter your body.
First things first:
-What does it smell like?
-Are the people clean & helpful?
-Is the studio clean & well lit?
-Do they have portfolios available?
This is your chance to familiarize yourself with the person you are handing your life over to.
Autoclaves are steam pressure sterilizers used to sterilize the materials used during a modification procedure. For safety purposes they should spore tested regularly, don't hesitate to ask the studio to see their spore test results. This is your body and your choice. Don't be shy asking about aseptic procedures, a reputable studio will welcome informed questions regarding their practices. Studios are monitored by government authorities in most cases, ask to see their most recent inspection. Not all studios dispose of their needles after each client: ask the artists if they use single service needles only.
Once you have satisfied yourself that the studio and artists If they don't have portfolios: don't get work! Take the time to look through the portfolios before looking at the flash on the walls. Flash can be bought off eBay, portfolios show you what you are paying for.
An artist's portfolio is their resume: check out their work.
-Are the photos clean & focused?
-Are they free of blood & debris?
When looking through the portfolio don't focus on subject matter so much as composition: a tattoo is judged on four elements:
1. Line Work-Are lines solid, dense, smooth & consistent? Do they overlap or crossover? Do they look scratchy or faded? Danger signs include blacks that look faded, scratchy or squiggly, a grey haze surrounding the tattoo or any lumpy or rough texture.
2. Shading-Is the color work dense & bright? Is there dimension & shading in colors? Do the colors work well & flatter the body? Bad tattoos will have danger signs: colors that look old or faded even when fresh, colors that don't work for subject matter or complexion and colors that seem uneven or blotchy.
3. Placement-Does it flatter that part of the body, does it compliment the curves of the body, is it facing the proper direction? Look at the overall effect: vanities should be straight, images should not face into the body (there are exceptions to the rule such as an image facing a pre-existing image on the body) and the tattoo should never take away from the flow of the body's muscle groups.
4. Originality-Does the tattoo look like every other butterfly/cross/heart you've seen, are the colors dynamic & creative, have you seen the tattoo on a dozen other people?
Some images are timeless and will always be part of the tattoo world, but remember you are making yourself as an individual and your tattoo should be as unique as you are.
Designs off the wall are called "flash" because they were originally intended to "flash" ideas at you & give you inspiration for your own piece. If you pull something off the wall you are guaranteed that there are other people running around with that exact tattoo.
Piercings have a different set of concerns starting with the procedure itself. If the procedure is botched you are left in pain with a poorly done piercing & the potential for excess scar tissue. After reviewing a piercer's portfolio you should rest assured the person you are choosing can be trusted with your body.
When looking through a piercer's portfolio look for clean, clearly focused photos that highlight the procedure. There should never be blood or blood residue in a portfolio photo. Piercings should be straight, properly placed and the photo should not show any excessive trauma to the skin: excessive swelling, bleeding, clamp marks, etc. Migration occurs when a piercing is too shallow and the body rejects it, forcing the jewelry out through the surface of the skin leaving excessive scar tissue. Migration is often confused with infection due to similar symptoms of redness, pain and flaking skin.
Body modification is an intensely gratifying form of self expression and should be treated with respect and responsibility. Modifications are a lifetime investment, please treat your body with the respect it deserves. Find an artist worthy of your skin.
