First of all, there are quite a few tattoo parlors in most areas. They are usually located in the suburbs of major cities. In order to locate one, try opening up your phone book or go to an online phone directory. You could also use a search engine and type in tattoo parlors in [insert city and state here].
Once you've located one, try making a phone call and have a pen handy. Ask them a few basic questions. Ask what their options are in terms of design. You can ask how the whole process works, and how easy it might be for you to customize the tattoo you are getting.
It is important to make sure you are going to the safest tattoo parlor around. Perhaps you have a group of friends who have all visited a particular parlor. This is a good start. Ask them about what they liked about their experience, but especially pay particular attention to anything they didn't like. This will help you decide if you want to follow in their footsteps and get a tattoo at all, and whether you'd like to go to the same place.
You can also check the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against the tattoo parlor you are considering doing business with. This is a great way to research any company you consider buying products and services from.
While you make your phone calls, keep track of the pricing at each place. You don't want to pay a fortune for your tattoo if you don't have to. However, this is going to be a permanent part of your body, so price should be only a moderate factor to consider! It goes back to the old classic rationale: you wouldn't want two for one laser eye correction surgery (get one eye done, get the 2nd free)! Remember that you do get what you pay for, as they say.
Finally, make sure (before you make the ultimate decision to go through with this) that you indeed want to get a tattoo. This is particularly important if it's your first tattoo.
Here are some important things to think about:
Check with family and friends that you trust before you go through with this.
Don't just follow a trend or try to be cool or tough. No one is THAT impressed.
This is about your life and you are the one who is going to have to live with this thing.
Keep in mind that a potential date or spouse might be turned off by people with tattoos! That could limit your dating options!
Remember that this is a permanent decision. Removal may be possible in some instances but is likely to leave at least some scarring.
Before you get a tattoo, do some research and soul searching. If you're sure it's right for you after that, then go for it!
A tattoo may only take a few minutes to get but it can last a lifetime. Tattoos are permanent. They are designs put on your sking with pigments injected into the top layer of your skin with needles.
Here is how tattoos are created: A needle is connected to an apparatus with tubes which contain dye. These needles pierce the skin multiple times kind of like a sewing machine but on your skin. The needle inserts tiny drops of ink creating the tattoo. Tattoos can hurt and a large tattoo can take up to several hours to create. The tattoo may even bleed
What arre the downsides of getting a tattoo? You are piercing your skin so you may be a risk for more skin infections if you get a tatoo or piercing.
If you get a tattoo you put yourself at risk for getting blood related diseases. If the machine the tattoo artist uses you can you can get hepatitis C, hepatitis B, tetanus, tuberculosis and even HIV.
If you use red ink in your tattoos you may get a rash with bumps.
Tattoos can also lead to bacterial infections. The symptoms are redness, warmth, swelling and pus.
Again if you use red ink in your tattoo this can cause allergic reactions that can last for years.
Your tattoo will also require cleaning and maintenance. Your tattoo artist will give you instructions on how to clean and maintain your tattoo. You should apply skin care products and avoid too much exposure to the sun for your tattoo. Especially in the beginning.
Tattoos takes several days to heal. Do not pick at the tattoo. Give the tattoo time to heal properly.
What if you want to get rid of your tattoo? This is very common.
Tattoo removal is difficult and often still leaves scars and skin discolorations.
Laser surgery if the best way to get rid of a tattoo. Laser beams penetrate the top layer of the skin and the light is accepted by the tattoo. This method may demand up to 10 treatments over a period of a year and even then the tattoo might not completely dissapear.
Another method of tattoo removal is called Dermabrasion. The tattoo is frozen until the skin is numb then the skin is sanded down. This method does not hurt very much but it usually leaves a scar.
You can also remove that tattoo surgically but this invariably leaves a scar.
John the Tattoo and Piercing Guy runs the Tattoo and Piercing Blog at http://tattoo--piercing.blogspot.com/ where you can learn all about tattoos and piercings.
Both Alex Gwen Thomson & Matthew Meyer are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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