Despite the number of tattoos that one sees each day, most people have no notion what goes on in a tattoo salon. Many people think tattoos scary or exotic and painful.
However, social attitudes in Britain and America have changed more in favour of tattoos that it used to be. Some countries view tattoos much more favourably, whereas others even revile them.
Some people with a tattoo are completely unprepared for other people’s reactions to their tattoos. In fact, some individuals become quite upset because of other people’s reactions.
Others expect a little negativity and so have their tattoo put somewhere where they can conceal or reveal it as desired.
The upper arm, the lower leg, the chest and the back are common places for men, whereas women tend to have smaller tattoos on their shoulder, upper thigh or lower back.
Tattoos that are done in a salon are made with needles that pump or insert coloured ink below the skin where it will permanently dye the skin. Before the needle gun that is used nowadays, people may tattoo themselves or clients with a pin, a sewing needle, a sharp stick or a quill pen.
In those days – merely a few decades ago – tattoos were usually either blue or black, because tattooists used writers’ ink.
There was a higher chance of disease then, but tattoo artists are a lot better trained in health and safety nowadays and awareness of infection and disease in general is much higher too. Even many doctors and nurses did not completely understand how vital cleanliness was a hundred years ago.
If health care professionals did not understand hygiene, you can imagine what dockside tattoo studios were like. Some were so bad that local authorities and even countries banned tattooing altogether. In some parts of the world, cleanliness is still an issue, so a would-be tattooee should look for signs of hygiene or otherwise before consenting to the tattoo.
Numerous people take a design that they like to a tattoo artist, but others just choose one out of a catalogue in the tattoo salon. If you take your own design, look for one comparable to it in the catalogue to get an idea of cost.
Then show it to the tattooer for a valuation. The cost will depend on the colours used and how long it takes, Find out the tattooer’s hourly rate. it may even be written on a list on the wall.
When agreed, the tattooer will transfer the design to your skin whether by stencil or freehand. At that point, you can get an idea of what the tattoo will look like. This is your last opportunity to change your mind. A small tattoo of one or two colours may take 45-60 minutes.
Once it is complete you will be given tips for after care. You need to follow this advice or you might have problems that could put you in a GP’s surgery. Do not take too lightly this final phase.
Owen Jones, the writer of this article writes on lots of topics, but is at present involved with tatooed eyebrows. If you would like to know more go to our website at White Ink Tatoo.