Member Advice on Tattoos

When I was a little girl, I used to mither my mum all the time for money so I could go to the shop to buy some sweets. Whenever they were on sale I used to buy the Chewing gums that came wrapped in a tattoo. You know the ones were you put water on them and they come off onto your skin, I would walk around covered in them. I loved having these tattoos all over my arms and I showed them off proudly. I remember my mum saying one day "they will ...
...ever get a real one I'll disown you." Yeah right as if….

Well I'm all grown up now and as soon as I turned 18 I got my first Tattoo. My husband never liked tattoo's either but we went through a rough patch and whilst we were split up I sneaked off to the local Tattoo parlour and got my first one. It all stemmed from there really and now I'm the proud owner of 5 tattoos. A lot of people think Tattoos are ugly and unnecessary, but ... more

When I was a little girl, I used to mither my mum all the time for money so I could go to the shop to buy some sweets. Whenever they were on sale I used to buy the Chewing gums that came wrapped in a tattoo. You know the ones were you put water on them and they come off onto your skin, I would walk around covered in them. I loved having these tattoos all over my arms and I showed them off proudly. I remember my mum saying one day "they will be the only tattoo's you will ever get, if you ever get a real one I'll disown you." Yeah right as if….

Well I'm all grown up now and as soon as I turned 18 I got my first Tattoo. My husband never liked tattoo's either but we went through a rough patch and whilst we were split up I sneaked off to the local Tattoo parlour and got my first one. It all stemmed from there really and now I'm the proud owner of 5 tattoos. A lot of people think Tattoos are ugly and unnecessary, but everyone has their own opinions on everything and if they don't like them, they don't have to get one.

My mum of course went mad but she never disowned me, my hubby wasn't impressed either but he never complained when I went back for more. That was until my latest one, which he hates. But like I say It's my body I will do what I want to it. People say to me, ' what will you do when your older?' well I don't really know the answer to that question, I suppose I will keep them covered or maybe have them removed. I guess I will come to that question in 50 years time.

***The History of the Tattoo***

The word tattoo is said to have two major derivations- from the Polynesian word 'ta', which means striking something and the Tahitian word 'tatau' which means 'to mark something'.

The history of tattoo began over 5000 years ago and is as diverse as the people who wear them. Tattoos are created by inserting coloured materials beneath the skins surface. The first tattoos were created by accident. Someone had a small wound, and rubbed it with a hand that was dirty with soot and ashes from the fire. Once the wound had healed, they saw that a mark stayed permanently. Despite the populations growing fascination with tattooing, and the immense popularity of tattoos themselves, the practice has not left much of a historical record.

The first electronic tattoo machine was invented by an American tattoo artist named Samuel O'Reilly in 1990, which gave birth to the new era of tattooing in which people started to have different kind of tattoos on various parts of their body. But tattoos were not respected in its earlier days and were considered as a kind of non-sense thing suitable only for drunkards or sailors and sometimes, criminals too.
The popularity of tattoo gained its current weight age after many years of its existence and now, you can find tattoo as a fashion symbol rather than a simple mark. Tattoos have spread across oceans and people even in the undeveloped countries have been practicing the art of tattoo on their body parts. Once what seems as a non-sense thing has truly become an integral part of new generation fashion.

***Were to go to get one***

When I got my first Tattoo I went to the local tattoo parlour. I never knew much about them but it was the nearest place so I took my chance. I wished I hadn't, they spelt my sons name wrong then went over it terribly but never told me. I swore never to use them again. The next time I went to have one, I scouted around different parlours, asked around my friends who I knew had a tattoo, and generally did my homework to find the best one. I was so glad that I did this, as the next time was so different, the man was really helpful and made sure that it was what I wanted.

So before rushing into you're nearest parlour, make sure they are reputable. Ask around, make sure they have a good reputation. When you go in ask to look at pictures of their work, most tattooist will have photo albums full of pictures of their work. Look through the pictures carefully to see how good their work is. Make sure you look at the most detailed designs as most tattooists can easily write a name or do a Chinese symbol.

Most Important thing of all, BEFORE he/she starts to tattoo you make sure that they show you the equipment that is being used. Make sure that you see the needle being removed from the sterilised packaging and make sure that they have an autoclave, which is like a boiling pot, which boils the material at 120oC. Make sure that all the equipment is opened in front of you. (I really can't stress this enough as it is the most important safety part of having a tattoo)

*** How much will it cost me? ***

Prices vary between different parlours and different sized tattoos. Basically you can expect to pay around £25 for a tiny little butterfly or heart up to around £200 for one A5 size. It really depends on how big you want the tattoo and in some places also were you want it. Some parlours charge you extra if you want the tattoo on anywhere below your belly button. And some charge more for on your legs etc. Be prepared to pay out more for a top quality tattooist though. But at the end of the day it is better to pay more for a good tattoo than be stuck with a cheap ugly thing for the rest of your life.

*** Does It Hurt? ***

What a stupid question. Of course it hurts, everybody asks me this, and I say the same thing to each one of them. " If someone was sticking needles into your skin hundreds of times a minute would it hurt?" Well yes because basically that is what is happening, you are being struck over and over again by a needle. Someone is drawing on your body with a needle of course it is going to hurt. But saying that you actually get used to it after about 5 minutes, the pain dies down. And to be honest the worst bit is the black outline of the tattoo once that is done the colouring in isn't that bad. I have given birth to three children in my life and a measly little tattoo is nothing compared to childbirth. The Tattooist who I go to has said to me that he has seen grown men over 6ft and 20st pass out were as woman can sit through the same thing without flinching. People have different pain thresholds so it really does depend on what yours is like.

*** What if I don't like it? ***

Well really before you get a tattoo you should make sure that the design is exactly what you want and it is being done exactly were you want it. No good saying afterwards that you don't like it as you are stuck with it for the rest of your life. Of course there are options, you can have it covered over by another tattoo, but really you shouldn't need to do this if you have thought it through properly before hand. Covering over is a simple way to get rid of one you don't want, for example if you have a name of a boyfriend/girlfriend that you split from you can just have something over it. But beware that if you have a tattoo of a black panther or similar you are not going to be able to tattoo over it. You cannot go over something that is solid black unless it's with something bigger in solid black.

There is the other option of laser treatment, but unless you have a spare £1000 per tattoo this isn't really a great option. Even with Laser treatment the tattoo will not disappear over night, you have to have several treatments over several years before it is removed. So make sure that is defiantly what you want before you have it done.

*** What do I do afterwards? ***

After you have left the parlour the tattooist should hand you a leaflet with instructions on how to look after your new tattoo. He/She would have placed a dressing over the tattoo, which you should remove approximately an hour after you have left. Once removed you should wash your new tattoo in warm soapy water. And pat the tattoo dry, never rub the tattoo throughout the healing process as this can cause the colour to fade. Do not use creams or moisturisers for the first 24 hours after a new tattoo. From the second day you should use an Anti-coagulant cream such as Lasonil or preparation H (Yes, the pile cream) as this will stop the tattoo from drying out and scabbing. You can wash your tattoo but do not soak it in water until it has fully healed as this can slow the healing process. Do not pick your tattoo, it may itch but you should pat it lightly rather than scratching it. You should also avoid direct sunlight and sunbeds and avoid swimming during the healing process. All these can cause your tattoo to fade.

*** Is it dangerous? ***

Well as with everything in life there are dangers. We have all read the warning signs on the backs of medicines etc, so why should having a tattoo be any different.
Viral infections such as hepatitis, HIV, bacterial and fungal infections, allergic reactions such as skin irritation, and malignant lesions such as melanoma, leprosy and other devastating diseases. Other problems associated with body art are toxic shock syndrome, tetanus, venereal ulcers, and tuberculosis.
These dangers are very very rare and as long as you take extra precautions when choosing who will tattoo you and as long as you make sure that all the materials used are sterilised then there should be no risk.

*** My final thoughts ***

Well you already know my thoughts and feelings on tattoos but everyone is different. If you are thinking of getting a tattoo, get one because you really want to. Not because your friends have them or because you think it would be fun. Remember it will be with you for the rest of your life. I now have 5 tattoos and I do not plan on getting any more. I think I have enough and there is nothing else I want. I have a one on my left thigh of a devil with my son's names over and under it. I have a tinkerbell on my right thigh with my Daughters name on it. I have a two hearts in a banner on my right arm with my hubbys name on it and a small heart on my left shoulder with Nanna written under it. My latest addition as a lot of you know already is the symbol of my favourite wrestler Shawn Michaels. I have added pictures of them all underneath.
If you really want to get one, try and make up your own design, a lot of people get tattoo's these days and you don't want to end up with the same one as your worst enemy. Most reputable tattooist will do your own design for you if you take the picture into them. Above all else make sure that everything is sterilised. Don't just rush into the decision make sure you have thought it over for a long time before you have one, and don't decide to go and get one done whist on holiday and tanked up on alcohol like someone I know. Please make sure it is really what you want. AND BE SAFE!!!

Thanks for reading and remember A Tattoo is for life not just for Christmas.!!

Lynz xx
 

...less