So many people ask, even people who have many tattoos, does it hurt when you get it on your head, how bout your back, etc…

Over the past 25 years of getting tattooed I have found that there is no standard area that hurts or doesn’t hurt.  I know people that have had their heads tattooed, and said it was the most painful thing they experienced, however when I got mine done it was so not painful that I fell asleep

Bottom line is that if you want to get a tattoo and you are worried about the pain, then you shouldn’t get one.  The most important thing about getting a tattoo is what it means for you, and the placement of the tattoo.  Don’t worry about the pain, once getting the tattoo is done, the joy of the finished tattoo will be there for you and others to enjoy for the rest of your life.

The current popularity of tattooing and body piercing has also brought an increase in potentially hazardous conditions.  I am posting the following guideline of what to look out for (in this situation, “artist” refers to both tattooists and piercers):

• Lighting: The area must be well-lit.
• Counter and floor space should be lightly colored so dirt shows up easier.
• The spray bottle the artist uses on your skin should be disinfected between customers, or some kind of protective film such as Saran Wrap should be used.
• Disposing needles: All needles must be either discarded after EACH use (or at least with each new customer), or autoclaved. Many body piercers operate out of small booths and may not have spent money for an autoclave, in which they must dispose of each needle. no exceptions.
• Needles touching other things: The needles, once open from their sanitary packages, must not be placed on unsanitized surfaces. The piercer should not set the needle down on the table or have the needle touch the ground. If this happens and they don’t get a new needle, insist they do.
• Gloves: The artist must wash their hands prior to putting on their gloves, preferably with an antibacterial/antiseptic solution. Once they put their gloves on, they should not touch anything other than your skin, the needle, and the jewelry. They should not be filling out receipts beforehand, or answering the phone unless these have been wiped clean beforehand.
• Is there a sink separate from the bathroom sink?
• Does the artist use a disposable razor when shaving skin?
• The Speed Stick used as an adhesive for the tattoo pattern should not be directly applied to the skin, but applied first to a tissue which can then be used on the skin.
• Autoclaves should be inspected regularly.
• Sterile materials should be stored in sealed containers away from things that could cause body fluids or ink to splash on them.
• The palate that holds the ink caps should be covered.
• After tattooing, the ink caps should be discarded, and the ink not reused poured back into the bottles.

Be particularly wary of outdoor fair booths. While many are run by caring, experienced artists, these booths allow fly-by-night operators to make some fast money and disappear. If you don’t know the artist, spend time watching them work on others first. Are they reusing needles? Do they use needles that have dropped on the ground?

If you see any unsanitary conditions that are particularly alarming, post them to RAB. If you feel uncomfortable naming names, then withhold the specifics for private email. It is each customer’s right to guard against getting a contamination. Worse, If you have had more than one tattoo or piercing within several months, it will be difficult for you to prove which artist was responsible!

It has been brought to my attention that some tattooists have an attitude problem when it comes to potential customers. Tattooists (and piercers!) people from all walks of life may be interested in body art.

A potential customer shouldn’t feel out-of-place or ashamed for walking in wearing a business suit or an LL Bean dress. It is amazing to think that someone with purple hair and eyebrow rings could actually discriminate against someone, but apparently, it happens.

Just as a customer should expect certain sanitation standards, they should also expect an inviting atmosphere.

Looking critically at the shop is as important as choosing your artist. Make sure the place is clean. Make sure the artist uses disposable, single-use needles, and uses an autoclave for all other equipment. Don’t be afraid to ask them, either.

What does the shop look like? How is the atmosphere? If you are a nonsmoker, will cigarette smoke bother you? Do the work areas offer you any privacy?

Try to go and visit and then come back another day. Try and talk to some people that have experience with the artist. You should feel comfortable with the artist. If you don’t, then don’t get a tattoo from them.

Make sure the artist is willing to listen to you and respects what you want. The artist may make suggestions, but the final word is always yours.

Finally, make sure you take their business card with you. If the artist you talk to does not have his/her own card, jot down the name on the back, and perhaps some notes to yourself about the shop and the artist.

Some reasonable questions to ask in your conversation that shouldn’t take too much time for the artist to answer:

• What is their favorite style?
• Is there any one particular subject they like to do?
• How long has the shop been here?
• How long have they been at the shop?
• How long have they been tattooing?
• Do they get a lot of custom work?
• Do they use apprentices at the shop?

Don’t let the looks of the artist intimidate you. Tattoo artists usually have a lot of tattoos themselves. You need to talk with them and get a feel for what they are like. If you feel comfortable, you may want to broach the subject of what you’re interested in getting done.
Be polite, don’t linger and overspend your welcome if you don’t plan on getting any work done at all.

Times have changed a lot since I got my first tattoo at 18 years old.  Tattoos are much more widely accepted now.  Judgement is still there, but nothing like it used to be.

There are those who get a tattoo, and there are those that tattoos are a lifestyle.

Which are you?