From teshima@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu Wed Sep 22 20:11:46 CDT 1993 Article: 12927 of news.answers Newsgroups: rec.arts.bodyart,news.answers,rec.answers Path: news.acns.nwu.edu!math.ohio-state.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!ames!news.Hawaii.Edu!uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu!teshima From: teshima@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Lani Teshima-Miller) Subject: rec.arts.bodyart Tattoo FAQ: Intro & Part I/4: Getting a tattoo Message-ID: Followup-To: rec.arts.bodyart Summary: This posting contains the Frequently Asked Questions file about tattoos and other non-piercing bodyart. Anyone who wishes to read/post to the rec.arts.bodyart newsgroup should read this first. Sender: news@news.Hawaii.Edu Organization: University of Hawaii Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1993 10:00:00 GMT Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.Edu Lines: 398 Xref: news.acns.nwu.edu rec.arts.bodyart:8389 news.answers:12927 rec.answers:2320 Archive-name: tattoo-faq/part1 Last-modified: September 18, 1993 Posting-frequency: Monthly This is the 'other' half of the rec.arts.bodyart FAQ file that is posted on a monthly basis (in the latter half of the month) and includes information about everything but piercing that might concern bodyart. The rec.arts.bodyart tattoo FAQ is broken up into four parts: Part 1/4: Getting a tattoo Part 2/4: Artist list Part 3/4: How to care for a new tattoo Part 4/4: Miscellaneous information PURPOSE OF THIS FAQ: This FAQ serves to share and disseminate information about the basics of tattoos and tattooing (as well as other non-pierce bodyart), and covers the most frequently asked questions. Tattooing and other forms of bodyart are currently experiencing a peaking in their cycle of popularity; however bodyart has been around for thousands of years in various forms. While their current popularity is helping to shed some of the rebel/underground images and stereotypes, most of the general population of developed countries still regard tattooing with some disdain, especially against those who are heavily inked. The purpose of this FAQ is *not* to raise these issues or to change such views, but to educate those who are interested in learning more about tattoos, whether they are considering getting one themselves or not. Regardless of motive, tattooing is a very personal choice. Access to information such as is available in this FAQ should help you make a wiser decision about getting inked, since the reversing process is not easy. You are *STRONGLY* recommended to read this FAQ before posting queries to r.a.b., as this FAQ covers many of questions often asked by new readers and the Òuninked.Ó I have tried to include the contributor's name and email address where possible, both for accountability reasons and for obtaining further information. Contributions, while welcome, may not always be added depending on whether they fit into the purpose of this FAQ. Comments submitted by individuals are copyrighted by the individual. You may disseminate this FAQ through electronic means including diskettes, but must include this introductory section. Please obtain permission from me before disseminating this r.a.b. tattoo FAQ via print, especially to those uninitiated to the usenet format. In the effort to keep this FAQ from becoming a promotional or political tool, please use your discretion about sharing Part II (the artist list) with tattoo professionals, as they might find offense in omissions or negative reviews of their operation (unfortunately, some artists don't have the health and well-being of the customer as their #1 priority). If, on the other hand, artists are interested in discussing technique, style, or the reasons they got into the field, I will gladly include this in the FAQ, as this type of information is sorely missing in general. This FAQ was compiled mainly by Paul Davies (Synthetic Man) at pdavies@alchemy.chem.utoronto.ca, with contributions from various people. The maintenance of the tat FAQ was taken over by me in August 1993. I do not pretend, nor purport to be an expert on tattoos and tattooing--the compilation and revision of this FAQ is an ongoing learning process. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding this FAQ, please send them to teshima@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.edu. If I have *any* advice for those who decide to get inked, it is: To shop around, to ask a lot of questions, to not fret about the cost too much, to always ask to look at the artistsÕ sample photos, and to get something thatÕs custom, significant and meaningful. That thingÕs gonna be with you for a looong time. Oh--and ÒThink Ink!Ó WHAT THIS FILE CONTAINS: This file is structured as a traditional FAQ in the form of questions and answers. Questions answered in this file: Rec.arts.bodyart Tattoo FAQ Part I: Getting a tattoo 0. Does it hurt? 1. Where do I find a good tattoo artist? 2. What should I look for in a tattoo artist? 2.1. How to look around in the shop 2.2. Asking to see their portfolio 2.3. What to look for in their portfolio 2.4. What kinds of questions to ask 2.5. What sorts of things to look for in a shop 3. How much does it cost to get a tattoo? 4. Can I get infectious diseases from tattoo needles? 4.1 Can my tattoos get infected? 4.2 Are there any medical conditions that will preclude me from getting a tattoo? WHAT TO EXPECT IN UPCOMING REVISIONS: --List of artists --What kind of different "styles" are there? --What kind of colors are available? What are the inks made of? What is it about red ink that causes allergic reactions in some? --Where can I get good ideas for designs? --What can I expect at a tat convention, and is it worth attending? --How is "traditional" tattooing done--without the tattoo gun? --What is the history behind Japanese tattoos? How is it done? --What Polynesian islands were into tattooing? --What tat magazines can I look at for examples of artists' works? --Are there any movies, books or stories about tats? --Where can I access GIF files of tats? --Are there any tattoo organizations I can join, or museums I could visit? Have fun and "think ink!" -------------------------------------------------------------- GETTING A TATTOO 0. Does it hurt? ---------- This is the first question in this FAQ is usually the first question that people ask about tattooing. The answer is, quite simply, yes. Having needles pierce your skin *does* hurt. But isn't what you *REALLY* want to know, "How MUCH does it hurt, and can I handle it?" However, it's not nearly as bad as what one might imagine. Basically, there is the pain of the cluster of needles on the tattoo gun piercing your skin very rapidly. This sensation, however, doesn't feel like the poking pain of an injection--it's more of a constant vibration. You will be amazed at how quickly your body releases endorphins, or pain killers--so even if it hurts, the pain is dullened somewhat. The pain will also vary according to where on your body you get worked on. Skin right above bones (collarbone, anklebone, etc.) tend to be more painful than other areas. [My experience seems to be that it's less painful where you have less muscle/more "padding"--any comments?] Finally, remember that you are volunteering for the experience. The amount of pain will depend on your psychological attitude--so your mileage will vary. 1. How do I find a good tattoo artist? ---------- Looking for an artist can be as easy as checking the Yellow Pages, or as complex as checking references, magazine photos, and reading r.a.b. There are a number of ways to find good artists, including (but certainly not limited to): --Reading r.a.b. and this FAQ is a good start. It'll give you a base in which to start. If you live in an area where an artist is not listed in the FAQ, you might want to post a query, too. --Perusing tattoo magazines. Okay, okay--not all tattoo magazines are of the National Geographic quality, true (I think the same people that publish some of them also publish the surfing magazines, IMHO). But the photos tend to speak for themselves. Also, special editions highlight specific artists' works; a good way to get a feel for the type of work someone does. I will be developing a bibliography at the end of the FAQ, in which I will list the various publications available. --Attending a tattoo convention. These tattoo conventions seem to be getting more and more popular, with conventions held on both the East and West coasts. Usually lasting about three or four days over a weekend, many of them have days that are open to the general public. A good place to see an overview of different artists, pick up merchandise and the like. Recent convention sites have included San Diego, Hollywood and Chicago. 2. What should I look for in a tattoo artist? ---------- You can approach this one of two ways. You can either go to a shop because someone recommended the artist to you, or you can go in cold. For obvious reasons, you will have a little more information with you if you already know something about the artist. This may make you feel more at ease when going into a shop for the first time. 2.1. How to look around in the shop------------- Don't let the shop intimidate you when you first walk in. You are after all, a potential customer. Consider it window shopping. The first thing you should do when you enter the shop, is to take a minute to look around. Chances are, you will encounter some flash (stock illustrations) stapled on the walls. These will most likely lean toward the traditional. Skull and crossbones, roses and the like. You might also see some signs ("No minors; we ID," "We have sanitary conditions" etc.). These signs will also be indicators of the personality of the shop owner. If the signs seem overly intimidating, patronizing or snobbish, they can be tip-offs of the shop's attitude. 2.2. Asking to see their portfolio-------------- Do not be impressed by the flash on the wall. These illustrations are usually purchased from other places and do not represent the work of your artist. Frankly, anyone with some experience can easily trace the outlines of these illustrations and fill in the colors. What you really need to look at is a book that contains a collection of photos of the artist's work. Go to the counter and ask to see one. If they tell you they don't have one, walk out immediately. You are visiting the shop to commission a piece of art to be permanently illustrated on your skin; for the artist to tell you s/he doesn't have samples in a portfolio is insulting. 2.3. What to look for in their portfolio------------- When you do look in their portfolio, there are a few things to keep in mind. Do you see any photos of pieces that you recognize in the flash (on the wall, or in a flash book)? If so, how is it rendered in tattoo format? Before anything else, check to see that the lines are clean. Are they well-defined? Straight where they should be; not shaky or blurry? Do the colors seem true? Are they bright? Proportionately correct? Look at the people in the book. This can be an indicator of the clientele in the shop (besides looking at the ambiance of the shop). Is there a fair mix of women and men in the book? Are they all sporting "biker" tats, or any one particular genre/style? Again, keep in mind that anyone can stencil an outline of an illustration onto your skin. The skill in the artistry comes in the shading, use of colors and other subtle things that set an artist apart from a simple tattooist. Do you see anything in the portfolio that is not in the flash? These are the custom pieces that the artists have done, and they should be their crowning glory. How do they look? Do you like what you see? If there is more than one artist working in the shop, and you see some photos you like, make sure to find out which artist did the work. 2.4. What kinds of questions to ask------------- Whenever you ask to see their collection of photos, the person in the shop will hopefully immediately recognize you as someone who knows a little more about tattoos--at least enough not to be satisfied by looking at just the flash. If the shop is not too busy or if the artist is not in the middle of working, they might stand on the other side of the counter to have a conversation with you. This is a wonderful opportunity to ask questions of the artist. Some questions to ask: What is their favorite style? --If what *you* are looking to get done happens to be their specialty, you are in luck; be it tribal, wildlife or whatever. Is there any one particular subject they like to do? --One artist, without hesitation, told me his favorite was skulls. I would've jumped for joy had that been what I wanted. How long has the shop been here? --This may be an indicator of the stability of their business. The tat industry in itself fluctuates, but continuity implies business acumen, responsible practices and that they are not a fly-by-night operation. How long have they been at the shop? --The shop may have been there for 20 years, but the artist may only have been there for a couple of months. If they have been there for what you consider a short period, ask them where they were before. How long have they been tattooing? --It might not matter so much that the artist has only been there for a short while, if they've been tattooing for several years. They might come from various backgrounds--anywhere from working on friends to having a fine arts degree. This type of information will give you more insight into the artist's attitude. Do they get to do much custom work? --This may depend on where the shop is located, but it also depends on how good of an artist they are, and whether they have their own style for which they are known for. Do they use apprentices at the shop? --It is often difficult for new artists to break into the business, and an apprenticeship is often a very good way to learn not only about tattooing itself, but also about the business of operating a shop. For an artist to take apprenticeships means they are interested in expanding the artform, in giving a new person a break (so to speak) and feeling confident enough about their own skills that they feel they can offer some insight and experience for the new person. This again goes back to the attitude of the artist and the shop. Don't let the looks of the artist intimidate you. Tattoo artists usually have a lot of tattoos themselves. The main thing is that you need to talk with them and get a feel for what they are like. As you talk with the artist and build a rapport, if you feel comfortable you may want to broach the subject of what you're interested in getting done. Bounce your idea off with the artist and see what they are willing to help you with. 2.5. What sorts of things to look for in a shop------------ Looking critically at the shop is as important as choosing your artist. Make sure the place is very clean, make sure the artist uses an autoclave or uses disposable needles (or both even). Don't be afraid to ask them, either. What does the shop look like? What is its ambiance? Does it look like a barber shop, a hair salon or an art gallery? If you are a nonsmoker, will cigarette smoke bother you? Look for used ashtrays as signs. Do the work areas offer you any privacy? Do they use shower curtains, private booths or shoulder-high room dividers? Try to go and visit and then come back some other day. Don't feel pressured into having to get one right then and there. Try and talk to some people that have experience with the artist (and not the groupies that you will find hanging around the shop). You should feel comfortable with the artist and you should like him/her. If you don't, then don't get a tattoo. Make sure the artist is willing to listen to you and respects what you want. Don't go to an artist that has an agenda of what he/she wants to do. The artist is sure to 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. 3. How much does it cost to get a tattoo? ---------- This is an age-old debate, so the following is just a very basic ballpark. You usually pay for work either by the piece, or by the hour. The smaller pieces in the artist's flash book are "standard stock" material that usually don't take the artist too long to do. For these, you might find prices listed right next to the artwork. The artist may have a "minimum" charge that might vary depending on the artist. Larger (or custom) pieces will usually be charged by the hour. If you get a "stock" piece (probably about 2" x 2" in size), you will probably not pay more than $100 and sit no longer than an hour in the chair. Your mileage may vary. If you bring your own design , the artist may charge anywhere from $50 to several hundred dollars an hour, depending on the artist. However, you may want to work with someone who charges $100 or so an hour; after all, you DO get what you pay for. Price negotiation should be up front and straightforward, a part of your initial discussion before work begins. Some shops take credit cards; many don't. Out-of-towners may be asked to put down a deposit.Be particularly wary of people willing to tattoo you "for cheap" or "for free." They are often artists just starting out, who are still developing their skills. Caveat emptor. 4. Can I get infectious diseases from tattoo needles? ---------- There has been some concern recently regarding transmittable diseases (particularly Hepatitus-B and AIDS [HIV]) and tattoo shops. Just as in a dentist's office, as long as the area is strictly sanitized, your chances for infection will be greatly reduced. Check out the shop thoroughly. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security by a clean look. If the needles are not disposed of after each person, then it MUST be "autoclaved." Autoclaving is a process that pressurizes the instruments and kills any virus or bacteria that might transmit viruses or bacteria. My dentist hastwo autoclavers--one gas and one steam--both pressurizing down to 250fsw. He also has spore samples that he autoclaves and sends to a pathology lab to make sure the machines are working. Ask the artist how they clean their needles. If they don't say they autoclave, you are taking your risks. If they say they do, ask to see their machine. Other common-sense types of things include throwing out the ink after each customer. Make sure the artists have small wells for each ink color that they dispense from a larger container, and that these are thrown out after work on you is done. Compare the conditions of the shop to that of your dentist--does the artist wear gloves? Are the areas sprayed clean? Are they insured? According to the Navy Environmental Health Center Medical Corps in Norfolk, Virginia, each year, a few cases of Hep-B are reported in people who've gotten tattoos within the last two months, but they have not been able to trace the disease back to its source, nor attribute it directly to the tattoo. Becky Fenton (forsythe.stanford.edu) says: "I spoke with a disease infection specialist at Kaiser [Permanente--US West Coast health care system], and there have not been any incidents (as of 1990) of HIV being spread *to* a recipient of a tattoo. If you think about it, the tattooist is much more at risk, as s/he has to touch the customer's blood [Hmm...similar to dentists.--ed.] 4.1 Can my tattoos get infected? The answer is no, as long as you take care of your new tat. Part III of this FAQ covers healing methods in depth. There are some people who have shown allergic reactions to certain red inks--probably because of the compounds mixed in to create the color (I'll be adding a section about inks and colors at a later FAQ version). 4.2 Are there any medical conditions that will preclude me from getting a tattoo? If you have hemophilia. There is even a case of a man who was HIV positive who got a tattoo--if you are HIV+ however, you will want to inform the artist, since it's the artist that is at more risk than you. [In the case of the HIV+ man, he was John Baldetta, a former nursing assistant at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, who got a tat on his forearm that said "HIV Positive." He was suspended for three days without pay and told he could return if he covered up the tat. He refused and was subsequently fired, although he was not an RN and was not doing anyything that would put patients at risk.] -- Lani Teshima-Miller (teshima@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.edu) "Sea Hare" o/ /_/_/ UH School of Library & Info Studies. "Whatever the cost of our o|<0_0>------* libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant \=^-| |_| | nation." -Walter Cronkite [r.a.b. FAQer: "Think Ink!"] \_} \_}