Tattoo FAQ sticky by Goddess Kali
Hopefully I’ll cover everything, but I welcome any suggestions or additions. And my apologies if this sounds like an
'idiots' guide' I'm assuming you know *nothing"
I really, really want a tattoo!
If you are under 18, read these now.
*this* and
*this!* Where do I go…?
If you see someone in a pub or club and admire their tattoos, ask them who ‘maimed them for life.’ Be prepared for nastiness from surly people and help and advice from the rest of us. There are many tattooists working in the Glasgow area – a few of them are listed at the bottom of the FAQ.
The pictures displayed on walls, or in folders in tattoo parlours are not necessarily the work of the ‘artist’. Many artists will have their own web pages (again, listed below the FAQ) or display photographs of their own work. Ask questions! You are the paying customer and deserve to be treated with respect as such. If you feel uncomfortable or intimidated, leave.
Tattooists are governed by strict health and safety regulations. You should look for a clean workspace. The tattooist should set up their equipment in front of you and needles, grips should be fresh from an autoclave. Sometimes it is recommended that the tattooist break their needles in front of you when they are done, but this event is after the fact, so it’s not like you’d know anyway
. It goes without saying that they wear gloves. Even if you don’t have anything nasty, blood-borne and contagious, your tattooist may have!
When do I go..?
If you want something simple, or something from the flash-wall, you may be able to walk off of the street and get an appointment. In my opinion, the best tattooists have waiting lists. If you’ve waited this long a few more weeks won’t hurt? Right?
Oh, and! The sun is shining! It’s a beautiful day and you really want to show off your new tattoo in that cute little vest? Please, don’t! New tattoos (and old tattoos!) and the sun do not mix! More about your aftercare later, but the very best time of year to contemplate a new tattoo is late autumn, through winter. It’s a very quiet time of year for the profession and you may well get an appointment sooner than you anticipated.
I don’t know what to get! bmezine (click!)
Or ask us! Think about your body shape. I personally believe that there are few people who can’t be improved by a tattoo. Big brawny men carry big brawny tattoos better than fine lined little characters. I personally believe that tattoos should sit well on your body – elfin wee girlies can (arguably) get away with murder!
You do have to live with your body (hopefully) for a VERY long time. Don’t make a rash decision, PLEASE don’t get someone’s name put on you (personal opinion here!) You can commemorate a person by tattoos other than a name in a heart.
How much does it cost?
How much do you want to spend..? The ‘going rate’ for an hour of work is around £40 - £50. The tattooist or receptionist will be able to advise you on price. You are changing your body for life – it’s not like a haircut or a new pair of boots. This is you. Be prepared to invest in yourself. Do not haggle. It’s very rude!
Right! I’m ready!
Do NOT drink the night/morning before you go! Alcohol thins the blood – you will bleed like a stuck pig and it will be very very messy. Like the prom in ‘Carrie’. Have a light breakfast or lunch and contemplate a small bar of chocolate and a sugary drink on the way to the tattoo studio. Personal recommendation – a mars bar and lucozade. If you are feeling very wussy, do not take aspirin – again it’s a blood thinner. Paracetomol is OK, but basically a placebo. Ibuprofen apparently rocks.
Does it hurt?
Oh,
yes.
Isn’t that the
point…?
But everyone has a different degree of pain threshold and even the same tattoo placed on the same area of skin will affect two different people differently. Generally, fleshy areas (tops of arms, backs of shoulders etc) will hurt less than areas which travel over bone or muscle (spine, elbows, wrists, ankles...) Your tattooist should start small, ask if you are OK and let you know that it is OK to ask him or her to stop.
Try to relax. Tensing your body or clenching your fists will not help! Relaxation techniques such as repeating times tables over and over and over in your head, playing with a ‘stress ball’ (as long as it doesn’t interfere with your muscle control) or techniques learned from self hypnosis tapes all help. Personally, I occasionally imagine counting myself down the stairs in my mothers’ house and walking around the garden naming the plants and flowers! Thinking about other things distracts from the pain.
Additionally, your body has a natural line of defence against pain, and if you are being tattooed for a appreciable period of time, the endorphins will kick in. Every thing will be fine!
Aftercare
Tattooists and tattooees differ in their advice regarding the aftercare of a fresh tattoo and your tattooist should give you an aftercare leaflet. Debates rage between people who declare that Cling-film should be left on the tattoo for 24 hours to those who advocate ‘heat-searing’ by immersing the fresh tattoo in the hottest water you can stand as soon as possible. All I can advise is what I do. I remove the clingfilm or paper towel as soon as possible (I have done this in various pub and cinema toilets!) and wash in anti-bacterial soap. Apply the merest smidge of savlon. Wash as normal, being gentle and apply savlon twice a day, or when you remember. There is a school of thought that advises using ‘lasonil’ on purely black work. ) You’ll need to go to a good pharmacist for this! Boots do not stock it and do not get it mixed up with the athlete’s foot cream! Some people also advocate using ‘preparation-H’ haemorrhoid cream. Personally I have no requirement for it’s traditional use, so wouldn’t put it on my skin! Other good things – ‘Drapolene’ nappy crème – a very, VERY light pink cream used for spotty baby bots.
Take a multi vitamin every day. Drink lot’s of water and ‘don’t do drugs kids’ (sanctimonious cow!)
DO NOT pick! Tattooists can spot a picker from a mile off on a foggy day! Usually your tattooist will repair any patches in your new tattoo for free – it is normal for occasional patchiness in the natural curve of the skin ( eg: inner elbows) This is different to picking – how ever tempting it may be, your tattooist can tell! Don’t expect free fill-ins for your own weakness! J
Oh. My. God!(ess...) What have I done…? 
So, you ignored my advice..? huh…? *sigh*
Most tattoos can be covered with bigger and better tattoos. This might not be the way forward for everyone. The alternative is long sleeves for the rest of your life and getting undressed in the dark. Or lazer surgery. Apparently this hurts much, much more than the original tattoo (and to an extent, covering your old tattoo can hurt more than the original because you are dealing with scar tissue. Depending to the quality of work that your original tattooist/scratcher, you may have raised skin…This happens with a more heavy handed tattooist…)
Hope this helps…
Tattooists Tribe tribe(click!) Southside ink –62, Battlefield Rd
Glasgow Lanarkshire
G42 9QF
website
Tel: 0141 632 5372
Terry’s
23, Chisholm St
Glasgow Lanarkshire
G1 5HA
0141 552 5740
website Irezumi 25, Dowanhill St Partick
Glasgow Lanarkshire
G11 5QR
Tel: 0141 342 4008
website Body Line Tatoo's & Piercings Studio
5, Dixon St
Glasgow Lanarkshire
G1 4AL
Tel: 0141 248 4966
custom inc
1060 Argyle St, Glasgow, G3 8LY
Tel: 0141-249 9949
website 
