Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Choosing the Right Tattoo Artist

Getting a tattoo artist is always a process that can make some people feel nervous; you want to make sure that you are picking the right one but you don't always know what to look for or to trust what you see and think about the parlor. Being in the tattoo business, although at the other end of it, I still know how to pick the right tattoo artist and can help you do the same.

First things first, actually go to the tattoo parlor and take a look at things for yourself. Look and see if the place is neat and professional looking. If they keep things clean, as far as you can t ell, that's a good sign; if there's dirt on the floor or walls, then that might not be the place you want to expose your vulnerable skin.

The second thing is to ask the tattoo artist questions. Ask question such as: Is there an autoclave? Are your needles single use? Do the artists wear gloves? What sort of disinfectants do you use? How long have you been in business?

Don't be afraid to ask the questions because if the place is legit, then they won't mind since they should be doing these things anyway and won't have anything to hide.

The third thing to do is check to see if the artist follows the latest safety precautions.

The fourth thing to do is ask people who have gotten tattoos from the place and see how theirs look and ask if they would recommend the parlor.

Monday, July 29, 2013

Tattoo Removal: Laser tattoo removal vs. tattoo removal cream

Tattoo Removal: Laser tattoo removal vs. tattoo removal cream


Are you considering getting tattoo removal? Have you been researching and debating what kind of tattoo removal you should get? Well it has come to my attention that a lot of people believe that they can get a formerly beloved tattoo removed by using cream and avoiding the costly laser tattoo removal procedure.  Knowing the bases of both tattoo removal creams and laser removal, I know how they work and why you should actually opt for laser tattoo removal despite the cost.

A lot of tattoo removal creams say how they are able to break up the the ink in your skin and remove your tattoo. However, the problem is that they are not effective, at least not as effective as they claim to be. Many consumer reviews of tattoo removal creams, you will see that most of the reviews say that the cream does not work or at least not for many, many months. Removal creams often contain harsh chemicals such as bleach or other chemicals that are not good for your skin; in addition to being rough on your skin, most of the creams require you to peel your skin or sand it to see any results, they will not remove the tattoo if you do not do any work. If you choose this option, then definitely make sure to do your research and see what people are saying about the product and whether it works or not; if it works, does it contain harsh chemicals or  require you to destroy your skin?

Laser tattoo removal is much safer and effective, if you get someone who knows what they are doing. If you find a certified dermatologist who has good reviews, then the risk of complications with the removal will be minimal, if any. Do your research and see what people say; find someone who has gotten a tattoo removed for themselves and see what they say. While there is some pain involved with laser tattoo removal, it is not as bad as some make it out to be, of course, your pain tolerance level will ultimately determine that. Another thing about this option is the price; it is pricey but that is because of what has to be done, not because the dermatologists are thieves. Is this option affordable? Absolutely.

Find out for yourself what you want to do. Nearly 50 percent of Americans who get tattoos get them removed and millions of Americans have gotten tattoos so you are not alone in this process.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Bad, Dumb, & Awkward Tattoos

Lots of people get tattoos these days and there are a lot of them that look really, really cool; but sometimes there are people who just do not get it. Have you ever been walking down the street or been somewhere and seen someone with a tattoo and wondered, "What were they thinking?" Well, I have seen some of the worst tattoos you can imagine.


          The absolute worst tattoo I have ever seen was of a body-builder having intercourse with earth. Yes, a tattoo of a man having sexual intercourse with the earth. I do not know why this man thought this tattoo was a good idea. I can imagine his message with the tattoo is that the “has his way with the world” so to speak but there is a much, much better way to convey that message, even in tattoo form, than to get this particular tattoo. The only saving grace here is that the tattoo was on the back of the man so he could at least cover it with a shirt, forever. And if you are wondering if you can see the man's genitalia, yes, yes you can. There is detail. I hope this guy definitely gets some laser tattoo removal because that tattoo is just not going to fly when he takes his shirt off. 

      Another terrible tattoo I saw was of a woman who had "DRAKE" tattoo'd on her forehead. In big, block lettering. You can be a big fan of someone or have a relationship with someone but to post that on your forehead is not the best idea. If the woman plans on having a job that can actually take her somewhere, she will have to get some serious tattoo removal

       Have you ever seen a man with an ice cream cone tattoo'd on him? Well I did some tattoo removal work on a man who decided to get a big ice cream cone tattoo on his stomach/chest. While this tattoo is not necessarily graphic nor terribly stupid, it was a definite mistake. 

      Another terrible tattoo I have seen was on a man who decided to turn his head into a skull via tattoo. Yes, he actually had a tattoo so his face looked like a skull, not just a tattoo of a skull on his face.  Obviously, this tattoo can not be covered up with any clothing unless he wears a mask. What makes it worse is that the tattoo removal for this would be more painful since it is on the face and near sensitive areas such as eyes and lips (although he would wear protective goggles).

      Twilight, is this really something you want tattoo'd on your body? What about having the first dvd cover tattoo'd on your body? There was a woman who decided to get this done. The worst thing about it was that it was large enough to cover her back. 

      There are so many bad life decisions out there and the sad thing is, there will be more; however, you can help reduce the numbers by thinking ahead and planning your tattoo before you get one. Think about what it will be, where it will be, and how you will look with it. If you do not think about your tattoo very carefully, you can end up getting some laser tattoo removal. 





Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Getting a Tattoo You Won't Regret

You want to get a tattoo, that's great. You don't know what you want to get, that's not so great. There's a lot of pressure to get a good tattoo and there's a lot of pressure to get a tattoo you can be proud of, that looks good, and won't look stupid years down the road. People may tell you, "Get what you want, it's your body." Yes, it's your body. IT'S YOUR BODY, if you get a tattoo that is below par, you can't just get a new body.

One thing you can do to ensure that you will get a tattoo that you won't regret is to get a tattoo that is on the subtle side and not something that has a bigger personality than you do. While a tattoo of someone's face that covers the entire front of your torso sounds like a good idea, it's a "loud" tattoo. You may want to get something that isn't huge but rather a shoulder size tattoo or something that can be seen but it can't be heard.

Spelling & Grammar. This is a biggie when brainstorming tattoo ideas . I know this aspect has been mentioned in previous blogs but it's something that needs to be repeated and repeated when talking to people about getting a tattoo. A tattoo with a spelling error is just not something that you can recover from. You can't hit backspace and put that missing letter back in there. A common grammatical error for people is "your" and "you're". I once saw a tattoo that said, "Your beautiful".... My beautiful what? My beautiful dog? She's pretty but why is that tattoo'd on your body? No, you meant to say "You're beautiful" and thank you for the sentiment. And spelling errors are just bad news too. I recently saw a tattoo that said, "I love Chicagoo" written in cursive. I don't know what "Chicagoo" is but it sounds gross and the city probably needs to remove it from Lake Michigan before another beach gets closed for the summer. I definitely advise that this person seeks a tattoo removal studio ASAP.

Make sure you know what the tattoo will look like as a tattoo. Sounds redundant, I know, but hear me out. You may have a picture of something that is dear to you and you want to get that image tattoo'd on your body, great. What is not so great is when that image is on your body and looks different than what you intended. Maybe it even looks awkward and now you're looking to sites for tattoo removal process links.

Getting a tattoo is a big deal and it's important to do it right and to be confident of your choice. Have a tattoo that you want removed because of an error discussed above? Contact a Chicago laser tattoo removal studio today!


Friday, July 12, 2013

Quick Tips for a Tattoo Virgin

Want to get a tattoo but this will be your first time? Well soon you won't be a tattoo virgin and will love your ink. Before you get your tattoo, make sure you follow a few tips on how to make your first time successful. As a Chicago tattoo removal studio, we want you to be confident in your tattoos.

Tip 1) Be Prepared to Follow After Care Instructions

After getting your tattoo, the artist will give you a set of instructions to follow to help your tattoo heal and completely set. Follow these instructions completely and don't skimp on it! Think about it, you just had your skin invaded and is now vulnerable, not following the instructions to make sure you don't get an infection is dangerous and foolish. Don't let the possibility of getting an infection ruin your desire for getting a tattoo; the possibility of infection is minimal if you follow the after-care tattoo instructions. While tattoo parlors may vary in the instructions, they are all going to be along the same lines and all are designed to allow your tattoo to set & rest while not allowing for infection. It's common for the instructions to include shielding from sunlight (cover with clothes or at least good sunscreen) and also daily washing and moisturizing.

Tip 2) Get It Right & Double Check

It's common for someone who's getting their first tattoo to be nervous about what to get. A common solution for this nervousness is to get a word or phrase in another language, such as Chinese, Greek, Hebrew, to name a few of the popular languages for tattoos. Regardless of what language you choose to get your tattoo in, make sure you know what your tattoo means; do not choose a tattoo in another language at random and check that your word or phrase means what you think it does, especially with no context around it. For example, a common tattoo is to get "love" in Greek; while this looks good, there are different words for "love" in Greek depending on what kind of love you mean, brotherly? Romantic? Double check. More importantly, make sure you have the right spelling, even if the tattoo is in English; nothing looks more embarrassing than a tattoo that has one letter off. This mistake can definitely lead to a laser tattoo removal process.

Tip 3) Shop Around

You're looking around for a parlor that will give you a reasonable price; don't settle for the first price you hear. Shop around. Look at a few parlors, ten even. There's no shame in looking at a bunch of parlors for a good price, remember, this tattoo is kind of permanent and to waste money would be a shame. FYI, a small tattoo in one color will typically run between $50-100.

Tip 4) Location Location Location

This phrase isn't only popular in real estate but also in the tattoo business. Where you get your tattoo is just as important as what you get a tattoo of. So you've chosen to get a tattoo of a celtic cross in straight black but where will you put it? Your shoulder/bicep/tricep? Your back? Your face? Think about it. Don't go get your tattoo and when the artist asks, "Where do you want it?" you reply with, "Oh, just put it there." You have to consider these things: will this spot show when I don't want it to? Will it look weird there? Could it affect my chances of employment? Etc.

Tip 5) The Parlor

The parlor you go to and get your tattoo is very, very important. Do some research and see what the reviews and rankings for that parlor are. Some parlors are great and some are gross. I knew a guy who was a big tattoo fan, he even made his own tattoo gun so he could draw a tic-tac-toe board on his thigh; but there was a tattoo parlor near his house that even he wouldn't go into because it was so dirty and gross in there. Think about it, if the parlor can't keep its shop clean, how do you think the needles will be? Do a search of them online and see what others say and how many people are saying it; if they have a good ranking but only one person gave a ranking, it might not mean much. Maybe that person works at the shop or is buddies of someone who works there.

If you ever want to get your tattoo removed though, check out a  Chicago laser tattoo removal studio.