Saturday December 13th, 2008 @ 9:46 AM
This is a question for the tattoo artists and the people that love them. I want to write an article on the subject of how to treat your tattoo artist. A shop etiquette if you will. But not just the standard “don’t dicker prices” and “don’t come drunk” and “don’t forget to tip!” kind of stuff. I want to know the kinds of things that a tattoo artist loves about their client. What are the things that make a tattoo artist excited to work on the piece and put a little extra pizzazz into the work?
Not to say that a good artist doesn’t always give their best effort, but there must be some things that a client can do to really give some extra love to the artist, and thus see a reciprocation.
Anyone who feels like helping out…. post away.
+10 / 14 votes 
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Posted by Shawn Porter | Permalink | 9 Comments
Tuesday December 9th, 2008 @ 8:16 PM
I’m planning on getting my first tattoo very soon. I’m 22 years old and I’ve already decided what it is that I want but I have a little moral dilemma. My tattoo is a saying from the Qur’an, I’ve held it very dear to me since it helped during times in which life was just falling apart. This phrase represents so much to me really and I would always know that I mean it in the most beautiful of ways… I also know that this would be terribly offensive to some people. I’ve taken many religious studies classes so I can’t get away with “I was totally oblivious it would offend you” and it’s sort of eating me inside.
I’m planning on getting it somewhere where it could be covered up very easily and I’m willing to go through people judging me for it, I just don’t want to hurt anyone. What do you guys think?
The question one always has to ask (and I’m stealing from “The Girl Next Door” here) is:
Is the Juice worth the Squeeze?
Will the fallout from the tattoo be worth having the tattoo?
If the answer is yes… get it. Be prepared to deal with the reality of having it on you, but do it. You are then promoted to the role of ambassador for that tattoo… you get to educate people who care enough to ask about it to it’s meaning if you so choose, or simply cover it up. (or if the tattoo is in Arabic… don’t translate it for them)
If you DON’T think you’re up to the task of living with the reality of having the tattoo… back to the drawing board!
+18 / 18 votes 
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Posted by Shawn Porter | Permalink | 4 Comments
Sunday December 7th, 2008 @ 5:57 PM
My shoulders have some light to medium-dark freckles on them and I want to get a sun tattoo using yellow and orange inks. Would the freckles be likely to show through the light colors?
I have freckles that show through darker blues and green ink in my tattoos, so yes, almost certainly!
+10 / 10 votes
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Posted by Lori St.Leone | Permalink | 5 Comments
Thursday November 13th, 2008 @ 11:10 AM
I recently got a piece done on my rib cage and I should have been a little more… critical? of the drawing and there are a few errors/bits i’m not pleased with and I was wondering if i could get them removed and redone or will that look messed up? they are minor but bothering my head. thanks
Could is always a sort of open concept here at ASKBME.
Yes- you can get laser removal on the parts you don’t like and once healed tattoo the area again.
But the laser is not an eraser and is not without complications. It’s a process. One that I’m glad is a ready option, but may not be as cut and dried as simply going, having a session and tattooing it again.
So yes- you can have parts hit with a laser and eventually redone.
Just make sure you use more critical judgment when it comes to finding the right person to do the removal. Live and learn!
+10 / 12 votes
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Posted by Shawn Porter | Permalink | 1 Comment
Tuesday November 11th, 2008 @ 11:13 PM
I am looking for a place in New York City or close to NYC that offers eyeball tattooing. Does anybody have an idea?
Thanks!
While this will likely not be the case for long, the only practitioner I know of doing eyeball tattooing is Howie from LunaCobra. He gets to NYC from time to time.
This procedure however is highly experimental and comes with documented risks as well as theoretical risks that even the artist can’t totally prepare you for. Please realize that you could have serious complications- up to and including loss of vision- from getting your eyeball tattooed.
+6 / 6 votes
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Posted by Shawn Porter | Permalink | 2 Comments
Monday November 3rd, 2008 @ 6:05 PM
Hello there guys , there are already few months since i first learned about your site and since then i haven’t stopped watch your topics and daily picture posts .
My tattoo time came , so i am having some issues with my mother telling me that the ink that is used is the same as the ink heavy industries use to paint the cars (as she read from an artical : source coming from european union and dated back to 28/7/03 ffs-.-). I am opposing her by saying that the ink is completly natural produced by herbals , and that the source is way old. What i mean is come on we leave in 2008 every day a new techonolical breakthrough comes out, there is no possible way tattoo shops using such ink even if they did back then. What i need to know is where the ink comes from and what are the possibilities for me to have an allergic shock via the ingredients used to the ink. If you could tell me the ingredients used it would be lovely !!
I am looking forward to your answer , since you guys are experts ^^
Yours Faithfully ..
Different companies use different ingredients in their pigments. Yes- some are organic pigments. Others are made from plastics and metal salts. Some use glycerin as a base and some don’t. It’s impossible to tell you who uses what.
Tattoo pigments are generally not regulated and most companies won’t provide an MSDS sheet, which is disconcerting.
That said- most pigment out there is totally fine and you’ll be alright using it. Avoid gimmick pigments like UV reactive. At most, you may react to the red pigment, but that’s not as common as it used to be.
Good luck!
+4 / 8 votes
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Posted by Shawn Porter | Permalink | 4 Comments
Thursday October 30th, 2008 @ 9:40 PM
Hello! I have a quick question.
I plan on starting a large tattoo project on my leg in a few months. What’s the best way to remove the hair from the area beforehand?
I’d rather get it waxed, but would that interfere with the tattoo healing at all? If waxing is ok, what’s the best amount of time to do it before the tattoo work begins?
What about in between tattooing sessions? They’ll be about 4 weeks apart.
I may also be getting a scarification done on or near the pubic area at some point down the road. Would waxing be ok in that case too?
Thanks!
Waxing can cause a lot of trauma to the skin which can be bad for tattoo application.
Your best bet would be to consult with your artist. My artists request that you leave the hair removal process to them in the case of low-hair-concentrated areas (like backs, upper arms, etc)
but surfaces like pubic areas, armpits, lower arms and legs may stand for a gentle at-home shaving as per your regular regime to avoid cuts and razor burn the night before your appointment.
Remember not to use any aftershaves, creams/lotions, numbing agents or go tanning for at least 24 hours prior either.
+6 / 6 votes
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Posted by Lexci Million | Permalink | 3 Comments
Tuesday October 7th, 2008 @ 4:50 PM
I am looking for a scripture tattoo.. I just saw it on Army Wives. She said it was a scripture that meant a A beautiful mistake. Any Ideas as where i can find this?
Wait-
It was script that meant “a beautiful mistake” but it wasn’t in English?
Without knowing which language the piece was in… we can’t do much for you.
Even knowing, there’s little we could do.
If you want the words “A beautiful mistake” you can walk into a shop and ask.
If you’re looking to have that translated into another language, I’d say find someone who speaks/writes the specific language you want it in.
Or just get a tattoo of Amy Winehouse….
+17 / 19 votes
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Posted by Shawn Porter | Permalink | 12 Comments
Friday September 26th, 2008 @ 1:59 PM
Hi BME
I have been to several tattoo shops around where i live and i am wanting to get this tattoo. I have a design in my head but i am no artist. What is the best way to get a design down on paper?
Also how do i choose which shops is the best suited for me?
thankyou.
Shops best suited for you:
The best way to decide this is to visit the shops around you or ask your friends for a recommendation. Walk in. Skim through portfolios. See anything that stylistically ‘vibes’ with what you have in your head? While most tattooists are versatile- it’s a great thing that the good ones have a recognizable “voice” when it comes to their work. If you’re thinking of something with a big ol’ bold outline with a basic colour pallet- the artist who’s book is FULL of amazing black and gray MAY not be the best choice for your piece. Does that mean they CAN’T do your piece? heck no.
But an artist’s portfolio is often a great starting place to see where their head is stylistically. They’re laying out this portfolio to represent THEM, so… read it like a Rorschach test. The person who’s work most speaks to you is the first one you should talk to about your design.
A word of warning though: Once you’ve started the process, that design will become a communal image that you two share. The likelihood of it 100% matching what you have in your head is almost impossible- unless you’re joined at the head with your tattooist. And that’s a GOOD thing! As my good friend BRHL says:
“Once I’m there, people tend to be a lot more open to imagery and approach, and I’m able to render something that may be a lot more appropriate to their objectives than what was in their head. I get it all the time, “It’s not at all what I was envisioning, but it’s exactly what I wanted.” I don’t take this as me being some astounding artist, I just listen to what’s behind a person’s words.”
+13 / 13 votes
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Posted by Shawn Porter | Permalink | Comments
Monday September 22nd, 2008 @ 10:41 AM
Some friends and I were talking about tattoos we want once we’re old enough to get them, and one friend said she wanted a peace sign tattooed on her finger, like, right in the center of where your finger print is. I thought it was an interesting idea, but it seemed like a difficult place to get a tattoo. Is it possible to do something like that? If it were, would it affect your sense of touch on that finger?
Is it possible to do something like that? Sure. Chances are however, the tattoo is not going to stay, or at least stay looking good, for very long due to the thicker, calloused nature of the skin on the pad of your finger.
Your friend will probably also have a harder time finding an artists willing to do a tattoo there because they know it isn’t going to hold well over time.
My advice would be for your friend to pick a different spot for the tattoo.
+21 / 25 votes
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Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | Comments
