Friday July 25th, 2008 @ 11:20 AM
So, as a freelance designer who works from home, my work schedule is not always the most healthy–meaning, I tend to one or two hyper-focused overnighters a week. I’m hoping the physical stress of that is the key to my question, but I’m not so sure–I’ve never even heard of this.
A few days ago, during an intense work night, I noticed that some of the blue line work on my leg sleeve were puffed up slightly. Not all of them, but a few segments of a few lines. I thought it was strange but left it alone.
Today, about 3 days later, I was sort of absentmindedly picking at the skin on my shin, and peeled off a little strip of skin that was about 1/8″ long, and as wide as the line work it came from. When I looked down at whatever gross thing I had just pulled from my body, I noticed it was BLUE. Then inspecting my shin, there was another little line that looked like it was scabbing over slightly, presumably from the irritation the other day.
Um, the thing is, I’ve had this work for over 6 years. I did lots of research into the artist, it was a reputable shop, I have no known allergies at all, and it heeled perfectly without issue. I put mega sunscreen when I go out into the sun, and under direct sunlight like at the beach, I almost always have a towel over it. The colors are extremely vibrant, and I’ve taken a lot of care to keep them that way. I also use an epilady to remove my leg hair in case that’s of any note, but I haven’t in over a month, because, well, it’s just hair.
From my understanding, tattoo ink is much deeper than the thin layer of skin that just casually peels off, right? This NEVER happens, and I will admit, I am a little bit of a picker, so I’ve seen my share of it. There was no blood, and the skin I peeled was very thin.
I’m freaked, thinking that the ink is suddenly rejecting from my skin. Have you ever seen this? Is it a bad sign of things to come? Am I paranoid for no reason?
A lot of people experience some lines and areas of their tattoos puffing up and even rashing under certain stresses (ie. Sunlight exposure/burns, environmental/pet allergies, sensitivity to soaps, etc)
In a healed tattoo it shouldn’t be a big concern if it happens and it should go back down in a day or so.
The part of your tattoo peeling is likely a result of you fussing with the swollen lines three days before… You may have rubbed off the first layer which would have been clear and somehow irritated the tattoo underneath to peel up a bit of pigment.
I, personally, have never heard of a tattoo rejecting after years of healed wear. I can’t see it being physically possible!
The next time you tattoo gets irritated - and it likely will for whatever reason - Just leave it alone. Try gently washing the irritated area and avoid picking at it!
+4 / 4 votes 
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Posted by Lexci Million | Permalink | Comments
Thursday July 24th, 2008 @ 3:49 AM
I’ve been looking into permanent makeup for a couple of years now. I was born without eyebrows, and I’ve been drawing them on every day for the last seven years. I’d really like to get them done permanently, and I’ve been reading on BME about permanent makeup, and it seems like kind of a rip off. I’ve only found one reputable place for permanent makeup, but they charge $700 CDN for the procedure. I’m wondering if permanent makeup for my eyebrows is the best option, or if I would be better off going to a tattoo artist. I’m only eighteen years old, and I’m pretty nervous about the whole process being completely permanent. Do eyebrow tattoos generally age well with the shape and what not?
Cosmetic tattooing can be quite expensive! It’s very important to seek out the best artist for the job rather than the best price. (a good artist will have a portfolio to show you!) The longevity of the tattoos will depend on the artist and the aftercare.
Like any tattoo on the face, cosmetic tattooing is prone to blowouts and fading - which is why you’ll see a lot of permanent makeup that looks blue and fuzzy where once upon a time it may have looked crisp and black. Many permanent makeup artists don’t use the same equipment or have the same training as regular tattoo artists do and that can be detrimental to the outcome of your cosmetic tattoos.
I had Mike Loshaw, (a tattoo artist who also studied permanent makeup) who works in Edmonton, Alberta, do my own eyebrows and I am thrilled with the results! We did them initially with a lighter shade of brown than I usually use in pencil so as not to over-do it. We later touched them up after the combination of sun-exposure, natural sloughing of skin on the face and my commitment to finally go darker. Years later my eyebrows have fared quite well and haven’t aged undesirably.
The choice to see a Cosmetic tattooer or a traditional tattooer is yours. There will be pros and cons to each, but the final decision should lie in your gut instinct in response to the the artist’s portfolio and their confidence in the procedure. You can’t put a price on the middle of the your face! Choose carefully!
+9 / 9 votes
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Posted by Lexci Million | Permalink | 4 Comments
Wednesday July 23rd, 2008 @ 9:16 PM
I got my first tattoo on my shoulder/clavicle area four days ago, today I noticed around the tattoo small red bumps have formed all around the tattoo (I haven’t noticed any on the tattoo itself), are these from my aftercare (tattoo goo & tattoo goo lotion) or could they just be a heat rash as the tattoo was very red and hot for a few days and last night I did get very hot.
thanks!
The bumps could be a number of things:
If the area was shaved, they could be razor burn/irritation. They could ingrown hairs. They could be a reaction to your aftercare products. They could be a reaction to the adhesive of any tape that was used to keep your bandage on. While not likely, they could be the beginning stages of a staph infection. Unfortunately, without being able to see the tattoo in person, it’s hard to really tell you what is going on.
My suggestion would be to return to your tattoo artist and ask them about it. They should be able to help you pretty easily.
+5 / 5 votes
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Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | 3 Comments
Monday July 21st, 2008 @ 5:15 PM
i was wondering how important it is to have a black outline on your tattoo? If there is a black outline will it age better then one without a black outline? im getting a tattoo soon of a flower and i wasnt sure if it was important to get an outline in black. thanks so much!
This will depend upon the artist who does your tattoo.
There are artists who absolutely insist on a black outline for every tattoo. There are artists who will happily do tattoos without black outlines. There are also artists who prefer to put black outlines on tattoos, but if you don’t want one, they won’t make you get one.
I’ve worked in a few shops over the years, and most of the artists I’ve worked with have been of the “a black outline is a must” philosophy. The theory/belief is that black will tend to soften/blur less than man other colors. As a result, your tattoo will look “crisper” for longer with a black outline.
In my experience, most of the tattoos I’ve seen without black outlines do tend to look a little “fuzzy” at the edges if they don’t have a black outline. I’m talking about tattoos done by experienced, talented artists…not some hack. At the same time, if you’re aware of that ahead of time, and it’s a “risk” you’re willing to take, not having a black outline certainly isn’t the end of the world.
If you feel that a black outline is going to really not jive with the aesthetic of your design, you definitely need to fine an artists who isn’t insistent upon putting a black outline on it. Those artists are out there..they may just be a little harder to find.
+15 / 15 votes
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Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | 2 Comments
Tuesday July 15th, 2008 @ 7:19 PM
im really trying hard to find someone who knows how to do traditionl tattooin like hand poking or irezumi tattoo. i just want to experince it without having to travel around the world just to get it done. if any one has any insite or info please let me knw.
Where in the world are you? That might help narrow it down.
+5 / 9 votes 
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Posted by Shawn Porter | Permalink | 9 Comments
Saturday July 12th, 2008 @ 11:31 PM
I’m looking to get a text-based tattoo, and I have a few questions. Ideally, I’d like to get a few lines of poetry tattooed on the back of my neck / upper back:
“That which sings
and contemplates in you
is still dwelling within
the bounds of that first
moment which scattered
the stars into space.”
I’d like them centered and bordered with a design, possibly with color added to the border, the whole thing probably no bigger than a 4×6 photo.
I guess my main question is, would something like that be possible? Is there a minimum size I would need to get for text-based tattoos? Doing the lettering must be difficult, it would need to be so detailed and precise. Would an artist who specializes in, say, black and white portraits be better able or more willing to work such fine lines? Am I worrying over something that’s not a big deal to tattoo artists? I really have no idea.
Also, I’ve heard that one artist charges $10 per letter for text tattoos. Is this normal? If so, those lines would cost me over $1000, and I wouldn’t be able to afford this particular tattoo. Any advice/suggestions on how to find an artist for this kind of tattoo and how prices generally run would be extremeley helpful. I am also new to my area (Orlando, FL) so if you know of an artist I should check out, or a way to find one here, that would be great, too!
Thanks,
Alicia
The reality with tattooing on human canvas (ie: skin) is that its constantly aging and decaying. When you start getting into making very small details (lettering,etc) when degradation occurs in the skin, the letters will become merky and hard to make out. This of course doesn’t happen over night, it takes many years. So some people realize this and they want their artwork to be perfectly viewable from the day they get it to the day they die, others perhaps aren’t dwelling on that fact..
Personally I would not go into a tattoo studio with such “limitations”. Instead I’d simply come in with the idea I had in mind and ask the artist: “What is the smallest you can do this, but still keeping the longevity and integrity of the piece. As well as based on where I want it, how big would you be willing to go?” Many Tattoo Artists don’t like too restrictions so when you ask/give them “room to play” you might be pleasantly surprised with what the outcome will be.
Also I wouldn’t necessarily go to a black and white portrait artist for lettering. That’s like asking one of the great artists to write some words on paper. It’s a completely different medium (portrait work and lettering) and I do know of artists who prefer to be known as artists that cater in text/font based tattoos. Instead I’d search out for someone who has portfolio work with impeccable steady line work, there should be no shakey lines whatsoever, as well as someone who’s interested in doing the piece you described. That might mean you’ll find a portrait artist to do it, or a text/font based artist to do it, or someone who doesn’t specialize in any specific genre.
As for prices, as the saying goes: “You got to pay to play.” With shop/artists prices they’l very from shop to shop, artist to artist sometimes even. For what you’re looking for $10 a letter isn’t that bad (57 letters in phrase you want), as it’d make it out to being $570, provided the tattoo was a decent size. Although that wouldn’t include the background you’re asking for as well right? Perhaps you could also organize the tattoo done in sessions and spanned out of a period of time so you could pay for the piece that way, and not in a giant lump sum.
However like I said shops and artists pricing varies greatly. So personally I say your best interest is to find the artist who you think will do your idea justice and suck it up and pay whatever it is they want to charge. As I stress to anyone and everyone looking to get work done, do not let the price be the main deciding factor. The only thing that should be a deciding factor is if you think the artist will do the piece, the justice it deserves. Don’t settle on an artist in your area just because they’re close by as well. If the ONLY artist that will do your tattoo justice, is in Moscow and charges a $1000 an hour, and you’re in middle America. Well then in that instance I’d say that individual should save up their money and fly to Moscow and pay that required fee.
Never “Settle” based on price or proximity. ONLY “Settle” if you know that after the tattooing is done, its going to be PERFECT.
+10 / 16 votes
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Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | Comments
Tuesday July 1st, 2008 @ 9:35 PM
I want to get a tattoo (of the little mermaid) on top of my foot but I’m a bit worried about some things,
*lines blurring
*ink fading
*red ink…
How bad’s the risk? Anything else I should worry about?
Is it just a bad idea?
shoes aren’t a problem, i plan to get it in a spot where i can still wear flip flops and skimmers
Foot tattoos tend to blur a bit more than normal tattoos regardless of how gingerly they’re treated. It’s just something that one faces when they decide to get their feet tattooed. Most of the time, if the piece properly in the first place, it’ll age comparable to any other tattoo, save a little more fading. It’s not absolute, but should be expected. Red pigment will cause you no additional problem on the foot than any other part of your anatomy: Either you’re allergic or you’re not.
Both of my feet are tattooed and they’ve aged gracefully.
+3 / 3 votes
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Posted by Shawn Porter | Permalink | 1 Comment
Tuesday June 24th, 2008 @ 10:40 PM
Hello! (:
For my sixteenth birthday, my parents have decided to allow me to get my first tattoo. I’m decided on a design, and I think it would look best on my inner wrist, however, my father believes that his is dangerous and refuses to allow me to get it done there.
I’m going to try and talk to him again about it tomorrow, but is it really as dangerous to get a tattoo on your inner wrist? I always thought that it was just as dangerous there as it is on any part of the body.
Some facts would be helpful, since I’m getting conflicting reports on internet searches.
Thanks.
Dangerous how? As in, it will puncture blood vessels and you will bleed to death? Dangerous as in it might be harder to get a “professional” job with a more visible tattoo?Dangerous as in you might get the “wrong” tattoo without knowing it and you will be slaughtered by a band of angry ninjas while you sleep? I’m guessing it’s the last one he’s worried about. 
In reality though…there are no more risks associated with getting a tattoo on your wrist than getting one anywhere else on your body. I think how it might affect your future is definitely something to keep in mind, but that’s not really a danger, per se.
Have your dad take a look around the city you live in or hop on the Internet and look at all the tattooed folks that are out there. If it were that dangerous, would so many people get it done? And wouldn’t he hear about all the people getting sick or dying from it?
Best of luck with your first tattoo.
+12 / 12 votes
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Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | 3 Comments
Monday June 23rd, 2008 @ 7:55 PM
Is there any particular make-up brand I could use to cover up a tattoo I have on my ribcage for when I’m wearing a low cut dress?
One that is commonly used is a brand called DERMABLEND.
Going to someplace like SEPHORA might be in order, as their staff can not only sell you a product but give you tips on blending and all that. I’ve just put a message out to a makeup artist friend of mine- her response will be posted in the comments field.
+5 / 7 votes
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Posted by Shawn Porter | Permalink | 1 Comment
Saturday June 14th, 2008 @ 8:52 AM
I’m getting a chest piece done in 2 days time.. =)
but, i have just started mensuration now. I heard that we girls will have lower pain treshold during this period. Is this true? If so, i will postpone the tattoo appointment~
It is indeed true. It is down to the presence of prostaglandins which play a part in the sloughing off of the womb lining. Unfortunately for us, prostaglandins make the nociceptors (pain receptors) in the brain more sensitive. As a point of interest, if you suffer from bad period pains you will be more sensitive to pain around this time in general, as the worse the cramps, the higher the level of prostaglandins.
+4 / 6 votes
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Posted by Tiff Badhairdo | Permalink | Comments
