Monday April 28th, 2008 @ 1:43 PM
kind of an embarrassing question…
i want to get feet tattoos to cover the hair on my feet. i am not a hobbit, but the hair is noticeable. will tattooing do a good job at hiding this? thank you!
In a word? No.
More likely, the tattoo being under such a wealth of fine-foot-fur will likely draw MORE attention to your hair, as people will want to see what’s under it all. My recommendation? Let your freak flag fly! Be the guy/gal with hairy feet AND badass foot tattoos. OWN it.
+23 / 25 votes 
Loading ...
Posted by Shawn Porter | Permalink | 3 Comments
Friday April 25th, 2008 @ 8:25 AM
I’ve been getting the itch for a new tattoo BADLY. However, I will be going in for minor oral surgery next Friday. The tattoo I have in mind should cover about 1/3 of my right calf (if size matters in this question). Am I able to have it done now without it interfering with the healing process, or am I better off just waiting?
I’d recommend waiting until after you’re healed from your surgery, just to avoid putting excessive stress on your immune system and to promote good healing of both your mouth and your new tattoo. It won’t kill you to wait a few weeks, I assure you - I’m walking around with a partially completed sleeve right now that’s been put on hold until after I deliver my baby in June and then finish breastfeeding (however long that takes, we’re aiming for at least 12 months!), just to be on the safe side of things! And let me tell you, rockin’ a partially completed tattoo just about KILLS ME. We’ll both be fine, I’m sure. 
+2 / 4 votes
Loading ...
Posted by Lori St.Leone | Permalink | 1 Comment
Sunday February 17th, 2008 @ 12:05 AM
dear BME folks, i have a chest piece and since i have it i shave it but before i got it i used hair removal cream like Nair and i wondered if using this type of cream over a tattoed area could affect the tattoo in any way. So should i avoid this type of product and if so what are the risks?
Thank you!
Good old Nair, great product, just don’t use it on certain area’s…YEEEOUCH!
Anyways in regards to your question, I myself am a rather hair man-beasty and have used nair often on my legs and chest(I have large tattoo pieces on my legs and chest),etc to make life easier in comparison to shaving,etc.
For me personally Nair has not visibly damaged my tattoos at all as Nair is not meant to travel that deep within the skin layers. Much like how the directions state, if you’re potentially worried about what it may do to your skin. The best thing to do is apply a small test amount somewhere on the body and see what it does.
So as per the directions I’d suggest attempting a small test application somewhere around your chest piece and follow the directions exactly as stated. As I know on my body if you leave Nair on longer than the directed time frame, it actually does a sort of chemical irritation to my skin.
0 / 0 votes 
Loading ...
Posted by Warren Hiller | Permalink | 4 Comments
Thursday February 7th, 2008 @ 7:28 PM
Hi there!
I did a search and wasn’t able to find a similar question so I thought I’d ask.
About 2 months ago I had a large piece on my back coloured in and completed. This is the first time I’ve had any colour work done, everything before was just black and grey.
The one colour (a light pink) still feels dry, like it needs to peel, and is very muddy looking…basically it looks dirty, like I just had the tattoo done and let it dry out.
I was diligent with the aftercare my artist gave me, and everything else healed beautifully.
I’m wondering if this is my skin rejecting the ink? and if so is there a way to expidite the process so it finally looks nice? I don’t mind if I have to go get it touched up, but I know I shouldn’t do that until it’s done, whatever it’s doing now.
Thanks!
I wouldn’t go so far as to say your body is trying to “reject” the tattoo ink, but it definitely sounds like it isn’t taking to it well. Black is almost always the easiest color for your body to heal/accept as it has the least amount of elements and chemicals in it. When it comes to tattoo ink, the color that is most-commonly problematic is red. “Light pink” is typically created by mixing red pigment with white pigment. So, chances are good that your bad is having a hard time with the red.
Unfortunately, I don’t know of any way to make the situation get better faster. You may want to consult with your tattoo artist. If he/she doesn’t have an answer, a trip a dermatologist might be helpful. Seems like you might even be able to have that area treated with laser tattoo removal.
0 / 0 votes
Loading ...
Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | 1 Comment
Thursday February 7th, 2008 @ 7:23 PM
Today, as I dyed my hair with drugstore dye from a box, I actually took the time to read the instructions - I honestly don’t think I’ve ever read the box from start to finish before. Anyway, there’s a little blurb on the side of the box (as in, visible without opening it and reading the instruction sheet) that says “USAGE ADVISORY - SAFETY WARNINGS”. Then, as follows -
IMPORTANT - Haircolor can cause an allergic reaction which, in certain rare cases, may be serious. Therefore, you must follow these precautions:
DO NOT USE IF:
-Your have already had a reaction to a haircolour product
-You have a sensitive, or damaged scalp
IF YOU HAVE A TATTOO, the risk of an allergic reaction may be increased.
Any idea what’s up with that tattoo part?
The rest of that is pretty standard, but that seems almost weird to me.
That certainly is a strange warning.
My guess is that there is something in their product that is a potential allergen. It’s also possible that that same product/chemical is found in some (all?) tattoo pigments. Since allergies build-up the more exposed you are to something, if the you had a tattoo with the allergen in it, and then used their product with the allergen in it, it could potentially increase the likelihood of an allergic reactions.
That’s really the only thing I can think of. Perhaps someone with a bit more knowledge about tattoos and/or hair dye can shed some addition light on the topic.
Was it red hair dye by chance?
+1 / 1 votes 
Loading ...
Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | 7 Comments
Tuesday February 5th, 2008 @ 5:15 PM
Hi. I’ve been thinking about getting a tattoo around my wrist but I’ve got one concern. My pets, dogs, a cat, rats, it’s a fact of life that I get scratched and clawed sometimes. Those scratches are sometimes deep enough to scar or atleast take up to a year to fully go away. I could keep my tattoo protected through healing but are these scratches going to effect it in the long term? Could a cut/scratch mess up my tattoo someday?
Scratches from pets or anything else for that matter can cause scarring. The amount of scarring and length of time it will be visible will depend on a few factors (your ethnicity, how prone to scarring you are individually, whether or not infections and complications arise from the wounds, etc.).
This being the case, the effects of these scratches on your tattoo may or may not leave permanent visible damage. It would be a good proactive measure to keep your arms protected whenever you are going to be in direct contact with your sharp-nailed pets. This will minimize the likelihood of your tattoo sustaining damage.
0 / 0 votes
Loading ...
Posted by Russ Foxx | Permalink | Comments
Tuesday January 29th, 2008 @ 5:09 PM
Okay… so I have four tattoos already and three of them have been done by the same artist at the same studio.
But, I’ve booked an appointment at this studio to get a portrait of Edgar Allan Poe on my thigh, but my original artist doesn’t do portraits so it’s going to be done by another artist.
The problem is, my original artist’s station is right across from this new artist… what am I supposed to do? Isn’t it going to be a bit awkward?
I was just wondering what I should do in this situation? Possibly talk to Angela while getting tattooed by Paul?
Ahhh
Tattoo artist have specialties and unless you want all your tattoos to be in a similar style (or have Filip Leu as your artist), your best bet is to have numerous artist working on you in the style in which they excel. If your artist doesn’t do portraits, they have no reason to be upset in you getting your portrait done by the other guy. If they did do portraits, but not as well as the other guy, they should still not be upset. Simple fact is you owe it to yourself to get the piece you want by the artist you want.
+2 / 2 votes
Loading ...
Posted by Sean Philips | Permalink | 1 Comment
Thursday January 24th, 2008 @ 12:48 PM
Hi-
I haven’t had any new piercings or tattoos in awhile, and lately I’m getting a hankering for a tattoo. However, there’s a problem…two years ago I was diagnosed with Hepatitis C.
I feel I should be honest with the artist I choose about my disease, although I fear I’ll be turned down flat.
My question is should I expect to be refused service and forget about getting a new tattoo, or will a reputable artist tattoo me anyway (considering all the safety precautions taken I think there’d be minimal risk)?
I haven’t asked anyone personally, because I generally don’t broadcast my condition to just anyone. I already feel like a leper, I don’t need any more grief about having HCV. If I’m going to get turned down, doused in bleach and tossed out of the shop I’m not even going to ask.
Having Hepatitis C shouldn’t influence an artist’s decision to tattoo you, assuming you are otherwise in good health and don’t have problems healing. As you mentioned, each artist should essentially view each client as walking cess-pool, in terms of the health and safety precautions they utilize.
Unfortunately, not every artist is going to approach things that way.
If you have a shop/artist in mind, you may want to consider simply calling them and asking them if your HCV-status is going to be an issue. By calling you can hopefully get an answer to your question without having to let everyone in the world know your status. This also helps you figure out which artists you don’t want working on you…because in most cases, if they are ignorant enough to turn you down because you have HCV…you don’t want to be worked on by them anyway.
Good luck!!
+3 / 3 votes
Loading ...
Posted by Derek Lowe | Permalink | 5 Comments
Tuesday January 15th, 2008 @ 1:53 PM
Hi folks,
This may be a little difficult to answer, but I’m just wondering if you can give me any advice or perhaps put my mind at rest.
I had my last tattoo about 3 years ago, but in the time since I was last tattooed, I have developed a couple of new allergies to certain medication and foods (which includes urticaria as a symptom) and I’m just wondering if this means I will have an increased risk of reacting to any new ink?
The urticaria seems to be caused by a new food allergy that has developed (which I am trying to identify and remove from my diet). I have seen a doctor and it is currently under control with anti-histamine.
Have you ever come across this query before? Is there any likelihood that this would cause a problem with a new tattoo?
I have never had a problem with any of my previous tattoos and none of my allergies are life-threatening, thankfully (just annoying!)
Thanks in advance for any light you can shed!
This is a tough question which should really be discussed with your Allergist. Without knowing what your allergy is, it’s hard to tell you what would be safe. Tattoo ink ingredients aren’t consistent from artist to artist depending on the origin, brand, mixture etc. Keep in mind, some artists by bottles of ink pre-mixed from a supplier, some mix it themselves. I’m sorry that I can’t give you a better answer. You should speak with your artist to find out what brand of ink they use and go from there. Unfortunately most manufacturers aren’t as forthcoming with the ingredients that go into their inks.
0 / 0 votes
Loading ...
Posted by Rachel | Permalink | 3 Comments
Tuesday January 15th, 2008 @ 1:30 PM
I’ve only recently started hearing about a new non-laser tattoo removal, such as http://www.e-raze.com
I’m skeptical–does it work? What’s the straight dope?
My first thought was just to reply with “If it seems to good to be true, it probably is” but being diligent I read the site. I haven’t heard about this type of removal until reading your question but after looking at the site, it is not the typical “PAIN FREE TATTOO REMOVAL CREAM!”. They tattoo over your old tattoo using this cream instead of ink. I doubt it’s less painful or more effective than laser removal. You also have to keep in mind that you’re tattooing a cream into your skin.
Personally, I’d rather get traditional laser removal than put a chemical under my skin to destroy tattoo ink.
+8 / 8 votes
Loading ...
Posted by Rachel | Permalink | 1 Comment
