Common Misconceptions About Tattoos and Tattooing

Most people don't understand what goes on behind the scenes when getting a tattoo. There are some things that you really need to know when going into a tattoo studio to put some new ink on your body, from proper licensing to mandatory sterilization techniques, and more.

Doing tattoos or body piercings out of a house is not legal! Not only are you risking disease and infection but a place such as this is probably not concerned about the quality of work coming from them. The tattoo industry can be quite corruptable and can change people for the worst. They may believe they are offering you a $20 tattoo with no strings attached, but is saving $30-$40 worth possibly losing an arm, a leg, or your life?

There is no school for tattooing. You do not have to draw to be able to tattoo. Tattooing, to some, is no more than tracing and then coloring a picture in. Some tattoo artists, in fact, get by with no knowledge of art. In certain states a tattoo artist does not even have to have a license, but instead they must work for a business that has up-to-date licenses. There are apprenticeship programs available in most tattoo shops for a price - normally $2,000 and up, but the rates vary from shop to shop and artist to artist.

The ink in tattoos is not addicting. The most addicting thing about a tattoo is getting the new artwork for some people or a rush of adrenaline for others. When the human body endures any kind of intense stress or pain it is counteracted by a burst of adrenaline to help ease us through this. Once the adrenaline rush is worn off, the body becomes tired and possibly a bit shaky. It is normal to have the shakes after a large tattoo, or one with a lot of detail in the outline. The more trauma done to the skin, the more adrenaline is pumped through your body.

Needles should not be re-used; not only for health reasons but also because after a needle is used once it becomes dull and does not pierce the skin as it should. This could leave choppy or uneven lines. Most people do not know the proper procedure for operating sterilizing equipment correctly and blindly use contaminated hardware on their customers. It is imperative that a hospital grade autoclave be used in the sterilizing technique. It is also necessary that this piece of equipment be tested regularly to ensure that it is functioning on optimum levels necessary for sterilization as per your local health department.

The statement that a piece of art cannot be done is a myth. If you go into a tattoo studio with a specific piece of artwork or an idea in mind and an artist tells you that it is not possible to tattoo that particular design they are not telling you the truth. They are either being lazy, or they are lacking the skills needed to successfully create the design. All designs can be tattooed, with perhaps some enlarging or reduction in the amount of detail.