Who is getting tattoos

A lot of people love their tattoos and keep them forever. But others decide a couple of years down the road that they really don't want that snake on their arm or their ex's name on their chest. What then? Laser treatment is the best option for tattoo removal. The laser sends short zaps of light through the top layers of your skin, with the laser's energy aimed at specific pigments in the tattoo.

Those zapped pigments are then removed by the scavenger cells of your body's immune system. Although it's called tattoo removal, completely removing a tattoo can be difficult depending on your skin type, how big and complex the design is, and the types and colors of inks that were used. It can take several treatments over months, and results are not guaranteed. Treatment can cause darkening or lightening of the skin, and scarring.

It also can be expensive. It's best to consult with a dermatologist who specializes in tattoo removal to get your questions answered. Reviewed by: Mary L.

Gavin, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is a Tattoo? What if I Want a Tattoo? What Else Should I Know? Professional studios usually take pride in their cleanliness. Here are some things to ask about: Does the tattoo studio use single-use needles and sterilize all equipment using an autoclave a device that uses steam, pressure, and heat for sterilization? You should see needles and other equipment removed from sealed, sterile containers.

Do they use one-time ink cartridges that are disposed of after each customer? Is the tattoo artist is a licensed practitioner? The tattoo artist should be able to provide you with references. Does the tattoo studio follows universal precautions? These are procedures to follow when dealing with blood and other body fluids to help prevent the spread of HIV , hepatitis B , and other serious blood infections. What's the Procedure Like?

Here's what you can expect from a normal tattooing procedure: The tattoo artist should wash his or her hands with antibacterial soap and water and wear clean, fresh gloves and possibly a surgical mask.

The to-be-tattooed area on your body is washed with soap and shaved, if necessary. The size as well as the placement can be an estimate. Availability: Another thing to be specific about is the dates and times that work best for you, so you won't have a lot of back and forth with the tattoo artist or their shop, Wei says. Skin tone: Although some forms may ask you what your skin tone is, Toronto-based tattoo artist Thomarya "Tee" Fergus stresses tattoo artists should be able to make a design work for you no matter what color your complexion may be.

If you encounter an artist who tells you they don't work with deeper skin tones or give you a list of things and colors they can't do on you because of your skin tone, find someone else who is more accommodating and inclusive. You're here. Let's see what works. Some artists offer color tests, too. During a consultation, they will tattoo small lines or dots of different hues you're interested in getting tattooed to see how they heal on your skin before making final decisions.

The artist's form or email is a good place to request one. Depending on the design you have in mind, New York City-based tattoo artist Doreen Garner says you may need to go to the studio for a quick, in-person consultation before your appointment. Some of her clients also come in for a consultation so she can get a general idea of what type of shapes they are drawn to and what part of the body they work on, so "the tattoo can complement that part the best," Garner adds.

Most of the tattoo artists we talked to compared preparations for the actual tattoo appointment to that of a medical procedure. Be sure to get a good night's sleep, don't drink the night before, stay hydrated, and eat something before arriving at the tattoo studio.

You can also bring snacks to have while getting tattooed. If you happen to have any skin conditions like eczema that affect the area where you're hoping to get tattooed, Garner says to let your tattoo artist know ahead of time.

If you're having a flare-up, you may have to delay your appointment. Try to avoid getting any cuts or tans on the area you're hoping to get tattooed, too, Wei adds. When you first arrive at the tattoo studio, you'll start off by washing your hands before filling out consent forms.

Be sure to have your photo ID handy, and "come at your scheduled time in order to give the artist time to prepare, clean up, and avoid overlap with other clients — especially to comply with COVID safety guidelines ," Kang says. After your consent forms are filled out, your tattoo artist will show you the design they mocked up for you. If you want to make any adjustments to it, all the tattoo artists we talked to agree you shouldn't be afraid to speak up, as the art is about to be on your body for the rest of your life.

However, make sure your feedback is respectful. Also, keep in mind that not all tattoos can be as tiny as you want them to be. Some lettering may need to be enlarged so they can be legible over time. And if you're hoping for it to be on the smaller side because you think it'll be easy to start with, "that's totally fine, but the tattoo is not going to hurt any less," Garner says. I think that's a mistake people often make in the beginning.

From there, a stencil will be made and placed onto your body where you want the tattoo to be. Again, the placement can definitely be changed — just let your artist know. Fergus mentions they've redone a stencil placement up to five times for a client because they'd been thinking about their first tattoo for years. A major thing to consider for placement is how the image could be distorted when you move the part of the body that it's on.

Abad adds she usually recommends having her clients walk around in front of the mirror to "see how their tattoo will move with their body in normal life. When it's time for your actual tattooing to commence, you may notice your artist taking time to set up their supplies. Fergus says they do this for their clients to see everything is clean, sterile, and coming out of new packages. While they do that, your artist will probably tell you where to sit or lay, so make yourself comfortable in that position.

Once the tattooist turns on their machine and gets going, try to stay as still as possible. Yeah, the last thing you want to tattoo is sunburned or dry, peeling skin. How do I put this nicely? A post shared by Brittany humblebeetattoo. Check that the place looks clean, that it has good artwork on the walls, and that you get good vibes from the staff, then schedule a consultation with the artist to talk about pricing and any questions you might have.

You can and should! Zeichner says you might have a higher risk of developing a reaction, so, again, talk to your doctor. Steer clear of any body of water for two weeks after your tattoo is completely finished. During that time, stick to showers no baths! As far as tattoo aftercare, Roman says for the first few days, leave it clean and dry.

Wash it twice daily with a fragrance-free gentle cleanser , pat it dry, and let it air out. Picking at your scab and skin can remove some of the ink too. Instead, continue washing it twice a day with your gentle cleanser, and add light layers of an unscented lotion or tattoo lotion to address the itch and keep the skin moisturized. United States. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. Your Horoscope for the Week of November