Looking for Tattoo inspirations?
Celtic designs from incredible Pat Fish -www.luckyfish.com
more Celtic ideas from Jane Delyth - www.celticart.org.uk
and Courtney Davis - www.courtneydavisart.com/bodyart.html ( I do have 3 original tattoo books from him at the studio for you to view)
Tibetan - http://www.tibetan-calligraphy.com/?forcerLangue=en
general tattoo ideas:
www.tattoojohnny.com
www.tattoosymbol.com
Ambigrams: www.wowtattoos.com
Maori and Polynesian (and inspired)
http://www.tahititatou.com/customdesign.html
designs by Mark Storm - ready to purchase or you can order custom design www.tribalflashtattoos.blogspot.com
chinese symbols click here
japanese translations click here
lettering ideas:
www.dafont.com
Why I don't use cling wrap to "bandage" fresh tattoo.
Please read to the end: the first part is quotation of APT official statement (I am a member of APT), in the end I provide my personal opinion...
"...Plastic wrap is considered unacceptable for several reasons. First, plastic wrap does not breathe. This retards the healing process and creates the sort of warm, moist, airless environment that encourages bacterial growth. Second, but no less important, is the psychological impact. A tattoo wrapped in plastic looks nasty. A clean, white bandage conveys a subconscious message of cleanliness and sterility. Your client, especially a first-timer, will feel like they have had a procedure. Send them out the door in plastic wrap and they feel like meat..." Alliance Of Professional Tattoists
"What's the Problem?
The problem is that plastic wrap creates an occlusive seal meaning that no air gets in and no air gets out. This keeps all of the body fluids pooling on the skin surface. That surface builds up body temperatures to nearly 103 degrees which is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Your new tattoo has just been turned into a petri-dish for bacterial growth. Nice, huh?
That pooling of body fluids--all liquids must go somewhere and that is to the bottom of the plastic wrap. Body fluids leak out and run down the body where people will brush against other people or surfaces thus creating a multi-contaminated field. And putting a piece of paper towel at the bottom does nothing to stop the oozing and temperature buildup.
Care to Rub on Someone's Body Fluids?
I recently visited a neighboring studio and witnessed a plastic wrapped client sitting in their waiting room with body fluids running down his arm into the fabric sofa. Talk about a contaminated field! Ugh!If such an unfortunate individual enters our studio we ask them politely to leave, as we don’t want their body fluids on our chairs, racks, counters or floors. I also give them a copy of this article to take back to the tattooers who obviously aren’t educated in blood borne pathogens.
It's Not Only Gross, It May be Illegal
Most state tattoo regulations such as ours here in Hawaii specifically state the appropriate type of dressing to use. Hawaii Department of Health Regulation 11-17-10-H “the entire area covered with a piece of sterile dressing and secured with proper adhesive”. It’s even one of the questions on our tattoo licensing test!
Not only is the use of plastic wrap illegal in most regulated states but it is a cheap insult to a client who deserves a better start with their new tattoo. What price is proper bandaging? How do you put a dollar sign on contamination prevention?
Use of plastic wrap is forbidden in many quality tattoo conventions. National Tattoo Association and the Alliance of Professional Tattooists have outlawed its use in their shows. It’s time that all convention promoters educate themselves and make this ban an industry-wide policy. (...)"
Peggy Sucher
Skin Deep Tattoo Waikiki
Security Director, National Tattoo Assn
Member, Alliance of Professional Tattooists
Made a lot of sense to me although I do have a bit different approach to after care later on....
So here is my opinion:
I absolutely hate to see tattoo wrapped into cling wrap. Especially if it is leaking and dripping along someones body. This is why I will not apply this after I will finish a tattoo. I will apply TatuDerm or sterile bandage . The biggest problem usually is first night (or sometimes first 2 nights) especially big tattoos, when tattoo is still oozing. No one wants to leave half of ink on the bedsheets. So I think it will be better to secure even with plastic wrap (if non sticky pad is not available) then nothing. ( I don't do this on my tattoos. One of reasons is BPA presence and I try to avoid this at all costs.) I carry in the studio Tatu Derm sheets or rolls for bigger work for clients to take home if they want to. As many tattooist and collectors out there - everyone has own aftercare and own opinion. I am sharing mine here.
Tattoos and Laser Treatments
Unfortunately many clients end up unhappy with tattoos. Fortunately - something can be done about it. Most popular (and most affordable) will be cover up. Sometimes cover up is not possible without some help - lighting up a tattoo. I do not use a word "remove" a tattoo purpously. I had personally laser treatments, and I've worked with many clients after laser treatments - there always was something "left" in the skin. So...yes...lighting up an unwanted tattoo can help. There is many different types of laser - please refer to a link below if you want to know more - not all lasers are equal when it comes to deal with tattoos.
There is a few things I think you need to know before undergoing laser procedure (from my experience) - the best option is to consult first with a tattooist who will be doing cover up (if this option is desired) - often not a whole tattoo has to be lighten up - your tattooist can mark areas needed to be treated (to save you time, pain and money). Be aware of the fact that laser treatment can change structure of the skin making disposal of pigment harder - means - you need to come more then once to saturate skin with ink to a satisfactionary level. It may be very challenging task especially if laser treatment caused a lot of trauma. And this is why some tattooists refuse to work on the skin after laser treatments. For more information please check a link below:
http://www.consultingroom.com/Treatments/Laser-Tattoo-Removal
"How long my tattoo will take?"
Hard to say...for a small, medium pieces I can give an estimate time (and a flat price). If it a multi sitting tattoo, it is almost impossible to say as it depends on many factors...so here is a rough guide…
full colour sleeve may take 30-40 hours, full ribs 20-30 hours, full chest piece 20-30 hours, full back piece are more in the region of 60 + hours ... Black and grey takes about a third less time.
Please read to the end: the first part is quotation of APT official statement (I am a member of APT), in the end I provide my personal opinion...
"...Plastic wrap is considered unacceptable for several reasons. First, plastic wrap does not breathe. This retards the healing process and creates the sort of warm, moist, airless environment that encourages bacterial growth. Second, but no less important, is the psychological impact. A tattoo wrapped in plastic looks nasty. A clean, white bandage conveys a subconscious message of cleanliness and sterility. Your client, especially a first-timer, will feel like they have had a procedure. Send them out the door in plastic wrap and they feel like meat..." Alliance Of Professional Tattoists
"What's the Problem?
The problem is that plastic wrap creates an occlusive seal meaning that no air gets in and no air gets out. This keeps all of the body fluids pooling on the skin surface. That surface builds up body temperatures to nearly 103 degrees which is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Your new tattoo has just been turned into a petri-dish for bacterial growth. Nice, huh?
That pooling of body fluids--all liquids must go somewhere and that is to the bottom of the plastic wrap. Body fluids leak out and run down the body where people will brush against other people or surfaces thus creating a multi-contaminated field. And putting a piece of paper towel at the bottom does nothing to stop the oozing and temperature buildup.
Care to Rub on Someone's Body Fluids?
I recently visited a neighboring studio and witnessed a plastic wrapped client sitting in their waiting room with body fluids running down his arm into the fabric sofa. Talk about a contaminated field! Ugh!If such an unfortunate individual enters our studio we ask them politely to leave, as we don’t want their body fluids on our chairs, racks, counters or floors. I also give them a copy of this article to take back to the tattooers who obviously aren’t educated in blood borne pathogens.
It's Not Only Gross, It May be Illegal
Most state tattoo regulations such as ours here in Hawaii specifically state the appropriate type of dressing to use. Hawaii Department of Health Regulation 11-17-10-H “the entire area covered with a piece of sterile dressing and secured with proper adhesive”. It’s even one of the questions on our tattoo licensing test!
Not only is the use of plastic wrap illegal in most regulated states but it is a cheap insult to a client who deserves a better start with their new tattoo. What price is proper bandaging? How do you put a dollar sign on contamination prevention?
Use of plastic wrap is forbidden in many quality tattoo conventions. National Tattoo Association and the Alliance of Professional Tattooists have outlawed its use in their shows. It’s time that all convention promoters educate themselves and make this ban an industry-wide policy. (...)"
Peggy Sucher
Skin Deep Tattoo Waikiki
Security Director, National Tattoo Assn
Member, Alliance of Professional Tattooists
Made a lot of sense to me although I do have a bit different approach to after care later on....
So here is my opinion:
I absolutely hate to see tattoo wrapped into cling wrap. Especially if it is leaking and dripping along someones body. This is why I will not apply this after I will finish a tattoo. I will apply TatuDerm or sterile bandage . The biggest problem usually is first night (or sometimes first 2 nights) especially big tattoos, when tattoo is still oozing. No one wants to leave half of ink on the bedsheets. So I think it will be better to secure even with plastic wrap (if non sticky pad is not available) then nothing. ( I don't do this on my tattoos. One of reasons is BPA presence and I try to avoid this at all costs.) I carry in the studio Tatu Derm sheets or rolls for bigger work for clients to take home if they want to. As many tattooist and collectors out there - everyone has own aftercare and own opinion. I am sharing mine here.
Tattoos and Laser Treatments
Unfortunately many clients end up unhappy with tattoos. Fortunately - something can be done about it. Most popular (and most affordable) will be cover up. Sometimes cover up is not possible without some help - lighting up a tattoo. I do not use a word "remove" a tattoo purpously. I had personally laser treatments, and I've worked with many clients after laser treatments - there always was something "left" in the skin. So...yes...lighting up an unwanted tattoo can help. There is many different types of laser - please refer to a link below if you want to know more - not all lasers are equal when it comes to deal with tattoos.
There is a few things I think you need to know before undergoing laser procedure (from my experience) - the best option is to consult first with a tattooist who will be doing cover up (if this option is desired) - often not a whole tattoo has to be lighten up - your tattooist can mark areas needed to be treated (to save you time, pain and money). Be aware of the fact that laser treatment can change structure of the skin making disposal of pigment harder - means - you need to come more then once to saturate skin with ink to a satisfactionary level. It may be very challenging task especially if laser treatment caused a lot of trauma. And this is why some tattooists refuse to work on the skin after laser treatments. For more information please check a link below:
http://www.consultingroom.com/Treatments/Laser-Tattoo-Removal
"How long my tattoo will take?"
Hard to say...for a small, medium pieces I can give an estimate time (and a flat price). If it a multi sitting tattoo, it is almost impossible to say as it depends on many factors...so here is a rough guide…
full colour sleeve may take 30-40 hours, full ribs 20-30 hours, full chest piece 20-30 hours, full back piece are more in the region of 60 + hours ... Black and grey takes about a third less time.