HOW DO TATTOOS ACTUALLY WORK?

So you want to get a new tattoo! Now what? Whether you're an experienced tattoo collector or a fresh-skinned newbie, it's important to understand some of the science behind the process of tattooing when considering a new piece. As they like to say "think before you ink"!

The outer layer of your skin is called the epidermis, and in order for a tattoo to be permanent, the ink has to travel through to the dermis, the layer just underneath. The cells on the epidermis are the ones that we shed on a constant basis, which is why tattoos fade but ultimately remain permanent over time. In order to achieve this, your body is actually being pierced with dye-filled needles at a frequency of 50 to 3,000 times per minute. Every time the needle penetrates, it causes a wound that alerts the body to begin the inflammatory process. This signals your body to send immune system cells to the site of the wound and respond to the substance invading your body: the dye. These cells attempt to “clean up” the inflammation by eating up the dye and trapping it within the dermis. This is why proper preparation and aftercare are vital to your new tattoo. 

 

DO YOU DO COVER UPS?

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The short answer to that question is simple: it depends. When it comes to reworks and cover ups, there's always something you can do to spruce up an old tattoo. The important thing here is to keep in mind that the effectiveness of a cover up depends on a variety of factors that your artist will work within when doing a cover up. Cover-up tattoos are not as simple as just applying a new tattoo over top of the old one. This means that some flexibility in the design is always important. For an in-depth explanation you can head to:

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https://www.wildtattooart.com/tattoo-cover-up

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CAN YOU COVER SCARS?

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Many people like to use a new tattoo as a way to cover up scar tissue. Just like with any other tattoo, this just means another factor to consider in the process. For an in depth explanation of this, check out:

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https://www.healthline.com/health/body-modification/tattoo-over-scar

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DOES SKIN TONE AFFECT MY TATTOO?

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We've all seen the internet hullabaloo over discussion of pigmentation and tattooing. These parameters can sometimes be a touchy subject for artists and clients when consulting about a piece. Let's be clear...tattoos are for everyone. Age, skin type, texture, and location are all just a part of the scientific juggling act of translating a work of art onto skin.

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WHAT ABOUT FINGER TATTOOS?

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Although Pinterest and Instagram make finger tattoos seem like an achievable goal - there are a few things you should take into consideration before making that decision for yourself. First of all, many photos you see online are heavily edited. If the photo has a filter, or high contrast - its good to remember there is probably a nefarious reason why. By adjusting the values of the images, the tattoos can appear darker or even just better, than they actually are.

Then, its important to know that the skin on hands and feet regenerates much faster than anywhere else on the body. Because of this rapid regeneration, pigment tends to get lost or fall away much quicker. At first, your tattoo may look great - but sometimes even with the passing of a few days - that can change. What you do for a living may also influence the way your tattoos heal and stay put in the skin. If you use your hands all day, wear gloves, or find yourself washing them or being submerged in cleaning fluids or water several times throughout the day - a finger tattoo may not be the best investment for you. Taking all of this into consideration, it is important to know that everyone is different. Some have perfect heals and never require a touch up, then, some can get their fingers touched up four or five times and yet - they still don’t look right.

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Still Interested?

Keeping all of that information in mind, I’m happy to discuss the next steps if you choose to move forward. Because of the risk involved in finger tattoos, they are not guaranteed. Meaning, if you do need a touch up, you will be required to pay the set up fee once per touch up. Also, I will not tattoo the palms of hands, or undersides of the fingers. For unedited examples of tattooed fingers check out:

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http://bobbistark.com/frequently-asked-questions

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