Managing Tattoo Expectations

 

When you think about the tattoo that you want maybe you have a very specific idea in mind. Translating that into the tattoo that you end up with sometimes comes with some high expectations. In order to manage those expectations and love the piece that you walk away with it is important to keep a few things in mind.

The first thing to keep in mind is to remember that a good tattoo artist is indeed an artist. Each artist can have different styles, tastes, and skills. They are professionals and highly skilled at what they are doing. You can trust that they want to do their best to make you happy and have a tattoo that you will love. One of the most important things to remember is to pick an artist that meets your ideas in term of style. You don't want to pick an artist that doesn't do photo realism and then expect that from that artist. Look through their profiles and research if you like the overall work that they can create. Most tattoo artists do not want to copy and paste an image onto your body. They will want to create a custom tattoo that will be unique to you. If you are wanting an exact copy of something you can expect an artist to say no to you or steer you towards something else that they can place their own spin on.

In order to meet what you are thinking of in your head and the final product, a consultation is the best way to start. This is a time that you can discuss ideas of what you are thinking as clearly and concisely as possible. It could be a good idea to include some references. Don't go overboard, it is best to give ideas such as a particular style that you like or imagery that could be incorporated. This allows the artist to create the best tattoo possible.

At the time of your appointment the artist will show you the design they have come up with and the placement. The whole goal is to over deliver for what the client wants, that's the entire reason for a consultation. After your appointment you are going to want to follow your artists care directions in order to have your tattoo heal properly and look as intended. 

Overall to make your tattoo be the best that you can get is to do your research, give ideas, and to fully trust that your artist is going to make you happy! 

Tattoos and Numbing Creams

 

Getting a tattoo can cause a lot of pain. You are potentially sitting for a few hours at a time while a needle is injecting ink into your skin over and over. There is always the question of what can be done to help alleviate that pain. For some the answer is numbing cream. 

There is a lot of different numbing creams that can be available over the counter but that doesn't mean that they will be effective and useful in blocking the pain of a tattoo. The most important thing to remember is that most over the counter numbing creams will help to decrease the pain but not eliminate. And it is a topical treatment so it will most likely end up being wiped off and become ineffective for the entire tattoo. During large tattoos the numbing effects can wear off and the nerves can become more sensitive causing you to feel more pain. 

Some of the concerns with using a numbing cream is that depending on the ingredients of the cream they can potentially cause infection, scaring during the healing process and actually push the ink out of your skin. The most active ingredient in numbing creams is Lidocaine which causes changes to your blood vessels which will then alter the blood flow. It pulls the blood supply away from the surface of your skin and that can cause your skin to go white, flabby and jelly like. This can make it harder for the tattoo artist in manipulating and that can lead to a lower quality tattoo.

Depending on the shop you go to for your tattoo they may even turn you away if you use a numbing cream beforehand. The best options would be to talk to your artist and see what they recommend in order to prepare for your tattoo. 

Small Tattoos- Are they worth it?

 

The trend of tiny tattoos has become pretty popular over the last couple of years with a surge of posts on social media. The popularity also comes with the concept that a tiny tattoo is small and easy to hide if wanted/needed. Small tattoos are great because they can easily be done almost anywhere on the body. They also have a delicate look for some is desirable. But are they worth it?

Some things to consider about small, tiny tattoos is that while they can be placed almost anywhere on your there are some areas that are better to avoid. Fingers, palms, and the bottoms of feet are areas that are always problematic to one degree or another. Some areas that are good for small tattoos are lower forearms and wrists, inner biceps, collars bones, lower legs and ankles. These are all spots that are great for small tattoos since the skin is less prone to fading and the spot can compliment small designs. 

The next thing to consider is the amount of detail you will or will not be able to put into a small tattoo. With complex designs on smaller tattoos the design can look muddy or simply be too big to fit into the size of the tattoo. Fine simple lines are usually the best option to go for when looking for a small tattoo. 

Next consideration is time and cost. Here at Lucky Bamboo tattoo the shop minimum is going to be an hour at each artists different prices. Even if the tattoo takes 10 minutes to finish, you have to factor in the set up and cleanup. In order to make it worth your time and the artist's time consider a few small tattoos that can be done easily at the same time. 

Finally the last thing to consider will be the maintenance on your tiny tattoo. Most small tattoos will not last as long as bigger bolder pieces because of the delicateness of the tattoo. You will need to factor in touch ups for your tattoo in order to keep it looking sharp and not fading away with time.

All things considered tiny tattoos seem to be a popular choice, but are they a popular choice for you?

 

How long does it take your tattoo to heal and what to expect

Healing begins as soon as your tattoo is finished. Your tattooed skin is now a wound and your body will start to produce plasma to start the healing process.

At Lucky Bamboo the artists will clean the finished tattoo and then apply a piece of Recovery. Recovery is a Derm shield to protect and help allow your body to heal your new tattoo in the most efficient manner.  You will also leave with a second peice of Recovery to replace the first one after 24 hours and after washing with unscented soap and warm water. The second piece is worn for 4 days.

During this time your tattoo might be a little sore, especially with a larger piece that was done. It may also feel a little warm to the touch. There will also be some swelling and redness at first. This is normal. What is not normal is if those symptoms don’t go away or your notice redness and swelling getting worse instead of better. At this point you should let the studio know and if needed consult a doctor just to be on the safe side. 

After the recommended 4 days of wearing the second piece of Recovery you should gently peel the shield off.  Once you have taken it off you should wash your tattoo with unscented soap and warm water. At this point your tattoo should be free of redness and swelling. You shouldn’t have any bruising or scabs and if all went right the tattoo should be mostly healed. All that is necessary to do is to keep your tattoo clean and moisturized to ensure that it is fully healed which can take up to 2-6 weeks depending on multiple factors for each individual. 

Signs that your tattoo is fully healed is no redness, swelling, scabbing, peeling, bruising, and the skin should feel in texture similar to the skin around it.

How long should I wait to shave my newly tattooed area?

 

After getting a new tattoo in a place you want to shave later it is important to remember proper aftercare. A completed tattoo requires anywhere from 2-4 weeks and sometimes even 6 weeks, possibly longer to fully heal. During this time it is important to give your tattoo the best possible aftercare so you can have the tattoo look as great for the rest of your life. 

Part of that aftercare is treating your new tattoo like a wound. Lucky Bamboo provides great information on handling the aftercare of your new piece  and one of the practices is to leave your tattoo alone as much as possible doing the healing process. The less you mess with it, the better it will heal. This includes shaving your new tattoo. You don't want to shave over a healing area of skin and further prolong the healing process or create damage to your new tattoo.

Everyone heals at a different rate and that all depends on the individual, the size of tattoo, the area of where the tattoo is located, the artist whom did it and their experience level, how it was cared for, the persons health and lifestyle to name a few. It is highly recommended that you don't shave over your tattoo until it is completely healed.  At the point of your tattoo completely being healed then you can proceed with your normal shaving habits. If the skin under and around the tattooed area looks the same as the untattooed skin then it is most likely ok to shave. It is recommended though to add a moisturizer after shaving in order to protect your tattoo.