Tattoo Discomfort and Pain Management

 

THE MISCONCEPTIONS OF TATTOO PAIN

Ice Phoenix by Vitalii

Pain is a part of the tattooing process. It's a right of passage, and it's part of the experience. It shouldn't be something to be feared in the least. The vast majority of people, after their first tattoo, express that it wasn't nearly as bad at they expected. It's very true. We often get into our own heads just to find out it was all for nothing. Concentrate on the beautiful work of art you will be getting instead.

PAIN MANAGEMENT AND CESSATION 

When it comes to pain, there are various tricks to help, and without the aid of chemicals! First and foremost, it is recommended to avoid using numbing creams. There is a chance that your tattoo will become distorted after healing, due to the way the skin reacts while it's chemically numb. Also, if you apply the cream too close to the time of your tattoo, it may not be numb yet. Alternately, if you apply it too early, there's a good chance it will wear off too soon. 

One of the more common ways to aid in pain is simply breathing exercises. Keeping your breathing steady and focused helps take your mind off the pain. They teach this to expecting mothers in lamaze classes. It's a surprisingly effective method.

Having a stress ball around to squeeze can also help. Again, it's mostly a way to focus your attention in a different direction, but it works. A steady motion of squeezing the ball and releasing it helps you keep a rhythm, which keeps you occupied. 

Another great way to help with pain cessation is to just bring along company. Having a friend with you to chat, make you laugh, exchange stories, etc is a successful and fun way to keep your mind elsewhere, and it helps pass the time faster. 

One more great way is to just bring a tablet and watch a movie or browse social media. Again, it's a distraction and keeps your mind elsewhere. Like bringing a friend along, It's also a great way to make the time fly, especially if it's a movie that you love, no matter how many times you've seen it. 

As you can see, the easiest and most common way to help is to keep your focus on something else and be distracted. If you sat and just watched the tattoo being applied, you are literally focusing on what you shouldn't be if you're trying to make the experience less uncomfortable. 

Just remember, the pain is temporary, the beautiful art is forever.

Watch our video about numbing creams by clicking the link below!

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Read our article about physical reactions regarding tattoos by clicking the link below!

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ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR NEXT TATTOO?

If you're ready to get your next tattoo done, schedule an appointment with an award-winning tattoo parlor. Here at Lucky Bamboo Tattoo, we have some of the best and most experienced tattoo artists in the Salt Lake City area. We can tattoo any style you'd like, and our artists can even design your next piece as well.

Cry Havoc, And Let Slip The Tattoos Of War!

 

TATTOOS HAVE A HISTORY LINKED WITH WAR

Start of a sleeve by Rob

It's important to reflect on the sacrifices our soldiers have given since the Revolutionary War. Average Americans have always risen to the challenge time and time again since before its official founding. During the Revolutionary, Spanish/American, and Civil wars, men who had never even touched a gun in their life, took up arms to defend their country.

EARLY MANKIND

Tattoos and war have been connected for thousands of years. Warriors from all kinds of cultures around the world have historical evidence to tattoos or war paint given before or after a battle, and sometime both. Tattoos and war paint were used as a means of intimidation, and to make the warrior to appear more fierce. The Norse were known to darken around their eyes to look menacing, but it's unknown if they were permanent tattoos, paint, or even soot. 

It's well documented that Native Americans often donned war paint, and even painted their horses in anticipation for a battle or for a hunt. Although not as common as just using paint, Native American tribes did practice permanent tattoos and body modification. Permanent ink was usually linked to an achievement, often attributed to glory against a powerful foe. It was a big deal if a warrior took down a chief. Not something to be taken lightly. 

COLONIAL AMERICA

Colonial era British navy men often got tattoos representing what regiment and ship they were assigned to. Everyone from the common seaman, petty officers, and all the way to an Admiral would have tattoos, as they weren't class based, but more of a camaraderie. It wasn't unheard of to also have your family crest as a tattoo. 

Early colonial Americans would sometimes get tattoos of their name and where they live in the colonies due to the common event that they would essentially be kidnapped and conscripted into the British Navy, and their tattoo was the only proof they could provide that they weren't actually British citizens or navy deserters. 

WARS OF THE 20TH CENTURY

Starting around WWI, and although not nearly as common as during WWII, US military, particularly in the navy, would often get tattoos as keepsakes and in remembrance of the places they've been during their wartime travels. Like the early British navy, it didn't matter the rank or class, everyone got tattoos. The most common style seen was what is now called, American Traditional. Back then, it was just your standard tattoo. Nearly everyone who had a grandfather survive WWII can remember their grandfathers tattoos. Thick lined, faded, sometimes you barely make out what it was. Maybe an anchor? A hula dancer?

Unfortunately, during WWII, there was some well known forced tattoos. In an unfortunate time for Germany, Jewish prisoners were all tattooed on the forearm/wrist a serial number for cataloging and tracking. They were essentially branded like animals. This wasn't condoned by the vast majority of Germans, of course, but it still happened. 

If you didn't turn a blind eye to the atrocities of the war, the ones in power could mark you as a Jewish sympathizer and you could be executed. However, there was a substantial underground resistance that attempted multiple times to take out Hitler and his higher-ups, but without success. They were eventually discovered and executed as traitors. The most famous of these attempts was an elaborate scheme known as "Operation Valkyrie."

The practice of getting tattoos while in the military continued on to the Vietnam War. A different type of tattoo appeared during this "police action". Unlike during WWII, a lot of the tattoos no longer appeared to be of a docile subject matter, like a hula dancer (although a fairly racist term towards the Japanese in the form of a tattoo was common in WWII). The tattoos appeared more geared towards violence and glory. Skulls, the ace of spades, anti-asian sentiments, images of machines of war (such as tanks and helicopters), and so on. 

MODERN MILITARY

In today's US military, the tattoos have become often symbolic. US flags, eagles, ;IGY6 (I got your six), tributes to past military, branch emblem, etc. It seems more based off of pride and appreciation, and less about glory and death. It's a great move forward in the right direction. Death and destruction should not be glorified. 

ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR NEXT TATTOO?

If you're ready to get your next tattoo done, schedule an appointment with an award-winning tattoo parlor. Here at Lucky Bamboo Tattoo, we have some of the best and most experienced tattoo artists in the Salt Lake City area. We can tattoo any style you'd like, and our artists can even design your next piece as well.

The Hard Truth About Bargain Tattoos

 

WHAT IS A BARGAIN TATTOO?

A cover-up done by Jared over a bargain tattoo

When getting a bargain tattoo, there are a few things to remember. The very first thing....you get what you pay for. There's probably no greater truth to this than when referring to tattoos. A $10 burger at a mom and pop place might be better than a $100 entree at a fancy restaurant. That won't be a true simile to tattoo shops. 

QUALITY

Quality not quantity. It cannot be said enough. Some people have one $500 tattoo, others may have 10 $50 tattoos. Guaranteed that $500 tattoo is far more impressive, unique, and has bragging rights. Who cares about another $50 poorly done infinity symbol on someone's wrist? Or a slapdash American Traditional swallow done with bad coloring on your chest? Those types of tattoos are everywhere. 

If you are going to spend the money and decide to get something permanently put on your body, isn't it worth spending the most you can reasonably afford to get it done right? If you have to save up, then save up. There's no rule stating that you have to rush to get a tattoo. Instant gratification isn't always the best option. Getting a tattoo designed specifically and uniquely for you will make you far happier in the long run. Incidentally, Lucky Bamboo Tattoo does offer financing. 

Pertaining to this subject, the quality of materials being used is also a factor. With a bargain tattoo, you may be dealing with an "artist" that is using a very cheap tattoo machine, cheap needle cartridges and low quality inks. Lower quality inks are not regulated, have a higher chance of contaminants and will likely have a greater chance to fade out. This will lead to a more probable need for a cover-up or touch-up, which in the end will still end up costing more money. 

Most of the time when you are visiting a lower end bargain studio, you are dealing with unskilled or poorly trained "artists". This will not only give you a less than desirable tattoo outcome, but due to lack of knowledge, you risk getting a tattoo blowout. A blowout occurs when a tattoo artist presses too hard or the length of the needle is too long and they tattoo past the layer of dermis and into the fatty tissue. When this happens, the ink does not stay in one spot, it spreads around and often resembles a bruise. 

SAFETY AND SANITATION

Christinas always very clean and organized private room

When dealing with a shop that does bargain tattoos, one of the biggest concerns is cleanliness and safety. Most states have general rules, guidelines, and regulations per their local Health Departments regarding the sanitation and safety practices of tattoo shops. However, unless a client reports a problem to the Health Department, very often these lower end shops have a tendency to let their standards slip, or they may have never implemented them in the first place.

In a higher quality studio, such as Lucky Bamboo Tattoo, not only are the safety and sanitation standards met and maintained, but often exceeded. All of the artists are first aid, CPR and bloodborne pathogens certified. Before a client is brought in to get their tattoo, the artist will clean, sanitize and cover everything in preparation for the tattoo. After they are finished with that client, the artist will repeat this process for the next client. At the end of the day, they break down and clean their equipment and work areas. This is done each and every time to insure client safety. 

In the bargain shop, you have a greater risk of infection due to unsanitary conditions of both the shop itself, the equipment and even the "artist". Poor aftercare treatment and instructions can also lead to safety issues. Some locations still use outdated methods like using vaseline to cover the tattoo, which is bad for healing. It actually slows the healing process.

THE TRUTH

The cold hard truth is the vast majority of bargain shops, aka "scratcher" shops, are not worth the risk. You'll likely get a tattoo you regret either due to poor quality or how boring/common it is. You also have a greater chance of a blowout due to an unskilled "artist" using subpar equipment or complications attributed to poor sanitary conditions and bad aftercare. It's simply not worth it to save a few bucks on something you are getting permanently put on your body. 

To read more about Lucky Bamboo Tattoo's standards, click the button below for our article on why you should choose us for your next tattoo!

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To read more about tattoo aftercare, click the button below to read our article about the do's and don't regarding aftercare!

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