SKIN ART CREATIONS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS #2

What you are about to read are questions which we have received from around the world. We have left them just as asked and have not altered the original answer which we gave. Hopefully by seeing some of the questions that we are asked on a daily basis you will be able to find the answer to your own question concerning Tattoos and Piercing. However if you cannot find your answer here, please do not hesitate to e-mail us at tatman@ubtat2d.com or phone us at (620) 331-5938 1:00pm to 5:00pm CST Wednesday thru Saturday. After all as I am so fond of saying....

"THE ONLY STUPID QUESTION IS THE UNASKED QUESTION!"

Subject: Begining tattoo Artist carrier Question: Is there any way i can get a tutor at distance? Do you know tutors in south america?(I am Colombian) Thanks! Answer: John, What you should do first is try to find an apprenticeship with a qualified tattoo artist or piercer in a licensed studio. It is not as simple as buying a starter kit, picking up a machine or needle and starting to tattoo or pierce. There is a lot to know from sterilization to placement, needle depths, anatomy, client handling, business practices, needle making, jewelry type and more. Not to mention the legal aspects of licenseing, insurance, etc. Working with skin is a whole lot different than drawing on paper or whatever you can imagine. I have seen a lot of people who can draw or poke holes in their body, but tattoo and pierce very poorly. Four extra words of advice here; First, you can not learn how to tattoo or pierce from a book. Secondly, you can not learn how to tattoo or pierce by watching someone else. Thirdly, tattooing and piercing is not a get rich quick profession, it takes years to get established and see the rewards of your work. And last but certainly not least, You can not practice on your friends or children or yourself to learn.... Soon you will have no friends. We have developed some courses that can help you tremendously towards distingusing yourself in a "SEA OF APPRENTICESHIP SEEKERS" by putting into your hand knowledge, transcripts and certificates of acheivement. These show how serious you are and that you are willing to work for your goals. It also tells the professional artist that you have made an effort to do things the proper way. It should open many doors for you that others find slammed in thier faces. You can check it out by going to URL http://www.sekpress.net Remember however, there is no substitute for a formal apprenticeship. So please (as I've already advised) if you are serious about learning, get an apprenticeship. You will be glad you did. One last thing, if during or after your apprenticeship you find that you do not have a knack for tattooing or piercing (tattooing takes a certain touch, some can do it, some not. Not everyone has that touch no matter how much training they've had), then you should give it up and not scar people for life. If you would like an idea on what is involved with tattooing and piercing or have problems finding an apprenticeship please visit our web site http://www.ubtat2d.com Hope I've been some help to you. If I can be of further assistance please let me know. -The GYPSY http://ubtat2d.com

Subject: my hurting navel Question: Hi, last saturday I went in and got my navel pierced. I am 17, my mom also got one and her friend plus 3 other kids ranging in age from 7 to 10. So there was 6 of us. All of ours is still sore, but they are getting better. But my hurts pretty bad, I don't they take time to heal. But I can't even sleep at night, because I have to sleep on my stomach and that hurts way too much, I can't bump it or anything. I am cleaning it all the time with povidone-iodine solution, 10%. It does not sting when I put it on or anything. They said to turn it around, but that hurts alot, and I have not been able to do, my sister who got it done 2 years ago, said just to wait until it stops hurting as much and in a few more days start turning it, is that okay? It does not look infected, if is a little red where the 2 ends go in but not infected. What I did yesterday was put some antibiotic ointment cream on it, a that helps it turn a little, but then it really stings when it turns. Is that still okay to put on? How long is it usually sore for, I know they said it takes 9 to 12 months to heal, but how long is it sore for? Right now it has been 4 days and I can walk fine and bend over some, but if my shirt lays against it is starts to sting a little, and my I can't bump it against anything, even my jeans button touching it makes it hurt. Any suggestions? Answer: Angela, STOP USING THE IODINE AND OINTMENT!!!!! That is the worst thing you could be doing. For proper piercing aftercare instructions please go to my faq page at http://ubtat2d.com/faq.html You are infected. Follow the instructions on #6 on the list on my faq page for infections. Also, please be aware that no one under 17 should be getting any sort of body piercing. You are still growing up to 17-18 years of age and getting any sort of body piercing before that age can lead to migration which will leave a real nasty scar. The 7 and 10 year old would be well advised to remove their piercings and let them heal closed. They should wait until 17 until attempting it again. I hope this has been of some help to you if I can be of any further assistance please let me know. -The GYPSY- http://ubtat2d.com

Subject: Tattoo aftercare (natural alternatives) Question: I am preparing myself for my first tattoo and am extensively looking into aftercare products. The tattooist in town recommends Lubriderm from day one of receiving a tattoo, but I am also interested in natural products as an alternative. I was wondering about Aloe Vera (right off the plant), or a powder I made which contains Alow Leaf powder, Slippery Elm Bark powder, Comfrey Root powder, Myhrr, and a few drops of Lavender Essential oil and Tea Tree essential oil. This powder is used for healing wounds, as well as skin conditions like psoriasis and ecsema. It forms a protective "scab" on the wound to help it heal, and the powders are used for their antiseptic and antibacterial, as well as healing properties. Would this be a good idea to use on my tattoo?? My skin doesn't heal very well on it's own (a small cut can last me a week), so anything to help speed up the healing process would help a lot. Thanks for your time, Leah Answer: Leah, Using pure Aloe Vera is ok as a natural healing alternative. However, I would strongly advise against the powder that you have made. The reason being the tattoo has to be able to breath in order to heal properly. It sounds to me like this powder you have made would seal the tattoo thus not allowing for proper healing. Another thing you might want to consider for the healing of your tattoo is bag balm. It is mostly natural ingredients. I do recommend against using Lubriderm or any other sort of hand lotion for healing as it has a tendency to dull out the tattoo. When you get a tattoo, it automatically forms a scab which will fall off on its own in time (you do not pick the scab), therefore, the powders ability to form a protective scab is redundant since the tattoo will do that on its own anyway. Please go to my website at http://www.ubtat2d.com/faq.html for instructions on proper healing techniques and let me know if you have any other questions. The GYPSY http://www.ubtat2d.com

Subject: tatoos on toes Question: I have heard 'mixed/ reviews about tattooing your toes. I would like to do this - between the beginning of the toe and the first 'knuckle' - a band, like a ring....but I have heard that they don't turn out very good....they fade and people are disappointed. Any advice? Is there steps I can take in the aftercare stage to prevent excessive fading? Thanks. Answer: Diane, No matter what type of aftercare you use and no matter how careful you are a toe tattoo will ALWAYS FADE! The feet and toes are high wear area's and the tattoo will not hold up to the abuse that they take. Also, please be aware that the toes are one of the most tender areas of the body to be tattooed. I hope this has been of some help to you. If I can be of any further assistance, please let me know. -The GYPSY- http://ubtat2d.com

Subject: proper healing Question: Okay, Gypsy....I asked you about tats on the toes and you advised against it....I did it anyway (gulp...). It has been a week and it looks awesome!!! The color is really strong and it hasn't faded or had color bleed (yet...). It never bled or scabbed. My question is two-fold (1) when is the aftercare period 'officially over' -when I can feel relaxed that it is 'fine' and isn't going to 'flake off' (an odd fear, but it seems like it might???) .... and (2) so far I have been wearing sandals...what will happen if I put on shoes/socks and start running again? Thanks! Answer: Diane, The healing period is 7 to 10 days. I think you are going to find that as soon as you do shoes and socks and start running, that is when the tattoo will start fading. Sorry, it can't be helped. (High wear area, as I stated). Good luck. The GYPSY

Subject: Tatoo gone wrong Question: Hello Gypsy, I have a TRIBAL butterfly tatoo on my ankle about 2 1/2" x 2 1/2". The guy that did my tatoo did a really bad job. The butterfly was suppose to be symetrical but if you look at it closely it is not. I'm wondering if I should get it done over or should I just leave it alone? It's kind of hard to describe the butterfly. Please advice, I appreciate your help. Answer: Violet, Hi! It is really hard to answer this question without seeing the design. I can tell you that tribal is going to be hard to fix if the design is really bad. Sometimes, the best thing to do is to just cover it up with another design. Again, being a tribal design you will have to pick a new design that has a lot of color and a lot of detail or the black will show through. If there is any way you can get a pic scanned and email it to me at tatman@ubtat2d.com, I could tell you better what you will be facing and what your options are. I hope this has been of some help and if I can be of further assistance please let me know. The GYPSY http://www.ubtat2d.com

Subject: tattoo Question: I got a tattoo on 5-18-01 and the next day i noticed that the edges were blurry. on closer inspection it looks like the ink (black) bled out under the skin away from where the actual tattoo was injected. the tattoo (scabs) are there then there are parts where the ink has blurred the image and it looks terrible. i did some prior research but found no answer to this. i am wondering if this is normal (this is my 2nd tattoo) and if i should wait til it heals before reacting. is that ink in the dermis or the epidermis? what can be done? thanks. Answer: May, Actually, other than covering the design, removal or adding to it to hide the edges there is not much that can be done. The pigment is going to continue to spread. Unfortunately the artist technic was poor and they went to deep or on an angle or both. I don't want to lay all of this off on the artist though.... In rare circumstances (very rare) the person receiving the tattoo may have a skin condition which causes the skin to be overly soft and thin. This can also lead to the problem you are having. Or the person did something stupid like using a skin deadening solution before getting the tattoo. That would also cause a problem. But, 99 times out of a hundred it is the fault of the artist. I would advise that you either see if the artist will stand behind his work and fix the problem for you or find another artist. I hope this has been of some help to you. If I can be of any further assistance, please let me know. -The GYPSY- http://ubtat2d.com

Subject: Botched tattoo Question: I got my first (and only) tattoo in November and it looks awful! I went to a reputable studio in Atlanta, GA.- Sacred Heart, but went with the first guy that waited on us because I thought my design was so small (about 2" high) and simple I was embarrassed to ask for anyone else. The tattoo is mushy looking, sloppy, uneven and 1/2 the ink is gone and I DIDN'T scratch! I desperately want to fix it but was told by another artist that I should just leave it alone. He said adding any new ink at this point would just make it look worse, unless I covered it with a new design. I waited a year for THIS DESIGN and I want to keep it and have it look great. Any ideas?? I had it done in dark purple with a red outline (I know, BAD idea). Can I have it reworked in plain black? Know anyone in the Atlanta area? HELP!!!! Kelly P.S. Yes, the jerk also made one "leaf" of the flower look like an erect penis... would LOVE to have that changed too. Answer: Kelly, I have good news and bad news for you. The bad news is you've been talking to the wrong people. No reputable studio would have allowed you to leave their establishment with a bad tattoo. They also would have stood behind their work and offered to fix it for you free of charge. Also, the artist that told you the design could not be fixed probably just did not want to mess with it. The good news.... A reputable artist can and will fix it without giving you a line of BS. What you should do is spend some time touring the studios in your area and talking to the artists and checking out their facilities. To get an idea what to look for in a reputable studio and artist please visit my FAQ page at http://ubtat2d.com/faq.html There you will find the info you need for locating the right person to do your fix-up. You should never outline in any color other than black as colored pigment has a tendency to run under the skin. Yes you can have it reworked in black. I hope this has been of some help to you. If I can be of any further assistance, please let me know. -The GYPSY- http://ubtat2d.com

Subject: nipple piercing Question: i am gay and wanting to get my nipple pierced and was wondering if there was any gay symbolism relating to whcih i should get pierced. i am proud to be gay and want others to know that i am without teling them many thanks Answer: Howard, In todays society it really does not make a difference which nipple is pierced. There really is no symbolism assoiated with either one. It is just which ever one you want pierced. It use to be considered that if your left ear was pierced you were straight and if your right ear was pierced you were gay but even that has fallen by the way side. Straight and gay males get both ears pierced now so it no longer matters. Just like it does not matter which nipple you have pierced. Just get the one that pleases you most. I hope this has been of some help to you. If I can be of any further assistance please let me know. -The GYPSY- http://ubtat2d.com

Subject: labret piercing Question: Hello, I'm thinking of having my labret pierced but have recently heard some horror stories about people having to remove them becouse of terrible tooth and gum erosion.Can a labret damage your teeth and gums? Also, could you please tell me how obvious the hole is if you haven't got the stud in as I'm into acting and could'nt risk anything too obvious. Thanx, Ruth Answer: Ruth, If a Labret is done properly it should not come into contact with the teeth and should not rub on the gums. As for how noticeable the hole is.... If you remove the labret for any length of time (even after healing), the hole will start closing ie; 30 minutes on up. Also it leaves a very notaceable scar. Also be aware that it takes 9 to 12 months to totally heal. I hope this has been of some help to you. If I can be of any further assistance please let me know. -The GYPSY- http://ubtat2d.com

Subject: Tattoo Question: I'm planning on getting a tattoo here in a few weeks and I was wondering if there's any kind of web-site where you can "build your own tatto" in a sense. Like you can pick a basic thing and customize it to your liking. I live near Baxter Kansas and was wondering if that is where you're located, because I was at a shop yesterday, and Gypsy is the name of the owner there.Thanks for your help. Answer: Kelsie, It was my studio you were at. I am The GYPSY owner of Skin Art Creations Tattoo Emporium, Baxter Springs, Kansas. There is no web site where you can "Build your own Tattoo." Most generally you can discuss what you want with the artist and they can either show you a design along those lines, modify an existing design in their collection of flash or draw you up an original design. I hope this has been of some help to you. If I can be of any further assistance please let me know. -The GYPSY- http://ubtat2d.com

Subject: Questions Question - A.Would you recommend entering this career? Why or why not? B.What is most rewarding about this career? C.What is most frustrating about this career? D.What is the most important ability or trait a person considering this career should have? E.Do you think you will stay in this career field? Why or why not? Answer - Chery, A. Only if you have artistic ability and understand that it is not about the money, it is about the art. B. Making people happy that they came to you for their tattoo. C. People who think that this is a get rich quick profession and go around scarring people without a clue as to what they are doing. You cannot tattoo without proper training. D. Patience! E. I've been doing it for over 26 years I don't see me changing careers now! I hope this has been of some help to you. If I can be of any further assistance, please let me know. -The GYPSY- http://ubtat2d.com

Subject: Breast feeding Question - if breast feeding is it safe to get tatooed. and if u have any information on new demonic art.IS THERE any way of practicicng shading technics of all sorts like light shading but mostly detail shading from a blankoutline. Answer - Jen, Not a good idea to get a tattoo until after you are done breastfeeding. There are alot of shading techniques, it just takes practice to determine what works best for you and the type of tattoo you are doing. As far as demonic art, check your local library or do internet searches. HR Geiger is an artist that deals with this sort of thing, as well as Paul Booth. I hope this has been of some help to you and if I can be of further assistance, please let me know. The GYPSY http://www.ubtat2d.com

Subject: 1st time tattoo Question - hi gypsy. i'm a 22 year old guy from the detroit, michigan area, and i've been thinking about getting a tattoo for years. my last name is king, so i want to get a simple tattoo of a crown on my upper arm. i want it to be plain and monochrome- maybe about the size of a silver dollar. do you think that would make for a good tattoo? when i get this done, should i bring in a picture of what i want? do you have any pictures or resources that might help me find a pic? and how much do you think i should expect to pay? thank you!! ps- do you know of any good places in the detroit area where i should go? Answer - Rick, This is Gypsy's wife, Debbie. You are my homie! I grew up in Michigan and lived in Detroit for a few years - (Redford area). If a crown is what you want, then it's a good tattoo. Appropriate for your last name, anyway. It is something you will have to live with for the rest of your life so just be sure it's what you want. For something the size of a silver dollar you shouldn't spend more than $50 to $65. I would think a crown the size of a silver dollar might be a little too small. It will be hard to see the detail in the design if it is too small. You might want to go a little bigger for a crown. I will have Gypsy follow up with this question so he can recommend a good shop in the Detroit area for you. Debbie ---------- Rick, I recommend Suzanne out of Ann Arbor, Michigan. I'm not sure what the name of her studio is but I think it's Creative Body Images. Check the phone book for studios in Ann Arbor and call around until you find her. She's got a heavy appt list, but she is excellent. The GYPSY http://www.ubtat2d.com

Subject: tattoo cover-up Question - I got a tattoo 8-9 years ago. It is the (once) famous picture of the 2 cherubs sitting on a cloud with the boy angel kissing the girl. Well, the cherubs turned out BEAUTIFUL, however, I hated the cloud. I went back to have them touch it up and now it looks like 2 cherubs sitting on a brain....They filled it in with chunky blue and purple lines and it looks awful. The total size is 3x4" and the cloud isn't THAT big - but to walk past someone and they only get a glimpse...it looks like a brain. My question is - since the cloud is now so dark (royal blue and a deep purple), I would think the only way to fix it is to cover it up (as opposed to lightening it up in some way).... Is it fairly easy to cover up just a portion of a tat? It would be weird regardless, because the boys leg hangs down in front of the cloud anyway... Basically - do you have any suggestions? Thanks a million Donelle Answer - Donelle, Unfortunately it sounds to me like you fell in with the wrong studio to do your tattoo. Instead of staying true to the nature of your tattoo they did what THEY wanted, not what YOU wanted. Truly unprofessional! My advise to you is to visit some of the other studios in your area and talk with the artist there and see what they might be able to do for you. A good artist can fix or cover a tattoo that has been messed up with little trouble. If you will visit my faq page at http://ubtat2d.com/faq.html you will find a list there of things to ask an artist when choosing a studio to do your work. I hope this has been of some help to you. If I can be of any further assistance, please let me know. -The GYPSY- http://ubtat2d.com

You Are Visitor Number

Hit Counter

Since January 1st, 1996

THIS WEBSITE IS FREE AND WE DO NOT SUPPORT POP-UP ADVERTISING OR SPAM! YOU CAN HELP US MAINTAIN THIS SITE BY CLICKING THE BUTTON BELOW AND MAKING A SMALL DONATION.

YOUR DONATION HELPS US TO KEEP ADVERTISING AT A MINIMUM ON OUR WEBSITE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN THE BASICS OF TATTOOING OR PIERCING? DO YOU NEED CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES FOR YOUR STATES LICENSING REQUIREMENTS?

FOR THE FIRST EVER ONLINE SKIN ART TUTORIAL!

SEKPRESS

VISIT OUR ONLINE ROUNDTABLE!

CHAT, MESSAGE BOARD AND MORE.

HAVE YOU BEEN TO

??????????????????

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO!

VISIT BIKER MIKES MOTORCYCLE LEATHER TO GO

CLICK HERE!!

SKIN ART CREATIONS TATTOO EMPORIUM AND IT'S LOGO ARE THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF TATMAN PRODUCTIONS LLC. ANY USE OF LOGO, NAME OR QUOTES ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE OWNERS. COPYRIGHT 1976 - 2003

This Page Last Updated

04/05/2006 09:56:18 PM