Boston Celtics Tattoo Sleeves

Boston Celtic Temporary Tattoos

These Boston Celtics Temporary Tattoo Sleeves have the Boston Celtics Logos on top of a beautifully designed Tribal Tattoo background.

These Tattoo Sleeves are ideal for any Boston Celtics Fan.

Product Details

Our tattoo sleeves are made from a breathable, durable, skin tight urethene elastic fibre, 92% Nylon + 8% Spandex, individually printed with an authentic looking design to give that skin tight tattoo design effect.

They are best worn with the top of them just hidden under your shirt sleeve and you can hide the wrist end of the sleeve with a watch or any type of wristband. It is best to wear them with the seam on the inside of your arm, in line with the outside edge of your little finger.

UV Protection during summer and they keep you warm in winter. 46 – 49cm length when stretched. Suitable for ages 10 to 100.
The tattoo sleeves are cold water washable and best left flat to dry. Do not iron and do not use any strong detergents.

We have been selling the original and best Tattoo Sleeves since 2007.

Check out our Temporary Tattoo Prank Ideas and Jokes that you can play on your family at the bottom of this page.

Price : $9.99 For Two Boston Celtics Temporary Tattoo Sleeves – One pair
Stock No : MT – BstClt
Availability : In Stock

Free World Wide Regular Shipping Included
We Ship within 12 to 24 hours after payment – Saturday and Sunday excluded.
7 Day Money Back Guarantee

1 Pair – Free World Wide Post

_______________________________

We have sold Temporary Tattoo Sleeves to over 100 countries throughout the world
Have a look at our eBay feedback and reviews HERE

We are also proud to be a sponsor of the GBK 2011 MTV Movie Awards Lounge where our Tattoo Sleeves were well received by the celebrities and press in attendance.

Check out the photos and video HERE

________ You can also Buy Temporary Tattoo Sleeves on our eBay Store________

_________________________________________________________________________________

Temporary Tattoo Sleeve Prank Ideas

Tattoo Sleeve Pranks for Kids -

Everybody loves to play practical jokes on their family. It is a great way of bringing the family together through the power of laughter.

You can use Tattoo Sleeves at a variety of family functions to shock or prank your family including Birthdays, Weddings, Family Reunion’s, The Dinner Table or as your parents come home from work.
Slip the Tattoo Sleeve on just before your family arrive or if you are at a family function wear the Tattoo Sleeve under your jacket and then start taking your jacket off in front of your intended victim and watch the look of shock, horror or astonishment on their face.

Tattoo Sleeve Pranks for Parents and Grandparents -

Parents can have some fun too by wearing a Tattoo Sleeve to shock their children or to shock other family members at family functions.
We have had many requests for Tattoo Sleeves from elderly customers to shock their friends and family. Some elderly customers have worn Tattoo Sleeves back to their nursing home after a day out and shocked their friends and staff there.

The look of shock on the children or grandchildren of an elderly person that is wearing a Tattoo Sleeve at a family function is priceless.

Read more Temporary Tattoo Sleeve Ideas & Jokes HERE

Potential Risks Of Getting A Tattoo

The majority of tattoos are applied without any problem, but there are some that result in a less than desirable outcome. For this reason, the potential risks associated with getting a tattoo cannot be overlooked. Unsanitary equipment is the main concern that most individuals face when getting a tattoo. The potential for contracting a disease is high with equipment that is not properly cleaned after each use. In addition, tattoos can often result in a skin infection if either the equipment used to create the tattoo is dirty or if the individual does not properly care for the area following a tattoo’s application.

If excessive redness, swelling or pain around the area of the tattoo develops, a licensed physician will need to inspect the tattoo in order to determine whether or not it is infected. Common treatments may include medication, but an infection that has gotten extremely bad may require that the patient be hospitalized. In addition to the obvious concerns that may arise immediately, a physician may again be needed later on if the patient ever decides to have that tattoo removed. Surgery is the only way to completely remove a tattoo and, as with any type of surgery, this carries additional risks.

If an individual decides to remove his/her tattoo, the procedure may be either an out-patient process or one that requires a minimal hospital stay. The ultimate determination will be made by a physician, who will consider the patient’s overall health and the likelihood of developing any type of infection. In addition, patients who experience complications during surgery or a possible allergic reaction to medication will likely be admitted to the hospital for further observation.

The next risk associated with tattoos is not so much one of health, but of appearance. If a tattoo is done by an amateur or simply not done well, it’s appearance may be ruined. At the same time, if a tattoo is every removed, there is a great possibility that a visible scar will remain. While it is true that most scars become less noticeable in time, they never completely go away and will forever be a reminder of the tattoo that was once there.

Just as with every decision in life, there are pluses and minuses to every ordeal. If you are considering a tattoo, take a moment to carefully think about why you want the tattoo, how you will feel about it 10 years from now and whether or not the tattoo is for you or for someone else. When making a permanent marking on your body, you should do so only because you want to and not because anyone else wants or expects you to.

This article is to be used for informational purposes only. The information contained herein is not intended to be used in place of, or in conjunction with, professional medical advice. Before deciding on getting a tattoo or having one removed, the patient must consult a licensed medical doctor for medical advice and/or to determine the best course of action for his/her individual healthcare needs.

Want To Get That Tattoo Removed?

People get tattoos for any reason, and sometimes for no reason. We get tattoos express your love, to express one’s own self, as a fan or admirer of some idol, under peer pressure, to be up with the Jones’es or maybe just because its hip to get one.

Whatever the case is, many of us in adult life end up regretting this youthful adventure. It could be because the tattoo reminds you of a broken love relationship or may be that visible tattoo is coming in your way of getting good job or joining a coveted university. In other words, you desperately need to get it out of your way, but the very memory of the painful procedure you went through to get it done gives you cold feet.

There are several ways a person can undo a tattoo or at least make it less visible. All, barring one, are very painful and cumbersome. But before discussing ways to remove tattoos, let’s first understand what is a tattoo.

What is a Tattoo

A tattoo, or dermal pigmentation, as the term self explains is a mark made on the skin by inserting pigment into the skin. It is accomplished by injecting this pigment into small deep holes made in the skin. Tattoos made this way are relatively permanent.

Apart from permanent tattoos there are also temporary tattoos. They are more like body sticker, similar to a decal. Temporary tattoos are made on the skin by transferring the design on the skin, rather than inside the skin, using water. Temporary tattoos are waterproof, but can be removed with oil-based creams, and are intended to last only a few days.

Methods of Tattoo Removal

There are several methods of tattoo removal available today showing variable performance, result wise and procedure wise. It is the size of the tattoo, its location, and the length of time it has been on the skin which make the physician decide upon the method to be used. The patient’s healing prowess also plays its part in deciding the method to be used.

Let’s now discuss the methods.

Surgical Method

It is one of the most popular methods around, especially when the dyed area is small. The major advantage here is the removal of the entire tattoo in one go, particularly if it is small tattoo. Larger tattoos, however, require multiple surgical sessions where the centre of a tattoo is removed first followed by removal of sides at a later date.

The surgical removal process involves an injection of a local anesthetic to numb the area after which the tattoo is removed. The edges are then brought together and sutured.

With this procedure, there is minimal bleeding which is easily controlled with electrocautery. In some cases involving large tattoos, a skin graft taken from another part of the body may be necessary.

Rubbing the tattoo off

In this method, the tattoo is literally scrapped off. It is quite painful and cumbersome procedure but practiced nonetheless. There are two ways by which a tattoo is rubbed off the skin:

• Dermabrasion

This procedure of tattoo removal involves spraying of a portion of the tattoo with a freezing solution, after which that part is sanded with a rotary abrasive instrument causing the skin to peel. Because some bleeding is bound to occur, a dressing is immediately applied to the area.

• Salabrasion

This is an age old method of tattoo removal. As with the other methods, a local anesthetic is used on and around the tattooed area after which a solution of ordinary tap water dipped in table salt is applied. An abrading apparatus such as the one used with dermabrasion, or an even simpler device such as a wooden block wrapped in gauze, is used to vigorously abrade the area. When the area becomes deep red in color, a dressing is applied.

Laser

Laser tattoo removal is considered as the best of the solutions available. Though it is costly and might require multiple sessions, it ensures that tattoo removal is relatively pain free and blood free. Also the results have been quite encouraging and tattoos have been either totally removed or there were dramatic fading.

Laser tattoo removal procedure involves exposing the tattoo to the pulses of light from the laser, usually Q-switched Nd:Yag, Q-switched Alexandrite and the Q-switched Ruby. This exposure breaks up the tattoo pigment, which are removed from the body by the scavenger cells. More than one treatment is usually necessary to remove the entire tattoo.

Tattoos For Women – A New Fashion Accessory?

The popularity of tattoos among women is growing at an unprecedented rate. Over the past ten years, the number of women lining up at doors of tattoo studios has rocketed. Tattoos are now a mainstream fashion accessory for women, occupying the same category as shoes and handbags.

However, tattoos haven’t always been popular among women. Fifty years ago, tattoos were almost the exclusive preserve of men. Only ten percent of tattoos belonged to women. And as recently as the 1980’s there was a general belief in society that a women who got tattooed was either a criminal, a lesbian or a whore.

These days, things are completely different. The traditional stereotypes and stigmas that surrounded tattoos have been swept away and women have the confidence to wear their tattoos with pride. Women are now responsible for 65% of all tattoos. In fact the market for female tattoos has grown so rapidly that as many as one in four women in the US have a tattoo.

But apart from the change in the number of women who are getting tattooed, the female tattoo market has undergone a couple of significant changes.

1) Tattoo Placement

Previously, women who wanted a tattoo felt the need to position them on a part of their body where they could be kept well hidden. But these days women are proud of their tattoo designs and as such are placing them in more visible areas.

The stomach and lower back are two of the most popular areas for tattoo placement. This suggests that women want to have the choice of whether or not to display their designs. It also indicates that most women now have the confidence to select a more sexual placement of their tattoo designs. Other popular locations for female tattoos include ankles and the front of the hips.

2) Tattoo Designs

The type of tattoo designs that women want have also changed. In the past, the few women who got a tattoo opted for something small, discreet and well hidden, such as a name, a small flower or a cute design.

Today, the tattoo designs chosen by women are generally larger and much bolder. Increasingly, women are willing to experiment with the size and style of tattoos. The most popular designs now include shooting stars, fairies, butterflies and unicorn. Larger tribal and celtic designs placed on the lower back are also incredibly popular.

But beyond that, many women now have the confidence to seek out custom tattoo designs that will be unique to them. They’re more style conscious than men, so they’re no longer happy strolling into the tattoo studio, taking a quick glance through the catalog and becoming another one of the thousands who already wear the same design.

Instead, women tend to take their time when searching for their perfect tattoo. They’re more likely to select a custom design, but only after ample consideration of how it will look and make them feel. This allows them to leave the tattoo studio with a design that they can wear with confidence and pride.

Lower Back Tattoos – Why Are They So Popular?

Lower back tattoos have been steadily growing in popularity since the early 1990’s. But since the millenium the growth in the number of these tattoos has been explosive.

And part of the reason for this surge in popularity is the general growth in the number of women who are getting tattoos. Lower back tattoos are almost exclusively worn by women and the fact that women account for an estimated 65% of all new tattoos goes part of the way to explain this modern trend.

Beyond that, tattoos placed on the lower back are widely regarded as a symbol of a highly sensual woman. Careful choice of design can help to highlight the curves of the female body, from the curve of the lower spine, to the hips and the top of the buttocks. And as such, placement of tattoos on this area of the body has become a way for women to celebrate their curves and express their sexuality.

But apart from the sensual aspect of these designs, there are many advantages of placing a tattoo on the lower back.

1) Long Lasting

The skin around the lower back is less likely to stretch in the event of weight gain, whether due to normal weight fluctuations or pregnancy. This is a major advantage as it reduces the risk of tattoo designs (especially symmetrical designs commonly used for lower back tattoos) becoming distorted and stretched.

2) Visually Flexible

Lower back tattoos are also extremely flexible in terms of visibility. A revealing top or low cut trousers will help to display the design to the world, while a quick change to more formal attire will easily conceal the wilder side of your personality. This flexibility is an important consideration for people who have to present a more sombre appearance in their professional lives.

3) Highly Personal

A lower back tattoo is a highly personal piece of body art. Not only does it sit on a semi-intimate part of your body, the design can be created to match the shape, size and flow of your curves. This helps to reflect your individuality and greatly increases the chances of ending up with a design that’s completely unique.

4) Wide Choice Of Designs

There’s a wide range of designs that can be incorporated into a lower back tattoo. For example, you could select a celtic design, or go for a floral motif, or how about a tribal design. In fact, almost any v-shaped, symmetrical design can be used, so the options are virtually endless. This allows you to search for a design that’s full of personal meaning and expresses part of your personality.

For example, as the lower back is a recognized chakra point, it’s closely connected with the flow of spiritual energy. So a tattoo that consists of energy radiating from the design represents someone who is full of energy and vitality. Alternatively, a floral lower back design is a sign of beauty and fertility.

However, this location for tattoo placement carries one major disadvantage. The lower back is generally recognized as one of the most painful areas of the body to have tattooed. Fortunately, women are better at tolerating pain and discomfort.

Yes, it’s official, most women have a higher pain threshold. According to numerous tattoo artists, women are much better than men when it comes to dealing with the pain of getting tattooed. Nobody knows why.

It could be due to gender based expectations. Men like to think that they’re macho and can withstand pain. This rather cavalier attitude causes them to underestimate the pain level and pass out as soon as the needle touches their skin.

On the other hand, women tend to anticipate the pain more accurately, helping them to avoid nasty surprises and maintain a higher level of tolerance.

And finally, while lower back tattoos are now widely accepted in many parts of the world, there are still some places and communities where they’re regarded as a symbol of promiscuity and low morals.

Although this is a rather minor issue for most people, it’s worth bearing in mind if you live in a particularly narrow minded part of the world or are overly concerned with what other people think of you.

Ultimately, your choice of tattoo design and placement is up to you. All that matters is that you find a combination which makes you feel good and has the ability to stand the test of time.

Minimizing The Pain Of Tattoos

No matter what you may hear, there really is no way to predict the amount of pain that you’ll experience when getting a tattoo. If you arrive with determination and the right frame of mind, it may not hurt you as much as you thought. On the other hand, if you arrive at the studio scared half to death – it will more than likely hurt you more than you thought possible.

Tattoos involve piercing into skin, which almost always involves pain. No matter how big or how small the tattoo may be or where it is located, you can expect to feel some pain. The overall amount of pain you experience though, all depends on your tolerance. If you have a high pain tolerance, you may feel next to nothing during the entire process.

When you get a tattoo, the needles will puncture your skin at very fast rates and variable depths. The outline of the tattoo is easily the most painful, as the needles will be used to create a black line that will stand out on the tattoo. This part need to be inserted fairly deeply and carefully to ensure that it’s done correctly. The shading of the tattoo normally isn’t painful, although it depends on the penetration depth and effect that you desire.

Normally, the pain you feel is a slight burn or scratching feeling. If the tattoo is going to be on an area where there is less bone and tissue such as the wrist or chest, the pain will be a bit more intense. Areas like the arms and legs however, normally aren’t that painful. Areas such as these have more tissue and muscle, which will lessen the amount of pain you feel.

Even though some pain is to be expected, there are ways that you can minimize the pain. Below are some tips that will help you deal with the pain.
1. Never show up to a get a tattoo on drugs or drunk. This will thin out your blood, causing you to bleed more.
2. Always choose a tattoo artist that you are comfortable around. If you have confidence in your artist you can minimize the pain a great deal.
3. Show up at the studio with sheer determination. You should accept the fact that the tattoo will take time. Quality work is an art – and should never be rushed.
4. If the pain becomes too much to bear, you should let your tattoo artist know immediately. He will allow you to take a break, or stop and come back later. You can always break up your sessions, as tattoos don’t need to be finished immediately.
5. To ease your mind, listen to music. This way, you can take your mind to a different place and focus on something other than the tattoo.

Application Techniques Of Tattoos

Tattoos are more common these days than they have ever been in the past. As we all know, tattoos are decorative markings in the skin, such as symbols, signs, and letters that are applied by puncturing the outer layer of the skin and injecting color. Tattoo guns are the best instrument to use, as they move extremely fast and are sharp enough to easily puncture the skin.

There are several types of tattoo guns available, many of which use a very sharp needle. There are guns out there that use more than needle, although they aren’t ideal for tattoos that require strict lines or designing. Single needle tattoo guns are the best for tattoo applications, although the needles need to be changed out after each tattoo. Tattoo needles can be very dangerous if they aren’t disposed of – possibly leading to serious infection if they are used over and over again without being disinfected or disposed of.

There are also tattoos out there known as “jailhouse tattoos”. These types of tattoos are normally found in jails and prisons, using homemade material for tattoo guns. Normally, tattoo artists in jails and prisons will make their own guns, using batteries and needles for ordinary ink pens. These tattoos aren’t very safe, and normally lead to infection. The skin is punctured to inject the ink, although with jailhouse tattoo guns the needle will literally pull and jerk at the skin, ripping it and normally going very deep with the ink.

If the skin is jerked or ripped, it can result in the tattoo looking horrible. In most cases, if the ink goes too deep into the skin, it can lead to an infection. Deep ink also looks terrible as well, especially if it penetrates the third layer of skin. For that very reason, jailhouse tattoo applications aren’t recommended and should be avoided at all costs.

With any tattoo, color is very important. Black and white are the most commonly used colors, although there are other colors used as well. Tattoos need to have an equal balance of color, along with the right shape. If the shapes used in your design follow the contours of your body, the tattoo will look even more impressive. Therefore, you should always have your tattoo applied by someone with a lot of experience.

From a technical standpoint, tattoos involve micro pigment implantation, as they are a form of body modification. Tattoos are a design in ink, normally symbolic or decorative, permanently placed under your skin. Tattoos have been around for hundreds of years, although tattoos in the past used everyday needles and ink – with a very high risk of infection. Although they are very common and very popular, tattoos always have risks. No matter what type of application method is involved, there will always be a risk of infection.

Today, electronic tattoo machines are the most common methods of tattooing. With electronic tattoo guns, the ink is injected into the skin by a group of needles that are attached to a bar. The electronic gun moves very fast, going in and out of the skin hundreds of thousand of times per minute. If an experienced tattoo artist uses the gun, the results can be amazing. Experienced tattoo artists are always the way to go, as they have the experience to give you the results you want. With the right tattoo artist and the right application technique – you should have a tattoo that you can be proud of.

Instantly Removable Tattoo Inks

Instantly Removable Tattoo Inks
Part of the attraction of getting a tattoo for some people has been the permanence of the body art that one chooses to place on their skin. If one tattoos a name on their body, it means that name has permanent meaning for them. Likewise, the designs they choose would be something they would never want to change. New tattoo ink technologies are threatening to change the whole concept of permanency of tattooing. Although there currently exist many methods of tattoo removal, their difficulty and cost make tattoos effectively permanent for most people. Likewise, older methods of removal, such as surgery may be painful and leave significant scarring. Laser tattoo removal, while usually effective, often requires multiple treatments and can be costly.

One company, Freedom-2, is bringing products to market that will change the paradigm of tattooing. Their ink is based on encapsulating bio-absorbable dyes in polymethylmethacrylate microspheres. The dyes in the ink are already FDA-approved for use in food, cosmetics, and medical devices. The ink is injected into the skin by standard tattooing techniques. At any time when removal of the pigment is desired, a single laser treatment disrupts the encapsulation, allowing the ink to flow out into the tissues and be absorbed. The tattoo then quickly fades without the need for further laser treatments. This ink is not yet available for general use, but has been tested in human subjects, according to the company’s website. They indicate that it will be commercially available in early 2007.

They are also developing tattoo inks that will fade away on a predetermined schedule without the need for any laser treatments at all. The technology behind this is not elucidated, and there is no date of availability listed yet for this type of product.

The main difference between these two products is that the former is a permanent ink that can be removed anytime, while the latter will last a long time but then fade away, even if the owner prefers it to stay.

Tattoo artists may not instantly take to the new inks. The ability to remove a tattoo is not necessarily the foremost consideration when choosing tattoo inks. Some artists believe that tattoos should be permanent, or one is better off not getting a tattoo if he or she is unsure about them. However, some tattoo shops may choose to cater to the less-decisive. Also, it may encourage more experimentation and fanciful designs, if the recipient knows that they can get the tattoo quickly lasered off if they don’t like it. The new ink will likely be significantly more expensive that standard ink, so cost will also be a consideration for artists.

Although a tattoo’s ink may be temporary, there is often scarring left behind from the tattoo needle’s penetration of the skin. Thus a textural image of the tattoo may remain permanently. Even so, the concept of tattoos as purely permanent body art may be replaced by tattoos as fashion. If a tattoo could be instantly removed, some people may choose to periodically change their tattoos as they would their style of clothing.

Do you want your tattoo removed, the laser way

Laser tattoo removal works on the principle of selective thermolysis where the targeted tattoo is exposed to the energy delivered by laser. This energy exposure results in selective destruction of the foreign pigment while ensuring minimum damage to the surrounding skin.

Lasers can be applied to remove all sorts of tattoos be it professional, amateur, cosmetic, medicinal, and traumatic tattoos. The different colors present in the tattoos may respond differently to laser tattoo removal, but they do get removed to quite some extent. Thus laser tattoo removal presents itself as a non-invasive and effective treatment for unwanted tattoos.

The right candidate

Anyone with a need to remove an undesired tattoo can opt for laser tattoo removal. It is not the person’s physical characteristics which decide the extent of removal but the colors used. Though most tattoo colors can be eliminated or lightened more or less, skin colored tattoos may undergo irreversible ink darkening. This may be the case with white, pink, flesh-toned and light brown tattoo inks. Also red ink tattoos may turn black. In these situations do ask or say yes to a test dose.

Some Facts

Although, laser tattoo removal for sure is the best solution to the unwanted tattoo woes; it has got its warts which need to be kept in mind. Some of them are:

1. Since results are color dependent total elimination is not possible, however you can be sure of dramatic lightening. Amateur black tattoos respond more quickly than professional and multicolored tattoos.
2. To get maximum benefit multiple sessions are usually required.
3. Doubly treated tattoos may require additional treatments.
4. If the tattoo is multicolored, it would require exposure to lasers of several different wavelengths because of the selective absorption characteristics of a particular color.

Types of lasers used

Q-switched Ruby Laser (QSRL)

It is a red colored laser which works best for dark blue and black inks. With tattoos in these colors, results have been exceptional. So far as red and yellow color is concerned results have been less than satisfactory. The response of green tattoos is variable. The QSRL is also effective in treating medicinal and traumatic tattoos.

Q-switched Nd:YAG

This laser works both for amateur and professional tattoos of all colors. But best results have been observed in case of black tattoos, as is the case with the ruby laser. Moreover this laser works quite well for darker skinned individuals. Also unlike QSRL, which is ineffective in case of red and yellow color, Q-switched Nd:YAG is highly effective for these colors in frequency doubled setting (532 nm).

Q-switched Alexandrite Laser

This laser is quite like QSRL in treating tattoos especially when treating green tattoos. However up to 50% of patients can experience textural changes in their skin after treatment.

Flashlamp-pumped Pulsed Dye Laser

This laser does not penetrate deep into skin because of its wavelength which is 510 nm. Hence it is not so useful when it comes to deeper tattoos. However, it is effective for the treatment of brightly colored tattoos such as those that use red, purple, and orange inks. The major side effect of this laser is bruising.

Post-procedural Care

After the procedure some swelling and blistering is commonplace, so is crusting. So don’t panic they will go by themselves after some time. Do take good care of the wound to aid the healing process and to prevent infection.
To ensure fast and safe healing, make use of prescribed antibiotic ointment with regular dressing changes. If you feel the need of alleviating any resultant pain, consult the physician to recommend you some pain killer. Also avoid exposure to sun to prevent tanning.

Conclusion

Laser tattoo removal has brought an effective, less painful solution to people who want to get their tattoos removed or faded.

Finding A Tattoo Artist – Important Questions To Ask

If you want to get the perfect tattoo, choosing the right artist is just as important as finding the right design. After all, a poor quality artist will take your perfect design and ruin it…permanently.

So here’s a list of the most important questions to ask your tattoo artist. Don’t feel bad or awkward about asking any of these questions. Tattoo artists will have heard them all before and true professionals will be only too happy to give you honest, open answers.

1) How long have you been a tattoo artist?

This is an important part of working out the strength of a tattoo artist’s reputation. In general, the longer they’ve been in the business, the more experience they’ll have and the better their reputation. Artists with a bad reputation don’t tend to last that long.

2) What are your qualifications?

As with all professional trades it’s important that tattoo artists are properly qualified. Tattooing is a precision job that involves the use of needles, so it’s vital that a tattoo artist has been professionally trained and has a thorough knowledge of hygiene procedures.

3) How many tattoos have you done?

This is a good indication of an artist’s level of skill and experience. Tattooing is an art, and the more designs a person has created, the better they’re likely to be. The answer to this question also allows you to work out roughly how busy the artist has been, which is again closely linked to their popularity and reputation.

4) Can I see some of your previous work? Can you provide references?

Top quality artists will be able to provide you with pictures of their work and references from previous clients that they have worked on. But make sure that you see their work once it has healed properly to give you an accurate idea of what it looks like.

An artist who doesn’t have a portfolio of their work or appears evasive when you ask these questions should be avoided at all costs.

5) How much will the work cost?

Large tattoos that are full of intricate detail can be extremely expensive, often running into thousands of dollars. Even smaller designs can cost over a hundred dollars. So if you’re on a tight budget, make sure that you agree on the full cost of your chosen tattoo before work begins. This will avoid any nasty surprises or misunderstandings.

6) Do you guarantee your work?

What happens if you’re not happy with the completed design? Will they drop the charge, or just reduce it? Do they have a refund policy? Make sure you find out your artist’s guarantee policy before work begins as it will have a bearing on the quality of after sale service that you receive.

7) How long will the tattoo take?

This depends upon the size of your chosen design and the level of intricacy. Ultra small tattoos may take a matter of minutes to complete, while a full sleeve design may take several hours spread over a number of sessions. But if it’s your first tattoo, it’s important to know as much about the procedure as possible so that you feel more relaxed about it.

How should I care for my tattoo during the healing process?

Aftercare is an important part of the overall tattoo process. Poor aftercare can damage your tattoo design, lead to scarring of your skin and increase the chance of an infection developing. So all competent artists should be able to give you detailed instructions on how to care for your tattoo during the healing process. If they seem more interested in getting the tattoo started, go find another more responsible tattoo artist.

9) How can I reduce the chances of an infection occurring?

All tattoo artists should be able to give you advice that will help you to keep your tattoo clean and reduce the risk of infection. They’ll also be able to advise you what to do if you think that an infection is developing.

10) Are there any medical conditions that can prevent a person from getting a tattoo?

Certain medical conditions mean that individuals should either avoid tattoos completely or take certain precautions prior to being tattooed. Your tattoo artist should be able to give you general advice on this matter. However, if you have any doubts about the effects of a tattoo upon your health, please consult a suitably qualified medical practitioner.

Next Page »