Tattoo Mistakes – How To Avoid Them

Every day, thousands of tattoo mistakes are made. And while it’s possible to make a tattoo fade using laser removal technology, it’s time consuming, costly and painful. So here’s how to avoid the most common mistakes that people make with tattoos.

1) Never Agree To Get A Tattoo When You’re In The Wrong State Of Mind

Getting a tattoo when you’re in the wrong frame of mind is a shortcut to disaster.

So don’t even think about getting tattooed when you’re drunk, depressed or under pressure (it’s not a good enough reason just because all your friends are getting one, or have got one). And don’t get a tattoo done on a whim.

You know it’s a whim when you find yourself in a tattoo studio and you hadn’t even considered getting a tattoo the night before!

It’s good to be spontaneous, but not with something that will last you the rest of your life. So before you get a tattoo, always ask yourself “Do I want to get this tattoo?”

And keep asking yourself that question every day for a fortnight. And only after you genuinely answer yes every day, do you go anywhere near a tattoo parlour.

2) Choose The Right Design

Choosing the right design is absolutely vital to the amount of pleasure you get from your tattoo.

Let’s face it, if you want a dragon, you won’t be happy with a flower design. And if you want a large tattoo, you won’t be happy with a small design.

So don’t compromise on what you want. The final choice of tatoo design must be yours and not that of your friends, partner of tattoo artist. After all, you’re the one who’ll have to live with it.

It should be a piece of artwork that you absolutely love. And something that you’re certain you’ll continue to love for years into the future.

Another mistake that many people make is believing the they have to select a design offered by their chosen tattoo studio. If you choose a reputable artist, they’ll be able to create a tattoo from any design that you take along with you.

In fact, this is one of the best ways to get the right tattoo.

Browse the internet where you can find thousands of high quality tattoo designs to choose from. Most cost less than $20. Take time from the comfort of your own home to decide which design you want. Take a few days to think about the designs that you like. Then, once you’ve made up your mind, print out both the color reference guide and the tattoo stencil and take them to your chosen artist.

This option is much more relaxed, and you’re much more likely to select the right design. It certainly beats picking a design on the spot when you’re waiting in the tattoo studio.

3) Cheap Isn’t Always Best

Whatever happens, make sure that you select a high quality stencil for your tattoo design.

All high quality tattoo designs consist of two parts, the main tattoo design which includes the color reference, and a matching stencil of the design.

What many people don’t realise, is that the stencil is applied directly to your skin by the tattooist using a machine caller a “liner”.

So don’t be tempted to do things on the cheap. Buy a quality tattoo stencil (most cost less than $20). Trying to create a tattoo from the color reference design or trying to trace a stencil is a shortcut to a tattoo disaster.

A poor stencil will always lead to a poor tattoo. Traced stencils are not accurate and will translate into a shaky looking design. Regardless of how good they are, a tattoo artist can only quality work from a quality stencil.

4) Test Your Tattoo First

Okay, you’ve found the tattoo design that you want, but you’re not sure where to place it and what size to go for. Do you take a risk?

No. There are millions of people around the world who wish they’d chosen a slightly different tattoo design, gone slightly bigger, or placed it further to the left etc.

So if you want to avoid adding to these regrets, it’s important to test your tattoo before you take the plunge.

It’s now possible to get special tattoo test paper that will allow you to turn your design into a temporary test tattoo. Just print your chosen design onto the test paper and apply it to your skin.

Then it just a case of living with it for a day to two and forming your own opinion. How does it make you feel? Are you happy with the size and the position that you’ve selected? Does it catch your eyeline when you’re not looking at it? Is it distracting? And then comes the big question; ask yourself, “could I live with this for the rest of my life?”

Testing your intended tattoo is the only way to confirm whether you’ve made the right decision.

5) The Tattoo And Aftercare

On the day your tattoo is created, a better overall affect will be achieved if you are well slept (it will help to keep you relaxed and to sit still) and well fed (an empty stomach can lead to feeling faint). If you are tense, full of stress or restless, it will take longer and the tattoo won’t be as perfect.

Once completed, most tattoos will take up to a month to heal properly. During the first five days, the area may be uncomfortable, irritated and slightly swollen. Make sure that you keep the area clean during this time. If possible, wash the area gently with an antibacterial soap four or five times a day. Gently pat the area dry with a clean cloth or piece of tissue.

It’s also suggested that you apply a thin skin of antibiotic ointment after every wash. A good quality aftercare product will help to reduce scabbing and protect your skin from infections which can cause scarring and make your tattoo appear blemished. They will also help to reduce irritation and redness and keep your skin supple.

The second stage of the healing process (weeks 2-4) will have the biggest influence over the look and lifespan of your tattoo. Taking care of the affected skin during this stage will ensure your tattoo stays bright and clear for as long as possible.

Just make sure that you use aftercare products that are specifically recommended for use with tattooed areas, as these won’t contain any artificial colors or fragrances which might irritate your skin.

Different artists will recommend different aftercare techniques, but the vast majority agree on three things.

Number One: Keep your tattoo clean

Number Two: As your tattoo heals, the skin will naturally dry out, so it’s vital to keep the area moist.

Number Three: Keep your tattoo away from direct sunlight.

How To Care For Your Tattoo

The First Day:

Leave bandage on for at least four hours, overnight if you received the tattoo late before your sleeptime. Make sure you can wash your tattoo when you remove the bandage. Handwash it, no cloths or sponges, using warm water & soap. Use water to soak off any of the bandage that sticks. Do not Rebandage. Wash tattoo at least twice a day while it is healing. Let tattoo dry out for one day, you may wash it to keep it clean during this time, After, start applying skin/hand conditioning lotion or lightly massage A&D ointment into tattoo.

Some people have been known to develop an allergy to Bacitracin, Triple antibiotic and other ointments may contain it. We do not recommend it. Nor do we recommend plain Vaseline. Lotions are safest in warm weather. Keeping it moist will speed the healing process, but your tattoo needs to breathe. Heavy application of petroleum based ointments can suffocate the tattoo and cause a rash. You can wet your tattoo, but don’t soak in the tub or shower for a long time while it is healing.

If you work under very dirty conditions or have to wear tight clothes, you can tape dry papertowel over your tattoo. Try to wear loose clothing around your tattoo. It is normal for your tattoo to flake off tiny pieces of colored skin while it is healing, but you don’t want to force it. So…Do not ever rub or scratch or pick your tattoo! you can smack it if it itches too much.

Wash your tattoo more often if you work near grease, chemicals, dirt, or if you got your tattoo in or near a high-bacteria area such as the armpit, buttocks, or genitals. Do not expose tattoo to chlorine, salt,alcohol or sun for 10 days. Careful with lotions containing excessive alcohol.

Only expose tattoo to long periods of sun after it is fully healed and then with a strong sunscreen applied, so as to protect it from the fading effects of radiation. Tattoos normally take 7-10 days to heal.

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Temporary Tattoos – A Quick Guide

These days, more and more people have taken the decision to get a tattoo. However, if you like the idea of body art, but don’t want to leave a permanent mark on your skin, it might be worth taking a look at temporary tattoos.

It’s not exactly known when temporary tattoos first appeared, but it’s generally accepted that they were first commercially available around 1900.

Initially, they were created using food coloring and provided on special paper that was impregnated with the design of tattoo. These pieces of paper were then held over the desired area of the body and transferred to the skin using water. These temporary tattoos were widely distributed for free with various food products.

Initially, there wasn’t a great choice of temporary tattoos available, but in recent years their popularity has grown rapidly, as have the number of products.

It has now reached the stage where they are regarded as legitimate pieces of body art and are widely used as fashion accessories.

At this stage it’s important to bear in mind that these temporary tattoos only last a few hours or a few days. As soon as you wash the tattooed area the design will begin to break up.

It is possible to find other temporary designs that last slightly longer, such as henna tattoos, but that’s the subject of another article.

The main attraction of temporary tattoos is revealed in the name. They won’t last forever, so if you don’t like the design, you won’t have to put up with it for the rest of your life. And if you’re the type of person who likes change, it gives you an opportunity to alter the look of your body on a regular basis.

There’s also a sizable number of people who would like a tattoo but are concerned about poor hygiene, infection, needles or anxious about the potential pain of getting a tattoo.

Temporary tattoos are also a great way to help you decide whether or not to get a permanent tattoo. They can help you to decide the type of designs that you like, where to place them on your body, and most importantly, whether you could live with a certain tattoo design forever.

Temporary tattoo designs can be found online or perhaps even at your local tattoo parlor. And if you opt for a high quality temporary design it should look exactly like a tattoo of the permanent variety.

There are thousands of different designs to choose from ranging in size from tiny to large and covering a whole range of styles.

So you want a traditional heart and anchor design? No problem. Or how about the latest ultra cool design or perhaps a cute pixie on your shoulder? Temporary Celtic tattoos are also extremely popular.

It’s also possible to get temporary tattoos that display words and phrases. So why not get a heart that bears the name of your partner? At least it doesn’t present the same risk as a traditional permanent tattoo which may last longer than the relationship is represents.

And finally, if you can’t find a temporary design that you like, there are numerous tattoo packages that allow you to design your own temporary tattoo designs. So you can be as artistic or as outrageous as you want.

You just create a design using the materials provided, then transfer it onto the relevant part of your body. And if it doesn’t turn out as intended, it can be washed away with nothing more than soap and water. It’s quick, it’s easy, it’s fun, and most importantly it’s not permanent.

Japanese dragon tattoo Meanings

Dragon is one of the most popular mythological creatures picked for inking and a classic choice for a tattoo design. It is usually depicted as a wingless, heavily-scaled snake-like creature with small clawed legs and a horned or antlered camel head, and is associated with sea, clouds or the heavens. Japanese dragons tend to be much more slender and fly less frequently than the Chinese counterparts. The breath of the Japanese Dragon changes into clouds from which come either rain or fire. It is able to expand or contract its body, and in addition it has the power of transformation and invisibility. This is merely a general description and does not apply to all Japanese dragons, some of which have heads of so extraordinary a kind that they cannot be compared with anything in the animal kingdom.

According to most sources, the Japanese dragon is closely related to the Chinese counterparts, with the exception that the Japanese dragon has only three claws, while that of the Celestial Kingdom (China) has five.

Tattoo artists have taken the art of the Japanese dragon to amazing new levels. Whether you want a full back design or a half sleeve design, you will find an incredible gallery of amazing designs to choose from. They can be in color, or black & white. The dragon tattoo may appear with sea wave or clouds or pearls. If the dragon claw holds an enormous magical pearl, which has the power to multiply whatever it touches, the “pearl” symbolized the most precious treasure: Wisdom. Ancient Dragon lore and illustrations have inspired many of us to select a dragon tattoo because that design represents how we feel about ourselves — strength, wisdom and freedom…

The popular locations for inking Japanese dragon tattoos.
Japanese dragon tattoos can wrap around the body and flatter the contours of the body, full body and full back dragon tattoos are quite common, and the most popular location is half sleeve, the body of the dragon wrap around the upper arm and the dragon head extend out the upper front, just above the heart. Because of the long shape of the dragon, it also suited for inking on arms and legs.

Where to Find Perfect Japanese dragon tattoo designs for Inking?
After all, getting an awesome Japanese dragon tattoo that perfectly flows with your body is what makes you feel proud. Am I right? There are many good reasons to get an awesome Japanese tattoo and there are many ways to screw it up. The most important thing to find a perfect Japanese tattoo is to take your time browsing through numerous tattoo collections before you settle the one for inking.

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