Getting Tattoos: Design and Safety Tips for your Skin Ink!

These days' tattoos are more common than ever.

Tattoos have gained quite a bit in popularity over the years, giving people a chance to stand out and broadcast who they really are.

Men and women alike have tattoos, some covering their entire body.

The choice is entirely up to you though, as you can get a tattoo in virtually any size you want.

Even though there are many good things about tattoos, there are bad things as well. Among the good things about tattoos include the chance to broadcast who you are, the chance to be you, and the chance to stand out.

Most people who get tattoos get them for the symbolic meaning. Although there are some who get tattoos strictly for the look, many end up regretting getting the tattoo later on in life.

Tattoos are great for show, although the design itself should hold some meaning.

There are a variety of designs and colors to choose from, which helps to add to the positive benefits of tattoos. You can check out many designs at your local tattoo studio, in books and magazines, and on the Internet.

The Internet is a great resource for tattoo designs, as there are literally thousands to look at. You can also look at pictures of those who have tattoos so you can get an idea as to what a certain style will look like once it has been finished.

The cons of tattoos are pretty straight forward. Tattoos work by piercing the skin with a needle and injecting little gobs of ink.

With that being said the risk of infection when getting a tattoo is always there. If the tattoo artist isn't sanitary and doesn't clean his equipment after every use, the risk of infection will be much higher.

Another thing to worry about with tattoos is removal. If you later decide that you don't want the tattoo, you'll have to pay an expensive price to have it surgically removed. Surgery carries risks and complications as well.

In some cases, those who have got tattoos have had to have the tattoo removed due to infection. In these cases the infection has gotten so bad that there really is no other choice than to get the tattoo removed.

No matter how you look at it, there will always be both pros and cons with tattoos. Before you decide to get a tattoo, you should make sure that the design you have picked out is something that you can see yourself with for years to come.

If there is any doubt in your mind about the tattoo, you shouldn't get it.

Even though it may seem cool at the time - the price for removal and the complications with surgery may not be worth it in the long run.

Once you have made the decision to get a tattoo you'll need to find a qualified tattoo parlor.

This is a very important decision, as it can easily make or break your tattoo.

Before you decide on a tattoo artist or tattoo parlor, you must first see if they are qualified. There are hundreds of thousands of tattoo parlors out there, some better than others.

If you go to a less than perfect tattoo parlor, you could very well end up with an infection that can cause you more trouble than you ever thought possible.

Finding out how long a parlor has been in business is very important - as this will tell you how much business the parlor receives.

When you look for the best parlor you should always watch for those who have the best history with keeping their equipment clean.

Clean equipment and a clean studio is without a doubt the most important consideration when dealing with tattoos. If the artist isn't licensed or not a professional there will be little to no guarantee that the equipment is clean.

Health is a big concern with tattoos for most people, and for good reason. If you are looking to get a tattoo you should always make sure that the artists are licensed, the parlor is clean - and the equipment is sanitized and cleaned after each and every tattoo.

The best tattoo parlors will welcome you in with open arms, anticipating your business. When you meet the tattoo artist, he should be friendly and not intimidate you at all, nor should he at any time attempt to push a design on you.

Under no circumstances should the artist try and talk you into getting a more expensive tattoo design if all you want is something small and simple.

Pushy sales and unfriendly salesmen are common pitfalls with most businesses. Tattoo parlors should always be friendly and open to what you want. Although the more experienced tattoo artists will offer their opinions, they shouldn't try to push you around.

If a tattoo artists thinks there will be a problem with your design or if he thinks he can do anything to improve it, he will more than likely let you know. If he is able to save you some money, the higher quality tattoo artists won't think twice about doing so.

Before you decide on a tattoo parlor to do your tattoo, you should always compare what's available to you and weigh out your options.

The higher quality tattoo parlors will cost quite a bit of money, more than the other parlors.

This is to be expected, as the higher quality studios cost more to pay their artists and keep their parlor nice and clean. These parlors are among the best in the world, with sparkling floors and a clean interior.

The tattoo artists here ensure that their rooms are clean, with most wiping down their equipment and materials every chance they get.

The ideal way to find tattoo parlors in your area or close by is to use the Internet and search or just open a local phone book. If you look for the keyword tattoos, you'll find several that are relatively close to you.

Once you have found some addresses, simply drive out there and take a look around. If you like what you see, you can always come back.

You shouldn't rush your decision - but instead look at what each tattoo parlor has to offer you.

You're getting a tattoo and it's going to be your boy (or girl) friend's name across your chest with hearts and birds.

Stop right there! Let's talk about how to choose a tattoo you won't regret.

Now, before you say, "But I LOVE my boyfriend," just take some time to consider what you're doing.

Tattoos are pretty much permanent. They hurt going on, and hurt worse coming off.

If you're serious about getting a tattoo, make sure that what you're having inked into your skin for pretty much eternity is something you'll be happy about forty years from now. When you consider which kind of tattoo design to get, ask yourself the following questions:

1.) Why am I getting a tattoo?
Is it self-expression, marking an important life milestone or turning point, paying tribute to an important element in your life (perhaps your love of antique cars or cats)?

Maybe you do love someone and you want them to see that in a very permanent way. Most agree that it's fine to have the names of children, grandkids, parents, etc.

But most also agree that tattooing the name of your one true love (Michael Forever) might be a problem if your one true love turns out not to be.

If you're getting a tattoo because all of your friends are doing it, please reconsider. The only reason anyone should get a tattoo is because they want a tattoo.

If you want to get a tattoo as a personal challenge or something new and different, that's okay, too. Just choose the tattoo design carefully.

2.) What do I love now that I am absolutely certain I will love in forty or fifty years?
If you've loved cats since you were a little kid, or you've shared a love of antique cars with your dad since forever, you're probably good.

If you have children or grandkids, and you want to have their names on you, you're safe. If you feel connected to Asian culture and you want a Chinese dragon, you probably won't regret it.

If you're an athlete and want a tattoo of the Olympic Symbol, that's probably okay, too! You get the picture. If it's important to get an insanely cool tattoo that everyone else will marvel at, go for it!

But here's an important note - our interests and passions change with time. You may find yourself looking at a tattoo you got several years ago that doesn't carry the same meaning with it as it did when it was new. That's okay, as long as you still feel good about what it meant at the time.

3.) Finally, ask yourself, "Am I going to be embarrassed when I explain this to my grandkids, parents or the curious neighbor down the street?"
If you think you might feel stupid explaining your tattoo (and by the way, you are not required to explain your tattoo choices to anyone), you may want to rethink it.

Now, go looking for ideas. All tattoo shops have books full of "flash." Flash is just a word for tattoo designs. You can look through tattoo magazines, art magazines, or come up with something on your own.

Many good artists can take your rudimentary ideas and use their artistic skills to draw something that is uniquely yours.

Just remember when choosing your design to ask, "What am I trying to express? Why do I want a tattoo? What's important to me?" If you ask these questions, you will ultimately find your perfect design.

When you finally decide to get a tattoo, the first thing you'll need to do is find a reputable tattoo artist.

Most tattoo artists have several designs that you can pick from.

If you don't find anything you like, you can always ask him to make a custom tattoo.

You should always be careful in what you choose, as you'll have the tattoo for the rest of your life.

The design is very important, although not nearly as important as taking care of it.

Good tattoo artists will also clean and apply antiseptic ointment to your tattoo as they create it. Expert artists know that this helps keep the tattoo healthy.

Once the tattoo is finished, the artists will wipe it down, clean it off good, and apply another coat of antiseptic ointment. Once the ointment has been applied, he will put a piece of soft tissue or cellophane over the tattoo.

Once the tattoo is finished, the artists should tell you how to take care of your new tattoo. Some of the better artists will talk to you and give you a detailed sheet with all of the information you need.

If you went to a tattoo artist who didn't explain this to you, you may be wondering just what you should do. Taking care of a tattoo isn't hard - as long as you know what you can and can't do.

When you first get home with your new tattoo, you should never hop right in the shower. You should keep it dry for the first few days, but also clean it every few hours.

Before you touch the tattoo or clean it, you should always make sure that your hands are clean. If you keep your hands clean, you won't have to worry about an infection.

You'll also want to visit your local drugstore and purchase a tube of A&D ointment. A&D ointment is the best to use. A&D will keep your tattoo clean and shiny and should be used for the first few days.

Once the ointment starts to dry on the tattoo, you should wipe the old application off and apply some more. Don't rub it too hard, or you could damage the healing process. For the first few days, you should avoid using soap as well.

After 5 - 6 days, you can quit using the ointment. A&D ointment will keep your tattoo healthy, which you'll notice the first time you apply it.

After you stop using it, you should use an unscented body lotion. You want to avoid body lotions that have scents, as they can easily irritate the tender skin that resides under your tattoo.

After you have used the lotion for a few days, you can stop using it. Most tattoos, after they have healed, tend to leave a scab in some areas. If your tattoo has a scab, you should be careful when you try to pick it.

If you aren't careful, you could end up damaging your design. The best thing to do is you have a scab is to leave it alone. You can put A&D ointment on it if you want, as most of the time a scab will itch.

A tattoo can be a great thing to have providing you take care of it. Tattoos will stay with your for the rest of your life, unless you choose to get them surgically removed.

Taking care of your tattoo now will keep it healthy and infection free in the long run.

If you follow the above advice on how to take care of your tattoo - you won't have anything to worry about.