Tattoos penetrate much deeper than the skin, seeping into the lives of those who get them.
They are more than just a memory or a piece of art or a part of you – they are all these things combined, and they have the power to change you. The change can go both ways, good or bad. It’s up to you and the choices you make to decide though.
“The majority of tattoo patrons walk into a shop and would like to ‘buy? a tattoo. Just like if you would go to 7-11 and buy a can of coke,” said Jeff (Mack) McIntosh, a former Oxford resident currently working as a tattoo artist in Las Vegas. “They forget it’s an art form and need to pick their artist based on his abilities.”
As tattooing is becoming more popular in today’s society, more people are getting involved in it, and it doesn’t just speak for clients.
‘I’ve seen a lot of bad things,? said Austin Hill, manager of American Pride Tattoo, located at 340 N. Lapeer Rd., just north of Oxford Village. ‘A lot of the out of the house stuff is absolutely horrible.?
More and more people are learning the art of tattooing, but they’re doing it from their home by reading the manuals that come with the machines they order on-line.
‘Just because you bought a $100 machine off eBay, it doesn’t make you a professional,? said Hill.
“The overall worst tattoos are produced by people who buy a machine off the internet and start learning on friends and family,” said McIntosh.
In situations like this, where people are running a tattoo business from their home, Hill says there are a few things to keep in mind before making the decision to save that extra buck.
‘First of all, you get what you pay for,? he said. “People want the best for less. But good tattoos aren’t cheap, and cheap tattoos aren’t good.”
‘They don’t have the equipment that keep places like this open,? said Hill.
Not to mention that a $50 out-of-the-house-tattoo could turn into a $1,000 removal or more. And in a worse case scenario, it could lead to severe infections and even some fatal diseases.
The fact of the matter is, tattoos are becoming more mainstream.
‘We tattoo all sorts of people,? said Steve Jean, a tattoo artist at American Pride.
‘The rich to the poor, the school teacher to the biker,? said Hill.
As with anything else, the more prevalent it is, the more chances there are for mistakes.
‘The main thing to consider now is safety,? said Jean. The best way to accomplish this is to make educated decisions about when to get a tattoo and where at.
‘Do your research,? said Jean.
“Many tattoo shops post portfolios on-line so you can research the work and also read reviews of opinions of others who have been tattooed at that location,” said McIntosh.
Though tattoo artists cannot force people into paying attention to the details of what’s going into their tattoo, they can offer the opportunity.
‘People need to get involved more,? said Hill. ‘I’m happy when people are asking questions and getting more into what I’m doing.?
There are several things customers can observe prior to getting a tattoo that will let them know whether or not they are making a good decision – in a shop or out of someone’s garage.
The first and most important thing to check for is whether they are using new needles. If you do not see them remove the needle from the packaging, request they do it in front of you with a new needle.
‘But the whole environment has to be sterile,? said Jean. ‘They can be using new needles, but if you see them pick up a dirty spray bottle and touch it to your skin, that’s not sterile.?
‘I let customers watch me do everything,” said Hill. Tattoo artists are supposed to allow you observe them do everything, he said. So, there’s no reason to feel shy asking the privilege.
In addition to this, shops should have their permits in a visible area, and the public has the right to access the health department inspection reports.
“Twenty years ago health regulations on tattoo shops were very relaxed or even nonexistent. Modern tattooing is about as clean as it gets,” said McIntosh.
However, the statement only holds true for the established businesses, not the on-line prodigies.
But the responsibility doesn’t end there.
“After a tattoo is applied it becomes a wound and needs to be treated accordingly,” he said.
Proper care and after-treatment are some of the most important steps to take in order to ensure an infection-free healing.
‘What we recommend is what we think is best,? said Hill, ‘but some people do their own thing, and that’s how infections happen.?
Though the reason behind a tattoo is different for everybody, it’s safe to say that nobody gets one just for the sheer horror of it. So, putting effort into the decision to get one isn’t a waste of time; it’s just a simple way to prevent a lifetime of regret.
‘Some people get them as a marker of a milestone,? said Hill.
‘Some people get them when their going through a hard time just to remember how horrible that time was,? said Jean. And, some people just want a cool piece of art.
‘The tattoo itself will often times outlast the meaning in the first place,? said McIntosh. “The closest thing to relate it to is a journal entry – it marks a time in life where the most important thing was that design. Other times . . . you end up with a rubber ducky dressed as a pirate on your forearm. Life is funny like that.”