A little Tattoo Q & A

Some basic questions you might get from customers as a tattoo artist from time to time, and their answers.

Q: Does getting a tattoo hurt？

A: When getting a tattoo done, you are very basically having a very small needle repeatedly inserted into your skin. So, yes, it can be a little painful or irritating, but some people are less phased by this than others. The other factor is the area on the body on which the tattoo is being done, some areas are more sensitive than others due to a higher concentration of nerve endings beneath the skin, at the same time the more relaxed the muscle is the less you will feel.

Q: Is there a problem with soaking in hot water after having a tattoo done?

A: You should avoid soaking your tattoo in hot water for the firs 10-25 days (until it has healed completely) after having a tattoo done, this includes saunas, spas, hot tubs, jacuzzis etc. We also recommend you avoid spending a prolonged time in the shower.

Q: Can I sunbathe or tan after getting my tattoo?

A: We strongly suggest that you avoid tanning or prolonged exposure to UV rays wile your tattoo is healing, this includes using tanning beds. Even after healing, constant exposure to sunlight or UV rays will fade the tattoo a bit.

Q: I noticed that you do “autoclave sterilization”. What exactly is this?

A: In basic terms, autoclave sterilization is the way in which we have our instruments cleaned and sterilized for use. The items sterilized in this manner are put in to steam under pressure which will kill spores and microscopic organisms. The same process is used at most hospitals when sterilizing their instruments.

Q: I have a very dark complexion, will a tattoo show up well on my skin?

A: Tattoos can be done on the darkest of skin tones, although it must be said that the darker the skin being tattooed on is, the duller certain colours will appear. Some colours will show better than others on darker skinned people, be sure to ask one of our artists to find out how well a certain colour will show.

Q: I have heard that there are certain things that I shouldn’t drink before having a tattoo done, what are they?

A: We strongly recommend that you don't drink any alcohol or any caffeine (coffee, sodas) before having tattoo work done. Alcohol and caffeine can cause the blood to thin out meaning there will be more bleeding. The more you bleed, the more difficult it will be for your artist to see his/her work.

All About Tattoo Ink

Tattoo ink consists of a powder pigment along with a liquid carrier. Actually it is not ink at all, but it does resemble its consistency. It is more like paint than writing ink. There is one exception which is "India ink" which consists of black carbon particles from charcoal and water. This cheap tattoo ink has been utilized to tattoo centuries and is still used in tattooing today.
Tattoo ink pigments can also be found pre-mixed or colours can be mixed by the artists themselves. A tattoo artist who mixes their very own ink has a wide range of alternatives for both pigment and carrier. This really is one of the easiest methods to produce cheap tattoo ink and is also one of the safest. The artist knows exactly what is going into the ink and even though quite a few artists keep their mixtures secret there are many "recipes" out there for mixing your own ink.

Buy UV Tattoo Ink

Pigments are manufactured from metal salts, plastics, and vegetable dyes. Mostly they are safe but some people can get allergic reactions from different pigments, especially plastic ones. People with sensitive skin are the most susceptible to this. Cinnabar and cadmium pigments, which is utilized in red colors, should be avoided because they can be highly toxic. As an artist, you go through a lot of tattoo supplies. One of these supplies is Tattoo Ink. Ink can be seen as the "Lifeblood" of tattooing and always has to be in plentiful supply.

If you are spending loads of money on tattoo ink at the moment I have listed some ways in which you can save money on ink also a supplier for cheap tattoo ink. Pre dispersed pigments can be purchased online although companies are known to not list their ingredients, let alone mention if they are toxic. It is not that all pre dispersed tattoo ink are harmful, most ink manufacturers use only natural ingredients that are non toxic or allergenic. These are very safe, as or even safer than a pre mixed tattoo ink. It is important to research the company you are purchasing from before buying any ink from them, one of the best ways to find out which are the best are to ask some professional artists themselves, although you might find some artists will not divulge that information to anyone.

To buy tattoo ink online in South Africa or anywhere in the world, has never been easier.

You can find the best Quality yet cost effective Tattoo Ink on the market. here on our website www.bigslickshop.com. We offer free shipping anywhere in the world (USA, UK, Australia, Europe, New Zealand, South Africa and more) within 4 – 7 working days. Not only that but also realize that all our products are 100% authentic and will not harm your body or skin in any way. But you should be very careful about the other cheap tattoo inks available in the market as they can be of bad quality and can be harmful or may cause allergic reactions in some people. Also when using any ink you should be checked to see that you dont have any skin allergies for any of the ingredients, one way of doing this is to apply a small amount of ink to the inside of your elbow to see if your skin reacts in any way. I hope you learned a little more about inks and maybe you can save a bit of money in the future, don't pay twice as much for the same product!