How to tattoo

Tattoo really is one of the oldest forms of art known to man. From ancient times until today, using a needle to insert sub-dermal (beneath the skin) ink in order to create visual patterns and designs, the tattoo has served as a symbol of adult hood, a symbol of prosperity, and even simply a modern accessory that the fashion conscious can actually wear in their skin. If you’ve been thinking about tattooing yourself, you’ve certainly been looking at tattoo kits available on the market, but how exactly do you give somebody a tattoo in the first place?

It takes more than one of many handy tattoo kits to successfully be a tattoo artist. Obviously, it helps to draw, as it will not be uncommon for individuals to want custom work done. Don’t worry, you will not have be doing much "free hand" tattooing on anybody’s body, but you’re going to have to be able to come up with designs people want to put on their body.

Okay, so, assuming you can draw and that you and the customer have come up with a design they can agree upon, what happens next? Well, simple, you’ll take the design and put it in a thermo-fax. These are essentially special "copy machines" that will copy the image you draw from regular paper to a transfer sheet you can apply to the skin. The sheet is not the tattoo, but it does serve as a guide for where you’ll be putting the ink.

You’re going to want to make sure that the customer’s skin is washed with alcohol, and shaved smooth if there is body hair where the customer wants the tattoo applied. This not only helps with the transfer of the design, but with how well the ink pigments get into the skin. Depending on which part of the tattoo you’re working on, you’ll need to make sure you are using the appropriate needle. For outline work, which is how tattoos begin, you should use a fine circular needle. Flat needles are often used for shading while "magnum" needles are used for color filling. Always make sure to wash the skin as you work to keep blood out of the way and to reduce the chance of infection.

Once the tattoo is finished it obviously needs a clean sanitary bandage. Make sure to give the customer all the information they will need to take care of their new piece of ink. Include instructions on proper cleaning as well as using antibiotic healing salves to help the skin recover.

It takes a bit more than just tattoo kits to be able to successfully tattoo somebody. Make sure you have a reliable information source for tips and advice that go beyond starter tattoo kits and into technique and style as well if you want to further delve into this ancient and mysterious art.