Tattoo Artists Review

Overall 4.38 of 5 view all 13 reviews

kid-kansas
Clearwater, KS

Something to think about before getting a Tattoo!!!

married, safety conscious, Have Tattoo's

Pros

Can Make a Statement, Can be very Artistic

APR

2008

Tattoo Artists —

Okay I am a Redneck and as such I have Tattoo's on my body. After reading a few reviews I felt they lacked in some very important information and that I will share with you now.

Getting a Tattoo

My tattoo's are over 30 years old and when I got mine it was something that only bikers or servicemen got. There were not very many Tattoo Shops around and the ones you found were either near a Military Base or in the REAL Bad part of town. Surprisingly they were very clean on the inside. In those days (early to mid 70's) they reused the needles but they were sterilized in autoclaves.

Some important things to remember!!

Be sure you really want one because contrary to popular belief they are not easily removed and will leave very bad scarring when removed. These are permanent and you need to think long and hard before getting one. Mine are easily covered up by my shirt so if I don't want you to see them you won't.

Do your research into the Artist that will be doing your Tattoo, looking at pictures is not enough. For one can you be 100% sure he actually did the work or are they pictures of someone else's work? Talk to others that have gotten them and see how they turned out. Even doing that you must realize that even the pro's screw up once in a while and once it is etched into your skin it could be very hard to correct!

Inks have improved since I got my Tattoo's but just remember that there may come a time when they will fade and need to be re-colored to gain back what nature takes away. From sunburn and just getting older they are gonna fade to some extent. Also be sure you really want what you pick out. Take your time in picking one, after all it will be there even after you are gone. Make sure it is something you are proud of not only the day you get it, but also when your Grandkids see it for the first time!!

Make sure they either clean their needles and other equipment according to health code or use new sterilized stuff each time. Also never let an artist Tattoo your skin unless they are wearing gloves. You don't know if the guy/gal has Aids or any other thing that ajax won't take away!! Be Smart and Be Safe!!

My personal belief is that a Tattoo can be Sexy and if done in the right size and placed properly is a work of art to be proud of. If you decide to put a name on your body remember it will last forever, so make sure it is someone you want displayed on your body for the same period of time!

Take it from me because I screwed up with my first one and in order to cover it I had to get a much larger one to cover it up. I like the end result but I was also lucky at the same time. I doubt if my wife now would be very happy looking at another woman's name on my arm!

Although you can see 2 tattoo's on me there are actually 4 of them. My Panther covers my first wife's name and the Snake and Dagger on my left arm are 2 tattoo's in one done about 5 years apart. The Dagger was first and then I had the Snake added later, but they look as if they were done together. I took the pictures I posted here myself, wasn't easy either...lol but you can see them pretty good!

I had had both recolored about 20 years ago and they need it again but I am not going to do it. I want one more and I will be done getting tattoo's, I want a double heart with my Mom and Dad on them as a memorial to them and what they mean to me.

Bottom Line

Be smart and do your homework before you sit in that chair! A few well placed Tattoo's can make you Sexy, Stand out and make a statement. Too many or in the wrong place can make you look otherwise to people. For the squeamish or faint of heart I can tell you that if you can stand a mild sunburn for 2 weeks and a pin prick sensation for about an hour you can handle getting a Tattoo with no problem. Follow the artist's instructions for care while it is healing and you will be fine. Personally I just put Neosporin on mine and kept out of the sun as much as I could for 2 weeks.

Tattoos can be small or large, simple or elaborate but just remember it is going to be with you for a very long time....can you say FOREVER? So just be 100% sure before you get one, after thoughts are not a luxury with tattoos!!

Tattoo Artists is recommended by kid-kansas

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Comments about kid-kansas’s Review

I like your tips. Tattoos are "in" now with models and actors getting them. There are going to be some sad people when the hype slows down. I think names of lovers are universally a bad idea! I have four tattoos. They are covered with normal clothes or my watch. Even if famous people are getting them, there is still a stigma attached for many people. So, like you say, I would be very careful in deciding what and where to get inked.

In response to houdini16409's comment from Apr 7, 2008 at 6:04PM:

You're very welcome....see you are already doing the right thing, if you're not sure about a permanent thing then think long and hard b4 you leap. ;)

In response to jazzybean01's comment from Apr 7, 2008 at 1:06PM:

Ahhhhhhh... In that case you do the Redneck Stomp.........Kick the chair out from under his lazy butt! lol ;)

I can deal with needles, but I don't know if I could find something that I would want on my body for the rest of my life. I think they are cool, but not for me. Great tips!

In response to kid-kansas's comment from Apr 6, 2008 at 12:46AM:

Oh no. This guy didn't have another single person in the shop. He was reading!!!!

In response to CyndiA's comment from Apr 6, 2008 at 7:22PM:

Yep, the best way! Just like you don't trust a car dealer about a car....lol ;)

I did an article on tattoos for the paper. I sat at the local hang out and watched for guys with tattoos. When I saw a really good one, I'd ask who did it. It was R.C. He's in Statesville. That's a good way to find a tattoo artist. Check out the work (-: From one redneck to another . . .

In response to jazzybean01's comment from Apr 5, 2008 at 5:45PM:

Exactly!!! Well if an artist is doing a tattoo on someone, I think I would rather they didn't look away from doing it to talk, that could spell disaster for the person in the chair. They could have stopped and talked though and they should have. Talking and inking is not a good thing sometimes. ;) I am glad you took it serious and did your research, most people don't and later regret it when it's too late.Thanks for the kind words ;)

In response to Buggheart's comment from Apr 5, 2008 at 4:55PM:

You're welcome! Seriously...unless the noise from the gun bothered you, it is no worse than a sunburn. After the initial pain it gets much better ( you get a little numb) It hurtst a lot less than stubbing your toe! ;)

Great review. I've gotten two tattos and I love them both. My first one was done in a shop and when I walked in the shop I didn't feel creeped out. Trust your instincts, if it feels weird, go someplace else. The second one was done by a friend in his house and it was very sterile. While researching my next tattoo, I visited many shops in my town. A few I went into and the people totally ignored me and didn't even look up from what they were doing when talking to me. That's bad business. Just because somewhere has won awards and "best of's" doesn't mean you just go in and get inked. Really talk to an artist. And good artist will tell you when something you want won't turn out our while be blurry because it's too small. I'm wary of artists who right off say, "yeah I can do that" without even talking about it. As in everything, I always do my education.

Thanks for the very helpful info, Ron! I would like to get one (a lotus flower) but I'm such a wuss I know they would start and I wouldn't be able to stand the pain.

In response to AnnaBanana's comment from Apr 4, 2008 at 8:44AM:

Yep...A friend of mine has a portrait of his 2 daughters and the guy that did them is fantastic. They look like b/w photos on his arms!

I've seen tattoos I like on other people but I'm afraid I might pick one for myself that I would get bored with and, as you point out, they are hard if not impossible to remove.

In response to joyjoy's comment from Apr 3, 2008 at 3:36PM:

Yep I still know where it is (it ends in the Panthers ear...lol) but you would never see it ;)

I read about a tatooist who always tries to talk men out of getting a woman's name. He was right, they might not be as lucky as you.

In response to AmyA's comment from Apr 3, 2008 at 11:10AM:

Thanks Amy! I have never regretted getting mine at all but it is a decision that should be taken very seriously. My youngest daughter got one to spite her hubby. Her and my oldest got "Big Sister, Little Sister" in Chinese on their shoulders. The youngest has 1 and my oldest has 3 (She had to out do Dad..lol )

In response to LaurieM's comment from Apr 3, 2008 at 8:50AM:

Thanks, I am glad I could help some! Both my daughters have tattoos....but they called and we talked about it long and hard before they made the commitment. My oldest even refused one artist because even though his work is very good, he didn't wear gloves! I guess I was a success in the teaching role of Daddy and that feels good. ;)

In response to GeorgeChabot's comment from Apr 3, 2008 at 8:36AM:

Yep and I hope I have given folks a good enough reason to think long and hard. ;)

Ya know Ron, last year I was all set to get a tat and the day before the hubby (who never gets upset) thought I was just kidding about getting one that next day. I steamed a bit after that and well I ended up not getting one and a year later I am happy I didn't. Very good info in your review!

I have been considering getting a very small one of my initial l in cursive with a rose vine going through it. I just haven't decided where I want it and I don't quite have the guts yet! This was very helpful! =)

Very pertinent, ole bud. I got one when only prisoners or bikers got one, too. Everybody was really jacked up about it for about 30 years. They need to be sure before they get one. ;>

In response to gitbean's comment from Apr 2, 2008 at 11:12PM:

Sounds like a winner...If the girl is still there, you won't feel a thing....She has a great personality and looks pretty good too! ;)

In response to kid-kansas's comment from Apr 2, 2008 at 10:59PM:

My commute takes me past Odenton....I will have to take your directions and do a little hunting....thanks for the great help Ron:~)!!!!!!!! I will have to post a picture for you once I get it done!!

In response to gitbean's comment from Apr 2, 2008 at 10:43PM:

Not sure how many have popped up around there but I got mine up there in Ft. Meade. Right near 175 and 32 it was between 32 and Reece road on the right if you were coming from Odenton. Real nice couple owned it then, the wife did mine. Good luck on the new Tat!! ;)