How to Get a Tattoo or Body Piercing

Body piercings and tattoos, ancient forms of adornment and beautification, are now found on all sorts of bodies. Few states have laws governing piercing and tattoo establishments or their practitioners. Before you let a stranger puncture your skin, shop around and find out how to mutilate your body safely.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Think hard about what designs you want. Collect art, leaf through books, and make sketches. A qualified tattoo artist will take what you bring in and transform it into beautiful art.

2. Place temporary tattoos on different parts of your body until you're clear where you want yours: Tattoos on your back or shoulder may look incredible, but you'll never see them without a mirror. Designs on your arms may be appealing, but you may tire of always having something there.

3. Consider long-term social or professional fallout for visible piercings and tattoos. While a particular style of body art may be appealing right now, ask yourself: Will you love it for the rest of your life? Will the indulgence of a moment eliminate certain career options down the road?

4. Evaluate your ability to handle pain. Does a tattoo hurt? Not as much as childbirth, but pain is considered part of the experience. Piercings are briefer. Location also determines pain levels--anything near major nerves (down the side of the leg, for example, or on or near bones) can be excruciating; the bigger the tattoo, the longer your agony lasts.

5. Ask about hygiene practices: In the age of AIDS, cleanliness is taken very seriously. Artists should wear gloves, sterilize their tools and work space, and use packaged, single-use needles.

6. Take your time and review lots of portfolios when choosing a tattoo artist. When you see a great tattoo, ask who did it. Look for clean, smooth outlines, and excellent use of color.

7. Be prepared to pay for an experienced, reputable piercer or tattoo artist. Tattoo artists charge by the hour and usually have a minimum (about $50), but designs can run into the thousands for large, intricate work. Common piercings (including jewelry) range from $50 to $75.

8. Insist on surgical-grade stainless, niobium, platinum or titanium steel jewelry, or solid 14-karat or 18-karat gold for all piercings until they're healed.

9. Review all procedures and risks ahead of time. Be clear on the after-care regime.

Tips & Warnings

• Check the Association of Professional Piercers' Web site (safepiercing.com) for studio recommendations.
• Professional tattoo artists will not work on a client who is under the influence of judgment- or pain-altering substances, legal or otherwise.
• Piercing in particular, but also tattooing, damages the body's natural infection barrier. Serious problems can include viral hepatitis, nerve and vein damage, and sexually transmitted diseases (most commonly with genital piercing). Tongue piercings are particularly prone to complications. If a piercing site looks infected, don't touch the jewelry, just get to a doctor.
• A new tattoo is dressed with a bandage and takes up to two weeks to scab and heal. One medical journal reported people with tattoos are nine times more likely to be infected with hepatitis C. However, you can avoid many problems by choosing a sterile establishment.

on 8/8/2006 I'm a very lucky gal. I'm sensitive to latex, and forgot to tell my artist until he was almost done. Fortunately, his gloves are latex alternatives (he always wears them to prevent complications on clients like me).

All good tattoo artist have latex alternatives on hand, but not all wear them from the get-go unless you tell them you are allergic. This is why it is very important to let your artist know before the work is done. If you are allergic, your tattoo will get really infected and you could get really sick, too (nothing like having an allergen touching an open wound).

on 7/7/2006 If you can, ask to see some of the artist's work. Most tattooists have at least a few pictures of the work they've done. See if it looks good to you and if the style is what you want.

Also, make sure the place seems clean and safe. If it's dirty or gross, you may want to think twice. Most places will check your ID and have you sign a couple of forms. If they don't, or if they give you any other clues that they aren't completely professional, get out of there.

on 11/22/2005 Don't drink alcohol for a few days beforehand. To avoid getting woozy have some sort of sugar on hand- soda pop (with real sugar), juice, lifesavers, etc. when you get a tattoo. Get something that is meaningful to you. Otherwise, (trust me) you are going to hate it before it even heals. Yes, it hurts. Yes, it's going to bleed a little. Jealous significant others may pose a problem as you are going to have to bare the skin around where you get the tattoo, and the tattoo artist is going to have his hands on your body. Communicate with your artist! He is a professional, and you are a customer. Don't be afraid to ask for a break if you're not feeling well!!

on 11/22/2005 Many people shop around for the best price, but if you ever needed to heed the advice "You get what you pay for," now is the time. Any quality tattooist is going to charge $80 an hour or more, well above the $50 minimum hourly rate cited. In addition to price, you should think big when it comes to tattoos. When you initially figure out what you want, create something that you can expand later on, as opposed to something that is small and isolated that would not mesh into a larger design. Trust me, you'll know what I mean after your first tattoo is finished!