I LOVE TATTOOS.

Now I have seven tattoos on my body, and I'm not going to stop.

Do you think it's disgusting? Then don't read my review.

Think it's amazing? Then welcome!

I will talk about all the nuances and subtleties that any beginner tattoo maniac should know. I will be very detailed and informative. So pour yourself a cup of aromatic tea and start reading!

HOW TO CHOOSE A TATTOO ARTIST?

STEREOTYPES.

The first thing I would like to say about tattoo artists is to refute the stereotype that they are all bald, bearded, fat guys with domes on their chests, who speak exclusively obscenities, drink cheap beer, break bottles on each other's heads and spit under legs. These prison stereotypes are completely irrelevant in our time. How are things really? A tattoo artist can be either a man or a woman, he can be either 18 years old or 50, he can wear classic shirts, or maybe leather vests. There is no need to judge the talent of this or that master, based on his external data, gender, age, musical preferences or religious beliefs.

I also want to refute another common stereotype - that all tattoo artists should be crammed with tattoos from head to toe, pierced with three kilograms of piercing, have tunnels in all the most unsuitable places for this, wear dreadlocks / green mohawks, in general, that everyone tattoo artists are informal. This statement is fundamentally wrong. Quite the opposite, often good masters, with their constant workload and incessant client flow, simply do not have time to “beat themselves”. They implement other people's ideas, but they simply do not have time and energy for themselves. So the tattoo artist may not have tattoos at all. And there is nothing surprising in this.

The only true advice on how to choose a tattoo artist is to listen to the recommendations of loved ones. Let's say your friend made a tattoo for himself, you looked at it, you liked it, took the coordinates, signed up for a session.

Important point: a tattoo can be adequately assessed only a month after the session, when it will completely heal, and all errors in execution (or their absence) will become visible. During the first two or three days, the tattoos look much smoother and brighter than they may turn out to be later: the contour can float, in some places it can disappear altogether, and the color may turn pale, become covered with stains, and so on.

What if there is no one to turn to for advice?

Well, there is already a great and mighty the Internet Help you. Search engines, social media, hashtags, we live in the 21st century.

Important point: the choice of a master in social networks should be approached very carefully and responsibly, since often the so-called "masters" download a portfolio on the Internet, and later appropriate the authorship of other people's works, thus stumbling upon a scammer (who actually has hands growing out of asses) - just spit. Download several works of the master and look for similar pictures in search engines to get to the truth.

A good, conscientious master usually easily makes contact, he is friendly, polite and competent, he will gladly answer all your questions, advise on care, and so on.

It is important to understand that neither a high price nor a popular studio in the city center guarantees that you will get quality work as a result. And in the "cool" studios there are undermasters.

“What if in almost any scenario, having approached the choice of a master with all responsibility, I can get a pig in a poke?” You ask. Unfortunately not. No one is immune from such bad luck. Did I upset you? And now I'm happy again. In most cases, a bad quality tattoo can be repaired or covered up with another tattoo. Of course, it's great to hit the pocket. In extreme cases, there is an equally expensive laser removal, but more on that later.

P.S. Almost all people who have something to do with the topic of tattoos, at least once in their lives fell into the hands of inexperienced masters, and now they are proud carriers of portaks (poor-quality tattoos). This is something like a "baptism of fire" in the field of tattoos. Most people over time, having accumulated the necessary amounts of money and gained experience in this area, correct the mistakes of youth. But many fundamentally leave the first "ports" on the body, since they are very dear to the heart.

​HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE MASTER?

So, we found out what good tattoo artists should be like, how they look and how they communicate with clients. Now I would like to voice some recommendations that will facilitate the dialogue with the master on your part.

BE POLITE. Do not forget about the elementary rules of decency. Even if you are not going to sign up for a session with a particular master, you should at least say hello, thank the master for the consultation and say goodbye.

MORE SPECIFIC. Masters can not stand it when a dialogue with them is conducted in the style of “I want this, I don’t know what”, “You advise me, you are a master.” Remember once and for all, the master cannot advise you anything, he can only develop the idea that already exists in your head and translate it into reality. The master does not know you and your taste preferences, therefore he cannot make such responsible decisions for you. A tattoo is for life, remember? If in doubt, even a little - postpone the session, and do not fool the master.

Important point: good master will not be delighted that he will have to copy someone else's work that you found on the Internet, and you want exactly the same for yourself. Most likely, he will offer you to draw an individual sketch on a similar topic, but this sketch will be unique.

DO NOT ASK THE MASTER TO SEND YOU A SKETCH. Nobody will do this for free. It can take from several hours to several days to create a sketch, not a single master will undertake to draw for free, without any guarantee that after that you will come to the session. If you want an individual sketch - pay. If you don’t want to pay, search engines will help you, there are a lot of sketches on the Internet. No need to disturb the master for this, you can find a suitable picture on the Internet yourself. By the way, absolutely any picture can serve as a sketch, a photo of a finished tattoo, a frame from a movie, a music album cover, anything that comes into your head.

DON'T BE AFRAID OF PAYING IN ADVANCE. And do not run headlong to a friend who hits a tattoo “for a beer” after hearing about an advance payment. This is an absolutely normal practice for good masters who have an appointment a month in advance. This is how the masters insure themselves against unscrupulous clients who fool around for several days and then do not come to the session, as a result, the master loses time and money that another client could pay at this time. Everything is logical.

DO NOT BARGAIN WITH THE MASTER. You are not in the market. If you are not satisfied with the price for one reason or another, look for another master. Trying to lower the price for a tattoo, you seem to let the master understand that his efforts are not worth the announced amount, and this is almost an insult to a person who puts his soul into every tattoo. Bargaining with a tattoo artist will not lead to anything good.

FINANCIAL SIDE OF THE QUESTION.

THE COST OF A TATTOO IS NOT RATED BY CIGARETTE PACKS!

As well as matchboxes, iPhones ( modern version), etc. All tattoo artists ridicule this prison approach with valuation. It has not been relevant for a long time, at least in the world of artistic tattoos, and not prison tattoos (feel the difference).

The first thing I want to say about the financial side of the issue - never spare money for a tattoo. Remember? Repeat again, and don't be surprised when you come to the tattoo studio and the kind receptionist tells you that a cute 5 by 5 cm rose that you want to fill on your shoulder will cost 15 thousand rubles. This is absolutely normal.

Why are tattoos so expensive?

The first thing that should pay off the master during the session is renting a room. You arrived in the city center, exited the metro, and in a minute you are already knocking on the doors of a large, comfortable studio with a huge aquarium at the reception, separate rooms for your comfort, a clean and spacious bathroom. All this convenience is probably worth 200-300 thousand per month. Add to this the household items that should be in the studio (tea, coffee, shoe covers, napkins), stationery (printer cartridges), cleaning services.

Before a session in the tattoo studio "Aura".

It is for this reason that the prices for the services of homeworkers are much lower than those of studios. But I categorically do not recommend hammering at them, it’s not professional. You need to get tattoos in the studio, where everything is sterile, and not at home, where the wife cooks borscht, and the dog under his feet wipes his ass on the carpet.

The second thing that should pay off the master is consumables.

There are also disposable ones among them - sterile needles in individual packages, nitrile gloves with a cost price of 50 rubles per pair, etc., there are also reusable ones - the pigments themselves (in other words, paints), the cost of which is about 4 thousand rubles per bottle, and so on.

It can take from 20 to 200 thousand per month, depending on the promotion methods.

Finally, last but not least, the master's time and effort , which he will use to get the job done.

Another important point - if the master works in a studio, you should understand that he receives no more than 50% of the proceeds from each tattoo he makes (and most often - 30-40%).
Now let's count. Let's say you want the small rose on your shoulder that I mentioned earlier, and you were told the price of 10 thousand rubles for it. Of these, the studio receives 6 thousand, and the master receives 4 thousand. He spends 1000 rubles on consumables. Total 3 thousand rubles for 5 hours of work, that is, 600 rubles per hour. It doesn't work out that much, does it? You don’t feel sorry for giving 5,000 rubles for sneakers in which you wear no more than two seasons. A tattoo will delight you all your life. Don't forget about it.
By the way, masters often inflate prices for work that they are not interested in doing, but more on that in the next paragraph.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SKETCH?

Each tattoo artist is an artist, a creator, a person of art. The muse constantly stands behind him, he has a million images and incredible ideas in his head, he wants to paint pictures on his body, create unique and unusual masterpieces. Each master eventually creates his own unique style, and prefers to work only in it. Therefore, without exception, all masters refuse or are extremely reluctant to fill inscriptions, hieroglyphs, dots, hearts, arrows and other little things that have no artistic value, but in fact are mainstream, fashion trends.

How to choose a suitable sketch for yourself? Perhaps there is no single answer to this question, so I will just share my experience with you.

For me it was like this: “Wow, what an amazing picture, it should be on me!”, And this happened at moments when I did not have a specific goal to choose a sketch for myself, but simply by chance. I don’t understand people who spend hours scrolling through finished sketches and thinking: “What should I stuff?”. We already talked about this two points above, “I want this, I don’t know what.” In my opinion, the choice should not happen at all. If you haven't experienced the same inspiring moment that I have, your time has probably not come yet. And, perhaps, in the future you will regret your choice.

True, my method of “wow, what a picture” played a cruel joke with me. Under the influence of the moment, I became the bearer of two charming chanterelles on my ankles.

In general, I really like them, but I still regret that I stuffed them. Why? Because it wasn't until a few years after I got my first tattoo that I found my favorite style and realized that if there are a lot of tattoos on the body, they should be in harmony with each other. So don't repeat my mistakes Decide on a style or theme ahead of time and try to stick to it. no matter how many tattoos you have.

Many people mistakenly believe that tattoos need to be chosen with meaning, for example, if you are Leo by the sign of the zodiac, then you simply have to get a tattoo depicting this predator, or the element to which it belongs (Fire), otherwise the tattoo will not bring good luck, you will damage yourself, blah blah blah. All this is bullshit. because artistic tattoos have no meaning.

WHAT DOES A TATTOO MEAN?

Are we talking about art tattoo? Then it doesn't mean anything.

Are we talking about a prison tattoo? For which you will have to answer to the lads? Then you better ask the "kolschik" who will give you this masterpiece. Five dots means "locked in four walls", for example.

But this story is not about us, because we came to the tattoo studio, and now the master will make us an artistic tattoo, which has no meaning, it is nothing more than an ornament for our body, like a golden necklace, for example, an evening dress, red manicure.

Of course, if you want, you can put meaning into your tattoo yourself, or believe that it will bring you good luck, and you will be right. The only difference is that this is your personal opinion and personal vision of a particular tattoo. And there are no generally accepted laws here, and you will not have to “answer” for it to anyone.

HOW TO CHOOSE A PLACE OF APPLICATION?

Never get tattoos on fingers, palms, heels, feet.

Why? Tattoos in these places are very quickly erased. To keep the tattoos in these places in decent shape, you will have to do a correction almost every 2 months (that is, in fact, re-circle the entire tattoo), and I am ready to bet that you will not do this. Don't repeat my mistakes. A good example is in the photo below.

Think twice before getting a face and neck tattoo.

Why? Tattoos in these places are the hardest to hide. Without a doubt, they can look very impressive, but still think about whether you are ready to apply half a bottle to your face every morning. foundation to arrive at the bank where you work as a loan manager by 09.00.

Otherwise, the choice of a place for applying a future tattoo should be based on your desire, and nothing more.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR A SESSION?

All people are nervous before a tattooing session, and it does not matter if it is the first or tenth. In any case, you will have to endure the pain, but you can follow some simple recommendations on the eve of the session to ensure maximum comfort for yourself.

• a couple of days before the session, refrain from drinking alcohol, antibiotics, analgesics and coffee. This can make the process of tattooing difficult and increase the session time (increased pressure, pushing out pigments, more on that in a bit), plus coffee can make you nervous, which is not for you;
• sleep well before the session, you should be rested and alert, as well as full (but do not gorge yourself);
• do not sunbathe a week before the session (tattooing on burnt skin will be unbearably painful);
• dress as comfortably as possible, and do not forget that paint can get on your clothes during the session, so do not come to the session in white evening dress for a thousand dollars, and best of all, take a change of clothes with you;
• take a friend with you to the session, because nothing distracts from pain like a casual conversation;
• visit the pharmacy in advance and buy everything you need so that after the session you can immediately go home and relax.

WHAT TO DO WITH PAIN?

Most people who dream of getting a tattoo put off the first session, not because of fear of the ubiquitous “This is for life!”, But because they are afraid of pain. But there's nothing you can do about it, pain is an integral part of the process of applying a tattoo, as well as discomfort during its healing.

It is impossible to give an unambiguous answer to the question of how much it hurts. For girls, I would say this: “If we compare tattooing with epilation, then epilation is much more painful.” Although, of course, everything is strictly individual, all people react to pain in different ways and have a different pain threshold. I recalled a moment from the series "Clinic", where the main characters found out the severity of the patient's pain, resorting to the help of a comic scale.

The scale of pain from the series "Clinic".

I repeat, everything is individual. Someone during the session swears, someone cries quietly, someone calmly reads a book, and someone falls asleep at all. How it will be for you personally, no one can know, not even you yourself. Since the same person can experience completely different pain when tattooing different parts of the body. Based on the opinions of the majority of the "downtrodden", we can conclude that ...

The most painful places for tattooing are the neck, collarbones, ribs, spine, intimate areas(in other words, all places with thin, sensitive skin or in close proximity to the bones).

The most "comfortable" places for tattooing are shoulders, hips and calves. Most people report minimal discomfort during a session.

The length of the session also plays a role. After 5 hours of torture over the skin, even in the most “comfortable” zone, any touch to it will become incredibly painful. By the way, my longest session lasted from 13.00 to 21.00 (with short breaks), but I do not advise you to repeat my feat. Do not hesitate to ask the master to give you a little rest, because the master, involved in the creative process, literally forgets about everything.

On my own behalf, I want to say that there is something “sweet” in this pain, the process of tattooing would not be so alluring and warming up the blood if it did not have this share of adrenaline.

What is the body's response to prolonged pain?

After a session lasting more than 4 hours, many people notice an increase in body temperature, chills, and weakness. After all, it is stress for the body. Therefore, after the session, you need to eat well to restore strength, and then sleep or lie down to rest. Well, it is advisable to lie down for another two days so that the body recovers, if, of course, there is such an opportunity.

Is anesthesia possible?

Purely theoretically - yes. But in practice, most of the masters with whom I have ever dealt flatly refuse to use it, this is a matter of principle for them. If you want a tattoo, endure the pain, you are not a whiner and a weakling (this also applies to girls, although it was the guys who were more distinguished by the inability to endure pain in my lifetime). Some smart people bring Lidocaine with them to the session (oh, this power of self-hypnosis). I will tell you a secret - Lidocaine works only for mucous membranes, it is used in dentistry, it will not have any effect on the skin. And even if it does (for inexplicable reasons), the effect will last no more than 15 minutes. No one will allow you to sit and spray spray on the tattoo during the session.

Now there are many different anesthetic ointments created specifically for those who like to "clog" without pain (those who like to ride, but not carry sleds at the same time), so contact the master directly and clarify this issue. If you get a positive answer, you will lose an extra hour during the session and a few extra thousand rubles. My opinion is it's not worth it. Tattooing is a painful procedure, but generally tolerable. You can always take a break if the pain becomes unbearable, or reschedule the session for the next time. And no one has yet died from this pain and has not even lost consciousness.

DON'T THINK swallow packs of painkillers before the session, or, moreover, “pop a glass of cognac for courage.”

HOW TO CARE FOR A TATTOO?

What to buy at the pharmacy?

• Bepanten (ointment for the treatment and care of the skin of a child and a nursing mother);
• Chlorhexidine;
• Baby diapers.

What do we have to do?

Arriving home after the session, remove the compress applied by the master, gently wash the tattoo with cool water and soap, pat dry paper towel to absorb the remaining moisture, then apply a thin layer of ointment Bepanthen(precisely a thin layer, too oily layer can cause the pigment to be pushed out from under the skin, as a result of which the tattoo will lose its brightness). This procedure must be repeated 3-4 times a day, as the ointment is absorbed. During healing, the tattoo should not dry out, it is necessary to constantly keep it moist. For the first few days, the tattoo will look swollen, ache, secrete ichor and excess paint from under the skin, which will stain linen and clothes. Therefore, if you leave the house, build a compress on the tattoo from baby diaper(You can fix it with hypoallergenic patches). In no case do not wrap the tattoo with cling film! The baby diaper has a breathable surface, so there will be no harm from it, but on the contrary, it will help preserve the brightness of the pigments. But do not forget to change the compress 3-4 times a day. After a few days, the tattoo will begin to crust over. (which in no case should be torn off if you do not want to ruin the tattoo and reward yourself with scars!). Keep washing and rubbing. When the crust comes off, the tattoo will begin to peel off and itch - this is the last stage of healing. You can put aside Bepanthen and switch to Baby Cream, it moisturizes perfectly. Try not to scratch, endure with all your might. Finally, when the tattoo is completely equal to the skin, it stops itching, and you stop feeling it - it has completely healed.

What should I do if I can't wash my tattoo with soap and water?

For example, you work in an office, and the tattoo is on your back, and you have to completely undress, and in an incredible way curl up in the sink to reach the tattoo. In this case, you will come to the rescue chlorhexidine. Put a napkin on the tattoo and pour chlorhexidine over it. Wait 5 minutes, and then spread with Bepanthen. Such a compress will cool the skin, soothe it, remove discomfort and disinfect.

What can not be done?

During the healing period of the tattoo, exclude from your life everything that in any way can affect your blood pressure - be it alcohol, antibiotics, analgesics, energy drinks, caffeine. No, you won't die from blood loss if you drink a cup of coffee, it's just that high blood pressure can provoke the pushing out of the pigment that I mentioned earlier - the tattoo will turn pale. And this is of no use to you.

Contraindicated physical exercise (sports Hall, running, dancing, lifting weights and other pleasures that can make you sweat a lot).

Tattoo can't be steamed , so forget about the bath, sauna, hot tub. Reduce water procedures to a minimum and wash in cool water (or at least room temperature).

Sunlight is harmful to tattoos. So forget also about sunbathing, beaches and solariums. Even after the tattoo has healed, try to avoid sunlight, the more sun the tattoo absorbs, the faster it fades. So on the beach, cover it up, or apply a protective cream.

I would like to end the topic of care with a reminder of its importance. Even if the master is a true professional in his field, and the tattoo is done perfectly, failure to follow these simple and easy-to-follow rules can lead to sad consequences, such as deterioration in the quality of the tattoo and health problems. Therefore, respect both yourself and the work of the master, take two weeks of tattoo healing responsibly.

Note! After the session, the master is obliged to tell you in great detail everything about the care of the tattoo, because he is responsible for your safety. Sit next to him, take a notebook, write down and remember. Feel free to ask questions and don't be afraid to look ridiculous (especially if it's your first tattoo), safety is more important. You can also ask the master for a care leaflet in printed or electronic form, and provide it to you (at your request or without), I repeat, he is simply obliged.

IS THERE ANY TEMPORARY TATTOO?

TEMPORARY TATTOO DO NOT HAPPEN.

To discuss this issue in more detail, let's turn to Wikipedia for the definition of the word "Tattoo".

As you know, “permanent” is a synonym for the word “permanent”. Here is the answer to the question about the so-called "temporary tattoos". The phrase itself is a meaningless contradiction. "Temporary permanent drawing on the body." Funny, isn't it? Everything that is introduced with the help of needles into the subcutaneous tissue will remain with you until death, and even after your death.

Note! If a tattoo artist assures you that he can get a "temporary tattoo" for three to five years, he is a liar. Most likely, this is just an attempt to cash in on your ignorance, but in fact he will make you an ordinary tattoo, using low-quality pigments that will quickly fade and lose their original appearance, so in three years you will become a carrier of cloudy blurry spots instead of a tattoo. Be careful and don't fall for this bait.

Of course, there are also henna drawings (namely, drawings, not tattoos), and the masters unanimously declare that they stay on the skin for 2 weeks. If you don't wash, maybe. If you are a normal, clean person, then the henna drawing will not linger on you for more than 3-7 days, and even if it lingers, it will lose its “marketable” appearance.

HOW TO ANSWER STUPID QUESTIONS?

So, you returned home after the first session, anointed the tattoo and stand satisfied in front of the mirror, looking at it. Do you think that all the "hottest" is left behind? On the contrary, everything is just beginning, get ready. Now every day you have to answer stupid stereotyped questions of narrow-minded (or ignorant in the subject of tattoos) people, both your acquaintances, relatives and colleagues, and casual passers-by. Oh yes, be prepared also for disapproving, judgmental looks, full of disgust and disdain, and for biting (sometimes offensive) statements.

The frequency of sounding stupid questions addressed to you directly depends on the size, brightness of the tattoo and the degree of visibility of the part of the body on which it is located.

I suggest you familiarize yourself with the most common dumb questions addressed to tattoo wearers and my answers to them.

Question: What is this, a tattoo? Real?

Answer: Tattoos in prison, and I have a tattoo. Yes, it's real, not like your eyebrows.

Q: Is it for life?

Answer: She will also remain with me for some time after her death.

Question: Why did you do it?

Answer: I made it because I liked it. I looked at her and realized that she would make my beautiful body even more beautiful. Why did you shave off your eyebrows and then draw them on with a marker?

Q: What does your tattoo mean?

Answer: My tattoo means that I have a tattoo. It means that I wanted to get a tattoo and got it. And what do your eyebrows drawn with a marker mean?

Question: Did it hurt?

Answer: Yes, it hurts a lot. But it's still less painful than talking to you.

Question: How are you going to get a job now?

Answer: I will work where a person is not judged by his appearance. Where are you going to work when your boss finds a younger and slimmer secretary?

Question: And in old age, how will you look with your tattoos?

Answer: I will look much cooler with my tattoos in old age than you without tattoos, but with the same wrinkled and saggy skin. And my grandchildren will consider me the coolest grandfather in the world.

Question: How much is a hieroglyph the size of half a cigarette pack?

Answer: Just recently my uncle was released from prison on bail, as soon as I see him, I will definitely ask.

By the way, if you are a girl, get ready to listen to a million lectures on the topic: “You are a girl, you need to give birth to children and cook borscht, and not stuff tattoos!”. In this case, try to politely, with a touch of slight sarcasm, explain to your opponent that the presence of tattoos on the body does not affect the ability to bear children and the development of culinary skills. But imposing one's beliefs in such a harsh form on an outsider can lead to at least serious bodily harm.

HOW TO TELL YOUR PARENTS ABOUT YOUR TATTOO?

It doesn't matter if we are 15 or 45, next to our parents we will always feel like children, they will be authorities for us, and we will be afraid of their disapproval. Many people put off getting a tattoo for this very reason. How to deal with this situation?

Option one. Tell your parents nothing and walk in a spacesuit all your life. Yes, the issue is serious enough, but that doesn't mean it can't be approached with a bit of humor. Of course, I exaggerated about the spacesuit, but in fact, hiding a tattoo from your parents is not a big deal, for example, if it is on your butt. Of course, if you do not have an obscenely close relationship with your parents. For example, it was very easy for me to hide a tattoo on my lower back, since at home it is not customary to flaunt what my mother gave birth to. But one day I unsuccessfully leaned over, putting my beautiful fairy on public display. How did the parents react? They were already shocked by my first tiny tattoo on my neck, but they got over the shock pretty quickly - within an hour. Here, their opinions were divided - my mother was very frightened by the danger of catching an incurable disease in the process of applying. I reassured her with one simple phrase: "It's been several months, and I'm still alive." Dad complained that such a large tattoo gives the image a certain vulgarity. But when the state of passion subsided, they examined the tattoo closely, and agreed that it looked very cute and feminine. And it turned out that the devil is not so terrible as he is painted. You may not know how your parents will react to a tattoo, how they really feel about it - maybe they themselves dream of getting something like that in their hearts. That is why I would advise beginners ...

Option two. Feel the ground. A few weeks before the first session, try to find out how your parents feel about tattoos. Show them photos of beautiful models, for example, or rock performers, turn on your imagination. After a more or less clear picture is drawn in front of you, warn your parents that you are planning to get a tattoo (and, possibly, more than one). Wait until they finish the tantrum, and then explain to them intelligibly that if you approach this issue consciously and with all responsibility, no harm to health will be caused, as well as other negative consequences.

Option three. It's too late to drink Borjomi when the kidneys have fallen off. Show your parents the tattoo after it has healed (or don't show it, but wait for the moment when they themselves pay attention to it). After the tantrum is over, and the state of shock subsides, explain to them that this has already happened, and nothing can be done about it. You are alive, healthy, the tattoo does not interfere with your life or work. After all, you are an adult who is free to make your own decisions and spend the money you earn. By the way, your body is also yours. So in the worst case, the parents will just be angry for a short time, and then this topic will be closed once and for all. At best, they will praise you for your exquisite taste and right choice(Yes, such parents also exist).

WHAT TO DO IF A MINOR SON/DAUGHTER REQUESTS A TATTOO?

Take him/her by the hand and lead to the studio for the session. Just do not rush to throw tomatoes at me for such words. Think for yourself, if a child wants a tattoo, he will get it sooner or later, with or without your permission. But if you keep everything under control, you will be sure that you have brought the child to a good studio, where an experienced master worked with sterile instruments. Also important is the fact that you will be able to see how your child approaches the care of the tattoo while it is healing. Otherwise, the outcome of events is always the same - the child tells you that he wants to get a tattoo, you rudely refuse him cash, exclaiming something like “What are you, a convict?”, The offended child goes to a friend from a neighboring entrance, which, for a pack of cigarettes, fills plain patterns on the bodies of classmates with a home-made machine, without observing the elementary rules of sterility. In the best case, your child will receive a low-quality, green, blurry tattoo that will really resemble a prison one, in the worst case, scars, scars, or even hepatitis and HIV. But you don't want to bring it to that, do you?

Therefore, as soon as the child begins to stutter about the tattoo, let him know that you have nothing against if he approaches this matter with the responsibility and prudence of an adult, and allows you to keep everything under control.

By the way, according to the law in Russia, minors can be served in tattoo studios from the age of 16 without the presence of their parents. Therefore, if your child came home with a portrait of his beloved dog on his chest, do not rush to run to break the face of the tattoo artist. After all, by providing his services to a 16-year-old, he did not violate any laws.

According to Part 1 of Art. 20 FZ of November 21, 2011 N 323-FZ “On the basics of protecting the health of citizens in Russian Federation» a necessary preliminary condition for medical intervention is the giving of informed voluntary consent of a citizen or his legal representative for medical intervention. But according to part 2 of Art. 54 of this law, minors over the age of fifteen have the right to informed voluntary consent to medical intervention or to refuse it. Therefore, the salon has the right to tattoo a minor at the age of 16 with the consent of the minor himself. , subject to the provision in an accessible form of complete information about the goals, methods of providing medical services, the risks associated with them, possible options for medical intervention, its consequences, as well as the expected results of the provision of medical services.

Of course, getting a tattoo can hardly be attributed to "medical services", but The legislation of the Russian Federation does not regulate the activities of a tattoo artist, it does not even define this activity as a profession. True, there is another article that is worth paying attention to when studying this issue.

According to Art. 26 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, a minor between the ages of 14 and 18 has the right to independently, without the consent of parents, adoptive parents or trustees, manage their earnings, scholarships and other incomes, and make small household transactions.

THE TATTOO IS MADE OF POOR QUALITY OR JUST TIRED, WHAT TO DO?

There are three scenarios.

Option one: accept and forget. Cover the tattoo while in public places (for example, a tattoo on the wrist can be hidden with a wide bracelet, watch, wristband, etc.). Or convince everyone that your tattoo is a masterpiece, and the people around you simply do not understand anything about art. But this ironic version does not suit us at all.

Option two: laser removal. Yes, tattoos can be removed. This can be done both in some tattoo studios and in plastic surgery clinics.

From the pros: the tattoo will brighten by several tones, become less noticeable.

Of the minuses: The laser removal procedure is not a cheap pleasure, and you may even have to pay more for it than for applying a tattoo. The larger your tattoo, the more sessions it will take to lighten it (don't think that you will come to the studio with a tattoo sleeve in blackwork (almost completely black) and leave in an hour with pristine clear skin). Miracles don't happen. And even after many months (after each session of laser removal, the skin needs time to recover and heal) and tens of thousands of rubles spent, the tattoo will still not disappear without a trace, barely noticeable marks will remain on the skin, and if the tattoo was performed poorly, even scars. Returning to the points about choosing a master and a suitable sketch, I want to remind you that tattooing should be approached with all responsibility. Indeed, having discussed the topic of laser removal (I would even say “lightening”) of tattoos, we realized that this procedure has much more minuses than pluses, so I advise you to resort to it only in order to lighten an old tattoo by a couple of tones before overlapping.

Option three: overlap. Or cover-up as they say in the tattoo industry. This is the surest way to say goodbye to a poorly made tattoo or a tattoo that you are simply tired of. (For example, change the name of an old lover to a new one). What is the overlap procedure? You turn to a tattoo artist (this time one whose arms are growing out of the right place), and together with him select a sketch suitable for covering up an old tattoo. The easiest way is to cover with a new pattern very old, pale, green, or simply tattoos made in light colors. The more black there is in a tattoo, and the brighter and better it is, the more difficult it is to cover it. Therefore, sometimes masters are advised to first attend a couple of laser removal sessions, and only then move on to overlapping to make the task easier. It is better to entrust the overlapping procedure to a very experienced master., since it is very laborious and painstaking, and, as a result, the price tag for it is several times higher than for work on clean skin. And some masters simply do not take on the overlap.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE TATTOO IF I LOSE WEIGHT/GET BETTER/BUILD MUSCLES/HAVE A BABY?

Absolutely nothing will happen to your tattoo, unless you lose/gain more than 20 kg in a very short time (2-3 days), which is basically unlikely. The tattoo on the girl's stomach can be slightly deformed after childbirth, but in most cases it can be corrected and returned to its original appearance.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO TATTOO ON SCARS?

In most cases, it is not only possible, but necessary. For many people, especially girls, the presence of ugly scars on the body are key point in deciding to get a tattoo. After all, an elegant rosette in the lower abdomen will look much more attractive than a swollen reddish scar from caesarean section. But you need to take into account a few points regarding the overlap of scars with tattoos.

BE CAREFUL! Be sure to consult your doctor before getting a tattoo on a scar!

Your scar must be at least one and a half years old. I am a little less than a year ago I underwent a sectoral resection (an operation to remove breast fibroadenoma), you can see my scar in a review of this benign tumor. Now I’m waiting, I can’t wait until I can cover this scar with an elegant tattoo, but it’s still a long time to wait, and the day before I’ll definitely show myself to both the surgeon and the mammologist so that they give the go-ahead for the tattoo. And I advise you, no, I I insist, do the same thing. Don't joke about it.

By the way, tattoos can cover not only scars. I was motivated to get my first large scale tattoo (on the entire lower back) by the presence of disgusting stretch marks that covered half of my back after I lost 18 kg. All girls know that stretch marks can be completely removed only by surgery, but I decided to get out of the situation in this way, and I never regretted it! Judge for yourself.

Finally, I would like to note that I do not understand the negative attitude towards tattoo culture in our country. Why are people with tattoos looked down upon with disdain and some kind of disgust when 100-kilogram persons in thongs walk along the beach? For me, for example, it is unpleasant to look just at the second. And the same persons, with the advent of spring, begin to walk around the city in tight leggings or jeans with a low waist. Everyone has their own vision of beauty. In my opinion, a beautiful, well-groomed body, covered with high-quality tattoos, chosen with taste and looking harmonious, is beautiful. A thong on the ass size 60 is ugly. Eyebrows drawn with charcoal are ugly. Lips pumped with silicone are ugly. Orange spots from self-tanning on the face are ugly. Guys in tight jeans are ugly. The list is endless, but I will probably stop, in the hope that there are many people who share my opinion. And that there will be more and more of them every year, and outdated stereotypes will sink into oblivion completely and irrevocably.

My eighth tattoo, the ninth one will not be long in coming!

Thank you all for your attention

Have you decided to get a tattoo? This is a very responsible event. After all, this is not just a drawing for a couple of days. The tattoo should be beautiful, of high quality. It should be done only by a true master of his craft.

How to choose a tattoo artist

There are many ways to choose a good master:

• on the recommendation of friends;

• thematic communities - social networks;

• World Wide Web - Internet;

First of all, you need to find out about all the tattoo artists who work in your city. Possibly a master capable of performing nice tattoo, lives nearby, and may have to go to another city. Look at examples of tattoos on the Internet and find out who is the author of the works you like. You can walk through the salons, look at the portfolio, ask to recommend the master, get acquainted with reviews of his work. Choose a few candidates whose work resonates with your desires. Don't be too lazy to get feedback on the masters you are interested in from several sources. In any case, you will need to contact the artists. Only in personal communication will you be able to understand that this is exactly the specialist you need.

Salon or home private office

Good masters can work both in expensively furnished salons and in private offices equipped at home. For craftsmanship, a salon interior is completely optional. Very often, real geniuses work on their own, not wanting to work for someone else. At the same time, the safety and quality of their work are at a high level.

Questions to be asked:

• sterility- what means of disinfection, sterilization, barrier protection are used by the master. It is important to use disposable needles, gloves and caps for mixing paints, which are disposed of at the end of the process;

• manner of performance Every master has his own. A good master, as a rule, can work in different directions. But he always has some definite preferences. It is worth understanding whether your option coincides with the favorite directions of the tattoo artist. If your tastes match, the master will do the work with special inspiration, and then you can become the owner of a masterpiece. Tell the master about your vision of the drawing, about its size, place and desired application technique, in what style and what color you want to get the drawing. An experienced master will recommend you the most advantageous localization and composition of the picture.

• archive of works- Look at the artist's work. An experienced qualified specialist always has an album with photographs of his work. In order to assess the level of work of a tattoo artist, get acquainted with the work of masters who have earned worldwide fame. You will get an understanding of professional compositional solutions and application quality.

How to properly evaluate work

Quality is the main criterion when choosing a master. Creating a unique pattern with accurate drawing of small details and, at the same time, minimal trauma to the skin - this is what characterizes a true professional. In order to embody the desired pattern on the human body, it is not enough just to be a good artist. The master must be able to choose the area for tattooing, taking into account the build of the person. Take a look at examples of completed work. Pay attention to the quality of color reproduction, the clarity of fragments of the picture.

How to choose a tattoo artist and evaluate his professionalism:

• proportionality is, perhaps, the main requirement for a competent drawing. Made with the correct proportions of the whole and the details, the drawing always becomes surprisingly harmonious;

• gradations of dark and light - not a single creator who wants to portray a realistic picture can do without them;

• coloring - very important condition in order for the picture to have the ability to stop the eye on itself. A balance of color composition must be achieved;

• visual spatiality is the construction of figures in perspective, when the shapes of the object manifest themselves and look three-dimensional;

• smooth contour - the tattoo after application should not float, the line should remain clear.

Signs of a bad master

Leave the master without looking back if he disinfects the needles with alcohol, and then uses them again. It's not just dangerous, it's very dangerous. It is not necessary to explain what such an irresponsible attitude to one’s health is fraught with. For drawing a picture, modern machines with disposable needles must be used without fail. If you see that a specialist uses a homemade machine in his work, without hesitation, say goodbye and leave. This is not your option.

If the master cannot present you with a portfolio, or there are only a few works in his portfolio, you should not trust such a specialist either. Be sure to carefully consider the work, pay attention to the quality of the work, the clarity of the lines, the overall harmony of the compositions. If the contours are not clear or the skin at the site of drawing is badly damaged, draw conclusions and leave.

Never settle for tattoos in resort towns. Masters here work only for speed in order to earn as much as possible. They do not think at all about the quality of the tattoo and the safety of the client. After all, they see him for the first and last time, and they have no reason to care about their reputation. Well, you can expect, subsequently, an unpredictable bouquet of various diseases.

Tattoo prices you can expect

What can affect the price of a tattoo? First of all, this is the skill of the artist. The more famous and professional the master, the higher is the hour of his work. And this is natural. Someone estimates an hour of their work at a thousand rubles, and someone ten thousand and more. The price of the service is also affected by the cost of equipment, consumables, ensuring your safety, the amount of rent for the premises and other costs. And if the master you have chosen named the cost of the service higher than you expected, and at the same time, the appointment for him is scheduled for a whole month in advance, do not be upset. This happens if the master is really good. It is up to you whether to wait your turn or look for another master. Everyone has a choice.

But in no case do not settle for a free or very cheap service. You should always remember the wise folk saying - free cheese can only be in a mousetrap. It is always difficult and expensive to redo a low-quality tattoo, and treatment may also be needed. Think of yourself. Do not spare money for good, high-quality tattoos - this is both your health and your mood. After all, the drawing stays with you forever.

This important question is asked by everyone who decides to take such a step. Underestimating its significance, you can get such an unpredictable result that not only upsets, but can also lead to serious health problems. It is known that a boring or failed tattoo can neither be washed off nor removed like boring clothes. Therefore, do not neglect the advice of experts: take the choice of a master responsibly. Here are some tips on how to do it.

To begin with, having decided on a tattoo, you need to arm yourself with knowledge about this ancient art of body decoration, which today is replete with new styles and technologies for tattooing. This knowledge, when visiting a tattoo parlor, will easily help you distinguish an experienced master from a layman. And we remember that the result depends on its level.

Master's portfolio

Every self-respecting tattoo artist has a portfolio, after reading which, you can find out whether his work is suitable in style and execution. Without prejudice, carefully consider them and find out: does the tattoo have sufficient volume; Are the proportions of the drawing respected? whether the color scheme is sustained; whether there are shadows and penumbra on the tattoo; whether its lines are clear.

I WANT TO TATTOO

If the master's portfolio satisfies you, arrange a personal meeting with him, during which you can not only get to know each other, but also discuss the idea of ​​​​the future drawing - its theme and color. A qualified master in the course of such a conversation should offer to look at flashes and, if necessary, change the drawing, taking into account the wishes of the client. In other words, an individual tattoo sketch is developed for each client. In addition, pay attention to how scrupulously the tattoo master treats the sterility of the instrument, whether he takes all the safety measures necessary in his work.

You can pay for a good tattoo

Getting a tattoo done by a true professional with an extensive portfolio and a good reputation among clients will certainly cost a little more than a tattoo done by a neighbor at home. After all, we all understand that a tattoo made with low-quality paints, in conditions where sanitation rules are not observed, can lead to very serious health consequences. However, such an investment has obvious benefits, since your health and your image depend on the quality of the drawing!

Not always a person who wants to get a tattoo finds his master the first time, with whom he can work right away, perhaps for many years.

I will share my thoughts on what guidelines you can follow in order to successfully choose the creator of your future tattoo.

How to find a tattoo artist.

• word of mouth- something that can be taken into account, however, without blind trust. Not everyone understands what is good, what is bad in working with a tattoo artist. There is often a lot of subjectivity in the opinion about the master.
• internet and social networks- probably the main working method. Here you have reviews about the master, and ratings, and a portfolio, and you can correspond with the master, ask questions of interest, and whatever you want.
• trips to tattoo parlors and consultations with tattoo artists- personal contact. Probably the most important factor when choosing when you have already formed a circle of candidates for yourself. Be sure to take note that a master without a salon does not cease to be a master, and a salon without a master is just square meters. A partner can stay in an expensively furnished salon, and a real genius can create grandiose things in a modest home office. Not everyone likes to work for their uncle, so the fact that the master does not seek to work in the salon is not an indicator.
• do not be too lazy to find out about all the masters in your reach. You may have to travel for your tattoo. Perhaps even far. But it's worth it.

When communicating with the master, clarify a few points for yourself:

1. What does he have with sterilization, disinfection, barrier protection and disposability of materials. All these things are available, masters respecting themselves and the client use it, and dispose of it after the session. Although there are characters who, after work, wipe the needles with alcohol, put them back in the package and sign who was pricked with what. Like, why spend money? .. It's not a shame to ask, this is not an indicator of distrust and the tattoo artist must understand this.
2. How does the master prefer to work? Freehand only? Just your sketches? Or according to strangers too, it doesn’t matter to him ... The master must be an artist, he must see the composition of the pattern on the body and be able to advise where, what and in what size it is better to arrange. At a minimum, the master must be able to copy well. I know very worthy tattoo artists who themselves cannot draw, but who have excellent use of a typewriter and their work is beyond praise. They have a taste for understanding and vision of a tattoo.
3. What style does the artist work in? In some particular or taken for everything. Maybe some of the tattoo artists who read this will be offended by me, personally I think that the moral right to your certain style the master receives, having learned everything that is possible, and this choice becomes a matter of his creative path. There are those who are only enough for "coloring books" from flashbooks, preferably old school. Well, why, anyway, I have never seen them from clients .. If you come to the address and the tattoo you want corresponds to the tastes of the master, he will work with great pleasure, and you will get the maximum result. And, of course, study his portfolio. Ideally, it would be great if you looked at the works of international masters and formed your own taste, understood "what is good and what is bad." And then they chose a tattoo artist according to their requests. How to determine for yourself whether a quality work or not, there is a wonderful article with illustrations by the author ...
4. About the correctness of the master, his willingness to make contact, personal qualities, I think, it is not necessary to chew.

If the tattoo artist does not take on inscriptions-cats-hieroglyphs - no, he is not a snickering pig. It's just that he has something to do with his time without technically simple jobs for him. Or is it a matter of his creative principle - only his own and only new. And if he is taken, it is not necessary that he has nothing to do round the clock. It’s just that he doesn’t reflect on these topics, they are still different ...

There is such a thing as beginner tattoo artists. And without your personal participation, a beginner will never grow into a true master of his craft, a Master with capital letter. Filter information about the person who will learn something from you, whether he has a desire, whether he tries, whether he strives to be the best in his business, or whether he wants to frame clients and sneeze, he wanted all tattoo art, or just loot he tries to cut his hair, still few people fumble ... There are also enough left-wing people in this area.

Ideally, the presence of a mentor is desirable, but this is not always possible, alas.

But the fact that he is just starting to practice, he is obliged to notify you at the consultation. It's just a display of correctness towards you. He will choose the pricing policy himself. If a person is of sound mind, the cost will either be quite vegetarian, or he will do the work of interest to him for free. Money is needed for the purchase of new equipment, and for consumables, and for life, and for trips to study with a mentor. In fact, everything is not so scary, later you can refine or fix it. Or the first time you get quite a decent job, it just takes a little time.

The medical education of the master is a good thing, of course, but the contours do not become smoother and the coloring does not become denser from the diploma of a medical educational institution. A set of actions designed to ensure your safety will be performed by the master. The master should be an artist, not a nurse.

The fact that a tattoo artist should not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, probably, can not be written.

And that it should not work with a string, probably, too.

If what you want to do is somehow related to the camp theme - find a master from the same field. Few tattoo artists want to be famous for their filigree fingers and domes. Everyone should have their own audience. And only people from the same environment have the right to tattoo on this topic. Out of ignorance, a tattoo made by an ordinary, non-camp master can bring on both an unpleasant conversation with authoritative people.

Probably, this paragraph may seem strange, but if you do not see tattoos from your master, check if he has them. How can a person inject if he himself has not gone through all the same - through the creation or selection of a sketch, through all the unpleasant sensations, healing, through communication with an incomprehensible public?!

It is very incorrect in relation to the master with whom you started cooperation, to quit work with him and go to another person to finish it, for example, because it is cheaper elsewhere. This is permissible only for objective reasons - either because of a conflict with the first master, or because of dissatisfaction with his work.

Never, under any circumstances, get tattoos in resort towns. Local masters know that they see any of their clients for the first and last time in their lives and work at speed, without thinking about the quality of work and hygiene. The bouquet of diseases collected can be truly amazing

Based on these thoughts, I hope it will be easier for you to find a specialist with whom you will find mutual language and which will adorn your body in the best way of the possible.

(c) Reproduction in whole or in part of the text is permitted with the name of the author.

At home, in artisanal conditions - the last thing. All professionals and people “staffed” with drawings on the body unanimously say that for underwear painting you need to go to a tattoo parlor. And that's half the trouble. The other half of it is how to choose the right salon in which you will not be disfigured, but, on the contrary, embellished.

1. Rate tattoos

Nowadays, not having a site at least on the standard WordPress is already a tangible blow to your reputation. Every self-respecting tattoo studio has both Instagram and accounts in other social networks. the only business card master and salon - the latest work done by them, everything else is not considered. At the same time, read the discussions in groups: customers will not lie.

2. Go scouting

Tattoo parlor is the same part of the service sector as coffee shops, hairdressers and ateliers. This means that the establishments you are interested in should also look like hairdressers or even nail salons. If one of the masters pretends to be cool and treats you down, immediately turn around and go out. The wait staff should treat you with attention and respect, and if you want yourself an infinity sign circled in a heart, you deserve no less attention than a dude who gets his sleeves punched in a biomechanical style. Other nuances? Cleanliness, good lighting and conscientiousness: the salon must be open at the times indicated on the sign, otherwise it is a sharashka office.

3. Look around

A tattoo parlor is supposed to look cool and casual, but all the casualness disappears when it comes to unsanitary conditions. In this regard, the studio should be more like a hospital. The local air should give off a hospital smell. Pay attention to the details: empty trash cans, clean walls and floors washed with an antiseptic. Cleanliness must be taken seriously here, because it is the guarantee of health.

4. Evaluate portfolio

In this photoshop era, seeing real tattoos is every bit as important as browsing Instagram and browsing the website. You may not have the slightest idea that there is a bad tattoo, however, when you see it, you will immediately understand that it is bad. Many even leave the salon, which reeks of bleach a mile away, because they see: tattoos look somehow wrong. If you see that the lines of the master are crooked, and the paint is uneven, feel free to step over the threshold and do not be shy. Tattoo is forever!

5. What is their range?

Tattoo artists, as a rule, have a common weakness - to make drawings that they personally like. It's good if your tastes are the same and you dream of an old-school drawing with thick lines - but not everyone wants the same thing! Look for a generalist who can show class in both blackwork and traditional Asian style, and if necessary, fill a cute elegant flower. It remains only to sympathize with the unlucky masters who have to earn their living by making endless tribals: what to do, the client is always right. Who pays, he orders the music.

6. See how the session is going, if possible

When you sit next to the master and watch him work, it helps you to form a complete and objective opinion about his capabilities. Thus, you will be completely sure that he is able to draw what you need. While working, a good master stops and asks your opinion: is it worth adding shadows or something else like that. If he strikes you as a wizard of unfathomable skill, or, to put it down to earth, as an exceptional professional, then you have found what you were looking for. Sign up for a session and cast away all doubts!