Clarity 11 Watford 183 The Parade, Watford, WD17 1NJ

www.clarity11.co.uk/watford

It seems like everyone has a tattoo these days. Once sported only by sailors, outlaws, and biker gangs, tattoos are now popular body decorations for many people. And it's not just anchors, skulls, and battleships anymore — from school emblems to Celtic designs to personalized symbols, people have found many ways to express themselves with their tattoos.

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Cylex 1. Are there any special requirements to get tattooed or pierced?

Clarity 11: In order to get tattooed you must be 18+.  For most piercings you need to be 16+ but for basic ones like earlobes there are no age requirements provided that if you are under 16 you are able to bring a parent/guardian with you to provide consent.

Cylex 2. What inks and materials are used for tattooing?

Clarity 11: We use a variety of inks and also offer vegan inks for vegan customers if they request it.  Each artist usually has at least 50-60 colours available to them and will buy in new inks should there be an unusual requirement.    

Cylex 3. Do people seem to prefer a certain type of tattoo? What are the most requested?

Clarity 11: Most requested tattoos tend to be basic ones such as names, infinity symbols and flowers, roses in particular however most heavily inked customers tend to go for epic pieces such as their favourite superhero, iconic film stars/characters or art related to their favourite music/band.  Some discerning customers also request particular styles such as Japanese or Old Skool.  We then match the customer to the right artist/style for the piece they require.  

                               

Cylex 4. What is the best time of year to get a tattoo?  Does weather have anything to do with tattooing?

Clarity 11: Winter is always the best time of year to get a tattoo:

1. The studios are always less busy so you can usually find a better price.

2. Being out in the sun can damage a recently done tattoo if it's not properly cared for.

3. Your skin is usually in better shape as it is less likely to have incurred recent sun damage.

Cylex 5. Is it true that once somebody gets a tattoo or a pierce it becomes like an addiction and the person wants more?

Clarity 11: Yes, getting tattooed/pierced is addictive.  I liken it to Pringles "once you pop, you can't stop" many customers suffer anxiety when getting their first tattoo or piercing but once they have "broken skin" and seen how the process is a lot less daunting than they initially thought then tend to come back for more pretty quickly.

                                

Cylex 6. Are there more men coming in or women?

Clarity 11: Although it varies from artist to artist the split across all 3 studios is 59% men 41% women for tattoos. Piercings are very different with 84% female customers and 16% male customers.

Cylex 7. What type of metal can be used for an initial piercing?

Clarity 11: We always use titanium, this leads to a lower infection rate.  Some studios use surgical steel but this is a lower quality piercing and can lead to issues further down the line due to the potential for allergic reactions. (1/10 for surgical steel versus less than 1/1000 for titanium) titanium is also lighter so makes a new piercing far more comfortable to get used to.

Cylex 8. What sets your place apart from others in the same sector?

Clarity 11: We have a real focus on customer service and making the studio feel like a warm inviting space to be in.  Many studios are intimidating places to enter and many "old skool" tattoo artists have an attitude when it comes to dealing with people who are new to tattooing and have legitimate concerns. We like to make the process as friendly and fun as possible.  We also focus heavily on cleanliness and have a rigorously enforced twice daily deep clean policy at each of the studios to ensure thorough hygiene standards are maintained at all times.  A good studio should always smell of a mixture of bleach and dettol!

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Is getting a tattoo worth the money and hassle? It's up to you. Some people really enjoy their tattoos and keep them for life, whereas others might regret that they acted on impulse and didn't think enough about it before they got one. Getting a tattoo is a big deal, especially because they're designed to be permanent.

                                

Tattoos in the workplace:

Clarity 11 Watford, 183 The Parade, High Street, Watford, WD17 1NJ 

www.clarity11.co.uk/watford

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Clarity 11 St Albans, 159 Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4LB

www.clarity11.co.uk/stalbans

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Tattoos used to be considered part of a counterculture. It’s probably a fair statement to say that for years, many people associated tattoos with gangs, bikers, and other groups that were thought to operate outside of the social center. Today, tattoos have gained wider social acceptance and more and more people, men and women alike, have them. People with tattoos work in a variety of industries and hold entry-level jobs as well as top executive positions. So, what’s an employer to do? Is body art a workplace issue? Does having a visible tattoo say anything about an individual that is relevant to his or her job?

In today’s global marketplace, employers are taking more seriously the need to provide a work environment that welcomes employees from many different backgrounds. The competition to attract and retain skilled workers has resulted in corporate cultures that strive to demonstrate the value placed on individual and group contributions. And there is increasing attention paid to offering a company culture and benefit package that supports a variety of lifestyles. Should someone with a visible tattoo be treated any differently?

Depending on what and where the tattoo is, there may or may not be an issue for employers. The laws still tend to support employer dress code/appearance policies in general and employers retain some flexibility in creating rules that require employees to present themselves in a way that is consistent with the employer’s image. But that doesn’t mean that banning tattoos altogether is appropriate. In some cases, it can still violate the law.

Many employers have policies that do not allow visible tattoos. Depending on the employer’s industry and the type of job, this may make sense. For example, the odds are that a four-star hotel may not want the concierge to have large tattoos of skulls and crossbones on the back of each hand. But the same hotel may have less concern if a dishwasher in the kitchen has those same tattoos because direct contact with the hotel’s customers is minimal. From a business perspective, the issue for the hotel is to write a policy that draws appropriate lines between jobs in which visible tattoos may or may not be appropriate.

This example is probably a simple one. It can get more complicated, however, if an employer is not thoughtful. For example, what if a bank employs a valued administrative assistant who never has contact with customers? His desk is located in the corporate headquarters and his interactions are strictly internal. Is it okay if this person arrives at work one day with a star tattooed under his eye? The answer, in part, is dependent on the corporate culture and the bank’s general attitude toward tattoos. It also, however, is dependent on the difficulty in recruiting and retaining good administrative assistants.

The odds are that while the bank may not appreciate a facial tattoo, it’s probably not worth the chance of losing a good employee or not being able to retain a new one by having a policy that would prohibit the tattoo altogether. On the other hand, the bank may be more concerned about a teller with the same tattoo who regularly interacts with bank customers. In that situation, a policy prohibiting the tattoo may be understandable.

In drafting the policies, it’s important to stay focused on the business issues at hand. Policies that prohibit tattoos should not reflect value judgements about tattoos or the people who get them. In fact, many employers would likely be surprised to find out how many current employees have tattoos and simply cover them up at work. So negative assumptions about what tattoos say about the people who have them are very often misplaced.

Issues raised by tattoos can get more complicated when it comes to gender and religion. And employers should be aware of these issues before writing and enforcing policies that prohibit visible tattoos at work. For example, historically, it is likely that more men wore visible tattoos than women. As a result, an interviewer who notices a tattoo on a man’s arm may have no reaction. But more and more women are getting tattoos, some of which are visible, and the same interviewer may have an adverse reaction if a tattoo is visible on a female applicant’s ankle. In this situation, an employer can be exposed to liability for sex discrimination if the presence of the tattoo was an issue in making the hiring decision.

Religious tattoos can pose even more challenging questions. What if an employee who works directly with customers has a tattoo around his wrist and the company has a policy that prohibits visible tattoos in customer service positions? Is it okay to require the employee to wear sleeves that are long enough to cover the tattoo? The answer is: it depends.

If the tattoo is part of a sincerely held religious belief or practice, and that practice or belief prohibits the employee from covering the tattoo up, the employer may need to allow an exception to the “no visible tattoo” policy. That’s because employers are obligated to reasonably accommodate sincerely held religious beliefs and practices unless doing so poses an undue hardship. In that situation, it is a good practice to ask the employee about the tattoo and find out whether there is a religious basis for it that prohibits them from covering it.

Managers should coordinate with human resources before having that sort of conversation because if it is not handled properly, the manager could say something unintentionally that exposes the company to liability for religious discrimination. But done properly, the manager may find out that the employee is able to cover the tattoo. If not, this employee may be permitted an exception under the policy as a reasonable accommodation. And doing so as an accommodation will not result in having to allow all employees an exception under the “no visible tattoo” policy.

The key for employers is to have a written policy that employees are required to read and sign, and then to enforce that policy consistently. That way, employees are not able to claim that the policy was applied differently to them. And the policies should be based on sound judgment that is in the best interest of the business. That means that employee and customer interests also need to be considered before the policy is drafted.

Work with your human resources department to develop written dress code/appearance policies that are reasonable and can be enforced consistently. Check with human resources and/or legal counsel before talking with an employee about covering a tattoo unless it is clear that the tattoo has no religious significance and having the employee cover the tattoo is consistent with your policy. And remember, making assumptions about the qualifications of people who have tattoos is not only unfounded, it may result in discrimination claims against your company. A woman with a tattoo of a skull on her arm is no less entitled to be judged based on legitimate business factors than a former U.S. naval seaman whose arm is adorned with a tattoo of a ship’s anchor.

How to find us: www.clarity11.co.uk 

Clarity 11 Watford
183 The Parade
High Street
Watford
WD17 1NJ

www.clarity11.co.uk/watford

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/''/clarity+11+watford/@51.6601163,-0.4715292,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x48766ac016060497:0x5e78360002b58e0c!2m2!1d-0.4014897!2d51.6601371 

Clarity 11 St Albans
159 Hatfield Road
St Albans
AL1 4LB

www.clarity11.co.uk/stalbans

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/''/clarity+11+st+albans/@51.7525797,-0.3855848,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x48763ec416af11bf:0xebb69b728537fbc8!2m2!1d-0.3155453!2d51.7526005

Contact us:

watford@clarity11.co.uk 

Tattoo Copyright on sports stars

Back in February, I geeked out over the latest tattoo law news in "Videogame Maker Sued for Copyright Infringement Over Basketball Stars' Tattoos." As I wrote in that post, a lawsuit was filed in federal court in New York against Take-Two Interactive and other companies associated with the video game NBA 2K16 for reproducing the tattoos of the basketball stars featured in the game series without permission.

The suit was filed by Solid Oak Sketches, a company who licensed the tattoo designs from the following artists who tattooed stars like Lebron James and Kobe Bryant:  Justin Wright (LeBron James), Shawn Rome (LeBron James), Tommy Ray Cornett (Eric Bledsoe and Kenyon Martin), Robert Benedetti (Kobe Bryant), and Leslie Hennelly (DeAndre Jordan). In those licensing agreements, the tattooers agreed to 8% of the net earnings of Solid Oak for their designs.

A couple of weeks ago, a ruling came down concerning that suit, and among some tattooers talking about it, there was a bit of confusion, so I figured I'd break it down a bit here. 
On August 2nd, U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain in Manhattan said that the videogame maker cannot be held liable to Solid Oak Sketches for statutory damages -- which could rack up as much as $150,000 per copyright infringement -- because Soild Oak did not register the tattoo designs with the US Copyright Office until 2015, years after the release of NBA 2K14 in 2013, when the alleged infringement of the tattoo designs began. 

In order to obtain statutory damages and attorneys' fees, Solid Oak must have registered its copyright prior to the alleged infringement. Solid Oak argued that, because the NBA 2K16 version was released after copyright registration, they were still entitled to those statutory damages and attorneys' fees; however, the court didn't buy it, stating that "the first act of infringement in a series of ongoing infringements occurred prior to the work's copyright registration."

You can read that opinion and order here.

The Hollywood Reporter's article on the suit got some traction last week on social media, and that's where I found that some were confused about what the decision meant. The ruling does not mean that the court found that there was no copyright infringement, rather, they said that, because of when it was registered, Solid Oak and the artists were not going to get the really big money, which would have added up to a massive amount considering the number of tattoos represented in the games. 

What Solid Oak and the artists are then left with is proving actual damages -- the money from demonstrated loss that they suffered as a result of the infringement, such as lost licensing revenue or any other provable financial loss directly attributable to the game's use of their artwork. That's tougher to do, but they could still see some decent money if the judge finds infringement.

The big argument of the defendant is that the use of tattoos seen on the bodies of the basketball stars is fair use and de minimis use. Stanford's general definition of fair use is"any copying of copyrighted material done for a limited and 'transformative' purpose, such as to comment upon, criticize, or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner." And de minimis can be summed up as "the amount of material copied is so small (or 'de minimis') that the court permits it without even conducting a fair use analysis," as per this Stanford resource. 

In their court filings, Take-Two asserts:

Indeed, if Solid Oak were correct, it would mean that anyone appearing in public, on a television program, or in an advertisement would need to license the display of their tattoos. This is not the law and, if it were, it would be an encroachment on basic human rights.

Take-Two also made some other interesting arguments which you can read here.

It's really a fascinating debate and I really can't wait till a court rules on it rather than the cases just settling, as what happened to the Mike Tyson Tattoo Case.

Tattoo Healing Advice - Clarity 11 Watford

Tattoo Healing Advice

Listen to your tattoo artist. If you've done your homework and chosen a good tattoo artist, he or she will provide detailed instructions on how to care for your new tattoo, which you should follow carefully. Every tattoo artist will have a slightly different opinion on the best way to care for a new tattoo, but don't worry, most reputable artists have had years of experience in caring for new tattoos, so their methods have been tried and tested.^[1]

• Think of your tattoo as having a warranty; if you don't follow the artist's instructions, you might void the warranty, and he or she won't give you free touch-ups.
• Remember: tattoo artists want your tattoo to heal correctly and look good just as much as you do, so they shouldn't give you any poor advice.
• The following instructions may vary slightly from what your tattoo artist tell you, but should serve as a good guideline.

Leave the covering on for 2-6 hours. Once the tattoo is complete, your tattoo artist will clean the area, apply an anti-bacterial ointment and cover the tattoo with a bandage or some dressing. Once you have left the tattoo studio resist the temptation to open the bandage. The bandage is there to protect your tattoo from airborne bacteria, which can penetrate through your broken skin. The bandage should be left on for a minimum of two hours before you remove it.

• Thick, absorbent, non-stick ABD wound dressings are the most common type of bandage used by tattoo artists. These are very effective as they allow the tattoo to breathe while also being thick enough to protect the skin from bacteria and bumps. They are also extremely absorbent.^[2]
• There are many tattoo artists out there who are firm believers in wrapping new tattoos in plastic wrap, while there are many more who believe that this is the worst possible thing you could do for your tattoo.
• Proponents of plastic wrap believe that it is the best way to wrap a new tattoo as it is easy to apply and remove without sticking to the skin. It also forms an effective shield that blocks any bacteria from getting near the tattoo.
• Those who oppose plastic wrap do so because it prevents oxygen from getting to the tattoo, and oxygen is essential for healing. It also seals in moisture and raises the temperature of the skin, creating a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.^[1]
• Whichever type of covering your tattoo artist uses, be sure to follow his/her advice carefully. Both types of bandages have been used successfully before. Just remember that plastic wrap will need to be changed, and the tattoo cleaned much more frequently than with other bandaging, to prevent the build-up of bacteria.

Carefully remove the bandage. The jury is still out on how long a bandage should be left on before it is removed. Most artists agree that you should keep your tattoo covered for a minimum of two hours before removing, but the recommended maximum amount of time varies between 4 and 6 hours. Tattoos covered in plastic wrap are the exception; plastic wrap should never be left on a new tattoo for longer than two hours.^[3]

• In reality, the amount of time will vary according to the size and placement of the tattoo, along with the level of tattoo seepage and the type of bandage used. In most cases, it is best to follow the advice of your tattoo artist, but you should also use your judgement and common sense.
• To remove the bandage, soak it with warm water to prevent it from sticking to your skin. It should come off easily once wet. Discard the used bandage.

Gently wash the tattoo. Most artists recommend lukewarm water and mild, unscented liquid antibacterial or antimicrobial soap. Use your hands to rub the tattoo gently, removing all traces of blood, plasma, or leaked ink. This will help to prevent the tattoo from scabbing too soon. Do not use a washcloth, loofah or any sponge to clean the tattoo, as these may harbor bacteria.^[1]

• Do not hold the tattoo directly under the water. Wash it indirectly by splashing the water over the tattoo with your hands. The stream of water from the faucet may be too harsh on your new tattoo.
• If your new tattoo is covering a large area of skin, it may be easiest to wash the tattoo in the shower.

Pat the tattoo dry with a light, soft towel. Once you have thoroughly washed the tattoo, you should gently pat it dry with a little paper towel. Do not rub the tattoo, as this may cause irritation. Once the excess moisture has been removed, you should leave the tattoo uncovered for 20 minutes to an hour. This will allow the tattoo to breathe and any excess moisture to evaporate.

• Apply a non-scented, water-based anti-bacterial ointment. Once your tattoo is fully dry, and the skin begins to feel tight you can apply a little ointment, such as Bacitracin or A&D, to the tattoo. Make sure to apply only a very thin layer that's just enough to make the tattoo shine and rub it in gently until it's absorbed by the skin. It's very important that you don't apply too much ointment, or else you'll suffocate the tattoo and encourage the growth of bacteria.^[4]
  • You should continue applying the ointment after each time you wash the tattoo, at least twice a day, for 3 to 5 days or until the tattoo starts to peel. When it does you can switch to a regular, fragrance-free lotion.
  • Don't use petroleum-based products, such as Vaseline, as these are too heavy and may clog the pores, causing breakouts on the tattoo. They also draw the ink from the tattoo to the surface of the skin, causing the tattoo to fade before it's even fully healed.
  • There are some excellent specialist products on the market that are a little pricey, but work wonders for healing tattoos. Once such product is called "Tattoo Goo" which is non-greasy and is made from natural ingredients. Another great product is "H2Ocean", which is a foam rather than an ointment, that uses a salt concentration to prevent infection.^[1] "After Inked” is also an excellent product as it's non-petroleum based and mainly uses grapeseed oil that is known to have more antioxidant value than vitamin E. This helps the healing process and has great moisturizing properties.
  You should allow your tattoo to breathe like this after each time you wash it or get it wet.

Continue to wash and moisturize your tattoo, at minimum, twice a day until the scab is gone. You should continue to wash your tattoo with anti-bacterial soap and warm water until it is fully healed. This can take anywhere from 3 to 6 six weeks, depending on the size and location of the tattoo. You should wash the tattoo approximately three times a day, though you should wash more often if the tattoo is on your hand, wrist, foot, or any other area that is more exposed to germs.^[5]

• After applying special anti-bacterial ointment for the first 3 to 5 days, you can switch to regular lotion after each wash. Most tattoo artists will recommend that you avoid using lotions that are scented, colored or contain glitter. Remember only to apply a light layer of lotion, as over-moisturizing can negatively affect the tattoo.
• The initial healing of the tattoo will take up to two weeks. During this time, you can expect the tattoo to start peeling or flaking, in a similar way to sunburn. Some colored skin may come away as the tattoo peels, but this is entirely normal.
• After the skin peels, your tattoo will look glassy and feel tight. It may also have cloudy or white patches of skin that you will be tempted to peel off, but try to resist. This is referred to as "onion skin" and will fall off by itself within a couple of weeks.
• If you have taken proper care of your new tattoo, you can expect your tattoo to be healed and your skin to have fully regenerated in about four to six weeks.^[2]

Do not scratch or pick at your tattoo. As it heals, your tattoo will begin to scab. This is normal, and the scabs should be allowed to dry out and fall off by themselves. Do not try to help the process along by picking at the scabs. This may cause the scabs to fall off prematurely, leaving holes or light spots on your tattoo.

• If your hands or nails are unclean; you may also cause the tattoo to become infected. You should always wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap before touching your tattoo, and you should never allow anyone else to touch it while it heals.^[5]
• Dry, scabbing or peeling skin can become very itchy, but scratching at your tattoo may also cause scabs to fall off. You can relieve itching by slapping the tattoo with the flat of your hand, or by rubbing in a little lotion.^[3]
• Keep using moisturizing ointment to combat itchiness if it is a problem.

Avoid soaking the tattoo. Until your tattoo is fully healed, you should avoid swimming in a pool, in the sea, or even soaking in the bathtub. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, exposing your tattoo to too much water may draw ink out of your skin and damage the tattoos appearance. Secondly, the water in swimming pools, the sea, and the bathtub may be carrying dirt, bacteria, chemicals and other impurities that could cause your tattoo to become infected.^[2]

• It will be completely safe to resume these activities once your tattoo is healed, but for now you should stick to rinsing your tattoo in the sink or shower.
• Keep your showers and baths short, under 5-6 minutes.

Do not expose your new tattoo to direct sunlight. Sunlight is the worst enemy of new tattoos. The harsh rays of the sun may cause your skin to blister and bleach some of the colors from your tattoo. For this reason, it is best to keep your tattoo covered and away from the sun for at least 3 to 4 weeks, until the initial healing is complete.^[2]

• Avoid tight-fitting clothes. Avoid wearing tight or restrictive clothing on the area with your new tattoo, especially at first. As your tattoo heals, it will seep plasma and excess ink, which may cause the clothing to stick to the tattoo. The clothing will then be painful to remove and may rip off any freshly formed scabs.^[4]
  • If your clothing does stick to your tattoo, do not pull! First wet the area with water, which should loosen the clothing to where it can be removed without damaging your tattoo.
  • In addition, tight clothing will prevent enough oxygen from getting to your tattoo, and oxygen is essential for the healing process.
  • Aim to wear clean, loose-fitting clothing, day, and night, while your tattoo is healing.
  After that, you will still need to protect your tattoo by wearing a minimum of SPF 30. This will prevent your tattoo from fading in the sun, keeping the colors true for longer.

Avoid working out. Tattoos that cover large surface areas, or are near joints (such as elbows and knees), may take longer to heal if the skin is forced to move around too much during intense workouts or other physical activity. The movement will cause the skin to crack and become irritated, prolonging the tattoos healing process. For this reason, you should avoid unnecessary workouts for at least a few days after getting a new tattoo.^[3]

• If you're involved in a self-defense class like karate or kickboxing, you may want to warn your classmates so they can avoid hitting you in the wrong place.
• If you work in a job that involves physical activity, such as construction or dance, you may want to consider having your new tattoo done on a Friday, so it will have the whole weekend to heal before your go back to work.

Avoid swelling. Swelling may occur with new tattoos on your feet, ankles or calves, especially if you have been standing for long periods of time. If this happens, you can reduce swelling by taking an Ibuprofen, applying an ice pack to the swollen area, and elevating your feet and legs.

7 Tips for getting a tattoo

Getting your first tattoo is a significant milestone in any ones life, and it is of course an incredibly nerve wracking experience.

And you are sure to find it intimidating, after all you're about to mark your body for life! Nevertheless getting a tattoo is something you should most certainly do, but to calm your nerves here are seven pieces of advice to relax you and get you psyched for your new tattoo!!

1. Trust the Artist

Trust your artist! They know what they're doing!!

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Walking into the tattoo shop you will no doubt have expectations and ideas of what your tattoo is going to look like, so the best thing to do is tell the artist exactly what you want, don't spare any detail! The more the artist knows the more your tattoo will be the tattoo of your dreams. However, if the artist offers you advice or additional suggestions on style, shape or placement then listen to them, they know what they are doing. At the end of the day, your new tattoo is an advertisement for their work, and any self-respecting artist will give each and every tattoo their all!!

2. Make It Custom

There are thousands of tattoos out there and it is easy to see one and decide that is the one you want, but why settle for a tattoo that countless people already have, your tattoo should be unique to you so make it custom! Talk to your artist and find the right design, and even if it is one that has been done a thousand times before try and add some personal touches to it, a name, symbol, whatever you want! It is always better to know your tattoo is one of a kind and personal to you. Be your own person and make your tattoo unique! But if you are struggling on your perfect design then why not have tattoodo come with a kickass design for you, simply click here and get the design you want!

3. A Cheap Tattoo is a Bad Tattoo

Cheap tattoo versus expensive tattoo

One of the most crucial pieces of information you need when your new to tattooing is to know that tattoos are not cheap and when they are they will probably look it. Truth of the matter is that if you want  a good tattoo then it's gonna cost! Though that is by no means a bad thing, think about it, would you really want to skimp on something that will mark your body for the rest of your life! Tattoos are an investment and you pay for what you receive, so paying that little bit more for a well respected artist is always going to be worth it in the long run.

4. Pain is a Part of the Process

Tattoos hurt, no ifs, no buts, no nothings, tattoos hurt it is as simple as that. The pain of getting a tattoo however is not unbearable and is something that with gritted teeth you can come through. Yeah there will be points where your skin is incredibly sore but its nothing worse than a very irritated sunburn, more annoying than agonizing. Of course where you get your tattoo and how big it is will also be a factor in how much it hurts, so if its your first tattoo do your research and get it somewhere not as sensitive, places like your eyelids and crotch are areas probably best avoided!

5. Aftercare is Essential

Most tattoo artists will give you a few pointers on caring for your new tattoo and truth be told most will tell you different things, but the basic rules stay the same. Gently wash your tattoo with warm water, let it breathe and then lightly apply some moisturizer (although each artist will probably recommend a different type to the next). As long as you keep your new tattoo clean and avoid sun you'll be good to go and be free to show of your awesome new ink.

6. Freaking Out a Little is Okay

When your new to tattooing and have just got your first tattoo your bound to freakout a little. The first couple of times you wash your tattoo there may be some ink run off, but this is perfectly normal and nothing to fear. Your tattoo is not losing its ink! It is also common for your tattoo to scab so don't be alarmed if yours does...but you must NEVER pick it or scratch no matter how itchy it becomes. Tattoos take time to heal so be patient, even if you are on edge for the first week leave your tattoo to recover and all will be well. So yeah, you can freakout a little but just don't go crazy!

7. Don't Worry About Regret

Love the design, then you'll love the tattoo!

A common worry for anyone getting their first tattoo is whether they will regret it once it has been done, and of course this is a rational thought but when it comes to tattoos your best just to go with it. If you truly want a tattoo then when it is done regret won't even be a worry, but if it is a concern then check the design and check it again until you are happy with having it on your body! Always remember tattoos are for life and not just for Christmas, be sure it is what your truly want before going through with it otherwise it is laser removal for you!

...Getting your first tattoo is big step, so before you do anything do your research, checkout artists and go into a tattoo shop!!