Common Tattoo Questions - Finger tattoos

It happened again, one of our clients scheduled a small tattoo, didn't put any notes about the tattoo when making the appointment and when they came in, they said that they wanted a finger tattoo. With the exploding popularity, finger tattoo requests are coming in on a weekly basis.

While finger tattoos are a great way to show-off, or remind ourselves and others in a way that can't easily be hidden, they are far from a "traditional" tattoo.  Even with the popularity of hand and neck tattoos because of the social acceptance, doesn’t mean its always a good idea to go for the fingers, or hands for that matter.

Most people looking to get a finger tattoo have done a little bit of research on the subject, but like most things that we research with the goal of purchasing, we only look for the positives, and best-case-scenarios. 

Finger tattoos are what I call a "novelty" tattoo. Many tattoos are done to be elaborate works of art, with attention to detail in every line, items and icons are strategically placed for maximum impact to the overall design that makes an appealing creation on the wearers skin. The difference with fingers, and other "novelty" areas is the fact that the epidermis layers of skin are thicker, and there is more. This allows these areas to exfoliate more efficiently since they are areas of constant wear and irritation. This leaves less room for the dermis layer. The dermis layer is where the ink is placed, and where it will remain. If ink is placed in the epidermis, it disapates, and ultimately falls, or is rubbed, out. This coupled with the fact that these areas are "high traffic" meaning they are used hundreds of times per day, rubbed on pockets, bumped, holding items, etc... Makes for an area that is not conducive to tattooing. 

That being said, it is certainly possible to tattoo these areas. However, the result is less than satisfactory 80-90% of the time. Meaning, the lines will be thick, blurry lines, small details will disappear, color has a harder time holding, etc... Especially if the tattoo extends beyond the top areas, onto the sides, bottom, or knuckles. Most finger tattoos require multiple touch-ups, and up to 40% won't stay. (This doesn't mean the tattoo will just disappear, it means that certain spots will stay while spots adjacent will not stick, no matter the needle configuration used, no matter the pigment, no matter the artists expertise, no matter what; it's because of the physiology of the makeup of the fingers in certain individuals. 

We do finger tattoos about 3x a month and have vast experience making them look the best they can. But anyone looking into tattooing their finger, needs to be aware of the down sides as well as the up-side of a finger tattoo.

I hope this was informative, or at least made you stop and think. I’m more than happy to discuss your finger tattoo ideas and we can see if getting a finger tattoo is right for you.

Feel free to contact Jon Poulson directly with questions, etc.. You will find him at his private studio in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, or by clicking here - www.AncientMarksTattoo.com

We're looking for your story!!!

That's right; If you're looking for a tattoo, We're looking for your story!!! We're looking for 3-5 (maybe more) people with a great story behind the tattoo they want.

The tattoo can be big or small, completely hidden, or on even the top of your head. We prefer fresh skin, but a cover-up often has a more compelling story. What's important here  is the story of the why behind the tattoo you want!

If you want a tattoo, and you have a compelling story behind wanting it ie; life event, challenge overcome, family member(s), something inspiring, some small miracle, milestone reached, hurdles overcome, a reminder of what or what not to do again, a secret kept, etc... Then we want to hear from you!

We want to work with you to develop this tattoo into something that will truly represent your story and document it along the way. We will be giving at least one of these tattoos away, but the rest that are chosen for this project will be done at a significantly reduced rate.

Message us if this sounds like something that interests you and we'll get into the details. Sent a Brief summary of what you want to get and don't forget the most important part... The WHY, and we'll go from there.

Please, pass this along! Tell your friends, co-workers, family, anyone that may have a compelling reason to get a tattoo. Let's see if we can inspire something great!

ALOHA!

You can reply to this post, or contact me directly at saltlaketattoos@gmail.com for more info.

Common Tattoo Questions; Cover-Up Tattoos

Wow! I've heard it all... Today a girl in her early 20's came in and said "I heard that you can cover this (mess of a tattoo) up with white ink. How does that work, and when can we start?" I just smiled and shook my head. I had her sit down and explained to her how a cover-up works. Since I find myself explaining this to at least a dozen people a month, I decided to post it on our site so that it can benefit others.

In a perfect world, we could cover a mistake with a beautiful image and the old image would simply be gone. But it just doesn't work like that in the real world. 

I get so many people stoping by the shop asking about doing a cover-up. It seems like anyone that has more than a couple tattoos has at least that one "mistake" tattoo. It's usually one of two stories; either it's a drunken night escapade, or a search for a cheap tattoo (and usually a friend of a friend that purchased a "tattoo kit" from some shady internet site thinking tattooing could be a fun hobby. You with visions of a perfectly placed amazing piece of art at a steal of a price; Paying all of $20 bucks and a pack of smokes.) – and you wonder why the tattoo didn't turn out the way you envisioned it. 

Someone should break the hands of these "scratchers" that claim to tattoo (or at least their cheap equipment)! I know, I know, but the tattoo he did on one of your friends looks great! I hate to break it to you... NO, It looks just as bad as yours! Look at it again; and look at it as close as you look at yours. They both look terrible and you both made the mistake. The sad part is: it's a mistake that will be on your body for the rest of your life! In many states it's a FELONY to do this to someone; Tattoo outside of a State Licensed establishment without the proper tattoo licenses and training. (But not in Utah! Utah doesn't license it's tattooers for some unknown reason. So anyone can pick-up a tattoo machine and ruin someone's skin, spread disease and not even realize that they did it because they didn't have to do any training! Utah, you gotta love it! If any Tattooer claims to be a "Licensed Tattoo Artist in UTAH, they're lying! there are currently no licensing procedures for Tattooers! Ridiculous; but that's a topic for another time.) My point is, these people are spreading horrible tattoos and diseases for cheap prices, ruining people's skin, and lives with their filth. I for one have had enough of it, and I'm tired of fixing their mistakes.

Even though people joke about, and poke fun at their buddy's messed up angel that looks like it got ran over by a semi, or her ex's name on her shoulder that's missing a few lines and has ink spreading out underneath the skin, or the rose that looks like a dead cat. A bad tattoo is nothing to laugh about. wether it's an ex-lover's name, something you drew back in school, or a tattoo that just didn't turn out the way you wanted it, an un-wanted tattoo is a source of pride-sucking embarrassment. Sometimes it was the start of something amazing; something that you had planned for years but somehow it just got lost along the way.

Regardless of how, what, where, or when, now you're stuck with it and there are very few options. Actually only three viable options;

1. You can just keep living with it; Well, we all know how that feels. But, hey, it's an option.

2. You can get it removed with a laser; Great option! it's costly, but with some of the new laser clinics we are working with, it's quick and more affordable than you may think.

3. Tattoo Cover-Up; That's where I come in. Before I get into this, I should point out that I get quite a few clients that opt to do a partial Laser removal and partial cover-up. This is a great option and I'll get into it further.

Each has pros and cons... Once you are sick of hiding it, only you can decide which is right for you. If laser removal is the best solution for you, we have two different clinics we work with. Both have the most up-to-date, modern methods for removal... where it takes a couple months, not years to get rid of your mistake. Both offer great pricing and both offer financing to help you.

Which brings us to your third option; Covering it up with another Tattoo.

There is a disturbing trend in the industry by less seasoned cover-up artists. Tattooers are covering up mistake tattoos with anything, and everything. Thinking it's covered since you can't see it when they are finished that day. You see, when a new tattoo is put into place, the old tattoo pigment hasn't mixed in with the new pigment yet. That and the redness from the irritated skin caused by applying the new tattoo completely hides the old tattoo no matter how light the colors are.  The instant result is a "WOW!!! THE OLD TATTOO IS GONE!" the thank-you follows. What you, and probably this artist, doesn't realize is Yes, it looks great right now. But give it 1-6 months and that old tattoo will show right through it all. And now you have a really big mess on your hands! Covering up a cover-up that's covering a cover-up is a major undertaking! And the worst part is, you thought it had been taken care of the first time! Only to be horrified when the old pigment mixed with the new pigment and left what looks like two images combined on your skin in the worst possible way.

When it comes to covering a tattoo in this day and age, there is a common misconception that a tattoo can be covered up by anything. And lack of proper training in many new tattooers just proliferates this misconception. And I wish that was true; But it's just not the case. The fact is: All Tattoo Pigment (ink) is Transparent. Which means it's see-through. The ink remains wet in the dermis layer of skin indefinitely. So, any pigment that is put over/into older pigment mixes together in the skin eventually. Just like mixing paint, the darker pigment takes over the lighter. So, if the tattoo is black, or has black, the only thing that can cover it is black. If the color of the tattoo is Yellow and we put blue over/into it, it mixes in the skin and makes a green color. Get the idea? The only thing you can cover a black tattoo is black pigment, or hide it in Black shading.

There are some tricks we use at Aloha Salt Lake Tattoos so that we don't have to use Solid Black to cover a mistake that was originally done in black pigment. The first trick is to go at least 2-3x as large as the mistake tattoo we are covering and trick the eye to look somewhere other than the location of the old tattoo. Now, we still have to use Black pigment to cover a black mistake, but we can hide it in shading or detailed lines with shading. We then divert the eye to a different area where we add details and something pleasing to look at. So, the old tattoo is still there, hidden in shading. So you end up looking at the new image and don't focus on the area where the shadow is hiding the old tattoo. This gets especially tricky with lettering and thicker lines. Lines and shading that go in one direction are generally easier to "hide" than lines that go in a bunch of different directions. Same with Thick lines; A thick black line is another tricky thing to "hide". But with planning, it can be done effectively.

The problem with a cover-up is you can never get exactly what you want. There is always going to be some degree of settling to make it work. Many people think they found the perfect image to cover their mistake tattoo. Then I explain to them the transparent pigment and how it works. Shattering their dream of a simple cover-up that's the same size as the original mistake tattoo. But, after I explain the in's and out's of how a cover-up works, it's a lot easier for them to find an image that they like that will also do the trick of covering up the mistake.

Basically, if you're wondering if a cover-up image you found will work, Instead of thinking of the new image on top of the old mistake, think of the old tattoo on top of the new image. Because that is what's going to happen. In less than 6 months, that old tattoo will show through on top of the new tattoo. And, if done correctly, you won't be able to tell that there was anything there. Now, YOU may be able to see a small piece of the old tattoo because you know exactly where to look. But nobody else will ever be the wiser. And is't that the point?

When planning a cover-up we have to take all of this into consideration. Each color, each line and shade. It's never a quick... Let's just do this to cover that (unless it's a black shape covering the old tattoo; which some people opt for as a quick fix. But that never looks good in the long-run).

Finally, depending on the image you want, the size of the Mistake Tattoo, and your budget, a partial laser removal partial cover-up may be the way to go. If done correctly, you can get stunning results for a lot less than you think.

There are a few ways to go about this. But each one has it's advantages. Sometimes it's a simple; fade the entire existing tattoo to the point that lighter colors will cover the remaining pigment. This makes things much simpler to get a new image exactly the way you want it. Other times it's removing smaller (or sometimes larger) areas completely so that we can use that space for light areas of the new tattoo. Then leaving other parts that will be covered by dark pigment. This is another way to make a cover-up look exactly the way you want while compromising very little. With the new modern lasers it's less painful and a lot quicker than ever before. We have two tattoo removal partners that our clients work with to accomplish one of these two results. Resulting in an amazing cover-up.

Don't fall victim to anyone telling you that a cover-up is easy! It's not exactly easy. It's always a challenge. And while it's nice to be able to give someone exactly what they want, it rarely works that way with a cover-up. So, take your time, find an artist that will work with you to understand what you are trying to accomplish.

Which-ever way you decide to go, Do it right! Don't make another mistake and end-up with an even bigger mess than you started with. It's going to take time and patience. But in the end, you'll actually have something that you are proud to show.

If you have any questions about covering a tattoo that you don't like, give me a call or send an email. I'm more than happy to answer your questions. We can schedule a free consultation to discuss the specifics of your situation if you like. I'm more than happy to make recommendations based on your expected results. If it turns out that a cover-up is the best solution, We'll figure it out together and give you something that you'll be happy to show off. If Laser Removal is the best solution for you, I have two different clinics that use the most modern methods for removal... it now takes a 1-3 month, not years, to get rid of your mistake. Even quicker to do a partial removal to get that cover-up started. Either way you decide, we are here to help you find a solution that will work best for you.

--

Feel free to contact Jon Poulson directly with questions, etc.. You will find him at his private studio in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, or by clicking here - www.AncientMarksTattoo.com

Common Tattoo Questions; Does it Hurt?

I get people stopping by every week asking the same questions; this week was no different. I've decided to answer some of these questions in a public forum, so that others can benefit. I'm going to break this up into segments to that it's not a novella. Hopefully more like smaller chapters that anyone can read in their preferred order, depending on which questions are the most important to them.

With the new-found acceptance of body art, including tattoos, in popular culture, comes waves of people that in decades past would have never considered a tattoo because of the stigma attached. But now that tattoos are an accepted way to express yourself; a way to express your differences; a way to protest society;  even a way to express your sense of belonging to a particular culture, group, club or way of thinking; a way to remember someone, something, or a moment in time; sometimes even just a way to fit-in. The reality is, more and more people are getting tattooed for every reason imaginable.

But, even though it's widely accepted, not everyone can jump into the commitment of a new tattoo so easily. Which is understandable. I've talked to numerous people that really want a tattoo, but deep-down they are afraid for one reason or the other. What if I can't handle the pain; What if I don't like this image staring back at me for the rest of my life; What if I don't like the results; What if I change my mind in the future; What if my best-friend/boss/parents/members of the opposite sex/and the list goes on... doesn't like it? What if..., What if... What if... And each is a valid concern. It's a life-long commitment. What if? And I can't answer that question for anyone. That's something that each individual must answer for themselves.

What I can tell you, from experience, that once you find that perfect first tattoo, you'll know it. You'll know where you want to get it, and you'll know why. And in reality, that's all that should matter. What do you think of it. Here's why: After you get your tattoo, as you're caring for it, you're going to look at it multiple times a day for weeks, months even. Then, after about 6 months you'll notice that you haven't looked at it or even shown it to anyone in a week or two. That's when you'll look at it from time to time with fond memories that bring back the original emotions of why you got it in the first place. Then, after about 9 months to a year, you'll realize that you only see it now and then, and you usually don't even notice it anyway. Maybe when you're getting dressed one morning,  or walking past a mirror at a certain angle, etc... The reality of a tattoo is; It becomes a part of you. You don't notice it any more than you notice the lines on your wrist or elbow. It's just that... a part of you.

Now, if you did your research, and go to an artist that will do a great job on your tattoo, an artist that will give you honest advice. And you did your research, making sure what you are getting isn't a symbol that stands for the opposite of what you are thinking to some other culture, and that you are realistic about what is physically possible as a tattoo (it is pigment(s) injected into living tissue in real-time by an individual; not a computer printing onto a two-demential piece of flat paper), you'll do what most of those tattooed people out there do. Look at your tattoo from time-to-time with fond memories. And that's the reason most people get tattooed. Some times people get a tattoo so that others can tell instantly a little something about that person, or provoke a thought or conversation. But a tattoo is a personal choice that should have meaning to you, and you alone. Expressing that thought or idea to others is, and should be a secondary motive.

So, now that you know that you aren't alone in your fears of the comitment of a tattoo, we can get down to some of the questions people ask about their first tattoo.

Does it Hurt to get Tattooed? 

What do you think? Of course it hurts! it's a very hard sensation to describe; that's why you've heard so many people describe the sensation differently. But honestly, getting a tattoo feels like... getting a tattoo! The pain comes from multiple needles penetrating your skin thousands of times in quick succession. The needles don't go very deep; In fact, when done correctly, the needles are going just below the first layer of skin (the Epidermis) and barely into the second layers (the Dermis). The tattoo needles don't go deep enough to puncture veins, they don't go deep enough to hit the bone. They are barely go a millimeter into the skin. (otherwise blood would push the pigment back out as quickly as it was applied). The easiest way to answer this question is; the sensation of getting a tattoo is similar to a slow scratch.

I tell everyone; Yes, it hurts. But, it's a manageable pain and as soon as I do the first small line so that you can feel it, You will realize that you will be just fine. You, like everyone that's come before you, have built the pain up in your imagination based on what others have told you and your perception. I also tell everyone that in addition to the realization that a tattoo is rarely as painful as they imagine, that by the time we're done, they will be ready to be done. So, it's not the pain of getting tattooed that's the painful part, it's the pain over time that will get to you. Most people can't go beyond the 3 hour mark; I certainly know that I can't, and won't get tattooed for over 2-3 hours. That's my personal limit. (Thus the need for "sessions" on larger pieces.)

What is the Least/Most Painful Area to Get a Tattoo?

This is a tricky question to answer. Tattoo pain is tattoo pain. It feels the same no matter where you are getting tattooed. The difference in pain at certain areas of the body is directly related to the sensitivity of that particular area. But beyond that, it's biased. The reality is; Everyone is different when it comes down to "the most painful area to get tattooed". While there are areas that everyone says hurts more than others, There are almost as many that say those areas are no more painful than easier areas. So, you will never really know where the most or least painful areas are until you experience them for yourself. The strange thing is, I've worked on someone for several weeks in a row and they have experienced little or no pain in that area. Then one week, they say it's excruciating. And while they have been able to go 3-4 hours in weeks past, on that particular day, they an only go for 45 min - 1 hour. So i've come to realize that it has a lot to do with the state your body and mind are in while getting tattooed. Coming to the conclusion that pain is subjective. So, I answer this question with:

Don't worry where it's going to hurt More or Less. It's a Tattoo, it's not going to be pleasant. But, you'll make it through it just fine. Worry more about where you want this particular tattoo. Get it there regardless of the perception of pain associated with that area. The pain is temporary. It hurts while I am physically tattooing you. After it feels akin to a sun-burn. When it's healed, you won't remember the pain. You will however, have a tattoo where you wanted it. For a Lifetime of enjoyment.

To sum it all up: Tattoos do hurt. They don't hurt as bad as most people think. Anyone can make it through a tattoo with a little will-power and persistence. While there are areas on the body that hurt most people a bit more than other areas, please don't let that get in the way of your decision. Get your tattoo where you want to get it, get your tattoo how you want it, and get your tattoo for the reasons you want.  Don't let anyone directly influence your decision to get a tattoo or not get a tattoo. This is your body, You get to live with this tattoo for the rest of your life. Not every tattoo needs to have meaning; sometimes the meaning comes from getting the tattoo itself. It represents a time in your life; Be it a struggle, or anything but a struggle. A tattoo is a representation of a moment in your life and a reminder of that moment.

If you are considering your first tattoo, we are here to help  you make informed decisions on what to get, where to get it and everything else.

Feel free to contact Jon Poulson directly with questions, etc.. You will find him at his private studio in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, or by clicking here - www.AncientMarksTattoo.com

We'll help you make informed decisions about your new tattoo.

White Tattoos

I got two more calls yesterday about white tattoos. It seems like they're becoming more and more popular with the ever-present phrase "do you do white tattoos?" 

Like every "poplar" tattoo white tattoos come in and out of style, but it seems like this one is here to stay. I understand why; most that ask me about getting a white tattoo are noobs to tattooing. (usually it's their first tattoo). It almost seems like they are trying to dip their toes into the waters of tattooing without actually committing to jumping in. So, I get it. With the dramatic increase in popularity over the past 5 years, it's almost become the norm for 20-somethings to have a tattoo that they can show-off. But, like I've often said, "Tattoos aren't for everyone". Heh-since when has that ever stopped a young person from trying out a new trend...

Basically, there is nothing wrong with a white tattoo. I get it; you can easy conceal it; it doesn't attract attention the way a solid black tattoo does; The fact is, you can barely see it. So it's easy to hide from parents, from judge-mental friends, and current and future employers. And you can even look cool to your friends, sexy to the opposite-sex, and seem like a bad-ass that's breaking the rules, without having to really commit.  So, I really do get it.

However, there are some down-sides to it as well. First, it's white! White is already a light color. Most people don't realize that the tattoo pigment we put into your body is just like any other paint in many ways. The pigments used to die the medium to get the vivant colors are the exact same things. (kinda scary, I know) But, like any other pigment, the sun damages them over time. Meaning after years of sun exposure, they lighten up and aren't so bright anymore. Now, that's a long-term problem that many of us face, and I'll get into that more another time. But, my point is... it's gonna all but disappear at some point. And, not in the way that you want either. Spots and areas degrade, leaving blotches of un-recognizable ink and something completely unrecognisable. - Now, that's a worse case scenario. But, it happens.

Beyond that, white pigment doesn't appear to be white under the skin. Let me say that again! White Tattoo Pigment Does Not Look White Under YOUR SKIN! And it never will. You see, every one's skin has a color to it. Look around, and you'll see the range in color; Nobody is the same shade. I'm bringing this up because... Again,  most people don't realize this either; We put the ink (tattoo) into the second layer of the skin, called the Dermis. It's just below the epidermis, but above the Subcutaneous fat in your body. The Dermis is a stable area for the ink to reside. If we go too deep, and it reaches the fat layers, the ink spreads out and looks smudged. If we don't go deep enough, and end up in the epidermis, the ink just falls out when the epidermis exfoliates (or falls off, revealing a new layer). The pigment sits below these layers of skin all of which have your skin color in them. So; Think of your layers of skin as a stained glass window. Each of us has skin of a different color or tone. The ink is behind that layer of "stained glass" skin. So, you see white through your skin tone. (all tattoo pigment is viewed from behind this "stained glass" layers of skin). So, your skin color distorts the color of the pigment. In the case of white, it appears to be a lightened verson of your skin color. Usually a Yellow-ish ocre color. It looks a bit like a scar in some people, but usually it doesn't look pretty. And more-often than not, it doesn't look good once it's all healed.

Now, fresh white tattoos, Look great! They look bright white and pop off the skin. Who wouldn't want that! But the reality is, over a few weeks, your new skin forms over the fresh tattoo, and you lose the brilliance. Then over the long-term the pigment degrades even more due to damage caused by unprotected exposure to the elements; mainly the sun.

And lastly, you are extremely limited in what you can get with a white tattoo. Usually you can't do any shading; and if you can, only small amounts work. You're limited to simple designs that aren't too small.

So, If you're thinking about getting a white tattoo for what-ever reason, think twice. We certainly do white tattoos @ Aloha Salt Lake Tattoos. But, we're going to try and talk you out of it first. In addition, we don't offer complimentary touch-ups on white tattoos for the reasons mentioned above.

If you still want to schedule an appointment to get a white tattoo; Contact us and we'll set-up a consultation so we can discuss the specifics of what you want, and the potential problems. But, realize that we ultimately understand that it's your tattoo, and you get to live with it. So, if you decide that White is the color for you; do all of your research so that you know what you are getting into and call us. We'll take great care of you.

Feel free to contact Jon Poulson directly with questions, etc.. You will find him at his private studio in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, or by clicking here - www.AncientMarksTattoo.com