WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2014
STEPS TO HELP
YOU GET INKED
by BLAKE THOMASON
sports editor
It seems like people nowadays are
getting tattoos more often than they
get haircuts. Especially young people,
it appears to be the new trend. Some
people, like me, get tattoos that have a
lot of significance and a story behind
them. Others get tattoos because they
like the look. There are certain steps
you must take if you’re considering
getting a tattoo.
1. Have a specific image in mind.
You should know how you want
the tattoo to look for the most part
You don’t necessarily have to loiow
every single detail as long as you know
the general. Try sketching your own
design or look up several designs to
find just file right o ne Some people
suggest waiting several months after
you come up with the design to make
sure it’s something you want, since it
is perm anent
2. Know where you’ll get it on
your body.
You need to know where it’s going
to be on your body so you can figure
out size and placement but also if it’s
going to conflict with work or other
affiliations. It might also be important
to consider the pain involved. Certain
areas of the body, like the places with
a bone protruding, hurt more than
others. A rib tattoo may look nice, but
if you can’t handle the pain you should
consider a different location.
3. Find a quality tattoo shop.
I was fortunate enough to nave an
older brother who took me to a great
shop where we now have a good rela
tionship with one of the artists. If you
don’t have friends or family who can
introduce you to someone/someplace,
you need to do some research. There
are a few places you go where you really
need to be able to trust the person and
the tattoo shop is one of them. The last
th in g you want is a bad experience
inked on your body for the rest ofyour
life. Keep in mind tattoos are fairly
expensive. A standard rate is around
$100 an hour depending on size and
detail This is not the type of purchase
you want to go cheap on.
4. Set up an appointment
Once you know what you’re getting,
where it’s going on your body and what
shop you’re going to get it done at, you
need to make an appointment If you
HAVE
YOU
SEEN
ME?
found a quality shop, chances are you
won’t be able to just walk in whenever
you feel like it Try to set it up so you
nave enough time to save money.
Once you get to your appointment
you should be absolutely confident
about the tattoo.
Snake, top left: Victoria
M unsey’s in-progress cobra
sleeve tattoo. The design
was chosen because sh e ’s ;
“really into snakes. ”
By Saad at Pussycat
Tattoos.
5. Prepare for the pain.
If you think a shot at the doctor’s
hurts, you got another tiling coming
with a tattoo. Even on the “easy” areas,
like the chest or the arm, it still hurts.
People have different thresholds of pain,
but no matter what you should expect
to feel something. Its not too bad, you
do get somewhat used to it after a while
but a needle jabbing into your skin
for hours is not pleasant Some things
you could do to help with the pain
are listening to music, biting down on
something or holding someone^ hand.
Tree, top right: Coral
Clunas ’sleeve tattoo o f a
tree and butterflies symbol
izes that “the old is still
beautiful. ” Artwork done by
a friend.
6. Check the progress.
For the most part a tattoo is traced,
but that doesn’t mean there can’t be
mistakes or accidents, Im sure you’ve
seen or heard o f misspelled or awkward
tatoos (just look at The Print’s horror
stories!). I suggest taking one or more
breaks depending on tiie size and detail
of your tattoo to see how it’s coming
along. If you found a good shop you
. probably won’t have anything to worry
about, but just in case, it’s better to catch
a mistake early in the process.
Turtle, bottom left: Shainna
Jones shows a tarot card
inspired design o f a turtle
on her thigh. Tattoo done b y
Joe at Skin City in Tigard.
Destined, bottom right:
Colby Thomason shows
o ff some o f his tattoos. His
first tattoo was at 16, when
he got “destined” written
onhis side in a frie n d ’s
kitchen. Currently 22, he
estimates he now has 18 to
20 tattoos.
7. Take care ofyour tattoo.
Congratulations you’re done! Sort
of. New tattoos require a good amount
of care. After the artist finishes the
tattoo they should put some lotion on
they tattoo and cover it up, typically
with saran wrap. You’ll receive instruc
tions at the shop on care. You should
leave the saran wrap on your tattoo for
at least 30-45 minutes so your skin can
recove r. After you rcmov e the wr a p you—
should shower to wash the tattoo, but
you should not submerse the tattoo in
water for at least two weeks.
Pat dry the tattoo after washing
don’t wantto m b it During those weeks
you should be applying lotion daily
on your tattoo to keep it from drying
o u t Only do it a few times in the first
48 hours, but after that you can apply
lotion up to three times daily for the
first week Typically you apply lotion
just once or twice daily in the second
week Ybu should use a fragrance
free, hydrating lotion preferably with
vitamin E. After the second week you
are all set to rock that ink!
, , -THIRD EYE
HORIZONTAL
EYEBROW
^ -E Y E L ID
NAME THAT PIERCING!
INDUSTRIAL
" '" i
C ARTILAGE/
H ELIX
^-TEARDROP
FORWARD H E U X \
a
ROOK
--H IG H NOSTRIL
DAITH-
DIMPLES
TR A G U S ^^
A N TI-
N O S T R IL ''
.........MONROE
AN TI-l
S E P T U M '''
CONCH
M angel bites
HIGH LOBE
--T U N N E L/P LU G
kSj
TATTOO ARTISTS
TO FOLLOW ON
INSTAGRAM
@KatVonD
SPIDER B IT E S ''' ,
S N A K E B IT E S '''
@highvoltagetat
y
LOWBRET
@hannahpixiesnow
LÁBRET
@alymayne
^ P H IL T R U M
@romeolacoste