My newest in the collection

I'm getting my newest and best tattoo right now as I'm writing this post. It's a skeleton playing a guitar with vampire fangs and deadlocks, of course.  My husband is doing this tattoo, of course. He's the only person I  trust to do the very detailed and elaborate black and grey work I want. Plus he's my husband and on top of that, he was voted the best tattoo artist in Mississippi a few years ago.
Check out his work at.               WWW.Willthedrill.com.

Dermal Anchors

Who's wondered what a dermal anchor is? The way they are inserted? Does it hurt? How long is the healing time? How do you care for this new foreign object that's been put into your body?

These are all important questions to ask before getting one.

In the next day or so I'll be posting new information pertaining to dermal anchors. I have experience with them myself being that I have two.

Hopefully this will be informative to many of you.

Newest Tattoo

This is my newest tattoo, just got it today.

It's from MCR's new album, Danger Days.

How to decide if you should get a tattoo

If you're thinking of getting a tattoo, you should think about a few things first.

1. Why do you want one?
    Figure out the reason behind wanting a tattoo. If you're getting one because a friend has one, that's the wrong reason. Do it because you really like the design and feel you are ready for it.

2. Are you even old enough?
    A lot of states will allow minors to get tattooed with a parents consent. Personally, I don't think this is a good idea. Wait until you are at least 18. You'll be more mature and can make better decisions.

3. Do research.
    If you want a tattoo you're going to have to know how to take care of it. You need to avoid certain things a couple of days before you go in to get it. Avoid sun, alcohol and anything that can harm your skin. The tattoo artist should go over with you how to take care of it, but he can't tell you what to do before.

There are tons of things to think about before getting a tattoo and these are just a few. You want to make sure it's really what you want and where you want it; otherwise, you will regret it.

What not to do in a tattoo shop

Tattoo shops and tattoo artists can be foreign to some people, actually they can be quite scary. Some of them really are, but for the most part, they're not. The thing is, tattoo artists have to stand their ground, if they don't customers will try to talk down prices, disrespect them and the shop, and all sorts of rude things people do when they take advantage of others. If you want to be treated with respect when you go to a tattoo shop, take the advice that follows.

Don't go into one shop and talk about another one. Telling artists what another shop charges or speaking ill of them won't go very well. So, just don't say anything about other shops and you'll be fine.
If you go to a tattoo shop, don't interrupt an artist for any reason. If they don't speak to you right away, there is a reason.
A very big mistake a lot of people make is taking pictures of flash. If you try this, you'll likely be told to leave. Told, not asked. It doesn't matter why you're taking the picture. The artist either drew that flash or had to pay for it, and it doesn't come cheap.
A big no-no: never ever go into an artist's station without permission and especially not if they're in there.

There are many, many things you shouldn't do in a tattoo shop, but these are big ones. I'll later post an article on what you should do, but for now this should suffice.

So, You've Gotten a Tattoo. Now What?

You finally got up the courage to walk into a tattoo shop, sit down with an artist, and get a tattoo. It's there now, so what do you do to care for it, you wonder.
The artist who put the tattoo on you should have gone over aftercare instructions with you, but if he or she didn't, you can follow these.

-The number one thing you must do is keep the tattoo and the area around it clean. I promise you don't want it to get infected. A tattoo is essentially a wound, and for wounds to heal they must be kept clean.
Wash the area of skin with a mild antibacterial soap. Good choices are Dial or Ivory. You want to do this 3 to 4 times a day, especially in the morning and before you go to bed.


-DO NOT put alcohol or peroxide on your tattoo. Please, trust me on this. I can back up what I'm saying. The reason for no alcohol: alcohol dries out skin, and that's the last thing you want to happen to a fresh tattoo. Peroxide just isn't needed because you're washing it with an antibacterial soap. Using peroxide can irritate the skin and lead to it drying out and becoming very irritated.

-Stay out of the sun. When sun hits a new tattoo it burns and stings like crazy. Once it's healed you can get some sun. The only problem with sun, even on a healed tattoo, is it will make it look faded. A moderate amount of sun won't really fade the tattoo, but as your skin tans the color seems to fade away, even with black and gray tattoos.

-Keep the tattoo moisturized. You'll want to apply unscented lotion or a cream made especially for tattoos about four to five times a day and always after washing it. This will speed up the healing process and keep it looking new. If you use lotion don't slather it on, you want it to absorb properly. Apply just enough to cover the tattoo and to moisturize. Great picks are Eucerin and Lubriderm, unscented.

-NEVER ever pick at the tattoo. It is going to scab and itch, but picking the scabs and scratching it will lead to scarring. Resist the urge to do this.

The healing time is usually anywhere from two to four weeks. Take into consideration how your body heals and your overall health. Some people may heal in three days, others may take two months (hopefully not).

If you follow these steps you'll have no problems. If for some reason you do encounter a problem, please contact the artist who did you're tattoo. Tattoo artists know more about tattoos than doctors, because that's what they do. Doctors do not study tattoos and how to care for them. The artist will be able to tell you what to do if anything should happen.

What to do before getting a tattoo

So, you've decided to get a tattoo, but you aren't sure what to avoid or how to prepare. Tattoo artists give you instructions to follow after you get a tattoo, but they usually can't tell you what to do before hand. It's not because they don't want to, but because you typically won't see them before you get a tattoo.

The most important thing to do before getting a tattoo is to avoid the sun. Tattoos are already painful enough; you don't want a needle going over burned skin.

Next, don't drink. Drinking decreases your ability to think clearly. You want to make the right decision about you tattoo. It also thins your blood, meaning you'll bleed more during the procedure.

Another important thing you might want to do is eat something. If you get dizzy or faint a lot, definately eat before your appointment, especially if it's a large tattoo. You don't want to get sick or pass out during the tattoo.

There are other things to avoid before an appointment to get a tattoo besides the ones listed here. You can always call the shop and ask what they suggest you avoid before coming in.

Tattoo 101

Thinking about getting a tattoo? There are a few things to consider before you actually do it.

1. Do it for the right reason. Getting a tattoo because of a dare or bet will come back to haunt you.
2. If you are unsure about the design, don't get it yet. Think about it some more and make sure it's what you want.
3. Be prepared for the pain. Tattoos can hurt. Some people like the pain and some don't. Take into consideration your threshold for pain and if you'll be able to handle it.
4. Whatever you do, don't get a lover's name tattooed. It seems like a great idea now, but you never know what will happen. It's possible to just simply get tired of the person. If you get tired of the tattoo of their name, that's too bad because it doesn't go away.
5. Check out different shops. You want to make sure you're getting a tattoo in a clean and sanitary place. Look at the bathroom. Take notice of the countertops. If those are dirty, the artists' stations are likely to be as well. There's nothing wrong with asking about sterilization and cleanliness.

A tattoo is a permanent decision. It's something you should think a great deal about before you actually get it. If you're unsure about it now, you could cost you on down the road.