Eternal Connectivity

By eternal connectivity in the tattoo relevance, I would be referring to the significance of matching tattoos. There is something so comforting about having the exact same piece as someone else who holds so much significance to you. Being that I actually have 3 matching tattoos with people (My mother and both my best friends) I feel as though we are connected even more so than usual due to them.

 

 

Though the popularity of them has risen, the underlying meanings of them are all different and unique which is why they are so appreciated. As you can tell I have 3 very different tattoos that are actually some of my most significant. Each tattoo tells a story in general but I feel as though when you have a matching one it doesn’t just tell a story, but an adventure of life. They tell a journey with the other person, the struggles, the good, the bad, the happy, the ugly, and the love you have for them.

There is something so special about having this unspoken bond with someone that lasts forever. All it takes is a glance down at your ink and a smile pops across your face because you think of how much that one person means to you and hopefully they do the same. The matching ones I do have I always looked down at and grin because I think of a memory about me and that person I have such a bond with. They are special and should be cherished.

Many hesitate when they consider getting similar tattoos. Now as I see it, family is forever, your friends may come and go but if you found the right ones, they will never leave, and well significant others…. that is where the caution should be raised due to the uncertainty of the future. It is all within your heart and if cherishing that special someone means getting a matching tattoo, then so be it.

“Does it hurt?” “What kind of question is that?”

One of the most common questions asked right before getting either your first tattoo or a new spot done is, “does it hurt?” Well…yes. Thinking about it logically, there are dozens of tiny needles filled with ink being injected a few layers deep into your skin’s surface repeatedly for minutes to hours at one time. So yes, getting a tattoo in any location is going to be painful, but there are definitely some spots that are more sensitive than others. Below is a picture that charts the pain levels of tattoo locations as blue is the most and yellow is the least.

Examining the photo here, it is not surprising that spots like the back of the knees, elbow crease, armpits, and genitals are the worst to get done. Though I believe the head should be appointed blue as well, these spots are relatively hard to deal with.

Personally I agree with the diagram in totality except for the calf/side leg due to my discomfort when getting mine done about a year ago. With a dozen tattoos done, there is not one location that I have been tattooed where I did not experience a decent amount of discomfort, but then again it is all a personal experience.

Pain tolerance levels on each individual is different so for some, the pain chart may vary, but for the most part everyone can agree the accuracy of it. Some may feel tiny pricks as others feel bee stings and this is completely normal. The premise of showing the chart is for others to examine and really consider if their pain tolerance is high enough for their location of desire. Passing out is the last thing any artist wants to have to deal with.

Is Your Shop Sanitary?

Nine times out of ten when a person goes to get a tattoo, they are looking for two things.

1. Is the tattoo artist qualified and is their work clean looking?
2. Cost- Is the tattoo of desire overpriced? Where is the best deal?

The issue in looking for the best deals is that many are not necessarily looking into the cleanliness of the shop and how business is run there. With having to be at an A inspection grade to keep as shop open, there are a variety of things to look at before setting up your next appointment. Below is a list of signs to look out for when choosing an appropriate and clean shop…

1. Medical Equipment
   • The use of needles is an obvious idea when it comes to tattoos, but making sure your shop uses fresh ones for every single customer is essential to prevent any sort of cross-contamination and disease spreading.
   • Gauze, is the shop fully stocked? Do they use fresh and clean for every person? These are all things to look for even though it seems silly.
   • Cleaning supplies…green soap sound familiar? Maybe witch hazel? Always make sure your artist has a supply that is plentiful!
2. Uncluttered
   • Look around and see that their workshops are free from any loose and unnecessary equipment that could cause distractions or contaminations
3. Disposal
   • Looking and making sure that they are properly disposing of needles and contaminated napkins is always necessary
4. Overall Upkeep of Shop
   • Take a peak around. Anything seem off? Leaks? Mold? Bugs? If you’re saying yes to any of these than it is more than evident that their inspection is either way out of date, or there is something else going on that you want no part of

It may seem silly to hesitate and look around the potential shop, but trust me it is worth it. The price may seem right, the artist may, but if the shop isn’t at top quality standards than start looking else where. Nothing is worse than putting your body in harms way for a tattoo and it may be an extra few weeks that you would have to wait…but that wait will be worth it.

LASER REMOVAL…IS IT A SOLUTION?

           There is always going to come a time in which individuals suddenly regret their decision of a tattoo and consider something we like to call laser removal surgery. According to webmd, the process is described as, “lasers remove tattoos by breaking up the pigment colors with a high-intensity light beam.” how uncomfortable?

This process is an effective treatment for those that want to remove unwanted ink off of their bodies. there are many factors though that are predetermined before one just goes ahead with treatment such as size, location, color and even age due to the sensitivity of skin as one gets older. According to several websites and doctor recommendations, smaller tattoos require less laser beam pulses due to the limited amount of ink while larger pieces require way more frequent lasers. in either case, the patient must undergo several sessions before their tattoo is considered invisible.

Professionals recommend that after every session that their patients keep the area clean and bandaged as much as possible to prevent infection. They also agree on using an antibacterial ointment to cover the area as well. there are some risk factors that come with these procedures such as hypopigmentation which effects the skin and makes the area that was once soaked in ink, lighter than the skin around. others would be the possibility of dulling the colors but not fully. As claimed, black and blue ink respond well to treatments meanwhile others such as greens and reds do not which requires more sessions and even then…sometimes it will not be a permanent dispersant of ink pigmentation.

Now removal sessions can be quite pricey. Depending on how big and who you go to, there is a rough estimate of between $200-$500 each session. That is a lot of money so one must be sure that they are willing to go through the pain and dish out high amounts of money. It is crazy to think that these treatments are going to cost more to remove than the receive.

With the pain and money in mind, one must be completely sure of their tattoo before they go and get it. Many who go on impulse have regrets later in life and see this as a solution and though it can be you need to ask yourself…am I sure I want this for the rest of my life?

 

Website referral: http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/laser-tattoo-removal#2

Pictures: Google Images

Tattoos in the Workplace?

It seems more and more that tattoos are becoming less taboo in the work force, but there are many questions still at hand. What gives? What professions are allowing more visible body modifications? Does it effect job opportunities? Now I have researched several articles in search to find out if this adventure I am currently going on is going to affect my potential of getting jobs in the future and well…it seems not so much.

Over 1/3 of the population in the United States has a tattoo and 40% of Millennials now have one as well. As times are changing and so are people which is something corporations and job fields are now starting to realize the effect of. Yes, there are some who have strict dress codes of no visible tattoos, but now more so there are unsuspected fields who are becoming okay with the concept of visible ink.

For starters: Hospitals

Now more so hospital staffs whether it be admitting, patient care, doctors, nurses, and secretaries have been allowed to have visible ink upon their bodies.

Offices

Lets be real…who is actually going to see these office professionals who are sitting in a cubicle all day typing reports? Nobody. Point being is since they are behind the scenes, the fact that they have ink is becoming less of an issue than some would think.

Educators

Yes. Teachers. School teachers ranging from Pre-K to Professors are granted access to have any non discriminatory or offense tattoos out for display. Children are not going to be suppressed to the fact that this world enjoys art and that people are covered in something that they love.

That is just a few to name off really quickly but its been a journey for acceptance to be able to have a professional job and still have ink. Though it seems a little strange still, its now becoming more of a normative. Especially since the generation up and coming to run this nation will be the Millennials and since most of us have tattoos…I am doubting this is going to be an issue for much longer.

Why though? Why now? Well here is the thing, professions are turning their back on a person’s appearance now due to their fear of losing a potentially great employee. Seeing as this is a widely practiced culture, companies do not want to miss out on their best opportunity because something so small and insignificant. With this generation rising and taking jobs, it is not uncommon to see a tattoo, they are not trashy but rather beautiful within their own.

 

(Images used are not mine…go to Google)

The Little Lady

As I have mentioned previously, my friends and their support for my adventure and their love of tattoos is what keeps me going throughout this entire process. The other week one of my good friends won I guess you can call it an Instagram contest off of an artist I have mentioned before named Hans Ryan of Fast Times in Belmar, NJ. He posted a picture of a sketch of a woman’s face that was decorated with a floral head crown that if you contacted him via Direct Message and struck the best deal with him, you would be the only one with this custom tattoo. After seeing it, she had to message him and somehow struck such a cheap deal on such a beautiful piece. Below are pictures of her getting the tattoo, the mid process, and the finished product…

The catch with the tattoo was that she gave full creative responsibility to Hans. He chose the coloring and how he wanted the shade the entire piece in how he envisioned it. Her sister and I were both in the room and he constantly asked us what we though would look good. Originally the flowers were to be different tones of reds and pinks but after really looking at the product we all came into conclusion that the roses should be a white, skin tone color because as he put it, “sometimes less is more”, and I can not disagree with that.

Overall the piece is beautiful and of course done with Eternal Ink that I have reviewed in previous posts. This tattoo is about 2 weeks old now and she is actually almost done healing after keeping her, “Little Lady”, moisturized, clean, and taking as much care of her as possible.

Glow in the Dark Ink?

Alright I have had friends, coworkers, and even family ask about glow in the dark in and what it is and if it is even healthy to use. From research and speaking to multiple artists from around my area I have come to a conclusion that as of right now, glow in the dark ink is one of the most dangerous inks to use and would not suggest.

Though it is visually pleasing, the formula that they use inside of these inks are mainly phosphorus which can be really dangerous to use on the skin due to the fact it is only activated in UV lighting. There is a concern in the community about developing skin cancer due to the ingredients are inside of the ink.

After doing some research, I have actually found out that big time celebrities such as Lil Wayne, Kim Kardashian, and Lindsay Lohan all have glow in the dark tattoos. Now as of a few years ago, this ink was not FDA approved which led to discussions about what it could do in the skin long term. As of recently though, there has been a formula made in which there is an absence of phosphorus but tattoo artists around my area in New Jersey have not recommended it because it has not been out too long and that they are still unsure of what effects it can cause.

Disclaimer: the photos above are not mine and were taken from other photographers and some of this information was found from http://blog.tat2x.com/glow-in-the-dark-tattoos-the-pros-and-cons/ if you want more information on them.

Eternal Ink Review

Eternal Ink is a widely used brand in either many or most tattoo shops. Personally, most of my tattoos have been done using this brand and I have nothing to complain about though some have said they have had a skin reaction; there is always a risk for reactions. It does not matter what ink your artist uses, there is a risk for an allergic reaction that could causing bubbling in the skin.

The reason I support this ink as much as I do is for the fact that it is made with an all organic ingredient list. The ink has organic pigmenting, witch hazel, and alcohol. It is known to be carcinogen free, preservative free, and is vegan. This ink has never been tested or used on animals which is something that I am a huge activist about as well.

From different reviews and recommendations from artists that I have talked to, many intend on using Eternal Ink due to the fact that it goes in faster than some other brands and that the color is bright. Even though all tattoos will fade over time and touch ups are a must, Eternal Ink seems to stay in for quite some time.

All in all from what I have heard and personally gone through is that Eternal Ink is one of the best out there. Artists from multiple shops and from different states have personally recommended it to me and with the tattoos of color that I do have, for the most part the ink has held to it’s true color.

Just A Few Days Later

So after just about 4 days after getting my elbow tattooed, which I must admit was an experience for me, I am well into the healing process. To disclaim, the healing process of tattoos is different for everyone and I am not justifying how it should be, but these are my experiences.

For the first few days I was in some minor pain that was just mainly irritation and some bruising that formed around the fine lines of the script of the tattoo. I am a big fan of constantly cleaning the affected area and especially since it is on my elbow that touches the dirty counters of where I work, keeping it clean is a big concern of mine.

To clean my tattoos, I have always preferred using a spray by the trademarked brand Bactin. It is a cleanser, pain relieving, and infection fighting spray that covers any affected areas and cleans them thoroughly. Spray the tattoo and its surrounding areas and with either a CLEAN wash cloth or even paper towel, gently pat the tattoo until mostly dry. After that comes the moisturizing process. Now if the tattoo becomes too dry and too brittle there is more of a risk of deforming the tattoo, losing some of the ink, and even infections (which I have had on my leg and let me say they are not fun at all). I prefer for the first few days after being tattooed, using a healing ointment named Aquaphor. Applying a thin layer every few hours seems to keep my tattoo from drying out completely which is a plus. The Bactin/Aquaphor duo that I use seems to really work for me and after the first couple of days I continue to clean with Bactin but substitute the ointment out for a regular lotion such as Lubiderm every so often to keep the moisture.

This was the best close up picture I can get by myself of the tattoo where you can see that the redness for the most part has completely disappeared. I am still irritated in some ways especially when bending my arm back and forth. Looking at my arm towards the left there is definitely some swelling and the words are all individually raised which is very natural. Most of it has scabbed over completely which is a good sign of proper healing! I can not stress this enough, DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE PICK AT YOUR SCABS! If you are to take a way any of the scabs that are on the tattoo you are prolonging the healing process and interrupting the natural flow of it.

From another perspective of the tattoo (sorry not the best of quality) it is evident that I am going to need to get a touch up which is not a complete shock to me. Some of the lines appear to be shaky or even from just brushing up against my shirts of somethings at work so of my scabs partially came off. It also slightly appears that my skin could have rejected the ink as well. That is natural and happens to almost everyone depending on if your skin is sensitive, how heavy or light handed the artist was, and even the type of ink used. Looks like it might be another 2 weeks before I am completely healed and ready for touch ups.

All in all I am actual very happy with how easy this tattoo is healing. I am a typical person to take twice as long to heal apart from everyone else. I have fair and thin skin which makes my healing process much longer and usually much more painful unfortunately. Will keep updating and post a final healed picture in the future!

Welcome!

Welcome to Unsolicited Ink! My name is Julia and I have a serious passion and devotion to getting tattoos and being educated on the do’s and do not’s when it comes to getting tatted. Whether it be from what ink to use, maintenance and aftercare of your tattoos, what artist suits best for what person, to anything else that has to do with being a walking piece of art.

Personally I have 9 tattoos, though some are visible and some are not, I would like to share the significance of the few that I can and that have actual meanings behind them.

These were my first two that led me into my severe love of ink. MCDXII was the first which stands for 1412. Growing up I lived in my mother’s childhood home which was 1412 on our street. Now growing up there was a dream come true with a happy family, friends, neighbors, a dog, the whole nine yards when it comes to your regular suburban living. Unfortunately, at the age of eleven my father left my family with nothing thus forcing us to lose not only my childhood home, but my mother’s as well. I had it tattooed on me because of the significance it holds to my past.

“new again.” is actually a song from one of my favorite artists, Taking Back Sunday. The song goes on about having a new beginning and become a new person that is worth living for. I proceeded to get it done in order to represent my future as I see my house number as my past yet my other wrist to be a new person and to carry on for the rest of my life.

A few months after the first two were done I ended up in a severe car accident that changed my life forever. As my best friend and I were heading to get Christmas presents at the mall, my car spun out going 70 mph, we spun four times before flipping two and a half landing upside down on a guardrail. My friend walked out of the accident with one little cut as I suffered a bruised rib cage, sever concussion, and a lifetime of fear of driving. I was told that if we moved 3 more inches I would have for sure been announce D.O.A. and ever since then I have chosen to not take my life for granted. On the one year anniversary of the accident we got matching boat tattoos to represent the two of us continuing to sail through life and keep going on after almost losing it all.

Now this one’s meaning is not too long, but as it goes is everyone from my hometown of Belmar, NJ always gets a tattoo dedicated to the beach and how growing up near the coast line is very different than what anyone can expect. Instead of getting a conventional seashell I decided to get a trident to represent my love for the sea.

Now lastly out of the tattoos I am willing to share I have 3 glyph symbols across my other arms which are what dictate my life without being too blunt about it. In order they represent Create, Connect, and Protect. In my life I have created who I am and what I want to be, I connect with as many people as I can and is what I look forward to doing for the rest of my life and lastly I protect everything and everyone that I love from the horrors of the world.

From the few that I’ve shown, it is obvious that I went on the smaller scale for most of my tattoos. I am patiently waiting to continue filling in my body with more and more art work because sometimes the most destructive things are the most beautiful and that is exactly how I view tattoos. They are some of the worst pain and damage to the body but at the end of the day, after all of that pain leaves some of the most beautiful artwork I have ever seen and why not represent it on the canvas of my skin everyday!