“The talent is in the choices.”
Robert de Niro
A DIAMOND IS NOT FOREVER! A TATTOO IS!
Those who are about to get a tattoo always have a number of questions.
Here below you will find some fundamental and pretty exhaustive information that hopefully will help you avoid making the most common mistakes, they will make us save time and will make our meeting more productive.
Even those who are not new to tattoos will probably find some interesting info.
A TATTOO LASTS FOR LIFE. IT’S WORTH MUCH MORE THAN A JEWEL!
IT’S BETTER IF IT’S UNIQUE LIKE YOU!
Money, time and pain mean nothing if compared to an artwork that will stay with you forever!
Don’t make the mistake to get one that’s not worth it… your skin deserves the best!!!
I take it seriously and I invest in it all my experience and my passion to give you the very best!
Give yourself a little of your time to read this page.
An informed choice is always the best choice.
TECHNICAL INFO
A tattoo is considered minor surgery and consists in introducing different kinds of pigments into the skin. To remove it it’s necessary to recur to surgery. One may be or may become allergic to pigments or metals.
Potential complications resulting from tattooing reported in literature are relatively rare, considering its current popularity and diffusion.
- Allergic Reactions: tattoos may cause individual allergic reactions.
- Granulomas: nodules that form around the injected material which the body perceives as foreign.
- Keloids and hypertrophic scars: the formation of excessive scar material in the healing process of a wound. The most prone anatomical areas are chest, shoulders and neck. These reactions are often caused by the non-observance of basic tattoo aftercare rules and/or the irresponsible direct exposure to the sun during the healing process.
These can be treated, within 6 months from execution, with ointments, patches, and pressure therapy. Within 3 months they can be treated with homeopathic products. Consult your doctor or a dermatologist for further information.
- Complications from nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR): there have been cases of interference with the quality of the images.
BEFORE YOU GET A TATTOO
- Try to have some ideas about what you would like to get. You can come to get help finding subjects of course, but you should have a project that drives your decision to get a tattoo. The better you describe what you want, the easier it will be creating the design for you.
- A tattoo studio is NOT somewhere you go to to hang out… If you are not serious about getting a tattoo, avoid wasting our time!
- DO NOT go to a tattoo studio if you have been drinking or if you are under the influence of drugs. Show up sober! No one likes to work with crazy people! If you are “high” you will not get tattooed, at least not by someone with a reputation.
- DO NOT try to bargain with your tattoo artist as if you were at a flea market. Bargaining with those who are working for you is bad taste and a lack of respect that will annoy the artist. The last thing you want is the artist to be in a bad mood when he tattoos you.
- If you have a limited budget you can ask the artist to do the tattoo in multiple sittings. If you decide to get something cheaper and smaller than what you originally wanted you will certainly regret it. Remember: beautiful tattoos are not cheap and cheap tattoos are not beautiful. Those who go from studio to studio searching for the cheapest one have ugly tattoos.
- DO NOT ask the artist to draw something just to get an idea or just to satisfy your curiosity. The time spent drawing for you is not free and if you don’t know what you want or you’re not ready to pay the price of a professional service please avoid wasting our time.
- Pay attention to hygiene. Unfortunately, there are people that need to be told! There is nothing worse than having to do with someone who is not clean. You don’t go to the doctor’s without taking a shower, then do the same for your tattoo artist.
- DO NOT bring a “support group” with you! No artist wants to deal with a bunch of friends who crowd the studio while he is trying to discuss or draw your tattoo.
- DO NOT bring children to the tattoo studio, it’s not a suitable place for them! Children get bored, they need to move and they are curious. The last thing you want is your child strolling around the studio touching supplies that could be dangerous for him/her. Moreover, concentration and calm are needed in order to work on your tattoo. A child would be a continuous distraction, for you and the artist.
Imagine instead of how you feel when you wear nice clothes and everybody compliments you, it’s a very pleasant feeling don’t you think?
A beautiful drawing with meanings is even more beautiful, but a thousand meanings won’t make a bad drawing beautiful.
So find an artist who has the necessary knowledge and experience to develop and create your tattoo and let him guide you.
For example, if you want a pin-up, make sure he is able to draw human anatomy. Do not choose someone who doesn’t have a single drawing of a human figure. The same goes for portraits. If he claims to be able to do them and there is not a single portrait in his portfolio then something is wrong! The photo used as reference should be shown next to the tattoo, if you want your dad’s portrait you at least want it to look like him and not end up with some stranger’s face on your arm!
This doesn’t necessarily mean that the artist wouldn’t take the job as a challenge doing a great job of it. But if there is something that an artist would like to do and hasn’t done yet, he will probably show some sketches of subjects he would like to tattoo so that potential clients can at least see that kind of artwork on paper.
A tattooer includes his best work in his portfolio, so, if in the portfolio there are plenty of tattoos that don’t convince you imagine what those he didn’t include are like!
THE SITTING
If it’s your first tattoo you may feel a little nervous, don’t worry, it’s completely normal! The fear of pain, that will fade away almost immediately, unless you have chosen a particularly sensitive area, could leave room to another critical thought, perhaps only subconsciously; you know you are doing something that will irreversibly modify your body, this thought may increase the potential state of agitation. In this case, immediately report it to the tattoo artist. Even a short break is sufficient to avoid any pressure drops caused by tension.

AFTER
The success of your tattoo and its lifespan also depend on how well you take care of it during the first few days.
- Once the session is over your tattoo will be covered with a medicated and breathable film that will protect your tattoo and that will need to be removed after approximately 24 hours.
- Once removed, carefully wash your tattoo and pat it dry (preferably with a paper towel as cotton towels may leave lint that may stick to the skin causing small infections), then reapply the film you have been given taking care not to form any air bubbles.
This cover, in addition to helping your tattoo heal, eliminates the disadvantages of old techniques.
- The protective breathable film allows you to wash yourself without any problem, to wear the clothes you want without the risk of them sticking to your tattoo, it removes the need of having to constantly apply cream etc.
- The film will detach by itself after a few days (approx 6/15 days). If it doesn’t detach by itself wait at least 15 days before removing it yourself. After that it will be sufficient to apply moisturizing cream for a few days in order to promote cellular regeneration.
- After the film has detached, if the tattoo isn’t fully healed, carefully wash it with lukewarm water using anti-bacterial or mild soap taking care not to rub it excessively, then pat it dry with a clean towel and apply a thin layer of cream. Repeat this process 2/3 times daily (before going to bed, when you wake up and during the day accordingly). Prefer showers over baths, in either case avoid getting the tattoo wet for too long.
- Avoid Direct sunlight, Saunas, Swimming pools, Beaches and UVA/UVB tanning lamps
- Although the film acts as a protective barrier and has a good resistance, avoid scratching the tattooed area and wearing clothes that are too tight over the tattoo and be careful not to bump into it.
- Once healed, continue regular cleaning and apply moisturizing cream 2/3 times daily for approximately 1/2 weeks.
- In order to prevent any skin infection and/or irritation, on the day of the tattoo change your bed sheets, all the more so if you have any pets that sleep with you in bed. In the latter case avoid letting them stay on the bed during the healing period.
Until the flakes have fallen off by themselves, it’s important that you:
- Immediately after or within 2/3 hours, remove the bandage. Gently wash the tattoo with lukewarm water using anti-bacterial or mild soap removing any clots of blood and/or colour, gently dry it (patting the area) and apply a thin layer of cream. As soon as blood or plasma come out, repeat the process. Continue until the plasma or blood cease to come out, this will significantly reduce the amount of scabbing and will speed up the healing process and make aftercare easier.
- Gently wash the tattoo with lukewarm water 2/3 times daily and, if necessary, with anti-bacterial or mild soap, being careful not to rub it excessively, then pat it dry with a clean towel and apply a thin layer of cream. Prefer showers over baths, in either case avoid getting the tattoo wet for too long.
- Cover the tattoo only if your work involves being in contact with dust (of any kind). Do not cover it with gauzes that would stick to the wound, but only use saran wrap (cling film) and remove it as soon as you can.
- Avoid Direct sunlight, Saunas, Swimming pools, Beach and UVA/UVB tanning lamps.
- Do not scratch the tattoo, do not rub it against tight clothes, only wear cotton or linen clothing in direct contact with the tattoo, do not remove flakes, avoid bumping into it. If the itching becomes unbearable during the healing process, do not rub or scratch the tattoo for no reason whatsoever, rinse it with fresh water and apply some cream instead.
- Once healed, continue regular cleaning and apply moisturizing cream 2/3 times daily for approximately 1/2 weeks.
F.A.Q.
It seems incredible but there are still people who ask this question.
Of course I DO!
All tattoo studios do, at least I hope so!
I only use disposable equipment in my studio.
According to Italian law people under 16 cannot be tattooed and those between 16 and 18 must have parental consent but no minors are tattooed in this studio! Without exception!
I’d rather you come alone, I don’t like having people around who distract me asking me questions, making comments or making noise while I’m trying to concentrate on the piece of art that you will carry with you forever. But if you really need to you can only bring one person.
In accordance with current health regulations, accompanying persons may not enter the operating area.
Although these are excellent ways to relax and maybe feel less pain, in my experience I’d rather avoid it. Usually who watches a movie or listens to music wearing headphones tends to move keeping the beat or, when watching a movie, moves in response to a plot twist or something that made him/her laugh.
Moreover, movies in particular disturb my concentration. Should you deem it necessary we could try, but if I notice that you start moving or that it’s distracting me from working I reserve the right to make you take off your headphones or turn off the tablet.
NO!
If you like my style and my designs why would you get them tattooed by someone else?
Moreover, if your tattoo artist is not capable of creating a design I think you ought to ask yourself some questions and maybe consider changing tattooer.
If you’re asking yourself this question you probably haven’t read the entire info section and still haven’t seen my portfolio to make sure that you like my style and that I’m the right artist for your tattoo.
In any case, you will be kept posted by e-mail or whatsapp throughout the entire process to make sure the design turns out exactly how you want it. Should you change your mind completely during the working process, the estimate would obviously need to be rediscussed. I suggest you look at my portfolio and make sure you like my style.
I’ve been drawing professionally since 1991 and I’m pretty sure I have the skills and experience not to disappoint you.
It depends on the type of scar and on what you want to get tattooed. There are different types of scars, some are raised, others are thin, sometimes they can be so thin that tattooing over them could further damage the skin, other times they have a very different consistency and/or colour compared to the rest of the skin. In any case, except in exceptional cases, it’s possible to intervene on scars but keep in mind that a tattoo won’t make the scar disappear and in some cases it might even make it more noticeable.
The best thing to do, first of all, is to consult a dermatologist and after having obtained a favourable opinion, evaluate case by case in person.
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