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MTS Blog — tattoo machine

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Things you should know about Tattoo Anaesthetics 0

Most people get addicted to getting a tattoo because of the pain they feel during the tattoo process. Others want to get a tattoo to overcome emotional pain and diverting it to physical pain. But not everyone wants to get a tattoo and feel the needle penetrate their skin. Some even doubt themselves whether they can handle the pain or not. Fortunately, tattoo product manufacturers have come up with a solution to cater to those who are dying to get a tattoo but have low pain tolerance. There are tattoo anaesthetic sprays, numbing creams, and anaesthetic gels available in the market. Tattoo artists have been using these anaesthetics for a long time.  

There have been a lot of questions and speculations about these tattoo anaesthetics. And we would like to answer some of those questions for you and for others who are scared to get a tattoo because of their low tolerance to pain. 

  • Do tattoo anaesthetics really work? Yes, of course! These products can be very effective. However, not all anaesthetics are created equally. If you own a tattoo shop, and you want to offer tattoo anaesthetics to your client, be sure to look for the following ingredients when buying tattoo anaesthetics: lidocaine, tetracine, benzocaine, and/or epinephrine. Menthol, camphor, tea tree oil, and comphrey roots are some of the natural additives that help enhance the power of the anaesthetics.
  • How do they work? Lidocaine, one of the numbing agents mentioned earlier, can be found in nearly every tattoo anaesthetic product. The higher the percentage of lidocaine, the more effective it will be. It deadens the nerve endings and makes the tattooing process more comfortable for both the artist and the customer. Also, lidocaine is a key ingredient in reducing the initial stings of a tattoo needle when it hits the skin. It prevents the client from flinching too much. There are also products that contain tetracine or benzocaine, if not both. These are nerve blockers. They do not totally put a stop to nerves from sending pain signals to the brain, but they lessen the level of discomfort that those pain signals can give. There's also, epinephrine, a vasoconstrictor that causes the blood vessels to be narrower to have less bleeding and swelling during the tattooing process. However, be too much of these can cause complications.
  • What is the most effective combination of tattoo anaesthetics? Some tattoo anaesthetics take effect faster than others, which makes them perfect as boosters to apply as secondary layers throughout the whole tattooing process. When you are using a tattoo anaesthetic that contains epinephrine, it won't be necessary to reapply it, one layer is enough. Also, try to use tattoo anaesthetics like Tattoo Soothe Cream or Hush anaesthetic gel. During the preparation of the skin for the tattooing process, wash client’s skin with products like H2Ocean’s Nothing Pain-Relieving Foam Soap enhanced with Bactine. The Bactine will help in reinforcing the effects of any topical anaesthetic applied beforehand. 

Safety Tips for Tattoo Artists 0

Tattoo is a form of art that should only be done by professionals, it involves a lot of risks that can even put a customer’s life in danger. That’s why tattoo artists should always practice safe tattooing. When I say safe, I'm not only referring to safety measures to be done in the workplace or on your clients. Safety should also be considered for yourself, as a tattoo artist. It means taking steps to keep yourself out of trouble, out of jail and out of the hospital.

Here are some precautions you can follow:
  1. Get a license to tattoo 
  2. Always display your business license in your shop 
  3. Turn down clients who are intoxicated, there can be excessive bleeding if you tattoo someone who's been drinking. 
  4. Make sure your clients are of legal age 
  5. Have your clients sign a waiver before inking them. 
  6. Minimise hazards to your own health with actions like disposing needles properly 

Having a safe working environment means keeping your shop clean, and keeping your equipment sterilised . Every tattoo should be treated delicately and properly. This means your storage should always be stocked up on supplies that keep your workplace clean, your materials sterilised, and most especially, your clients safe from any disease or infection.

A Tattoo Artist should never run out of:

Gloves
Gloves should always be worn while cleaning and prepping a tattoo. After using it, throw the pair away, and wash your hands with antibacterial soap. A fresh pair should always be used whenever you start doing a tattoo.

Cleaners & Disinfectants
Reusable metal grips, other materials should always be cleaned using a disinfectant solution. The tattoo chair, autoclave, basically the entire area should be thoroughly cleaned.

Autoclave
Purchase a good autoclave that can be used to properly sterilise your tools in between clients. You'll also need sterilisation pouches to use with your autoclave.

Sharps Container
Prevent accidents and dispose needles properly in a Sharps Container. There are a lot of Sharps recovery solutions available, so you can choose the right size of container for when you're traveling vs. working in your shop.

Topical Skin Cleansers
Always have a skin cleaner that you can use for your client’s skin. Green Soap is one of the most popular pre-tattooing cleansers, but it isn't your only option. You should avoid using rubbing alcohol, because while it can assist ink in entering the skin more easily, it can also cause ink to be carried further into a person's system than desired.

Antiseptics & Ointments
Check your first- aid kit. Make sure you have a supply of antiseptics, ointments, and other first aid supplies to use when needed.

Disposables 
It is easy to maintain a sterile work area with disposable items. Once the tool is used up, just throw it away. A lot of the supplies you'll need for tattooing are available in convenient disposable form. Stuff like clip cord covers, tattoo sleeves, cases of Precision Medical Cohesive Wrap that you can use to pad grips, gauze, skin markers for drawing tattoo patterns directly on your clients' skin, face masks, exam table paper to line tattoo chairs, and a bunch of others are examples of disposable items that should be found in your shop.

Disposable Tattoo Tubes
Instead of buying a reusable, autoclavable tattoo grips, steel tubes and tips, invest in disposable tattoo tubes. It has all those components in one convenient unit that you can use and then throw away. There are styles to fit every tattoo artist's preferences.

Tattoo Needles & Tattoo Needle Bars
Needles should not be reused. Even if you sterilise it and apply your whole supply of cleaner or how many times you autoclave them, it’s just not safe and smart to reuse needles. There are a lot sterile needles in store. From flat, magnum, round, and stacked needle configurations, bug pin needles, short standard tapers, long tapers, name it.

Some of the most important things you need for safe tattooing are listed above, check your trusted tattoo supplies shop for the items mentioned above.

Choosing Your Tattoo Design 0

Apart from the mind-boggling decision you have to make whether to get a tattoo or not, another thing you also have to face is what design would look best on you or would describe you and your views. For some, choosing and deciding the tattoo design is the hardest part of getting a tattoo. You have to make sure it's something you won't regret few months or years from now. You don't want your tattoo to look like everyone's, so it has to be unique. You also have to think of the best placement that will suit the size and the design of your future tattoo. Removal of the tattoo is costly, agonising, and not always effective. That is why it is very important for you to think it through over and over again and make the right choice in order to avoid tears and regrets. 

You don't just wake up one day and think, yeah I think I'll get a 1-inch tattoo today. If that happens, stop yourself from making the biggest mistake of your life. The more planning you put into your design, the more likely it is that you will enjoy looking at your tattoo for the years to come. 

Here are some tips you can follow when choosing your tattoo design: 

  • Do not make any rash decisions. Most of the terrible tattoo photos you see online come from spontaneous visits to the tattoo parlour. If you're drunk on high on any substance, or you've been dared by a friend, the getting a tattoo is not a good idea. Instead of visiting a tattoo artist, just sleep it off. 
  • Consider where you want to put your tattoo. You need to think about the part of your body where you want to put your tattoo. Will the design suit that part of the body? How big or how small should the design be? Should it be round? Triangle?  
  • Put more of your time refining the design and choosing one that has of great meaning and value to you. Research if you must. Head to the library or reputable tattoo parlour and try to look through tattoo design books. Your design should be timeless, unique, and meaningful.  
  • Not everyone has been given the talent to draw. But if you want a customised design, try drawing it on your own and explain it to your tattoo artist. They might help you create a better, and more artistic version of it. Don't afraid to comment and tell your artist if you want something changed, don't settle.  
  • Think before you get inked. Think about it a lot of times. When you are certain. If you want, you can ask someone to draw the design on your skin. Look at it several times and think if you want that to be on your skin permanently.  A well designed tattoo can boost beauty and confidence. .A poorly chosen tattoo design, done on a whim can leave you unhappy for all time.

Things You Need To Know Before Buying Your First Tattoo Machine 0

What makes a great tattoo aside from the design, colour and size? No matter how great the design looks, if it's done by someone who doesn't have proper knowledge, experience and the right equipment then the tattoo just won't look great. As a tattoo artist, you have to invest in your Tattoo Machine. If you're an apprentice planning on buying your first tattoo machine, here are some guidelines that may help you decide and choose the perfect tattoo machine for you!

Points to Ponder Before Having Your First Tattoo 0

Everybody gets too hyped up when getting their very first tattoo. Most of the people who get inked for the first time have this feeling of a fire burning inside them or a feeling of their blood rushing through their veins. Some might even feel butterflies in their stomach. Having your very first tattoo gives you mixed emotions – a feeling of excitement, nervousness, happiness and liberation.

Tattoos have become part of the modern fashion. What used to be a taboo has now become a craze and for some it even became an obsession. Of course, there will always be some people who regret getting their first tattoos because of different reasons. This is why you need to remember the three main tips I am about to tell you. Read through before booking an appointment with your chosen tattoo artist.

1. Think. Think, think and think again. This is something that will remain on your skin for a very very VERY long time, so you have to think about your design, its placement and the person you choose to do it for you. Take your time and do not rush things. Getting a tattoo is painful, but bearable. The amount of pain will depend on the part of your body, and your pain tolerance. Imagine pricking your skin with a needle and scratching it using that needle. As a first timer, avoid putting your tattoos in the most sensitive parts of your body. As much as possible, keep your face out of this, too. If you want to test your pain tolerance, you can always start with a small tattoo. You don't want to end up fainting in the middle of your tattoo session, or worse having an unfinished tattoo. I guess everybody wants to have a perfect memory of having their first tattoo, so try not to panic, because it might ruin the moment, or you might end up having your most embarrassing moment.
2. Research. This is important – the researching part. There's a lot of things to research about. You start with the design, placement, inks, tattoo shop, tattoo artist, and the most important of all... the price. Looking for the right design might be hard. This could take days or weeks, some take years to find a perfect design they want. That tattoo will remain on your skin for a long time, so don't rush it. Be sure of what you really want and don’t be deceived by your temporary feeling. Remember that feelings are temporary and tattoos are forever. You must also research the shop and the artist you want to entrust your "virgin" skin with. Try to search whether or not they have the right equipment to get it properly and safely done. As much as possible, make sure that you see them opening a new needle for you. Then comes the price. Some might offer cheaper services, there's nothing wrong with that. Just don't sacrifice your safety and your tattoo's quality. Unless this is a world-class shop or artist and someone close to you vouch for them, then go. Also, don't be afraid to ask questions.

3. Commit. Follow your tattoo care instructions. You can use some Tattoo Go products for this like their Aftercare Lotion and Aftercare Soap to help you with your tattoo's healing process.

 

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