5 Traits a Successful Tattoo Artist Should Have 0

Like any other business, running a tattoo shop or a tattoo parlour isn't easy. It is a very competitive industry to be in. To become successful in this industry, one must have passion, perseverance, and determination. But the main factor that will impact a tattoo business is its tattoo artists. 

 

Being a successful tattoo artist does not happen overnight, heck it doesn't even happen in a year! Skills should not only be learned but mastered. Artists should also familiarise themselves with the equipment, and other tools to be used before, during, and after the tattoo process.  

 

Here are 5 traits a tattoo artist should have to excel in this field. 

 

1. Artistic Ability 

 

Even if you're not a natural-born artist, certain skills, techniques and styles can be practised and mastered to improve your existing abilities. People who love tattooing and have passion for the art are most likely to succeed in this field. Like a painter with a canvas and paintbrush, a tattoo artist has a tattoo machine and the client's skin.

  

2. Attention To Detail 

 

This skill is one of the most important things a tattoo artist needs to master. Artists should learn to keep an eye on even the most minor details when working. Listen carefully to what your client wants and keep in mind all their requests.

 

3. Curiosity 

 

Nothing is constant except change, this is also applicable to the tattoo industry. New tools and techniques are developed year after year. Keeping up with new techniques, trends, and new tools is important to survive in the industry. This is where curiosity helps big time. Just because an artist knows a lot, doesn't mean they need to stop learning and finding out new things. Artists should be curious, read magazines, attend trade shows, learn other countries' tattoo culture, and speak with other experts. This will not only keep them up to date, this will also help them become a better artist than they were before. 

 

4. Work Ethic 

 

Every professional needs to follow proper work ethics, yes even tattoo artists. This will definitely help them earn respect in the industry. People will see them as someone who's reliable, trustworthy, and efficient in their craft.

 

5. Adaptability 

 

The road to becoming a successful tattoo artist requires being able to adapt to your environment. Tattoo artists should have the ability to work with all kinds of people.  Clients and other tattoo artists or tattoo owners will have different opinions, and ideas. You need to be able to relate to them, and communicate with them in a professional manner.  

 

As I have mentioned earlier, a lot of changes happen day after day. New tools and equipment are introduced by different manufacturers. Different inks are being developed, and trends change from time to time. As a tattoo artist, you have to be able to adapt to these changes or else you'll get left behind. 

5 Important Tips to Make A Perfect Tattoo 0

A perfect tattoo isn't that easy to achieve, but with the right elements and skills, you can definitely pull off a perfect tattoo.  

 

To accomplish this ultimate goal, keep these 5 important tips in mind. 

 

 1. Listen to your client 

Different clients have different tastes. Some want a detailed tattoo, while others choose simpler ones. Whatever your client prefers, listening to their wants and needs is very important. Communicating with your client is important before and during the tattoo process. Coming up with an actual design based on what they want will depend on your creativity and skills. Draft the design and show it to your client, be open to their comments. Don't hesitate to suggest an idea, if you think it will improve the design. If the design or the size is not feasible, explain it to your client, tell them the reasons why you don't recommend it, and offer them alternatives. 

 

2. Pay attention to placement

The design shouldn't be the only focus to achieve a perfect tattoo. Most of the time, clients already know the design and placement they want. As the expert, you should be able to tell whether the design and size will fit the placement they have chosen. If not, don't hesitate to tell them. You can suggest other better placements, or you can suggest adjusting the size of the design. Explain to them and show them the possible outcome if they insist the placement and size they want. 

 

3. Consider techniques in advance

Tattoo sessions are usually pre-booked, this gives you an opportunity to study and consider techniques you can use that will give you the best approach. You can even try sketching and using coloured pens to give you a better idea on how you can give justice to your client's chosen design. 

 

4. Get to know your equipment

Of course, if you're planning to make this a career you should know every equipment by heart. You should be comfortable with the equipment you will be using. Being uncomfortable with your equipment will affect the overall result of your work. Familiarise your self with all the equipment you will be using, and the brand of ink you choose to use. This will give you overall control during the tattoo process. 

 

5. Be realistic.

A good tattoo artist knows their limitations. Knowing is one thing, but admitting and accepting these limitations is different. But that shouldn't stop you from learning and practising new techniques. But if you're not ready, and you know you're not confident that you can achieve the client's desired design, say it to them directly. Accepting projects that are beyond your limitations might lead to a disastrous outcome. You don't want an unhappy client right? Be realistic and be honest. Keep in mind that customers worked hard to save money for their tattoos and they also endure the pain, so they don’t want to end up leaving your shop dissatisfied and traumatised. 

5 Important Tips to Make A Perfect Tattoo 0

A perfect tattoo isn't that easy to achieve, but with the right elements and skills, you can definitely pull off a perfect tattoo.  

To accomplish this ultimate goal, keep these 5 important tips in mind. 

1. Listen to your client 

Different clients have different tastes. Some want a detailed tattoo, while others choose simpler ones. Whatever your client prefers, listening to their wants and needs is very important. Communicating with your client is important before and during the tattoo process. Coming up with an actual design based on what they want will depend on your creativity and skills. Draft the design and show it to your client, be open to their comments. Don't hesitate to suggest an idea, if you think it will improve the design. If the design or the size is not feasible, explain it to your client, tell them the reasons why you don't recommend it, and offer them alternatives. 

2. Pay attention to placement

The design shouldn't be the only focus to achieve a perfect tattoo. Most of the time, clients already know the design and placement they want. As the expert, you should be able to tell whether the design and size will fit the placement they have chosen. If not, don't hesitate to tell them. You can suggest other better placements, or you can suggest adjusting the size of the design. Explain to them and show them the possible outcome if they insist the placement and size they want. 

3. Consider techniques in advance

Tattoo sessions are usually pre-booked, this gives you an opportunity to study and consider techniques you can use that will give you the best approach. You can even try sketching and using coloured pens to give you a better idea on how you can give justice to your client's chosen design. 

4. Get to know your equipment

Of course, if you're planning to make this a career you should know every equipment by heart. You should be comfortable with the equipment you will be using. Being uncomfortable with your equipment will affect the overall result of your work. Familiarise your self with all the equipment you will be using, and the brand of ink you choose to use. This will give you overall control during the tattoo process. 

5. Be realistic.

A good tattoo artist knows their limitations. Knowing is one thing, but admitting and accepting these limitations is different. But that shouldn't stop you from learning and practising new techniques. But if you're not ready, and you know you're not confident that you can achieve the client's desired design, say it to them directly. Accepting projects that are beyond your limitations might lead to a disastrous outcome. You don't want an unhappy client right? Be realistic and be honest. Keep in mind that customers worked hard to save money for their tattoos and they also endure the pain, so they don’t want to end up leaving your shop dissatisfied and traumatised.

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. 

Tattoo Green Soap 0

Tattoo experts and tattoo artists make use of the Tincture Green Soap – before, during, and after a tattoo procedure. This Green Soap is a therapeutic soap that is not available in local stores. It can only be purchased from medical and tattoo supply companies. The name “green soap” was formulated by tattoo artists. Tattoo artists use this by placing the soap into a spray container or bottle and then dilute it with water prior to a tattoo procedure. The spray container let the artist spread the solution to client's skin without even touching it. This is to ensure sanitation and to maintain hygiene throughout the procedure. 

Tincture Green Soap disinfects and sanitises the skin of the client prior to tattooing. The tattoo artist then wipes the client's skin with disposable paper towel after spraying green soap onto the skin while wearing a fresh pair of nitrile gloves. The green soap moistens the client’s skin at the same time cleaning the area to prepare it for hair removal. While the green soap is still on the client’s skin, the tattoo artist removes the hair through shaving the body part in order to put a stop to ingrown hairs from the needle entering the skin and to have no difficulty during stencil transfer. 

Subsequent to the shaving of the hair in the area where the client decided to put the tattoo, the tattoo artist will use another disposable paper towel to wipe the skin and use the green soap again to remove any loose hair. Then, the tattoo artist will spray the skin once again to moisten the clean and shaven skin. When the stencil for the tattoo design is applied, you will be asked by the artist to stand still. 

What is a stencil by the way? A tattoo stencil is a sketch of your tattoo design on transfer paper, which the tattoo artist makes use of as a reference while doing your tattoo. The artist will strip the stencil paper off after a minute or two and will ask whether you approve the positioning and the size of your chosen design. If it comes to the point where the design is improperly placed or it needs to be removed due to a last minute design change, the tattoo artist will use the green soap and wipe it again with a paper towel to remove the stencil. 

Green soap is free from dyes and has low alcohol content, the green soap also serves as a cleaning agent during a tattoo procedure. For the duration of your tattoo procedure, the tattoo artist will wipe the excess ink off the tattoo while performing the outline and shading. With this, the tattoo artist will be able to have a quick look to the next line in design and examine the previous lines or shading just in case additional ink is required. Once the tattoo is finished, the artist will clean excess ink, and blood using the green soap. 

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.