Damnit Deb

 We’ve called it ink, paint, color, and all sorts of other names. In the 20 years I’ve been tattooing I’ve seen people use drawing ink straight from Michael’s, and worked for people who mixed their own inks. The contents of tattoo ink varies wildly and practically because there’s no actual regulations for it. Recently there’s been a lot of noise about MOCRA and regulating inks causing certain colors to go away (see my other blog on tattoo ink and cancer). While ink does vary from company to company there are a few basic components of tattoo ink that are standard. I’ll also go over my preference for how I choose certain brands to ensure client safety so you know why I choose my inks the way I do.  The Basics Tattoo ink is essentially a pigment and carrier mixture. They can come from different sources and be either synthetic, organic or inorganic. There’s no right or wrong about these, but obviously the chemical mixtures of those created from metals and lab chemicals can have th...

 As a proud Polish girl I LOVE Polish art. Traditional Polish art is so colorful and vibrant. I plan on getting some myself soon as a cover up. (Watch this space!). Wycinanki (Vihs-in-ahn-key) is a traditional art done with paper called quilling in English. It’s layers of colorful paper intricately cut out and then stuck down. It creates a 3d shape but also a 2d design. Common themes include flowers and chickens. Much of Polish art comes from rural areas and is very specific to that region.  My family is from Masowia in central Poland which means they have different cultural costumes and themes than someone who is Góral from the Tatra mountains. The themes are usually similar, there’s a lot of floral, but the style a little different. For example, traditional Góral skirts are red and white while Masowia has green stripes and embroidered roses. It’s a beautiful and rich cultural identity. While you may have your own opinions on what is going on in Ukraine, the cultural identity...

 Everyone is going to have a sleeve. That’s the mindset I usually start your tattoo with. Whether you’re planning to from the start or whether I’m forward thinking is really just how it starts. Tattoos thankfully have remained popular which means you’re likely to get more, and there’s only so much real estate to work with. Your arms are the most visible spot, both to yourself and others so it’s the most common spot to get tattooed. So how do you get a sleeve? Step 1: GET A TATTOO Obviously this may be moot to some but if you’re planning a sleeve and haven’t picked a theme or any ideas just get started! Often a blank canvas is the most daunting because you’re seeing it as a whole rather than many parts. Just get a tattoo that you like. Many sleeves don’t have themes and are simply built up of things that person wants or likes. As long as you like it that’s what’s important. There’s no rule about having a theme or everything “matching” unless you want it to. Step 1: PICK A THEME Look...

 I’ve harped on a bit before about quality jewelry. It really is vital to the health of your piercing that you choose an implant grade material when you’re first pierced (and preferably after). Poor jewelry can result in the failure of your piercing in a best case scenario and a horrible infection at worst. Most of us pick jewelry because it’s pretty or because it fits our aesthetic without looking any further.  Jewelry standards for initial piercing are set by APP guidelines. While these aren’t required for piercers to follow they’re what your piercer should be following if they want to your piercings to be successful.  Not all Metals Are Equal When modern body piercing first became a thing we had steel. Jewelry was created in the 80s and 90s specifically for piercing and the only available material was natural horn or bone as used by many tribes or steel.  Steel is a mystery metal that can have any number of different mixes and additives. As body piercing became mo...

 There’s been a rise in studios marking themselves as upscale or private in their marketing. Like most marketing tactics these buzzwords are meant to invoke a certain feeling about how you see that business. Do they actually mean anything though? Private Studio The rise in private studios is very new. Tattoo studios until recently were a group setting. But, like many jobs that involve creative minds it can be hard for all of us to get along. In general a “private” studio means a small business run by one artist with only them working there. It’s generally only you and the artist in there so it can be much more comfortable for revealing tattoos knowing you wont have other artists or clients milling about. It’s something that a lot of high end artists have opted for rather than paying shop fees and having to work with shop owners on schedules and rates. Some artists dream of this as it’s a completely autonomous situation where they get complete artistic freedom. These places are almo...

 Do you get nervous when you get tattooed? Me too. It’s totally normal to feel some anxiety before your body mods. It’s a permanent change in appearance and it can be painful. So how can you best minimize that anxiety? Staying calm isn’t always easy but here are a few ways you can help chill out during your session.  Box Breathing Picture a square box in your mind. What you will want to do is to mentally follow the lines of that square. As you move through inhaling, holding, exhaling and holding along those 4 lines try and stay focused only on those. It helps regulate your breathing pattern and can reduce anxiety by giving you mindfulness.   1: INHALE - inhale through your nose to the count of 4.  2: HOLD - Hold your breath for a count of 4. 3: EXHALE - Exhale slowly in a controlled manner for the count of 4 4: HOLD - Hold again for a count of 4.  REPEAT.  You can also do a similar technique with a 4 second inhale, a 7 second pause and an 8 second exhale. T...