I will try to be as impartial as I can, what is sort of hard I have the tattoo bug….but I do not want to go around telling people what I think is best, getting a tattoo is a serious thing, is something that you will be with you, engraved in your body for quite a while…so I decided to give you guys not a speech but to do more or less and encyclopaedia kind of thing….I hope you all do not fall a sleep while reading it.

Tattoo Basics

Artists create tattoos by injecting ink into a person's skin. To do this, they use an electrically powered tattoo machine that resembles (and sounds like) a dental drill. The machine moves a solid needle up and down to puncture the skin between 50 and 3,000 times per minute. The needle penetrates the skin by about a millimetre and deposits a drop of insoluble ink into the skin with each puncture.

The tattoo machine has remained relatively unchanged since its invention by Samuel O'Reilly in the late 1800s. O'Reilly based his design on the autographic printer, an engraving machine invented by Thomas Edison. Edison created the printer to engrave hard surfaces. O'Reilly modified Edison's machine by changing the tube system and modifying its rotary-driven electromagnetic oscillating unit to enable the machine to drive the needle.

Modern tattoo machines have several basic components:

* A sterilized needle

* A tube system, which draws the ink through the machine

* An eletric motor

* A foot pedal, like those used on sewing machines, which controls the vertical movement of the needle.

Creating the Tattoo: Sterilization & Prep Work

A tattoo machine creates a puncture wound every time it injects a drop of ink into the skin. Since any puncture wound has the potential for infection and disease transmission, much of the application process focuses on safety. Tattoo artists use sterilization, disposable materials and hand sanitation to protect themselves and their clients.

To eliminate the possibility of contamination, most tattoo materials, including inks, ink cups, gloves and needles, are single use. Many single-use items arrive in sterile packaging, which the artist opens in front of the customer just before beginning work.

Before working on customers, tattoo artists wash and inspect their hands for cuts and abrasions. Then, they should do the following:

* Disinfect the work area with an EPA-approved viricide.

* Place plastic bags on spray bottles to prevent cross-contamination.

* Explain the sterilization process to the client.

* Remove all equipment from sterile packaging in front of the client.

* Shave and disinfect (with a mixture of water and antiseptic soap) the area to be tattooed.

How Much Does it Hurt?

People describe the sensation of getting a tattoo as similar to bee stings, sunburn or being pinched. Some say they experience a slight tickling or "pins and needles." Individual pain tolerance, the size and type of tattoo, and the skill of the artist all contribute to the amount of pain. Location also makes a difference - skin that rests right over a bone is more sensitive.

Caring for a New Tattoo

* Remove the bandage one to two hours after completion.

* Wash gently with cool or lukewarm water, using a mild antibacterial soap * Pat dry. (Don't rub!)

* Apply very thin coats of antibacterial ointment and work into the skin. Too much ointment can pull colour out of the tattoo.

* Avoid soaking the tattoo in water or letting the shower pound directly on it.

* Avoid the sun, sea and swimming pull until healed.

* Refrain from picking at scabs. They will fall off as the tattoo heals, usually in one to three weeks.

* Use ice packs if swelling or redness occurs.

* Call a doctor if you have even the slightest signs of infection.

Some health & Safety Precautions

* Checking gloves for pinhole tears during tattooing, since petroleum-based ointment erodes latex

* Pouring ink in advance, using clean tissue to open ink bottles during tattooing and preventing nozzles from touching contaminated surfaces

* Patting tubes dry after rinsing during color changes - never blowing excess water from them

* Spraying liquid soap into a tissue, not directly onto bleeding area, since blood can become airborne when the spray hits it

* Giving pens used for drawing on the skin, which should be medical grade and sterile, to the client

The tattoo artist must:

* Wash hands thoroughly and often.

* Inspect hands for cuts or sores and cover them with bandages.

* Remove hangnails and keep nails short to prevent punctures to gloves.

* Refrain from tattooing when experiencing lesions, dermatitis or allergic reactions.

Identifying a Safe Tattoo Parlour

Other than the use of universal precautions and laws requiring minors to have parental permission, few regulations cover tattooing. Licensing usually involves completing a health department course on infectious disease transmission and passing an exam, but no governing body inspects tattoo businesses. Laws allow anyone to buy a machine, get a license and start tattooing whether or not they have any artistic ability, a situation that professional tattoo artists object to.

Here are some basic steps for choosing a safe tattoo parlour

* Look around to see if the studio is clean and professional.

* Ask questions: Is there an autoclave? Are the needles and other materials single-use? Are EPA-approved disinfectants used? Do the tattoo artists wear gloves? Professional artists won't mind the questions.

* Watch the artist and pay attention to health and safety precautions.

* Watch the artist open all needles before beginning work.

* Ask about the staff's professional memberships. These are not required, but artists who participate may have the most current information about trends, innovations and safety issues.

Ok, now you have a tattoo!!!!!