Steps:
Tattooing is a skilled process; adequately caring for your new artwork is critical to longevity. Follow your artist’s aftercare instructions closely, washing regularly with mild soap or a unique tattoo cleanser in warm water. Your tattoo may develop scabs over time; do not pick at them as part of its healing process. They should be left alone!
Preparation:
Tattoo artists typically begin by prepping the area they will work on with rubbing alcohol and shaving as necessary, as any hairs could get in their way during tattooing and be irritating. They will then apply an ointment or humectant to keep the skin hydrated, which allows more of the tattoo pigment to take hold and create brighter and richer tattoos. Finally, they will give the client aftercare instructions – both verbally and written – that should be carried home to ensure infection-free healing and efficient recovery. These must be followed. Clients should avoid taking medications that could thin their blood, including aspirin, except over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen products. Sunburns or sudden weight changes should also be avoided to help the tattoo heal properly.
Stenciling:
Stenciling involves applying paint or ink through cut-out shapes to produce images on the surfaces below. Planning is necessary when stenciling; for instance, how large your stencil should be and which colors to use is crucial to its success. When working with stencil art, it’s essential that the stencil is secured adequately on its surface and that you use a brush capable of handling its weight without leaving behind streaks or clumps of pigment. A good stencil brush has short bristles, which allow plenty of pigment without leaving behind streaks. Stenciling is an ancient technique first employed for the mass production of religious and secular prints in medieval Europe. Later, it spread through immigration into North America, where immigrants brought it with them as they established new communities. Today, it forms a critical element of street artist genres such as Cologne’s Van Ray or Hamburg’s Kunstrasen, where stenciled artwork often sends political or sociopolitical messages through its design.
Inking:
Tattooing involves injecting ink onto the skin with a needle, yet this process requires great skill and knowledge regarding which tools and how they’re utilized. Preparation includes cleansing the skin thoroughly before selecting appropriate machine/needle sizes and creating designs on paper before applying them to the body. Tattooing results in thousands of minor wounds on the skin, which causes your immune system to go into overdrive. Your immune system responds with macrophages — blood cells that eat away at wounds – rushing in as quickly as possible. Ink particles become swallowed up by these macrophages over time, causing Tattoos to fade over time. Outlining and shading are the final steps in tattooing, both essential. Outlining is especially crucial in producing bold and well-saturated lines; to make this work effectively, it is essential to choose an appropriate machine with needles (a shader/round magnum needle can create bolder lines than others), prepare the skin by cleansing and shaving before tattooing, as well as use of stencils.
Aftercare:
At this stage, your tattoo should begin to heal gradually with each passing day as scabs begin forming over its surface. Although you may feel inclined to scratch at itching spots on the body art, resist doing so, as crossing could result in skin infection, scarring, and distortion of its final look. Margarita recommends his clients continue cleansing their Tattoos twice daily with antibacterial soap for three days before switching to an Aquaphor fragrance-free healing ointment to speed healing time and minimize itching. In this way, the tattoo heals faster and reduces itching more quickly. At this stage, it is essential to refrain from bathing or swimming and avoid submerging the tattoo in unboiled water, as this could result in infection. Finally, moisturizing with a fragrance-free lotion that protects from sunlight should be applied frequently but gently; remember not to overdo it.
