Does it hurt to get a tattoo?

Of course it hurts !!!  But it is not too painful.Some people compare the pain of getting tattooed to
being scratched by a cat.  Others say it feels like getting sunburn and then
scratching it.  Remember, pain is temporary, a tattoo is forever.

Why are tattoos so expensive?

The price of a tattoo depends on many things.  Of course the more detailed
the tattoo, Size, Complexity are all important on price of a tattoo.Always keep in
mind though, just because you choose a small design doesn't necessarily mean
the tattoo will be less expensive, some small designs are packed with detail.  Skill
of the artist is also another factor in considering price.the more skilled
the artist the higher the price.Also with tattooing you are paying for a service in which you may keep the product(TATTOO) the rest of your life! At Superior Skin Art we use single service(disposable)needles,disposable pigments,disposable ointments & plastic barrier film that is all disposable. These safety precautions are all small but big factors on the cost of your tattoo.

I don't like the tattoo I have.Can I cover it with another tattoo?

Any tattoo can be covered up.  As long as the design you wish to cover it
with is larger than the tattoo you wish to cover.  It is a misconception
that to cover a tattoo you must choose a design that is solid black.  No,
solid black does work well for a cover-up, but there are other options.  As
long as the design you choose does not have a lot of open areas.

Is getting a tattoo safe?

If you are worried about contacting a disease, don't be.  At Superior Skin
Art, all needles are single service and are disposed of in a OSHA approved biohazard waste
container after each use.  They are never reused.  Any surface that
could possibly be contaminated with human secretions is protected by barrier
film and this is all thrown away after each customer and replaced with fresh
film for the next customer.  All artists wear disposable latex gloves and take universal precautions to prevent cross contamination.  In fact, you may see an artist change
gloves several times during the process.

I am not 18 years old but can I have my parent sign for me ?

No, in the state of Georgia it is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to
be tattooed in a professional studio.  Your mom, dad, grandma, or whoever
will not be allowed to give consent for you. You must present a state or
federal issued picture ID.  Different states/cities have different laws regarding
age requirement and consent.

Can I get tattooed if I am intoxicated or under the influence ?

No, Alcohol thins your blood and promotes excess bleeding.  This could affect the
quality of your tattoo.  Besides, who wants to deal with a drunk anyway,
right?  Not to mention the fact that when you are under the influence the ability to make                  a life long commitment will also be impaired.

What about swimming or sun tanning after getting a tattoo?

We advise you to avoid soaking in pools, baths, lakes , hot tubs, etc. until your tattoo
is completely healed.  Also, you want to be able to keep a fresh tattoo out
of excessive sun.  Even after your tattoo is nice and healed if you are
going to be in the sun for any prolonged periods of time put some sun block
on it, this keeps the tattoo from fading. " See Care Instructions "

What to look for when getting Tattooed or Pierced

The current popularity of tattooing and body piercing has also brought on an increase in potentially hazardous conditions.I am posting the following guideline of what to look out for (in this situation, "artist" refers to both tattooists and piercers):

Lighting: The area must be well-lit so the artist can see what she/he is doing. -Counter and floor space should be lightly colored, preferably white so dirt shows up easier. -The spray bottle the artist uses on your skin should be covered in a disposable plastic barrier film type product between customers for the prevention of cross contamination.Disposing needles: All needles must be either discarded after EACH use (or at least with each new customer), or autoclaved. Many body piercers operate out of small booths and may not have spent money for an autoclave sterilizer, in which they MUST dispose of each needle. NO EXCEPTIONS. Reusing piercing needles is equivalent to sharing IV drugs with strangers. -Needles touching other things: The needles, once open from their sanitary packages, must not be placed on unsanitized surfaces. The piercer should NOT set the needle down on the table, or DROP THE NEEDLE ON THE FLOOR!!! If this happens, insist they open a new needle.

Gloves: The artist must wash their hands prior to putting on their gloves, preferably with an antibacterial/antiseptic solution. Once they put their gloves on, they should not touch anything other than your skin, the needle, and the jewelry. They should not be filling out receipts beforehand, or answering the phone,smoking cigarettes etc--Is there a sink separate from the bathroom sink? -Does the artist use a disposable razor when shaving skin? -The Speed Stick used as an adhesive for the tattoo pattern should not be directly applied to the skin, but applied first to a tissue which can then be used on the skin.

Autoclaves should be inspected regularly. -Sterile materials should be stored in sealed containers away from things that could cause body fluids or ink to splash on them -The palate that holds the ink caps should be covered with Saran Wrap -After tattooing, the ink caps should be discarded and the ink not reused or poured back into the bottles Be particularly wary of "outdoor fair booths/bike shows." While many are run by caring, experienced artists, these booths allow fly-by-night operators to make some fast money and disappear. If you don't know the artist, spend time watching them work on others first. Are they reusing needles? Do they use needles that have dropped on the ground? Feel free to come visit Superior Skin Art , we would be glad to answer any questions that you might have...

What about pain killers ?

Some people say that taking a couple of over-the-counter analgesics before tattooing can take the edge off the pain. Acetaminophen, commonly sold under the brand name 'Tylenol' is generally recommended, but not aspirin, ibuprofen, or other NSAIDs, as they tend to inhibit clotting. In short, you may find yourself bleeding like the proverbial stuck pig. There *are* actually topical anesthetics available, even in the stick-up-its-butt U.S. For instance, Bactine contains some lidocaine, and it is possible to buy benzocaine preparations over the counter. The drawback of these is that they do not work on unbroken skin, but if they are applied after the first pass with the needle, they *can* make a tremendous difference. EMLA is reputed to be much better, and will work on unbroken skin, but it is not generally available in the U.S.