A Stick-and-Poke Tattoo Kit. You Have Got to Be Kidding.

 Gang, I wrestled with the need to write this article.  Some of you will skim through this and decide to buy this product.  Please... PLEASE!  Read what I am saying here.  This is simply a bad idea.  Inevitable, yes, but still bad.

 Here's the idea, based on what Stick and Poke Tattoo Kit (that's the name of the company) tells its potential patron up-front.  Tattoos done at home by amateurs are dangerous.  They tell you that the possible dangers include:

 -Blood Borne Pathogens

 -Toxic Ink

 -Inadequate/Unclean Supplies

 -Dirty Needles, Ink, or Thread

 Let's discuss these dangers for a moment.  Blood Borne Pathogens are generally a concern when you are dealing with multiple people getting tattoos.  This is why tattoo studios strive for cleanliness and use aseptic techniques.  Keeping things clean reduces the likelihood of cross-contamination and the spread of blood borne pathogens.  "Toxic" ink must refer to inks that are manufactured cheaply and with little concern about the potential effects of the materials used on the human body.  Inks purchased on-line from unknown sources are often of a low-quality and their safety is suspect.  Inadequate or unclean supplies are a concern when dealing with "kitchen magicians" that use whatever they have around or re-use the tools they have to administer a tattoo to multiple people.  Dirty needles, ink, and thread are right in-line with the previous point.

Because this can happen.

 The solution, dear readers, is to not get tattoos from an amateur "tattoo artist" working from home. And, guess what you are when you administer your own tattoo at your kitchen table! Do not get a "stick-and-poke" tattoo.  Just don't do it.  Get tattoos from professionals in a licensed studio, and if you want to be a tattoo artist have respect for yourself, your clients, and the industry by learning to do so safely and properly through an apprenticeship.

 Companies like Stick and Poke Tattoo Kit only compound the problem.  A kit which provides "professional" supplies to allow you or your friends to tattoo you is a completely irresponsible grab for your money with no regard for your safety.

 The kit includes 1/2 oz of "professional" tattoo ink.  Before we get into what "professional" means, can you be certain?  We are dealing with a company that is encouraging people to engage in an unsafe practice, going against every industry standard in order to make a buck.  Can you trust these people and what they say about anything they offer?

 "Professional" simply means that it is a product most commonly used by professional tattooers.  Generally, such inks come from known and reputable manufacturers who have earned the trust of their patrons through the consistency and performance of their product.  The brands of ink displayed on the Stick and Poke Tattoo Kit site are none that I recognize.  And, I write BRANDS in the plural because there site features at least three different bottle and label types, suggesting at least three different manufacturers.  You cannot even be certain that the product you receive is the product pictured on the site, let alone that the inks are anywhere near the quality used by professionals (protip: that probably means they are not).

Luckily, most of this will fall out.

 You get a 5RL and a 3RL needle.  In the photo, it appears that they are in blister packs common to the tattoo industry, sealed in sterile inert gas.  If so, they are clean... at least until you open the package.  What happens then?  Does Stick and Poke Tattoo Kit assume that everyone knows how to handle the needles in order to keep them from getting contaminated before they are used and while the tattoo is being administered?  Their instructions don't mention how to handle the needle.  These needles are designed for use in a tattoo machine, not to be held in hand.  What is the likelihood that the needle will slip while someone is poking themselves with it?  Fairly high, I would imagine.  When that needle comes into contact with the floor, the kitchen table, or any other non-antiseptic surface, you are inviting problems.

 The kit also comes with two nitrile gloves.  Ask a tattoo artist how flimsy gloves are, and how easily they rip.  This is why a tattoo work station includes a container filled with gloves.  Now imagine holding a thin needle bar in your hand and trying to poke yourself with the needle without sliding down the bar and tearing the glove on the solder point for the needle group.  Will the persons purchasing this kit have the sense to buy extra gloves, or will they just continue the procedure without?

 The aftercare balm is called "hustle butter".  I could point out that again you need to question the source, but need I say more?  Who is being "hustled"?

 You also get gauze, a band-aid, a witch-hazel wipe, two ink cups (aren't those the paper condiment cups used as fast-food restaurants?), a medical surface covering, and an instruction book.  A PDF of the book is on their website.

 The instruction book is 28 pages long.  THE FIRST FIVE PAGES INCLUDE WARNINGS ABOUT THE RISKS OF USING THIS KIT!  Stick and Poke Tattoo Kit clearly does not want you to seek legal damages from them in the event that their product harms you.  They can point to their book and demonstrate that nearly 20% of the information provided was a warning not to use their product.  Buyer beware!

Gorgeous, huh?

 The funniest line in this book is on page 8; "Tips for Your Design".  The sixth and final tip is "consult a professional".  WHAT PROFESSIONAL TATTOOER IS GOING TO ASSIST SOMEONE IN DESIGNING THEIR STICK-AND-POKE TATTOO?  That's right, gang, not one.  You walk into a tattoo shop and ask about advice on your DIY stick-and-poke tattoo design, and the best you can hope for is a lecture about what a moronic idea that is.  This simply points to the probability that the makers of the Stick and Poke Tattoo Kit have no experience with the tattoo industry and is out to simply make a quick buck.

 The instructions include some real gems as well.  "Create a clean area" (but no information on how to properly create a clean area).  "Poke the skin with amount of pressure enough to puncture only the top few layers of skin" (how do you gauge that without any training or experience?).  They also make some solid suggestions that most people will never follow, like take your sharps to a proper sharps disposal facility or mark your container for your used materials with the word "biohazard".  The people who are cutting corners by getting this kit are already beyond any sound advice regarding public safety.

 It is this kind of product that actually threatens the industry as a whole.  Tattooing has gained legitimacy in our society by demanding a rigorous adherence to safety by those who practice the art.  Enough DIY tattoos gone wrong and we will find professional tattoo studios driven back underground as legislators are given an excuse to demand tighter restrictions.  Just keep in mind that the person who purchase a tattoo kit to give themselves a tattoo probably has an idiot for a tattooer.

 Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX.  He loves answering questions about tattoos.  Shoot him a message at https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/

Tattoo Ink Expiration Dates

 Tattoo Nerd,

 Does tattoo ink really expire?

 -Mike

 The answer is both yes and no, but more yes than no.

 Ink is simply a pigment (heavy metals, oxidized metals, plastics, or other materials), mixed with a carrier fluid (usually an alcohol like ethyl alcohol or glycerin and/or distilled water).  The majority of tattooers use pre-dispersed ink (pigment that has been mixed with a carrier, or is wet) sold by a trusted manufacturer.  A few tattooers mix their ink themselves.  Materials are selected based on what will produce the brightest possible and longest lasting color, what is least likely to induce a severe reaction in the body (all materials produce a reaction, resulting in the permanence of the tattoo), what will most easily and evenly go into the skin, and what will be cost-effective to produce.

Expiration Date on Eternal Ink

 Technically, inorganic pigment materials have no expiration.  The carrier fluid will eventually evaporate in most ink-bottles.  The plastic of the bottle and seals will break down enough in time to allow the evaporated fluid to escape.  In theory, adding more carrier fluid to a bottle of ink that has dried out would result in usable dispersed ink.

 But, that is not the way to go.

 Tattoo inks are regulated by the FDA, but it is a regulation that is rarely exercised.  This is because the Tattoo Industry has become very good at self-regulation.  The "shelf-life" of tattoo ink is often around two years, with most tattoo studios using up more common colors well before the expiration date.  The best-practice in reputable shops is to throw expired ink away.  

 The idea of recharging a dried-out bottle of ink may be one considered for monetary reasons.  After all, tattoo ink is one of the most expensive fluids on the market.  On average, a one ounce bottle of premium tattoo ink costs between $8-$10.  For the sake of comparison, an ounce of petroleum for your car is about $.02.  At the time of this writing, an ounce of silver (the precious metal, not silver ink) is about $15.  Again, despite the cost of ink, "recharging" is not the way to go.  Studios that do mix their own ink do not do so for monetary reasons, but rather to have greater control of the color selection and quality (disbursement, longevity) of their ink.

 While the materials in tattoo ink do not technically expire, they can become contaminated.  Assuming that the ink was bottled and sealed in a sterile environment (which may not be the case with some ink manufacturers), ink is exposed to contaminants as soon as the seal is broken.  While the rate of contamination is slight with a bottle that remains capped when not in use, the longer the bottle sits the more contaminants it potentially contains.  When fluid is lost from the bottle, by pouring ink from it for use or due to evaporation, air from the environment replaces the volume of fluid lost.  In the average tattoo studio, that is air which has been in the lungs of several people and has been contaminated by blood-plasma and other organic particles that result from the tattoo process.  

Expiration Date on Intenze

 The expiration date, while arbitrarily determined based on the shelf life of the container and in order to prevent external regulation as well as meet local health-codes governing the tattoo industry, serves as an excellent guide to help minimize the possibility of contamination placing a client at risk. Though the risk is extremely slight, anything we can do to reduce the risk is better for our clients and the industry as a whole. You are best served purchasing ink from manufacturers that use expiration dates, by checking your bottles on a monthly basis, and re-ordering inks that are about the expire in what is hopefully the rare time when an exotic ink nears the end of its shelf life. 

 As an addendum, the best way to know what is a reputable source of ink is to take a look at a few tattoo studios in your area.  Tattoo studios, to stay competitive, quickly move to new products or techniques if it appears that those products give another studio or artist an advantage.  If you don't see your ink (or the ink of your tattooer) being commonly used in other studios, it is best to ask why.  Cheap inks cause more problems than they solve.

 Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX.  He loves answering questions about tattoos.  Shoot him an email at https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/

Friday the 13th Tattoo Specials; What You Need to Know

 Bargain hunters, rejoice! Every year it seems that ever-more tattoo studios are running specials on Friday the 13th. You can get a tattoo for just $13! But, before you start planning your tattoo-sleeve design for the next Friday the 13th, there are some things you should know.

 Tattoo studios do this to increase awareness of their businesses.

 Think of it as a wine-tasting at a winery, or samples being offered at a bakery. You are getting a little taste of what the tattoo studio has to offer, a sample. The tattoos being offered are small and limited to a select set of designs in order to make the process efficient. The tattooers want to take this time to show-off the studio, let people check out the atmosphere of the shop and their techniques, and introduce themselves to potential new clients. This is a great time for tattoo collectors to check out portfolios, visit shops, and talk to artists about future projects. Plus you get a nice new tattoo.

 What you can get tattooed will be extremely limited.

 As mentioned above, this is meant to be a chance to sample the work of the studio. Friday the 13th specials are generally $13 for the tattoo and a $7 set-up fee (things go faster if they don't have to make change, thus the total is an even $20). The tattoo you can get will come from a select set of tattoo flash-sheets, often a jumble of small designs. There will probably be a limit to the number of colors you are allowed to have in addition to black (often just two), and you will probably only be allowed to get the tattoo on certain parts of the body (generally no fingers, faces, necks, feet, or genitals). The size of the tattoo will be limited to the size of the design on the sheet, and the only modifications that will typically be allowed are those that take away from the design (such as dropping the number 13 from a design). The point is to make the process efficient; you pick a design and it gets tattooed.

 Pro-tip: the smaller the designs offered, the better the shop (typically). This is just my observation, but the better studios that do a Friday the 13th specials tend to offer a sheet or two full (and I mean FULL) of small tattoo designs. This is a decision driven by experience, more popular shops have heavier traffic on days when they run specials, so smaller designs make the process faster. They are popular shops BECAUSE the quality of work and the atmosphere of the shop are better than their competitors. Smaller designs equating to a better shop may not always be the case, but it is a good indicator.

 Do your research.

 Getting a tattoo is the ultimate way to judge a shop, but it helps to plan ahead. Visit the shop you want to check-out and ask if they are having a special (ideally, do this the beginning of the month a Friday the 13th falls in, not six months out). Ask what kind of traffic they expect to have, and if they have a flash-sheet prepared for that day. Pick your designs in advance, if you can, and if you plan to visit multiple shops, come-up with a game plan taking into account how busy they may be.

 Arrive early.

 There is an old saying, 'the early bird gets the tattoo'. Okay, maybe it doesn't go quite like that, but it is a good idea to arrive early. For example, at Little Pricks Tattoo in Austin, Texas, they started the day at noon, and by 6pm had to close their waiting list at four pages in order to get everyone who signed-in tattooed! People had to be turned away. Getting there early is a great idea.

 But, there is something to be said for not arriving too early. Another reason not to be late is fatigue. Doing numerous small tattoos can wear a tattooer down faster than one large piece. However, since tattoo (like any art) is a physical exercise, it is always better when the athlete has warmed-up a bit. While a good shop will have great artists who are consistent in their work-quality, it could be argued that the tattooer will hit their sweet-spot after the third or fourth tattoo (in this marathon-type situation).  Not a rule of any kind, but something to think about when getting in line at the door before the shop opens. Maybe let a few guys get in line ahead of you. 

 Be prepared.

Tattooer: Kyle Giffen

 You can really help your tattooer by being a little prepared. In addition to knowing what you want, know where you want to get it. If you are a hairy guy like your favorite tattoo-nerd, maybe give that area a trim. You may be there a while, so have something to do for when you have already walked around the shop a few times checking-out the art-work and looked through everyone's portfolio. Be prepared to step-out to a convenience store or restaurant for a bite to eat. If you have questions for your tattooer, have an idea what you are going to ask. If you want to talk about a future tattoo, bring your reference designs or anything that might help you explain to your tattooer what you want.

 Be courteous to your fellow collectors.

 If you are at a good studio, it is going to get crowded.  Try not to crowd the front desk or stand too long in one spot in the shop. Give other people a chance to sign-in, conduct their business, and check out the shop. If you are going to eat, step outside. It is great to be enthusiastic about being a part of the tattoo-tribe, but don't be too pushy about interjecting your ideas when you hear someone else having a conversation with your tattooer. When someone is getting a tattoo, that is their time with the tattooer, so keep your chit-chat to a minimum and save your questions for when you are in the chair if you can.

 Be respectful to your studio.

 You know why it is called a special?  Because there are special conditions, and it doesn't happen everyday. $13 tattoo day is not the time to negotiate price on your selected tattoo. Trying to get a price better than $13 is just not cool. Be flexible about your spot in line, if you are not around when your name gets called they are going to go to the next person, but you will be moved to the top as soon as you get back. Let your tattooer or the shop-help know if you are stepping-out for a smoke, adjourning to the restroom, or going down the street for a bite to eat, especially if you are getting close to your turn. Ask about taking pictures, especially while the tattooers are working on someone else. Understand that you are encouraged to wander the shop, but stay out of work-spaces,

 And, if the studio you are at is fully booked, don't ask if they know if another shop is running the same special! That is just poor tattoo etiquette!

 Also, a huge THANK YOU to Little Pricks Tattoo for letting me visit, to Kyle Giffen for my awesome new tattoos, and for just being a great tattoo studio. Check them out at LittlePricksTattoo.com!

 The next five Friday the 13ths are...

 May 13th, 2016

 January 13th, 2017

 October 13th, 2017

 April 13th, 2018

 July 13th, 2018

 Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX.  He loves answering questions about tattoos.  Shoot him a message at https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/