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/

How to Build a Portfolio

 A tattoo artist's portfolio is the primary means of presenting examples of his or her work to the public.  The construction and presentation of a good portfolio helps drive interest in your work and highlights your style and areas of expertise.  A poorly constructed portfolio, even one containing amazing work, can diminish your client's confidence in your skill and professionalism.  With the advent of digital media, it behooves the tattoo artist to maintain both a physical and digital portfolio.

 A physical portfolio should be contained in a binder, photo album, or book.  A binder offers the greatest flexibility as you can select different sleeves formatted for various photo sizes.  Binders, however, often suggest either cheapness or a lack of professionalism.  Photo albums are far more common among shop-based tattoo artists, offering a more professional appearance.  Generally, photo albums are limited to one photo format, such as 4X6", and tend to be more costly than a binder.  Digital printing has made creating a photo book a feasible possibility.  Artists simply upload their photo to a web-based printing service, select the format and text, and print their portfolio in book form.  This portfolio has the greatest professional appearance, but is also the most costly.  Updating your binder or photo album portfolio with a new tattoo is simply a matter of printing a new photo and inserting the photo into the portfolio.  Adding new work to a book means reprinting the entire book.  Outside of your portfolio, you should include your name, logo, or photo.  

 Along with selecting the type of physical portfolio you will have, you must also select the tattoo images you will place in it.  Quality is far more important than quantity.  You want to feature your best tattoos, the ones you feel were executed well and are the best representation of your work.  You also want to display the best photos of your work, avoiding low-resolution photos (300 dpi or larger is best), blurry images, or images with poor lighting.  While photo manipulation software such as Photoshop can help overcome some issues with a photo, it is preferred that the photo be presented with minimal alteration.  While this should go without saying, your portfolio should contain strictly your own work, not the work of others of a style you feel you would like to pursue. 

Another question that arises during the tattoo selection process is what tattoos to feature.  Should an artist display those tattoos that represent his style and interest exclusively, or should a variety of tattoos be displayed?  For example, an artist who has a passion for portraiture may elect to display only portrait tattoos.  The results is that a client who views that portfolio may assume that the artist cannot or will not tattoo script or symbols, and that may mean that the artist loses that business.  Some artists would be happy to let that business go as they are earning what they want working exclusively in their preferred genre, while others want the challenge of doing a range of tattoo types and welcome all clients. 

 Some portfolios are chronological in nature, displaying the bulk of the tattooist's work from the beginning of their careers to the present, beginning with the most recent tattoos first.  This is a good way to add bulk to your portfolio, but is generally unnecessary.  Most clients do not look beyond the first few pages of the portfolio, and those that do reach the last few pages may assume that older works are representative of the tattooist's current abilities.  

 The images selected for your physical portfolio should also be included in your digital portfolio and the same criteria apply.  When applying for a position at a tattoo studio, a physical portfolio is preferred (though this trend is shifting).  Clients may find the digital portfolio more convenient and accessible.  Images in digital format (and possibility physical as well) should include a "watermark", a design or logo which indicates that the image is owned by the artist in order to make things more difficult for those who might wish to pirate the image.  Some artists go as far as to include their shop contact information in the hopes that the image is shared on various sites driving new clients to their shop.  You may wish to upload your portfolio to a variety of sites for this reason.  Also, it may be fruitful to keep a copy of your portfolio on your smart-phone for those occasions when someone you are speaking with wishes to see your work outside the shop.

  Maintenance of your portfolio includes both upkeep of the physical book and regularly adding new images.  Walk-in clients can be particularly hard on a physical portfolio, forcibly flipping pages resulting in tears, damage to the photos, and even damage to the book itself.  It is a good idea to have a back-up portfolio on hand, either just a second set of photos or a completely new book.  Unfortunately, good portfolios have been known to leave a tattoo shop, often to be used by less experienced artists elsewhere as "samples of their work".  It never hurts to be prepared.  Including a water-mark, logo, or even your studio name and address in your images, both the physical and digital portfolios, can help prevent someone from claiming your work as their own.

 A good portfolio is a tattooist's best sales tool.  Good photos of great tattoos in a professional format will showcase your skills and make your clients more confident about your work.  Like everything you may do as a tattooist, paying attention to all the little details will carry you a long way and be well worth the investment.

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/