I just have to say that I am new to this whole blogging thing, now with that being said, I will try to make my blog as informational as I possibly can. I am an experienced tattoo artist of some 13 years and in that course of time I have seen and learned quite a lot. As most professional tattoo artist will agree, there are a lot of home design tattoos being done out their, and as some of them may look to be quality work, they are still not safe. To do tattoos at home, on non porous surfaces among a wide variety of things just is dangerous...
   I do get the fact that most people want to get a good deal, and they think that most shops are charging way to much. The fact is the cost of doing business" Tattoos" professionally is quite expensive for us artist.... The cost of renting the building, paying, electric, utilities, supplies, employees, license, insurance among a wide variety of other things. To simply keep the doors open on an average shop can cost in excess of $5,000.00. That money doesn't grow on trees! So in the grand scheme of things the prices are relative to the cost of doing business. The artist themselves make an average living as if they were a construction worker.
   But, I do get where it can be tempting to go where some Joe Nanny says he'll do the same tattoo for $50.00 vs where a shop told you $300.00, It is tempting, but also very very dangerous. There are more than 20 diseases you can catch from unsanitary conditions and cross contamination issues and at least 3 to 5 of those is or can be fatal.
    Here is some odds for you that may help you put a few things into perspective. The chances of you contracting something from a quality, reputable tattoo shop is 1:1,000,000,000,000.... , you would have a better chance of winning the lottery three five times in a row. Now the odds for contracting something from a kitchen scratcher" home tattooist" is 1:4,000  .....you have the same odds of chipping a nail each day. All I'm trying to say is if you get a tattoo by someone at your or his house, or any wheres that is not a professional atmosphere, it is very dangerous and can kill you.

For more information on this epidemic (scratchers and other unprofessional practices) within our tattoo industry please go to any of the links below......

http://www.tattooartistunited.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tattoo-Artist-United/351957421483773

some more on the dangers of home tattooers

With the economy the way that it is right now home tattooing is becoming more popular than ever. However, many don't know the dangers that they are putting themselves in when getting a home tattoo....So, here is a brief list of some of the many dangers

1.KITCHENS ARE NOT CLEAN
     With the exception of the bathroom, kitchens are one of the most unsanitary rooms in a house. The abundance of food bacteria and mold spores is staggering. Kitchens are used among home tattooist (which will now be referred to as "scratchers") because they think this will be the easiest room to "clean" the floors and other surfaces.

2. TAP WATER
     Again from the kitchen. The risk of bacterial infection from tap water is EXTREMELY high. I've seen this happen and it is not pretty. Tap water is free and scratchers don't have the knowledge to know to not use it.

3. DISPOSABLE TUBES
     A lot of scratchers use disposable tubes because they don't have access to an autoclave. Many professional artist also use disposable tubes so its not a sure sign for a hack. The difference is professional artists have access to an autoclave and scratchers don't. What is an autoclave? It is the piece of equipment professionals use to steralize their tools. Boiling water and alcohol do not steralize anything and they certainly don't kill Hepatitus.

4. CROSS CONTAMINATION
     Wearing gloves doesn't make you sanitary. While wearing gloves everything the scratcher touches becomes contaminated. Did he/she touch their ink bottles with the same gloves they touched you with?? How many other people has the scratcher done the same thing with before touching you?

The area you are being tattooed in is also rich with cross contamination. The majority of scratchers do not have nor do they have access to the appropriate chemicals that must be used to sanitize and sterilize the area (and this does
not mean alcohol or bleach). Therefore everything the scratcher has touched before and while touching you is contaminated. You are pretty much being infected with and by everything and everybody that has been where you are getting tattooed by the scratcher. Hepatitis has no cure. It is a slow painful death. Did the person he/she tattooed before you have it? Are they using a towel as a barrier between you and the surface you are getting tattooed on? What was the towel used for before it came in contact with you? Was it properly sterilized before use?

5. I ONLY PAID $...
     The myth of "I only got charged $50 for this tattoo, I got a deal."

You should NEVER be charged for a home tattoo. There is a reason this person is not tattooing out of a legit tattoo shop. Usually it is because they either aren't good enough, couldn't get an apprenticeship and are trying to teach themselves or just don't care and are trying to make a quick buck.  You are basically being used if you are charged at all.
Half of what you pay at a tattoo shop goes toward making sure you are tattooed in a safe sterile environment and that all the appropriate equipment is there to keep it that way. You may get charged a little more at a tattoo shop but the artist still usually only takes half of what you are being charged. Tattoos need touchups even when done by professionals because as time goes by tattoos fade. Now take into account what will need to be done if someone who doesnt know what they're doing is permanently marking you. You'll have to go to a professional to fix it and you will wind up paying even more than you would have from the get go had you started off in a professional studio to begin with. It's not easy to rework something that’s all jacked up. It is way easier to start from scratch. The only benefit to a professional artist is getting a really good before and after picture.

6. PORTFOLIO
     A portfolio is a book of all the artists best work. If an artist doesn't have a portfolio do not get tattooed by them. Regardless of whether it is a scratcher or a professional artist you should always look at their portfolio before you let them put anything on you.

7. REAL MACHINE
     Machines are easy to come by. Some are inexpensive and come in starter kits. Just because the scratcher has a real machine doesn't mean you are going to get a good tattoo.  If the scratcher ever refers to the machine as a gun, STAY AWAY!! Guns kill people machines create and give tattoos

8.LIABILITY
     If something goes wrong and your tattoo isnt healing properly or you think you have contracted an infection or disease who are you gonna go to? The scratcher? WRONG. If you are even able to find them all they have to do is deny they ever tattooed you to begin with, not to mention they have no liability insurance. At professional studios we keep records of every client that gets worked on and we are required to have liability insurance. We are trained licensed professionals so we are able to handle anything. The scratcher has no records because what he/she is doing is ILLEGAL. The most that would happen to them is that they are warned for doing tattoos if they are caught doing them because there is no proof he/she infected you by means of a tattoo.

9. PETS AND INFANTS
     If so leave immediately! Pets are dirty. Hair and general waste from animals is all over that house no matter where you’re at. Infants are usually in diapers which in turn hold fecal matter. Infants also touch absolutely everything. The scratcher would have to be CONSTANTLY cleaning
the entire house to keep contamination from reaching the tattoo area they have created. Even when getting a professional tattoo you should keep your animals away from the tattoo while it is healing. A tattoo is an open wound that cannot be covered just keep that in mind.

10. TATTOO PARTY
     Tattoo parties are an even bigger risk..

     Random party houses are nowhere near clean. The amount of equipment needed for a "tattoo party" is never brought. You cannot bring a sanitary/sterile environment to someone else's house on a regular basis, it is just not possible. Not to mention the scratcher is usually rushing through the tattoos because there are several people in line and all he/she wants to do is get the money and go. It's a quick way for a scratchers to make a lot of money and run.



11. HEALTH DEPARTMENT INSPECTIONS
     Professional tattoo shops are inspected by their local health department on a regular basis.  Most shops meet and/or far exceed health board regulations. Scratchers are not being inspected by a certified official because what
they are doing is, once again, ILLEGAL. If a scratcher were to be inspected, they would more than likely be shut down.

12. TATTOOS ARE FOR LIFE
     Tattoos are serious business. It will effect your life forever because it will be with you forever. Putting your life in someone else's hands that may or may not care about what they are getting ready to do to you is foolish. Tattoos are to be respected. There are many risks involved in home tattooing. Most of the people doing this do not have the knowledge to scale down these risks because they are not properly trained. Look into what you are about to do to yourself it is worth the effort. Tattoos are controlled skin abrasions...it is basically an outpatient procedure. Would you get your teeth done out of a house? How bout plastic surgery? Stitches? Then why get tattood out of a house? Money should never be an issue. Think of how much you spend on shoes, clothes, hair, nails....all thing that last a month, a few years. Tattoos are on you forever. 

Scratches "Kitchen tattooers" are dangerous

TATTOO INFECTIONS & RISKS: THINK! BEFORE YOU TATTOO SOMEONE AND THINK! BEFORE YOU GET INKED. As tattoos have become increasingly Popular in today’s society, so have the number of people who are tattooing. The uneducated public have no idea on just how dangerous tattooing can be. Tattoo Artists and tattoo studios, some of which are very reputable and some not so reputable are popping up everywhere. Then you have people who are tattooing with cheap kits off the net and are tattooing from Un-sterile Un-license places. This has led to an increase in the cases of infections and diseases potentially caused by receiving a poorly done tattoo from an un-professional person. ln my opinion, I feel that Ebay is supporting some companies in China who are making these cheap tattoo kits with continuing the sales of cheap and very dangerous tattoo kits, and is contributing to the spread of blood-borne disease to the public of the world. Since Ebay & the companies from China that are making these kits do not! care about the human race, it is up to us to slow the spread of blood-borne diseases down by educating the people by making it aware to the public about the dangers of these kits. This album is designed for the Uneducated Public & the next generation on what to look out for when getting a Tattoo, no matter who is doing the Tattoo, either in a license Tattoo Studio or from home. We will look at some of the different types of infections and diseases associated with tattooing, ways to prevent contracting infections and diseases from receiving a tattoo and how to identify a reputable Artist and safe studio. The 1st 5 photos in this album are of 2 dvds that i made & gave away free to the public in 2004 too 2007. The next 10 photos after the 1st 5 is how Cayleb and I have our Tattoo area set up. We are not saying that we are 100% perfect, but all it takes is common sense PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION ON EACH & EVERY PHOTO, LEARN & LIVE.. TATTOOS IN THIS ALBUM, ARE NOT! DONE BY Chris & Cayleb N Reid DISEASE AND INFECTION: The process of getting a tattoo involves multiple layers of the skin being breached with a needle causing the recipient of the tattoo to bleed, in essence creating an open wound. Like any open wound they are susceptible to blood borne Pathogens, some of which we will look at below and identify the some of the results of contracting them. HEPATITIS B: Hepatitis B Causes liver inflammation, vomiting, Jaundice and rarely death. Chronic hepatitis B can eventually lead to cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer; liver cancer has been known to respond very poorly to chemotherapy treatment. There is a vaccine available for Hepatitis B and should be considered prior to getting tattooed. HEPATITIS C: Hepatitis C virus is spread by blood-to-blood contact. This is the most important reason for choosing the tattoo Artist and studio wisely. The disease has been known to exhibit no symptoms in many of the people infected but can lead to liver failure due to cirrhosis or liver cancer, resulting in the need for a transplant, the reoccurrence of the disease after transplant is very likely. Currently there is no vaccine available for Hepatitis transplantation. HIV/AIDS: (AIDS) Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is a disease that affects the Immune system cause by (HIV) Human Immunodeficiency virus. HIV is contracted through direct contact of bodily fluids with an infected person, again the most important reason for choosing the tattoo Artist and studio wisely. AIDS compromises a person’s immune system leaving them susceptible to contracting many harmful diseases and cancers. Although HIV/AIDS can be treated with expensive medications and reduce the mortality rate there is currently no cure or vaccination. TETANUS: Tetanus or Lockjaw as it is also known, generally occurs in an infected wound, most often a deep cut or puncture, this lessens the risk of contracting tetanus through getting tattooed but not rendered it impossible. The symptoms of Tetanus at onset are generally identified by muscle spasms in the jaw (lockjaw) and elsewhere throughout the body. NECROTIZING FASCIITIS (Flesh eating disease): Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare but still potential disease that occurs in the deeper layers of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by a common group A streptococcus or staphylococcus bacteria. The infection will begin at the site of the wound, often appearing minor or non-existent but creating a great deal of pain, with progression of the infection the tissue will appear red and swollen and the person will likely experience diarrhoea and vomiting, eventually the infection will lead to serious tissue damage as the bacteria release toxins into the body. The infection can be treated successfully with antibiotics; if the infection is not treated the inevitable result is death. MRSA is a strain of the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, otherwise known as S. aureus, that’s resistant to methicillin antibiotics used against infections. Regular S. aureus is actually common – healthy people can have it on their skin or inside their noses. It’s when MRSA gets into a cut, catheter, or open wound and enters your bloodstream that an infection can get serious. Gone unchecked, it attacks the immune system and can lead to complications such as blood poisoning, pneumonia, organ failure and even death. ALLERGIC REACTIONS: Occasionally people can develop an allergic reaction from some of the inks used in tattooing, although this not very common it is usually due to the red inks/dyes, however much like any situation in which a foreign substance is introduced to the body and all people being different in their makeup, a reaction is possible with any of the inks/dyes that are used. One of the main reasons for the red ink being the usual suspect when a reaction occurs is due to the development of most tattoo inks being hypo-allergenic with the exception being the red ink. Anyone who may be susceptible to allergies or allergic reactions should investigate further what is in the inks that will be used by the Artist, tattoo ink manufacturers are usually bound by law to reveal the contents of their inks. They may want to reconsider the thought of getting a tattoo altogether as some instances can be potentially life threatening. An allergic reaction to tattoo ink is generally identified by a localized rash, consisting of swelling, inching, redness, hives and on some occasion’s secretion of clear a liquid. Most reactions can be cleared with antibiotic ointment however it is recommended that a physician be consulted first. STEPS TO AVOID DISEASE OR INFECTION: Use a reputable Tattoo Studio that is update on all its health board requirements (autoclave logs, spore tests) Ask the artist about their process; analyze the risk of contamination. 1..How do they dispose of their needles and other refuse? 2..How are the tattooing stations sanitised? 3..How long has the Artist been tattooing? 4..What training did they receive? 5..Is the Studio clean and organised on visual inspection? Bottom line don’t be afraid to ask questions, a reputable Artist and Studio will have nothing to hide and more likely will be proud of their skills and knowledge. A tattoo is permanent as are many of the Diseases and Infections that can be potentially contracted. WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR INDUSTRY NOW! WE NEED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND THE YOUNG GENERATION. WE OWE IT TO THE PUBLIC AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO GET TATTOOED. WE OWE IT TO THE OLDER TATTOOERS FROM THE PAST AND ITS NOW UP TO US TO PROTECT OUR ART FOR THE FUTURE. WE NEED TO SPREAD THE WORD AND EDUCATE EVERYONE ON THE DANGERS OF UN-PROFESSIONAL TATTOOING