Emily Post Get's a Tattoo

(Tatau, n.d.)

Always remember, a proper lady tips her tattooist twenty percent!

        I see it every time I am sitting for a tattoo.  Somebody walks into my artist’s station and wants to know what time he can get tattooed today.  Davy tells them coolly that they can make an appointment up front with the receptionist.  This is inevitably followed with confusion as to why they cannot get their tattoo today.  I made my appointment a month ago; Davy is likely to tattoo 3-4 people after me ending up with a 9-12 hour work day.  Don’t get me wrong, most shops do have walk-in slots available, but to walk in and expect to have your pick of artist, and have them drop everything and work on your piece is just rude.  The business doesn’t work that way.  Sadly, many rules governing proper behavior while getting tattooed get disregarded.

Ask any tattooist, they can rattle off examples of discourteous clients from every workday of their week.  Most tattoo etiquette is common sense: be on time, don’t show up to your appointment drunk, and practice good personal hygiene.  However, whether it’s due to ignorance or a perception that people with tattoos don’t care about manners, these rules are ignored.  Lest you approach your big day uneducated we will go over some basics!  Also, always remember, if you are unsure about something just ask your artist.  These rules are general and in no way representative of every shop you will visit. 

Like any other business in or segment of our society tattoo parlors operate under specific rules of etiquette and decorum.  Many first time clients may unwittingly violate these rules, therefore it is advised that one educate themselves before shopping for an artist.  One should always be respectful and sober when visiting a shop (Stewart, 2011).  Get to know the artist before getting your tattoo, and know what you want to get (Genzlinger, 2011).  Children should not be present during the tattooing process (EPI, 2010).  Respect the shop’s pricing policies, and do not haggle (EPI, 2010)!  On the day of your appointment: eat before you arrive, don’t bring an entourage, arrive on time, take a shower, wear appropriate clothing, don’t talk on your cell phone while the artist works, and don’t ask to play your own music (EPI, 2010).

When you visit a tattoo shop 9 times out of 10 it is a privately owned establishment, the owner works there, and the employees all consider themselves part of a family.  In a situation such as this it is doubly important to be respectful; not to mention you are conversing with a person that may be putting a piece of art on your body that will be there forever, so be nice.  Establishing a relationship with a shop and artist is important if you want to work on a large piece, or several small pieces that will comprise a sleeve.  In regards to alcohol, save it for after the appointment; drunken people are clumsy, have a hard time sitting still, and it is illegal for your artist to work on you if you’ve been drinking.

Knowing what you want is the all important first step to getting a tattoo.  It is not the artist’s job to decide what you should get.  If you don’t know what you want, then you should wait until you do.  Most tattooists moan when they have to tattoo from flash (a piece of art picked from the parlor wall); they are artists after all, and enjoy doing original pieces that offer a challenge.  Bring reference art to your chosen artist and delight in the process of developing your idea into a piece that will be only yours.  Once your art is drawn up DO NO HAGGLE OVER THE PRICE.  A good artist is worth what they quote, and in the realm of tattoos you do get what you pay for.  To quibble over cost is to imply that the artist is not worth what they are asking.

The day has finally arrived, so now what?  First of all, take a shower!  Nobody wants to sit in close proximity with somebody sweaty from the gym, and your artist is no exception.  You are going to sweat more due to nerves and adrenalin so a shower and deodorant are imperative.  Don’t bring all of your closest friends with you.  Work stations tend to be small with limited seating, so bring one person if you need to, otherwise go solo.  Dressing appropriately to get a tattoo sounds strange so let me explain.  You are going to be sitting/laying in a potentially uncomfortable position for up to several hours so, dress for comfort not to impress.  Ensure that the area to be tattooed is easily accessible, and that the artist will not have to work around any straps.

Adhering to these simple rules of etiquette will help ensure your experience is fruitful, and that your artist will want to work with you again.  A tattoo is forever, and your relationship with your artist is potentially a long one.  In closing, remember that America is a tipping society.  You tip your hair dresser, your pizza delivery person, and your server at a restaurant, your tattoo artist gets a tip too.  Twenty percent is considered polite, but feel free to express you opinion of the work with a higher (or lower) tip.  A polite society if a happy society, so be polite and reap the benefits!

Works Cited

EPI. (2010, October 22). Etiquette is everywhere: tattoo shop etiquette from kat vond d. Retrieved October 25, 2011, from Emily Post's Etiquette Daily: http://www.etiquettedaily.com/2010/10/etiquette-is-everywhere-tattoo-shop-etiquette-from-kat-von-d/

Genzlinger, N. (2011, January 11). The New York Times. Please don't swat the bug tattoo, p. MB4.

Stewart, J. (2011). Tattoos/Body Piercing. Retrieved October 25, 2011, from About.com: http://video.about.com/tattoo/Tattoo-Courtesy-and-Etiquette.htm

Tatau. (n.d.). HubPages. Retrieved October 25, 2011, from Sexy Victorian Tattoos: http://tatau.hubpages.com/slide/Victorian-Tattoos/1295340

The Power of Scars: Tattooing and Mastectomy Scars

Unable to have nipple reconstruction, this woman’s tattoo covers the entire reconstructed breast.  Floral and organic subjects work best for scar cover-up (Kakoulas, 2010).

An example of a full chest mural on a woman without reconstruction (Quigley, 2009).

        

I have chanced upon some remarkably resilient and enduring women in my life; they have suffered much but always manage to “man up,” and carry their burden with dignity and composure.  Through sickness, repeated painful treatments, and surgeries they have fought and thrive.  One such woman, Sharon, was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 32; one week later she was on the operating table for her first modified radical mastectomy, the removal of the entire breast and the lymphatic-bearing tissue in the armpit.  Sharon then underwent reconstruction, and radiation therapy.  This year she had to have her other breast removed and reconstructed.  Sharon has had her left nipple remodeled, but has not opted for the pigment tattooing.  She laughs and shows a sense of amusement when stating that the only tattoos she has were put on her as targets for her radiation therapy (S. Rees, personal communication, October 9, 2011).

Women’s feelings about their bodies after mastectomy are as diverse as the women themselves.  Sharon refused to let her new form affect her outlook on life or shake her confidence.  She defends herself from her scars with boldness and humor.  Other women are unable to dispose the power of their scars; to them they are a daily reminder of their suffering and loss.  In a society that sexualizes and eroticizes breasts, some women feel that their loss embodies the forfeiture of their femininity itself.  Certain women are either unwilling or unable to undergo reconstruction and are left with a flat field of a chest, or one that is deeply scared and malformed.  Increasingly, these women are turning to tattooing as a form of therapy and healing.  They are using art to divest their scars of power and taking their bodies back.

The loss of one’s breasts can deeply affect one’s body image, even after reconstruction.  Post-mastectomy, many women suffer from feelings of lost femininity, and issues with sexuality.  Some of these women are using tattooing to turn their scars into art, rich with symbolism of survival and regrowth.  Most women who get mastectomy tattoos never thought they would get tattoos, though some return later for work that is unrelated to their scars (Karras, 2011).  Kim Leach, of Phoenix Rising Tattoo in New York, works one Friday a month tattooing pigment on the reconstructed breasts of cancer patients.  Some of these patients later end up in her shop to cover scars left from by their surgeries (Gramza, 2010).  For the women who choose tattooing, a thing of embarrassment and pain is transformed into something beautiful that they want to share with others.

One woman who, due to serious complications, was left with no breasts and a severely scarred chest contracted Leach to create a mural of personal and healing symbols that covered her chest (Gramza, 2010).  This piece took a year to complete; the end result was something empowering that the woman will carry with her until she dies.  Tattooing scar tissue can be problematic; therefore it is important to choose an artist, like Leach, who has a keen understanding of what is involved.  The ink tends to blur, and fine straight lines are nearly impossible.  Twisting, flowing designs from nature tend to work well, as they can be manipulated to trace the line of the scar easily.  They also work well to draw the eye’s attention away from the scar.

Nobody can deny the therapeutic nature of art, and those of us with tattoos can certainly attest to the salutary affect tattoos can have on a person’s psyche.  Whether women who have undergone a mastectomy choose to have pigment restored, or opt for a scar cover-up, these tattoos are helping women to feel whole and powerful after a traumatic ordeal.  For those who are left with no breasts, just a pitch of scars, tattooing can help in the recuperation of identity, and womanhood.  Some people, like Sharon, seem to contain an indomitable spirit and pride, and need no physical help in maintaining themselves.  Others require visual markers to help their mind’s cope with suffering and an upset in identity.  One is neither better nor stronger than the other, it’s about recognizing what is needed to help oneself move on and live life.  Tattoos, much like scars, mark the road we have traveled.  We carry them to the end, and they remind us where we have been.  Most of us don’t get to choose our scars; but a tattoo is something that is truly yours, put on your body of your own volition, and therefore empowering.

Works Cited

Gramza, J. (2010, November 7). Tattoo artist helps breast cancer patients reclaim their identity. The Post-Standard.

Kakoulas, M. (2010, October 14). Beautiful mastectomy scar tattoo. Retrieved October 10, 2011, from needlesandsins.com: http://www.needlesandsins.com/2010/10/mastectomy-scar-tattoo.html.

Karras, C. (2011, August 6). First you cry...when mastectomy scars are transformed by tattoos. The Seatle Times.

Quigley, C. (2009, April 27). Mastectomy Tattoos. Retrieved October 10, 2011, from Quigley's Cabinet: http://quigleyscabinet.blogspot.com/2009/04/mastectomy-tattoos.html.