Watching a Tattoo Being Created on the Skin

Part 3 of 7 ~ tattoo education
as I partook in this experience in the Fall of 2000.

Dedicated to the whole truth - my experience ~ from the beginning of the idea to the end of the first week of recovery.

Watching a Tattoo Being Created on the Skin - September 20, 2000
I had so many butterflies this morning...like I was the one preparing to be inked. I showed up at the tattooist's shop this afternoon to watch our lady friend being tattooed (her 16th one!). It was a cover-up over a "bad" tattoo design she had done on her leg many years ago. Scott, the tattooist, was outlining a complicated rose design freehand on her leg with marker when I arrived. The machine was wrapped up in plastic bags and the sterilizing process of the equipment was explained to me. The machine's tubes hold needles which vary from a combination of 2 needles up to 9 needles {maybe more but that is all we talked about today}. Two - three needle combinations are used to outline the tattoo and to produce fine lines ~ up to the nine-needle combination is used for colouring in larger areas.

Scott worked with gloved hands creating and smiling. It was a great opportunity for me to see if I had any hesitations about Scott or his work. I didn't. The outlining procedure {which was done in black ink} and these fine needles apparently hurt more than the other thicker needles which fill in larger areas. The patient had brought in her favourite cd to play to distract her mind and her good-luck soft beanie dog {who had a "taped" on tattoo on his back} which I noticed she squeezed quite hard once the procedure began. Once Scott was done with the freehand design on the skin the machine started up. Scott started work on the outline by drawing on short sections of lines at a time - not one long line. He never looked as though he was pushing into the skin. At one point I remember commenting about the fact that he looked like he was just floating the needle above her skin hardly touching her. He wiped her leg often with a paper towel to remove the extra ink and marker lines when a small area was tattooed. Each black outline had a slightly raised up, swollen red look to it underneath the skin - just like you would get from a scratch. There was very little blood even during the colouring phase. Periodically her leg was sprayed with a disinfectant and the area wiped off totally so the design could be seen clearly unfolding as the tattooist created. I think it took approximately 1/2 hour just to tattoo the outline. After taking a fifteen minute break, after the outlining was tattooed on, she commented that it would take her another ten minutes or so to relax once Scott started inking again. I have heard that it takes a few minutes for the body to send out endorphins. The stopping and starting of the buzzing machine did not upset me like I thought it might {but it might if I'm the one feeling the needles!}.

It was an interesting process to watch during which I had over an hour and a half of time to kill familiarizing myself with the procedure, the tattooist, the room and the atmosphere. The tattoo would take much longer to finish but due to time I couldn't stay any longer. I know for certain that watching today has eased my mind about the procedure and my general feelings toward the whole event. I was also glad I got to see the different stages involved in getting a tattoo from stenciling to outlining to filling in colour as I will not get to see mine unfold if it is done on my back. I would strongly recommend watching the inking process up close if you have any hesitations or questions before proceeding with your first "nerve-racking" tattoo. It was really neat to watch. I would recommend the experience of watching a tattoo inked on the skin even if you never want or never get a tattoo. (It definitely looks different up close than on t.v.)

I left my own tattoo design and ideas with Scott, with a deposit. I will now have to wait a couple of weeks {No!} to see what he has done with my design and we'll take it from there. I left the shop quite excited feeling and hoped that he would call me sooner!