00:00Hey, I'm Asia and here are the five things you need to know about tattoos.
00:04Somebody say something funny.
00:07What is happening?
00:08Don't look at me, I know the line.
00:10The first thing you need to know about tattoos is what they actually are.
00:14A tattoo is defined as a marker figure fixed upon the body by inserting pigment under the skin or by
00:19production of scars.
00:21Ouch.
00:21That sounds pretty wild, but what really happens is a tattoo artist makes little cuts into your skin
00:27and inserts ink into those cuts making their art forever embedded.
00:30It's primarily done using a tattoo machine that kind of works like a sewing machine that uses a needle to
00:36penetrate a surface.
00:37Only the surface in question is your skin.
00:40But stick and poke tattoos have grown in popularity recently.
00:44This technique is done manually with a needle, sometimes at the end of a wooden stick, and has a minimalist
00:48and handmade style.
00:50These tattoos are still technically permanent, but they fade and often faster than your average gun drawn tattoo.
00:56TSA.
00:57Any time you go under the needle, there are always health risks involved.
01:00More on that later.
01:01The second thing you need to know about tattoos is the selection process.
01:05Do you do a portrait of someone?
01:06Do you choose a bible verse or a song lyric?
01:09Do you choose from a book or something online?
01:13Or do you want the art to be an original from the artist?
01:15Well, all of these are options.
01:17Nowadays, it's pretty easy to find a decent tattoo artist.
01:20Why don't you start with Instagram?
01:21Or that's what we have Google for.
01:23Many of the bigger name tattoo artists may be out of your reach price-wise.
01:28And they may also have a waiting list.
01:30So still, be sure to check out shops even if they don't have those artists that you were drooling over
01:34on social media.
01:35When you go in there, ask questions and take suggestions.
01:38A tattoo artist will know what colors work best for your skin, tattoo longevity, and just how to achieve the
01:44creative direction you were going for.
01:45But at the end of the day, the choice is yours.
01:48Don't let anybody pressure you into it.
01:50This leads me to the third thing we need to know.
01:52The health risk.
01:53Okay, calm down.
01:54You should have seen this coming.
01:56Potential risks include anything from allergic reaction to hepatitis B to HIV.
02:01Stick and poke tattoos are especially risky because to make them, you could just buy a kit on the internet.
02:06Although this style and technique dates back before machines could mark us, you can't really tell how sanitary this method
02:13actually is.
02:14Really, there's no way that the naked eye can guarantee that any tattoo ink is of professional grade.
02:19But these risks can be mitigated through thorough research on artists and parlors.
02:23Be sure to watch out for any unsanitary conditions.
02:26Your tattoo artist should always use fresh, sanitary needles, always wear gloves, and only use unopened ink pots.
02:33But as important as it is to say alert during the process, you can't forget the healing.
02:38Which is our fourth thing.
02:40How to take care of a new tattoo.
02:42Once you've finally got your tattoo, your artist normally gives you a list of things to help you during the
02:46healing process.
02:47Now this can vary from shop to shop or artist to artist.
02:50But remember, always follow the instructions.
02:53And also speaking from experience, never pick at the scab.
02:58It'll pretty much just peel off by itself or you can wipe away any dead skin with a cloth.
03:02When I got my tattoo, I was told to use a mild moisturizer.
03:06But you should always listen to your artist, expert, or dermatologist as to what to use.
03:10But just like that, in two weeks, my tat was healed and I was ready to stunt on people.
03:15You feel me?
03:17The fifth and final thing you need to know is the stigma around having tattoos.
03:20This stigma has been formed over the years due to perception and assumptions.
03:23You know, that someone with tattoos, or specifically visible tattoos, may be unprofessional or incompetent.
03:30Ghetto, dirty, a thug.
03:32A young man in Ohio took to Instagram after finding out his mom, a nurse, had a hard time finding
03:38a job due to her tattoos.
03:40Even though it's 2018 and the stereotypes of tattooed people have shifted, sometimes having tattoos is still frowned upon in
03:47the workplace.
03:48Unfortunately, you have to think about your career before you decide to get full sleeves.
03:52But all in all, tattoos are a form of outward expression.
03:55Just make sure if you're ready for one, you get the right artist for your personal canvas.
04:00That's it for the five things you need to know about tattoos.
04:03I'll see you next time!
04:05Deuces!
