TATTOOS CAN BE DIRTY TOO

By Marrio Gardner

The vast world of body art has grown in popularity and acceptance in Hip-Hop throughout the years. If you try to think of rappers who don’t have at least one tattoo, more than likely you’ll come up with very few.

There are even rap odes to tattoos in songs from artists like The Alliance and Twista. Tattoo artists are becoming celebrities themselves, displaying their work and name to endorse apparel and novelties. Tats are very big in the Hip-Hop community, and it’s very likely that you’ve thought about getting a tattoo at one time or another - preferably not on one of those wild nights that you’ll regret for the rest of your life!

Before getting a tattoo at the spur of the moment, there are some things that you should strongly consider such as cleanliness, safety and certification.

Even choosing the right tattoo artist is an important factor when getting a tat. Is the tattoo artist open to answering your questions? Does the artist have a portfolio? Being educated means being prepared, and making the right decisions will put you at less risk of disease and in better control.

Rapper and jeweler Paul Wall has even raised awareness of high toxicity in tattoo ink with hundreds of formulas that include lead, arsenic, beryllium, cobalt, nickel and other heavy metal toxins. Paul and his father have developed a heavy metal detoxifier from an ancient volcanic called Clinoptilolite.

The product is called Tattoo Detox and should be released in the U.S. soon. Paul's goal is to educate tattoo enthusiasts of the risks of tattoo inks and provide them with a product which allows them to continue their lifestyles without giving up their health.

We spoke with “H,” a professional tattoo artist from Harlem who has done tattoos for celebrity rappers like Juelz Santana. He also does house calls, meeting artists at their studios and homes. We got his opinion on the tattoo game, his advice on aftercare, and what to look for when entering a tattoo shop.

AllHipHop.com: Who are some of the artists that you have done tattoos for?

H: Artist-wise would be Juelz Santana, Un Kasa, Freekey Zekey, T-Money, Tito Green, J.R. Writer, Dinero and Stevie Q.

AllHipHop.com: So you also do “house calls” for artists. How do you prepare to do tattoos outside of your shop?

H: Whatever area that I work on, that immediate area has to be clean. That’s including the floor, the seating, the tabletops… and I work on a stainless steel tray that I provide. The majority of the work is being done off a tray. The arm rests are wrapped with the same cloth that you’ll see at your dentist; one side is plastic, the other side is cloth.

AllHipHop.com: So do you use an Autoclave?

H: Yes. I use a standard Autoclave and that’s brought to the place sterile-ready.

AllHipHop.com: Do you have any advice on what people should look for when they enter any tattoo shop?

H: Overall it’s like entering a restaurant or anything. You’re looking at pretty much what’s around you, you ask questions about how they sterilize. Especially in New York City - in most places you’re required to have a license. So you ask for their license because you’re not licensed on tattooing, you’re licensed on sterilization.

Ask to see the stuff coming out of packaging, because there are indicators on the packaging to tell if it’s been sterilized or not. Check for all of that. Check the indicators - they’re brown once they’re sterile. Pretty much a person’s overall hygiene you should be looking at too. If a person is not taking care of themselves, they’re not going to take care of their stuff well.

AllHipHop.com: Do you hear stories often about scratchers, hackers and scammers who try to get a quick buck?

H: Wow! Yeah. That’s the thing, tattooing use to not have so many artists and a lot of artists are coming in the game and they’re reckless for the dollar. They figure like, “Oh! It’s a way that I can make a quick buck.” And they don’t pretty much care what they’re doing. They don’t know how to sterilize. They don’t know how to deal with cross-contamination.

That’s the biggest part of tattooing is cross-contaminating something, because people are thinking to themselves like they’re doing the best they can do but easily germs are transmitted from surface-to-surface, person-to-person very easily. I’m a germophobe, and a lot of people will ask why I’m so anal about everything that’s being done. I’ve seen artists kick their feet up on their workstations. I’ve seen artists spray out tubes with Lysol.

AllHipHop.com: What?!

H: You name it, I’ve seen it done. So I tell people who say that will run over here and say that they’re getting a good deal, that you’re playing with your life. You’re playing with your overall health to save a few dollars. And the artists are playing with people’s health to gain a few dollars. So overall it’s a dirty game. Again, it’s like eating in a restaurant. You don’t know what goes on behind the scenes, you’re just sitting down and eating without knowing what’s happening.

I always try to tell people don’t think it’s a hot deal when you don’t know what’s happening. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, ask as many as you want. It’s like seeing a doctor, you ask him as many questions as you want or don’t deal.

AllHipHop.com: I didn’t think that it would be that brazen.

H: It is, and your mind would be blown away. You have to think about it, if I were tattooing you and suddenly go into my pocket and touch your skin. It’s just like surgery, that’s why they scrub up and it’s like that. I have money in my pocket, keys, overall dirt and lint in my pocket and touch the surface of your skin I just cross-contaminated you. So people don’t look at the slightest thing, they just do it and go on with their lives. It’s incredible.

AllHipHop.com: What are some of the mistakes that people make with tattoos as far as aftercare?

H: One; I get a lot of people who have the overall mindset that if something doesn’t hurt it’s okay. A person will say, “Oh, my tattoo is not bothering me,” and they’ll stop the aftercare right away. And because it’s not hurting you shouldn’t give up. It will hurt you later on down the line. It’s so much deeper than just little words, like people just feel like, “Ok, we’re going to talk and I’m going to just tell you something and that’s that.” No, because it’s bigger than that.

Say I tattoo you and you happen to go on a dirty surface. That could be someone’s couch, someone’s bed, a train or something. They don’t take into consideration that it’s pretty much an inflicted wound. You’ve been engraved. The process of engraving and you’re not covering up the wound, that you have to give it care in order for it to heal.

It’s an open wound and they just lay anywhere and come back to me and say, “Hey, what is this?” and it’s like where have you been? “Oh, I was just home.” Do you have any pets? “Yes.” Well, you’re lying on the same thing your dog was just laying on, your dog walks close to the ground. Laying on the ground, laying in your bed and you’re laying where your dog just layed.

AllHipHop.com: Ah, man!

H: It’s about 7,000 things you can do wrong in a day. So there’s no quick answer. Overall, you must keep yourself away from all germs.

Poll Answers

Here are some important tips to consider when it comes to getting a tattoo:

∙ Never be impulsive when getting a tattoo. Remember that tattoos are permanent and making quick decisions may lead to a lifetime of regret.

∙ When it comes to selecting a design, make sure that it is your choice and not one that your friend, spouse or artist picks.

∙ Make an appointment and make sure that you’re well rested and nourished. You will be more relaxed and still. Tensing up and complaining does not help your tattooist. Never get a tattoo under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

∙ Fall and Winter are the best time of year to get tattoos, because you don’t sweat as much and it’s less exposure for your skin by wearing more clothes. However, take vitamins to boost your immune system such as C and Zinc to prevent you from getting a cold.

∙ Always remember that you must wait one year before you can donate any blood or plasma. A lot of people are being turned away because finding suitable donors are increasingly difficult.

∙ Do not shave your tattoo until 5-10 days after receiving it. Shaving your tattoo during the healing process can damage your artwork. Wait until after your skin peels and a protective layer of skin is over your tattoo.

Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned tattoo enthusiast, getting a tattoo takes a lot of thought and preparation. Being unprepared may end up scarring you for life. If you have any additional tips for getting a tattoo or aftercare, please feel free to share them with us.

You can find out more about H's tattoo work at myspace.com/bestkeptformula - also look for H in issue #88 of Urban Ink Magazine this September!