Too many times people end up regretting the tattoo they got. Most of the time, this is because they didn't take the time to think about what they were getting. Here are some guidelines to aid you in choosing your design.

Here's How:

1. Consider the reasons why you want the tattoo in the first place.
2. If you want to be expressive, think about things that you enjoy or have meaning to you.
3. If your tattoo is to honor someone else, think about the things they enjoy(ed) and have meaning to them.
4. Look at other tattoos, but don't limit your imagination to what someone else already has.
5. Look for designs in stationary, books, posters, stickers, and everything else you come across.
6. If you find something similar to what you want, ask your artist to make whatever changes you want.
7. Keep in mind the image you choose will be a reflection of yourself.
8. Be creative. You don't have to draw yourself, but take your ideas to your artist.
9. Keep in mind how your tattoo may or may not affect your employment.
10. Decide whether you want your tattoo in black and grey, or full color.
11. Take your time. This is not something to rush into.

Tips:

1. Any design or image you find can be altered, or the colors can be changed.
2. Tattoo artists are exactly that - artists. If you can't draw, they can do it for you.
3. Your only limitation is your own imagination.

Are you interested in getting an ear, facial or body piercing? This list will help you choose a piercer responsibly and decide what you want to get pierced. Choosing a body piercing is a big decision, so choose wisely.

1. Choose a piercer. Ask your friends who they used, and do research to see learn about the professional reputation of the piercing artist and the studio. If possible, choose a piercing studio that is not too far from your home in case you need to go back with an emergency, should anything go wrong.

2. Decide what you want pierced. For simple ear piercings, go to Claire's or another ear piercing store to have the piercing done with a piercing gun. Make sure that the piercers are experienced and have had the necessary training to do piercing. For all other piercings, including ear cartilage, go to a piercing shop. Do not get ear cartilage or any other non-earlobe piercings done with a piercing gun.

3. Choose what piercing you want. Do you want something visible, like a facial piercing? Do you want a semi-visible piercing, like ears or belly button? Or, do you want something private? (I think you can figure this one out without my explanation.)

4. Choose what gauge you want your piercing to be. Piercings are usually in specific sizes, but you can often find alternate size jewelry if you'd like a different gauge.

5. Once you choose your piercing, make sure that you choose a good material for your piercing jewelry. I would recommend surgical stainless steel. Before choosing a material, make sure that you are not allergic to it because you'll have to leave the jewelry in for an extended amount of time.

6. Know that some piercings will close faster than others when you remove the jewelry. For example, my nose piercing closed up the day after I took out the jewelry, and my labret piercing does not close even when I leave my jewelry out for weeks.

7. Get pierced and enjoy your piercing!

Tattoo Healing Time

Tattoos usually take somewhere between a week and a half, two weeks to heal and recover - in that time frame they mostly feel like a sunburn - maybe a little scabby and for the most part you want to try not to pick or scratch at any of the flaky dead skin.

Keep New Tattoos Clean and Dry

Tattoo aftercare is something that varies pretty heavily from artist to artist - I'd mostly encourage you to do what your artist encourages, unless you have a lot of work and have something that works for you. The main thing to me is that my clients keep it clean and dry. Take time out to wash the tattoo with a mild body soap - most people's bodies being healthy and left alone, a tattoo will heal.

Apply a Tattoo Aftercare Product

After the first day or so, it's alright to begin to use aftercare products. They range from Aquaphor to A&D - being a more old school aftercare, most artists will give that to their clients. Petroleum-based products such as A&D and Vaseline, things of that nature - the biggest problem is that they are petroleum, they're very easy to overuse, clog the pores and prevent oxygen - a lot of people will get little bumps in response to that. I would say that if you are going to use A&D - fine product - barely use it, just enough to actually moisturize the tattoo.

Personally I don't put anything on mine for the first 24 hours, but after that - the first three or four days - most people then will switch over to a good lotion or cocoa butter - just something without a lot of extras, fragrances, perfumes that kind of thing - just a simple lotion that works well with you. Three to five times a day probably is a nice average - I think it depends a lot on you. If you're considered a particularly "dry" person, you might want to lean more towards that five - if you don't think of yourself that way, maybe less, two to three times a day.

Long-Term Tattoo Care and Protection

As far as long-term care, the sun is probably the main enemy of tattoo work. I would say that black work you really don't have a lot to worry about, but if you have colors it's really important to protect it from the sun. If you expect to be in it for any period of time - particularly whites, yellows, oranges - those really vibrant, more translucent colors are going to suffer from the sun tanning. A high-SPF Chapstick works for some of the small tattoos, or just a really good sun block - or - don't get in the sun. Like I said, I think the main thing is leaving them alone. Keep them clean and dry.

Piercing After Care

1. Gently Soften and remove any crust that may have formed around your piercing and jewelry.
2. Lather up your finger tips with anti-bacterial soap. Carefully wash your piercing. Work the soap into the piercing by rotating or sliding your jewelry. Rinse off all the soap. Rinse the inside of your piercing by rotating.
3. A soak with warm salt water is helpful and soothing.

Heal Time

1. Eyebrow will heal in about 1 month.
2. Navel (belly button) will heal in about 6 months.
3. Nipple will heal in about 2 months.
4. Genital piercing will heal in about 4 months.

Oral Piercing After Care

There are two types of oral piercings, internal (i.e. tongue) and internal/external (i.e. labret). In either case, during the healing process, try to avoid irritants such as alcohol or spicy foods. Please speak slowly and carefully. The majority of the swelling should go down in 3 to 5 days. You may change your jewelry in 2 weeks. In any case, avoid oral sex and deep kissing for the first 2 weeks.

Internal Piercing

1. Don't drink beer. Beer has yeast that can cause swelling and infection.
2. Use salt water rinse twice a day. you may rinse with water any time you need to. Your piercing should take 4 to 6 weeks to heal.

External Piercing

Inside your mouth, Follow the same directions as listed above. Externally clean your piercing with anti-bacterial soap, twice a day. Piercing should take 6 to 8 weeks to heal.

Microdermal After Care

1. Keep a band-aid over the Microsdermal for the first 24 hours. This is to ensure that it doesn't become loose or fall out, until the connective tissue has had a chance to hold it in place.
2. After the first 24 hours, in the shower, take a mild soap and lather your hands. Gently cleanse the area without trying to turn it at all. Turning a microdermal is detrimental to it's healing, as connective tissue regrowth throuth thr jewelry is essential to it's healing.
3. After the microdermal is free of crust, dried blood, etc, make sure it is rinsed off well and that no soap remains in the piercing.
4. Once out of the shower, mix one tablespoon of sea salt (NOT iodized or table salt) to one cup of warm water. Use a glass/shot glass to soak the piercing for approximately 15-20 minutes. If unable to use a glass on the area, you may soak a clean washcloth in the solution and hold it to the piercing for the same amount of time. Be sure to thoroughly rinse off the piercing after the soak, as the salt solution drying on the piercing, is potentially harmful. The sea salt soak helps the piercing heal externally much more quickly.
5. Be sure to keep the area dry, clean, and free of irritants. This includes makeup, lotions, perfumes/body sprays, diresct sunlight/tanning beds, and anything else that could cause irritation. Do not play with the microdermal! Be sure to be careful when doing any activities that may knock or hit the piercing.
6. The two week check-up is absolutely essential to the health of your new microdermal. Even though the piercing may appear to be completely healthy to the untrained eye, there may be underlying issues in reference to the bonding of connective tissue to the jewelry under the skin. If this occurs, measures may be taken to ensure the longevity of your microdermal, but these may only work if done early enough, before it has time to truly "set" in your skin. An improperly cared for microdermal has a very high chance of rejection, which will result in discomfort and scarring.
7. At first sign of any issues with piercing after the intial check-up, be sure to contact your piercer as soon as possible. The sooner the piercing is looked at, the sooner your problem may be assessed and resolved. The longer the waiting period between a noticeable issue and the treatment, the greater the chance of an unsuccessful piercing.

Microdermals appear healed within 1-2 weeks, but they will not be healed completely internally for anywhere between 1-3 months.