BLHellcat

Thank you! He is getting a Celtic design, not so much traditional.

Any artists you recommend personally from PHGS? I want to show him portfolios to get his opinion on how he feels about it.

Thanks you both, I'll check it out!

I have been searching for information on this for quite some time. I haven't seen much on it within the forums and I am really hoping you guys can help me out. I myself am not a diabetic, I have been involved with quite a few tattoo shops for a better part of my life and I can honestly say that surprisingly I have never been present for anything related to tattooing a diabetic. My issue right now is that my boyfriend is looking at getting his first tattoo. He has the design finalized (which was a work in progress for 2 years) and placement has been chosen. The last step I wanted to take was to get some good information on the steps he has to take (and the artist has to take) to ensure he gets quality work that will last through healing and years to come. Unfortunately the internet has been telling me, "diabetics can get tattooed the exact same way as any other person." Which by the way I know is complete bullshit. At least when it comes to a type 1. I grew up with someone diabetic, and I know for a fact it is a bit of a different process. First off, I do know anti-biotics before and after are generally a very helpful step. I know that regulating blood sugars for a while before will also help the process. Which I have been told for any type 1 would be generally doing regular blood sugars every 2-4 hours for the entire week previous to the appointment and ensuring to adjust diet/insulin to keep it steady. It will allow the immune system and bodies chemicals to balance easier and when the body hits stress mode from being tattooed will help he body fight infection and stay healthier throughout the process. I know diabetics can generally run at different ph levels for the bodies fluids due to natural chemicals as well as medications they can be taking which is one of the reasons why I have been told that to get a better tattoo with a diabetic there are a few companies that supply inks which generally do better with diabetics. So I guess overall my inquiries are: 1. Are there any inks that specifically are better to tattoo a diabetic with? The internet is being on both sides here and I would like to figure this out. He has had an autoimmune disorder in the past that was not related to his diabetes. So not only am I going to be pushing for quality inks but the artists we have narrowed it down to have all in the past had no problem ordering in specific inks for extra cost on customers had the requested it for the appointment. I want to knows if there really are inks that are pretty much specifically designed for people with auto-immune issues. 2. Any information on preparing him for this appointment. It is a side piece that is going to run approximately 14 inches high and 8 inches wide on his side/ribs. Likely done in more than one sitting but he has a high pain tolerance and I can see him being like me and usually a sitting ending with the artist calling it. 3. What we should be doing during the appointments, regular blood sugars? Should I bring food and drink just to make sure? Etc. 4. After care, obviously I know how to take care of a tattoo for myself, but is there anything special I should worry about with a diabetic? He has already been told my medical care professionals that anti-biotics should be administered both before and after the tattoo seeing as how having a massive open wound and already having an auto-immune disorder can be bad news bears. But is there anything else to help? 5. Is it true that it is harder for progressive diabetics to hold lines? Is it more likely for the ink to "bleed/blow out/feather"? 6. Information for finding the right artist to do the job knowing that tattooing a diabetic is different? His sister already has a bunch of tattoos done by someone who was not aware that changes should be made for a diabetic, and has ruined them. The artist I had around here who had some serious knowledge on tattooing a diabetic successfully and helped get her tattoos fixed up has moved out of the country and is not in a spot for me to contact her. Essentially I just want to know everything I can about tattooing a diabetic to make sure he gets the right tattoo the first time, and we get him prepared and healed with little problems.

Late coming but, welcome fellow Ontarian.

One of my artists will straight up refuse to tattoo anyone who has admitted or he has found out used numbing creams. I have personally seen inks not take properly (I saw a moss green ink turn blue as soon as the tattoo had scanned and the healed that way because of chemicals mixing with he minerals in the ink.) not a good idea.

My question, was it actually a "surface" piercing? Because generally they are defined by barbells through areas of the skin that generally shouldn't be pierced and are almost imminently prone to rejecting (the amount of force and weight the piercing gives to the layers of skin above the barbell are much greater than the skin can generally handle. A regular belly button piercing is a surface piercing, as well as an eyebrow piercing how ever they have a much higher rate to scar/heal to a point in which it will be years before rejection is noticeable.) Or was it an anchor?

I definitely prefer the blue. But that has nothing really to do with the colours. I think I would be more likely to warm up to the darker tattoo once I see a picture that looks healed.

I think I've been fairly lucky, depending on who you are haha. I have only had 2 of my holes that we're not surface piercings that closed up. My belly button is long gone, and my Labret is unfortunately closed over. Oh wait, add septum to that list and as much as I loved it I will not be piercing it for the 4th time. The scar tissue I had to deal with on the 3rd round actually almost made me throw up due to the pain involved and I generally have a high pain tolerance. Everything else that I have interest in having again (tragus, nose, Monroe, lobes) pretty standard stuff now a days for females, is all I really wanted to stay open and has. However recently I have gotten the itch to get my tongue done. (I didn't get it the first time because I was told at the time I wouldn't be able to eat rare red meat, or drink alcohol for a month and I was a wild blue steak eating alcoholic teen at the time.)

For piercings and tattoo's, different folks different strokes. I've met quite A few highly tattooed individuals who have used the words "disgusting" when listing reasons why they don't want piercings. People dislike piercings just as much as I dislike implants. Myself I have had and extremely long list of piercings, anchors included (not exactly something you can just "take out") they're are as permanent as the strength of my skin.

Other than Hazel Mccallion. Even though she's pretty much out. She stays here.

When it comes to price, where I am shops usually have a shop minimum. This varies from location to location and I have seen many people try to work their way around this when it comes to smaller tattoo's. The way I look at it is simple. Everyone that has very little experience within the tattooing world had often said something along the lines of "Tattooing is so easy! They just draw all day and rake in the dough." When as most know it isn't that simple, being any artist results in putting your heart and soul into developing a practice that for most will always be a constant process of improvement. A lot of artists I have met spend a lot of time on each design whether it be on canvas or flesh, because there is this piece of them that never quite feels like it is ever perfect. Often times bigger or more complex designs can take hours of thought/preparation which usually is a part that people forget is unpaid. Whether or not they are working on those half body suits with extremely intricate detail that has to fit every body just perfectly, or the tiny hello kitty tattoo that takes a half hour to complete, there is a process to the tattoo which often at some point in preparation these people are not being paid for. I also realized a few times over that being a tattoo artist, whether you have the skill to be a world renown award winning artist, or are an apprentice working your butt off at a street shop that tattooing is not always the most stable position. Money comes in and there can still be low sales points. Not only that but I know in this area generally there are no benefits that come with being a tattoo artist, there is no medical insurance other than what an artist might decide to pay out of the butt for from a private company, no dental, and the list goes on. Not every artist walks around with a massive was of cash, nor are they sitting in a room full of it like some sources decide to make it seem. And more often than not, tattoo artists are actually real people, working real jobs, who have real families to feed and support. Not always the easiest thing to do in a cash only environment or when your income can at times be spotty at best. Shops still pay rent, and to be honest after helping a friend of mine open his own shop in the city, I have come to realize that unless you have a relationship with an awesome landlord in a great part of the city, often times they are over-charged hugely on the rent and utilities area for 2 main reasons. 1. They are extremely judgemental and figure that you are irresponsible and will trash the place or have sketchy people coming in and out non-stop 2. There are still the "dirty drug shops" that run in certain areas that generally employ scratchers who can supply their own dirty equipment and won't mind that they have no rules or regulations for a clean and safe environment There are a lot of issues that tattoo artists have to deal with as well, and generally for myself I am getting customized pieces that do take time and development to create. Tipping is my way of thanking the artist for working with my mind on a design and creating something that I greatly appreciate that he or she put their being into creating. I also know that shops in this area generally will take a portion of the tattoo earnings from the artist to help pay rent and for everything involved in being in a fully functioning rented shop. It's my way of showing my appreciation for an artist besides leading that people who ask about my work their way.

My upper back has been through one sitting, line work completed. Batman on a gargoyle over looking Gotham, is being completed by a small town artist Randy Crossen at Daddy's Electric. Lower back (tramp stamp which I ended up finding out post completion, had half the stencil wiped out and he finished freehand, which made me regret it highly.) I don't want to say who because he has since gotten out of the situation I was unaware of which made highs work shit. My heart on my chest was done by an extremely talented artist, Ryan Miranda who is now working at Forever Young Ink in Toronto. My Koi on my lower leg was done by a man Who goes by Dave, who works at Second too None.

Hello, Hellcat here from Ontario, Canada. Been thrown into a tattoo filled world since I was a young lass, 7 years old is when I was introduced to a shop. I would hope that most would realize that I was not personally receiving ink at that age. Years have passed and my body is only marked by 4 tattoo's of yet, 2 which are still incomplete at the moment. Not sure what else to say really.