Getting a Tattoo

If you are thinking of getting a tattoo then it is a good idea to know a bit about the theory of how tattooing works and how the ink actually becomes permanently embedded into the skin. There are some basic ways of having tattoos done – for example in Thailand tattoos are sometimes applied using a bamboo cane sharpened into a point, but for this article we are just focusing on the usual manner of applying a tattoo by machine.

Of course the whole process is quite complicated but what we are concentrating on here is the basic process of tattooing and how the ink remains permanently on the skin so that the tattoo does not fade away.

The tattoo is inked on by the tattooist using an electrically powered needle that acts in a manner similar to a dentist’s drill. The electronic drill has a hollow needle at the end that inserts ink underneath the skin. The needle moves up and down at a speed of between 50 and 3,000 times each minute, and on every movement it punctures the skin and leaves the ink in the 2nd layer, the dermis.

The top layer of the skin as you probably know is the epidermis and that is the layer that frequently loses skin cells so that they can be continually replenished over time. The dermis is much more stable than the epidermis and so the reason the ink is inserted in that layer is that it will remain in there and not be removed by the continual shedding of the outer skin layer.

So initially the tattooist will mark out the outline of your chosen design on your skin either by using a stencil or by freehand drawing, particularly if it is a custom design. They will then start tattooing in the design with the electronic needle with some black ink (depending on the design) before shading it in with thicker ink of whatever colour or colours you might choose. Once this is done they fill in any blocks of colour in between.

How Painful Is Having a Tattoo?

Inserting a needle into the dermis is to a certain degree going to be painful so you should be prepared for this. People have different pain threshold levels so it may not feel as bad to some people as it does to others. Also some areas of the body are more painful than others and this may depend on a number of factors including the nerves around that area and the amount of fatty or muscular tissue there. However, if you get a tattooist with a gentle hand it should not cause too much pain! I have to say that when I had my tattoo done it was pretty painful (on my lower back) but then maybe I am just a wimp!