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Things to Keep in Mind Before You Get Your First Tattoo
So you’ve finally decided to get that tattoo you’ve been dreaming of! Maybe it’s a birthday present to yourself or a meaningful design that will mark a milestone in your life. Or maybe it’s just something you’ve always wanted to do. Whatever your reason for getting a tattoo, it’s helpful to be prepared for the experience ahead of time (at least, it’s helpful to prepare as much as you can—you’ll never know 100% what to expect until you actually get to your appointment!)
Here are some important things to keep in mind now that you’re ready to get the tattoo of your dreams:
Pick a design that fits you and your personality.
When picking a tattoo design, make sure you’ve considered all aspects of the artwork you’d like to have around on your skin for years to come. While not everyone gets a tattoo that has personal meaning behind it, every tattoo still tells a story. What will your tattoo’s story be? Make sure you pick a tattoo that means something to you and that you’ll be proud to wear, and explain, years down the road.
If there’s something about your design that you’re unsure about, whether it’s a small tweak or a total overhaul, be sure to think it over and talk to your artist about your concerns. We want to make sure that you get the tattoo you want, even if it takes some time to arrive at the perfect art for your skin!
Research, research, research!
At Certified Tattoo Studios, we have some of the best tattoo artists in Denver who specialize in a variety of different tattoo styles and techniques. We can help you find the perfect tattoo artist to bring your dream tattoo to life! Our team of artists come with years of tattooing experience and specialize in everything from realism to traditional to script to water color tattoos—and more!
If you’re not sure who would be the best fit to tattoo your art, give us a call to set up a free consultation. We want the process of getting your tattoo to be straightforward and easy to understand.
Prepare for your appointment ahead of time.
Be sure to get a good night’s sleep the night before your tattoo appointment. Once you wake up, make sure you eat at least a snack beforehand—getting a tattoo boosts your body’s adrenaline, and without food in your stomach you could feel lightheaded or even pass out.
Lastly, be sure to do what you can to feel as comfortable as possible on the day of your appointment. This means wearing comfortable clothes that allow easy access to the part of your body you’re getting tattooed, as well as clothes you can sit comfortably in if your tattoo is going to take a long time to complete.
Follow aftercare guidelines closely.
You’ve finally taken the plunge and gotten your first tattoo, but that doesn’t mean you can forget about it! In order to wear your art proudly for the rest of your life, you’ll need to follow aftercare instructions closely. We’ll provide you with everything you need to know to take care of your tattoo so it heals beautifully and is something you’re proud to wear on your skin for the rest of your life!
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The Most Popular Tattoo Styles
When it comes to tattoos, there is so much diversity in what each person wants in their tattoo design. The beauty of a tattoo is that it’s a work of art—it’s unique to the tattoo artist who does the tattoo, and the person who is going to wear that tattoo for the rest of their life. Tattoos mean different things to different people, and that’s what makes them so incredible.
One of the things that make tattoos so diverse and unique is that there are numerous tattoo styles in which different tattooed designs can be done. Just because your tattoo has the same imagery as another tattoo doesn’t mean that the two tattoos will look anything alike because they can be done in completely different styles. You might, for example, see two tattoos that feature birds in some way, but one might be done in a black and white portrait style while one is done in watercolor, making for two one-of-a-kind tattoos! With so many tattoo art styles to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which style you’d like to choose from, but that’s what can make the tattoo process more interesting!
Given that there are so many different tattoo styles out there, you might be wondering which style, or styles, are the most popular. At Certified Tattoo Studios, our artists specialize in over eight different styles of tattoo, and while each style is incredibly popular in its own right, there are certainly some styles that have withstood the test of time and continue to be requested over and over again. Here are some of the most popular tattoo styles:
Traditional/Old School
Traditional tattoos continue to be one of the most popular styles out there. When you think of tattoos that you’ve seen and admired over the years, you likely are thinking of at least one tattoo done in the traditional tattoo style. This style of tattoo emerged in the 1960s and is still incredibly popular today. Traditional style tattoos first rose to prominence amongst the captains and crews of sailing ships. Much of the symbolism used in traditional-style tattoos can be traced back to imagery believed to provide protection for sailors while they were out on the treacherous seas. By getting these symbols tattooed onto their skin, many sailors believed they could protect themselves and their ships from harm—it was a way to always have a good luck charm or good omen near at hand. Names of loved ones and children were also popular adornments for sailors as a way to commemorate their loved ones back home. Because of the transcontinental nature of a sailor’s job, this style of tattoo spread in popularity around the world and is one of the most easily recognizable tattoo styles out there.
Geometric/Ornamental
This style of tattoo is classic—they often feature Native American and tribal-influenced designs from around the world. Geometric and ornamental tattoos are styles of tattoo that are rooted in mystery, religious symbolism, and ancient patterns. These styles focus heavily on lines and patterns to create mesmerizing tattoos that can have a hypnotic quality on viewers as they examine the patterns your tattoo creates. Some examples of these styles of tattooing are geometric shapes, ornamental tattoos, mandala tattoos, and sacred geometry tattoos. This tattoo art style takes an immense amount of attention to detail and skill due to the nature of the straight lines and detailed patterns. At Certified Tattoo Studios, our artists who specialize in geometric and ornamental designs have honed their craft with a steady hand and loads of experience, meaning your tattoo will come out just the way you envisioned.
Script
Script tattoos have been popular for quite some time, and continue to be increasingly well-liked by those getting their first tattoo and those getting their twelfth tattoo alike! Lettering tattoos are one of the oldest forms of tattoos and have been popular pretty much since tattooing started. Lettering and script tattoos are popular because the style allows you to get words that are meaningful to you inked onto your skin as a permanent fixture. The only real limit to this style is the room on your body for words to be tattooed, but there are a neverending array of possibilities when it comes to the style of lettering or script tattoo you choose. This style is a great one to add to your tattoo collection and can even serve as a beautiful accent to another tattoo design—though lettering and script tattoos make a beautiful statement all on their own!
Watercolor
This style of tattoo is one of the newer types out there but has continued to climb in popularity over the years. Like many of the tattoo styles our artists specialize in, watercolor tattoos bring museum-quality watercolor artwork to life on your skin! This style of tattooing tends to ignore the lines, boundaries, and borders of more traditional tattoo styles, instead favoring blurred edges and bright colors that fade into one another in a tie-dye type effect. If you’ve ever seen an awe-inducing work of watercolor art on canvas or in a museum, you know the type of effect we’re talking about! Transferring this amazing type of artwork onto the skin via a tattoo takes a high level of skill and expertise, and our artists who specialize in this style have honed their craft for years to become the best in the business.
Watercolor tattoos work best for colorful, abstract tattoos. If you know what type of imagery you’re looking for in your next tattoo—like a beautiful floral piece or a geometric design—but want to add a pop of color and soften the overall look of your tattoo, then a watercolor tattoo might be just what you’re looking for. Watercolor tattoo artists rely on a more fluid, delicate technique when creating their works of art.
While almost every style of tattoo out there is well-loved and admired by many, many tattoo enthusiasts, these are some of the more popular styles today. With so many styles to choose from, including styles we didn’t even mention in the blog, it can be hard to choose which style might be best for your design. If you’re wondering which style would be best for you, contact us today for a free consultation with one of our expert tattoo artists. They’ll be able to help you figure out how to best showcase your design and style in a brand new tattoo!
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Things to Keep in Mind When Choosing Your Piercing Jewelry
There are a lot of reasons to get a new piercing, and those reasons can range from finding a new way to express your personality to feeding your rebellious streak to simply wanting to get a piercing. One reason many people have for getting a new piercing is that they want to wear beautiful and unique jewelry in their piercing. There are more and more incredible pieces of jewelry on the market for all sorts of piercings—you won’t have to go with a basic barbell for every type of piercing anymore, that’s for sure!
But there are a lot of things to keep in mind when you choose the jewelry for your piercing—whether you’re getting a brand new piercing or if you’re looking to change out the jewelry in an old piercing for something that suits your personality better. Choosing jewelry for your piercing might seem simple, but when faced with the actual decision, it can be hard!
If you’re having a hard time picking out jewelry, or don’t even know where to start, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing your piercing jewelry:
For a New Piercing
If you’re going to be getting a fresh piercing, there are a lot more things to keep in mind when it comes to jewelry than if you’re replacing jewelry in an already-healed piercing. The good news is that the best resource for finding out about the right jewelry to choose will be ready and willing to help when your piercing appointment rolls around—that’s the job of the staff and the body piercer at your studio, after all!
If you stop by Certified Tattoo Studios to get your next piercing, you’ll get knowledgeable advice from our expert resident body piercing specialists. Our piercers at our West Colfax location in Denver and Weber location in Colorado Springs have tons of experience and will help you choose the right jewelry for you so that your fresh piercing will heal properly and look amazing all at the same time.
There are a few general things to keep in mind when choosing your jewelry for a new piercing, though, that can help you know what to expect when you’re finally headed to the studio for your appointment.
You’ll need to choose piercing-grade jewelry. Luckily the hard part of figuring out what is piercing grade or not is taken out of the equation since your piercer will know what’s best for your new piercing. Most piercing studios and piercers recommend implant-grade titanium for a new piercing because it’s high quality, won’t wear down, and usually won’t cause irritation or an allergic reaction (only about .6% of people are allergic to titanium—a lot less than some other metals!)
You'll need to choose the right gauge for your jewelry. This is, again, where your piercer is the real expert and you can rely on their expertise. The Gauge refers to the thickness of the jewelry that will go into your piercing—it’s not necessarily something you’ll know ahead of time, but something your piercer will be knowledgeable about.
You’ll need to choose the right sized jewelry. For size, we’re referring to the size of the jewelry itself (like the size of the post on a stud earring or the diameter of a hoop, not the guage. This is, again, something your piercer will be knowledgeable about. You generally will need larger jewelry to allow for swelling as your ear heals. This doesn’t mean you can’t get dainty studs, for example, but they may not be exactly what you envisioned to allow for extra length and room for your body’s tissue to swell as it heals.
For a Healed Piercing
There’s less you’ll have to consider when upgrading your jewelry in a healed piercing, although there are still some things to keep in mind. When changing your jewelry on a newer piercing that is healed, but not entirely, you’ll want to check with your piercer about the timeframe for changing your jewelry. You’ll likely want to downsize the jewelry once your piercing has begun to heal, too.
After your piercing has healed entirely, you won’t necessarily need to keep piercing grade jewelry in your piercing, though it’s always a good idea to keep high-quality jewelry in your piercings to prevent irritation or discoloration.
When you’re choosing jewelry for a healed piercing, the main thing to keep in mind is simply your own personal style! What types of jewelry would you like to try out? Don’t be afraid to experiment to make sure you end up with something you absolutely love. It never hurts to visit your piercing studio again for new jewelry, either—they’ll typically have a variety of jewelry available that is of great quality. They can also help you change out your jewelry if your piercing is in a hard-to-reach spot or you’re uncertain how to change the jewelry in your piercing.
Half (or most) of the fun when it comes to getting a body piercing is picking out the jewelry. Once your initial piercing has healed (be sure to check with your piercer about the timeline of when that will be!), you can change your piercing jewelry out to match your outfit, your mood, or simply to shake things up a bit. Just like with getting a tattoo, getting a new piercing is an exciting experience that, while painful for a moment, will allow you to express yourself for years to come.
Piercings are an exciting way to modify your body in a way that is personal to you and your aesthetic, and choosing jewelry is an important part of that process. If you’re interested in getting a new piercing, consider visiting our resident body piercing specialists at Certified Tattoo Studios. You can schedule an appointment in Denver or Colorado Springs to be on your way to having a new piercing that you love. Contact us today to get started.
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Tips and Tricks for Choosing the Right Tattoo
If you’re considering getting a new tattoo—whether it’s your first tattoo or your twentieth tattoo—you might feel a little uncertain about the process. It’s fairly normal to feel this way—especially if it’s your first tattoo. You are, after all, getting something permanently affixed to your skin! Don’t let that stop you from getting the tattoo of your dreams. If you’re feeling unsure about your next tattoo, check out these tips and tricks for making sure you’re choosing the right tattoo for you.
Consult Your Tattoo Artist
We know getting a tattoo can be intimidating, especially if you can’t decide on the perfect design or are unfamiliar with the process. At Certified Tattoo Studios, we are here to help! Don’t question your tattoo design, reasoning, or the tattoo process, in general, any longer—schedule a free consultation with us today to talk about all your concerns. Both our studio staff and our tattoo artists live and breathe tattoos—it’s what we do! We want to help you feel confident in your decision to get a tattoo.
Check Out Different Tattoo Styles
If you’re feeling unsure about your tattoo, we might be able to change that by simply changing the style! There are so many varied tattoo styles out there, and at Certified Tattoo Studios, we specialize in everything. We can help you find the perfect style for your tattoo, from realism to traditional, to blackwork, to script, to full-color, to abstract, to watercolor, and many more. We’ll help you decide what works best for the type of piece you’re looking to get tattooed, and go over all the details to make sure you’re one hundred percent happy with your art!
Think About Placement
Just like the style and content of your tattoo is important, so is the placement! There are many things to consider when deciding where you want your tattoo on your body, and if you’re uncertain about the placement you’ve chosen, we can help. Sometimes particular artwork or lettering works better in one spot than another. Similarly, some areas of the body are easier to tattoo, both due to pain level and due to the varying skin make-up on different parts of your body.
Make Sure Your Tattoo Makes You Happy
This one sums up just about every point, but it’s crucial to make sure that your tattoo makes you happy. Not every tattoo is coming from a place of happiness, and we get that. You may not always feel happy when getting a commemorative tattoo for someone you love who passed away, for example. But your tattoo should still make you proud to show it off! Make sure your tattoo is something you love and that you will be happy with for years to come—that’s the most important thing to keep in mind as you start the process of getting your tattoo.
Choosing what art you want to get tattooed permanently on your skin can be daunting! There are many things that can inspire you to get a tattoo in the first place, and an equal number of things to consider before finally getting that new tattoo inked into your skin. Narrowing down the why behind your tattoo, and why you ultimately decided to get the tattoo, is a crucial step in the process. At Certified Tattoo Studios, we’re here to help you through each step of the tattoo process, including helping you feel confident in your decision to get a tattoo and in your final tattoo art choice!
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What to Consider When Placing Your Tattoo
When you’re getting a tattoo, there’s a lot to consider. If you’re getting a tattoo that features artwork, then making sure the imagery is exactly what you and your artist envision is a top priority. If you’re getting a lettering or script tattoo, the font and size of the words are crucial. If you’re getting a geometric or ornamental tattoo, then symmetry and design are of the utmost importance.
Something that often is overlooked when planning for a new tattoo, though, is the placement. It can be tricky to figure out exactly where to place a tattoo, and even trickier to find the right spot if you have a specific placement in mind that ultimately isn’t going to work out.
If you’re planning your next tattoo and haven’t tackled placement yet, here are some things to consider when placing your tattoo.
Visibility of the Tattoo
How visible do you want your new tattoo to be? This is a question that only you can answer, and that answer will likely be informed by your life and career. For some people, whether or not their tattoos are visible is of little concern. This is often the case for those in creative career fields where body art and less-traditional appearance don’t matter. For some fields, though, the ability to cover up a tattoo for work is important.
Although tattoos are becoming more and more accepted across the board, more conservative career fields like law, education, and finance are still somewhat strict when it comes to dress codes and rules for the appearance of employees. This is something to keep in mind when you’re getting your tattoo—do you need it to be easily covered up for your day job if you’re a lawyer required to show up in court every other week?
If the Tattoo Compliments the Body
This consideration is one that might be most helpful to talk over with your tattoo artist. Certain shapes, designs, and styles complement different parts of the body, and that can sometimes be an important thing to keep in mind when choosing your next tattoo’s placement. Tattoo artists are experts at not only doing the actual tattoo but helping you figure out the perfect spot for your body art.
If you’re uncertain about your tattoo placement, or just want a second opinion to see if your idea is the best it can be, scheduling a consultation with your tattoo artist before your actual tattoo session can be extremely helpful. At Certified Tattoo Studios, we even offer consultations for free! Contact us today to get started.
If the Tattoo Will be Part of a Larger Design
Not every tattoo will end up being a part of a big design that covers a large area of the body, but many tattoos will end up in close proximity to other tattoos as you build your collection of incredible pieces over the years.
If you’re considering getting a full or half tattoo sleeve in the future, for example, that’s an important thing to take into consideration when you’re choosing your next tattoo’s placement. The best tattoos compliment not only the body, but the other tattoos on your skin, so think about your future plans for tattoos when determining location. This is another conversation that can be incredibly helpful to have with your tattoo artist, too, as they can help to make sure your new tattoo will work seamlessly into your next piece.
What the Pain Level Will Be
We’ve talked about pain level before on the blog, but it’s an important consideration when you’re contemplating your next tattoo. For some, the pain of getting a tattoo is minimal, no matter where on the body it’s done. For others, pain is a big factor in determining where to get a new tattoo and if you’re up for getting a tattoo at all.
If you’re in the latter category and aren’t so sure about the pain of getting a new tattoo, or simply want to minimize the pain involved with getting the tattoo, then taking placement into consideration is important.
Pain can vary so much by location
The location of your tattoo can greatly affect the pain you feel during the tattoo process, too. This is due in part to certain areas of the body that have more nerve endings than others and also due to whether an area has more fat and muscle versus bone.
Some less painful areas of the body to get a tattoo are the outer and upper thighs, buttocks, forearms, shoulders, and back. Some areas that are reportedly more painful when tattooed are the neck and face, rib cage, ankle, shin, hands, toes, feet, knees, and spine.
As with everything we’ve already mentioned, this can vary so much from person to person. While one person might find a tattoo on the forearm to be easy, breezy, and pain-free, another person might find it more painful than when they got a tattoo on their ankle. The level of pain varies from person to person, though there are some common areas that are commonly understood to be more or less painful areas to get tattooed than others.
Tattoo placement is an important part of getting a tattoo, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy to contemplate. There are many things to keep in mind when getting a tattoo, including the place on your body that would be best for your tattoo.
It ultimately all boils down to personal preference but keeping a few things like if the tattoo compliments the body, if the tattoo will be part of a larger design, and what the pain level will be in mind can help make the tattoo process as smooth as possible.
If you’re ready to start the process of getting your next tattoo, schedule a free consultation today. Our tattoo artists are experts in their fields and can help you figure out not only the placement of your tattoo but your tattoo’s design and the overall tattoo experience. Contact us today to get started.
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Popular Tattoo Symbols and Their Meanings
For many people, getting a tattoo is a way to express their personality and show off one-of-kind art on their skin. Tattoos are a great way to commemorate something personal and important or symbolize something that is important to you and your life story.
Even though most tattoo designs, and the people who proudly wear them, are unique, there are some common symbols that appear in numerous different tattoo designs. These symbols often have recurring meanings that many people find solace and comfort in, or use to symbolize different aspects of their lives.
Here are some of the most popular tattoo symbols and their meanings:
All-Seeing Eye
The all-seeing eye is a popular symbol in tattoos and can be seen in ancient artistic depictions as well. It has come to symbolize many different things over time, including divine providence, wisdom, or power. All-seeing eye tattoos can feature just the eye itself, or incorporate the all-seeing eye into a bigger picture, and can also be tattooed in practically any style you’d like.
Anchor
Some of the first people to popularize tattoos were sailors, so it’s no wonder that anchor imagery in tattoos has persisted over the years. Like the all-seeing eye, anchor tattoos can have a variety of meanings, including strength, stability, loyalty, or religious symbolism.
Arrow
Arrows are another very popular symbol that shows up in a variety of different types of tattoos. It is often incorporated into more complex designs and can even be included in lettering and script tattoos. The arrow can be a symbol of war, peace, passion, affection, strength, or love.
Bear
Bears are popular imagery to include in tattoos due the folklore and strength associated with bears. The animal is often depicted in traditional style tattoos, though can be done in a variety of different styles, and usually is depicted with ferocity. Bears were keepers of dreams in Native American culture, and are also a symbol of fury and immense strength.
Bee
In contrast to big, strong bear tattoos are bee tattoos—usually smaller and more delicate in their depiction. Bees are popular in tattoos often because of the visual aesthetic and coloring involved in bee tattoos, but there is also deeper symbolism behind tattoos of the insect. Bees can symbolize intelligence, hard work, and resilience.
Butterfly
Another insect that doesn’t pack such a sting but is very popular in a variety of different tattoo styles is the butterfly. Butterflies can be tattooed in beautiful, vibrant colors or in more simple black and white designs. Butterfly tattoos often symbolize transformation, renewal, and beauty.
These are just some of the many popular symbols that show up in various tattoo designs again and again. Part of the beauty of getting a tattoo is that you can incorporate tried and true symbols into your own unique design and choose the meaning that is most important to you.
If you’re interested in getting a tattoo at Certified Tattoo Studios, with or without one of these popular symbols, book your free consultation today to get started. Our expert tattoo artists will help you design the perfect tattoo for your skin.
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Why You Should Leave Your New Piercings Alone
Getting new body piercings is exciting! For many people who decide to finally book that piercing appointment, they’ve been contemplating placement, bracing themselves for the (minor) pain, and saving up funds to get their new piercing for weeks—sometimes even months or years. But something that is sometimes overlooked in the piercing process is the aftercare. Just like when getting a tattoo, aftercare of your new piercing(s) is important. Without proper aftercare, the healing process can be prolonged or you can run into complications with your new piercing.
But did you know one of the most common things that can make aftercare more complicated (and difficult) than it needs to be is actually messing with the jewelry in your new piercing?
Don’t twist that earring!
For years, the common advice after getting your new piercing seemed to be to twist the jewelry to make sure it didn’t get stuck in the piercing. For many of us growing up, we were told to wiggle the earrings in our new ear lobe piercings so that the cleaning solution could get into the piercing and help further the healing process. That’s actually one of the worst things you can do to help your piercing heal, however.
Why should you leave your piercing alone?
There are several reasons why touching and messing with your new piercing is a bad idea. In fact, the reasons why you shouldn’t twist your earrings or otherwise touch your piercings far outweigh any supposed benefits of twisting your jewelry.
Touching your piercing can introduce bacteria to the piercing. A new piercing is actually a puncture wound to the skin and cartilage on your body, so keeping it clean and free of bacteria is crucial for proper healing. If you are constantly touching your piercing, even if you don’t have anything on your hands, there is the potential of introducing bacteria to the wound that can prolong healing, irritate your piercing, or cause infection.
Touching your piercing can cause irritation. When you get a new piercing, you want to make the process as easy and as painless as possible. Touching the piercing, though, can actually irritate it and make your new piercing more painful! If your jewelry moves around too much, it can actually cause piercing bumps to form, increase swelling, and overall just irritate that spot of your body.
Touching your piercing can prolong healing. The quickest way to heal your new piercing is to leave it alone. If you are twisting your jewelry or touching your piercing too often, you can actually disrupt scabs and clots that are forming, which are the body’s way of healing an open wound.
If you’ve booked your next piercing appointment, or are contemplating where you want your next piercing, keep in mind that you should leave your jewelry and new piercing alone as you heal! Your chances of having a smooth piercing and healing process are much better when you keep your hands off of your new piercing.
Contact us today if you are interested in booking a piercing appointment with one of our resident body piercing specialists in Denver or Colorado Springs.
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Color vs. Black and Grey Tattoos
When you’re deciding what you’re next tattoo is going to be, there are a lot of things to keep in mind. As you contemplate the size, location, and style of your tattoo, it can be hard to keep everything straight. Throw in who you’d like to do the tattoo and the cost, and you’re suddenly considering a lot of different options!
One thing that can sometimes be overlooked during this process is whether you want your tattoo to be done in color, or in black ink. Some designs are more suited to one over the other, but most designs can be done in either option. There are benefits and drawbacks to both options, though, so it’s a good idea to take the coloring of your tattoo into consideration as you plan for your next ink.
Here are some of the benefits, drawbacks, and comparisons between color and black and grey tattoos.
Color Tattoos
It might seem obvious, but the main difference between a color tattoo and black and grey tattoo is that color tattoos are done with a variety of ink colors. This makes for a more vibrant tattoo that can accurately capture the colors of the world around you.
Color tattoos can be incredibly unique because the tattoo artist will often mix different colors of tattoo ink to achieve the perfect color for the subject of your tattoo. Color tattoos are often done in reds, blues, greens, yellows, and browns, but can be almost any color of the rainbow.
The benefits of getting a color tattoo are diverse! To start, there are a lot of different tattoo designs that simply work well with color. Traditional, Japanese, and watercolor tattoos all work best with eye-catching colors to make them stand out. To get an exceptionally well-done color tattoo, you can visit one of the numerous artists who specialize in color tattoos and can help use color to show the mood or meaning of your tattoo. Color also compliments larger tattoo designs particularly well, so if you are looking to get a big piece for your next tattoo, color might be just right for you.
Some of the drawbacks of color tattoos are that they tend to fade faster than black and grey tattoos—especially when exposed to the sun. Because of this, color tattoos often require frequent touch-ups, which can take a lot of time and make the cost of your color tattoo greater over time as each touch-up adds to the overall expense. Depending on your skin tone, some colors might not stand out and compliment your tattoo as well as others, too. Color also tends to work better on large tattoo designs and can appear muddy with a smaller design.
Black and Grey Tattoos
Black and grey tattoos are a classic. Almost any tattoo style can be done in black and grey, and they’re the oldest types of tattoos out there since tattoos have been done with black ink for centuries. Black and grey works incredibly well for tattoos with detailed patterns, geometric or ornamental shapes, portraits, and intricate line work.
Tattoos done in black and grey are typically not as vibrant as color tattoos, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t beautiful and striking in their own right. Because of the shading involved in many black and grey tattoos, realistic art with an immense amount of detail and intricacy is possible.
One of the benefits of getting a black and grey tattoo is that tattoos done in this style can be both bold and striking, or subtle and delicate. There are really no limits when it comes to what type of tattoo can be done in black and grey ink. Another benefit is that black and grey ink is suitable for any size of tattoo. Unlike color tattoos, black and grey ink won’t get as muddled the smaller a tattoo gets, which means that your tattoo can be as tiny—or as big—as you’d like it. Black and grey tattoos also don’t usually require touchups. Black ink simply doesn’t fade as drastically as colored ink can. Some black and grey tattoos will fade—most tattoos will fade at least a little bit over time—but not all tattoos done with black and grey ink will require touch-ups.
On the flip side, there are still some disadvantages of black and grey tattoos. One of the potential downsides of getting a black and grey tattoo is that, depending on the design, your tattoo could end up less vibrant and eye-catching. This isn’t a given, and many black and grey tattoos turn out absolutely gorgeous, but if you don’t have a good tattoo design, black and grey tattoos can be a bit more dull overall. Similarly, some tattoos can represent a deeper meaning or symbolism when color is used. Colors are often associated with different attributes, and with a black and grey tattoo that can’t always come across as easily. There are also sometimes limitations with black and grey tattoos simply due to the lack of color—most tattoos done with black and grey only have about 5 different shades or color tones. This can still make for some amazing tattoos, but colored ink does allow for more variation.
When you’re choosing your next tattoo, don’t forget to choose between getting the tattoo done in color or in black and grey. Both types of ink make for some amazing works of art on the skin, but both also have their benefits and drawbacks.
Much of the decision will ultimately come down to your preference and your tattoo design. Is color an important part of the meaning behind your tattoo design? Then, by all means, go for a color tattoo! Are you looking for a timeless tattoo that won’t need many touch-ups and can be a subtle addition to your skin? Then maybe going for a black and grey tattoo is the best option for you.
There are many reasons to go for one over the over, and the best person to make that decision is you (with a little help from the Certified Tattoo Studios blog, of course!)
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What You Should Know About Cover-Up and Retouch Tattoos
When you think about tattoos, you might not think about cover-up and retouch tattoos. These categories of tattoos can be a bit of an afterthought, or simply not a thought at all, because we all like to think that we will never be in need of a cover-up or retouch tattoo. For many people, though, that is simply not the case. Read on to find out all about cover-up and retouch tattoos.
Cover-Up
You might not think it, but cover-up tattoos are one of the most commonly asked for tattoos in the industry. If you decide you no longer want one of your tattoos, you really only have two options—laser tattoo removal or getting a cover-up of the tattoo. For many, the choice is a no-brainer! If you love having tattoos but are looking to disguise a tattoo you don’t want anymore, getting new body art to cover old art is an excellent choice.
There are countless reasons why you might be considering a cover-up tattoo. Maybe you made the common, and unfortunate, mistake of getting a tattoo related to an ex-girlfriend or boyfriend and now the tattoo brings up painful memories. Maybe you got a tattoo on a particular spot on your body that you’re regretting. Sometimes a tattoo simply doesn’t age well, especially if you were tattooed by a friend instead of a professional, or if it was done on a whim during a crazy night out without enough thought and consideration. You need only watch a handful of the popular TV shows about cover-up tattoos like Tattoo Nightmares or Tattoo Redo to realize the variety of reasons someone might want to cover up an old tattoo.
Because this style depends on the type of tattoo you would like to cover up, the style, size, color, and overall design can vary greatly. This is why we recommend scheduling a free consultation with one of our tattoo artists to discuss options ahead of time.
Retouch Tattoos
Retouch tattoos are just as the name implies. If you have an old tattoo that has started to fade or bleed, we can retouch it to make it look good as new. Many people believe that once they get their initial tattoo and their skin heals, they are done. That isn’t always the case, though, due to a variety of factors like the type of tattoo ink used, the colors in your tattoo, and even how well your skin takes to the ink. This is why taking good care of your tattoo is so important!
Even if you follow all the rules for taking care of your tattoo precisely, however, your tattoo can still fade and change slightly over time. It’s a normal part of the tattoo process, so don’t be alarmed, but if your tattoo is looking a little worse-for-the-wear, we can help. Unlike a cover-up tattoo, this style isn’t completely transforming your tattoo, it’s polishing it up like you would an old diamond ring! With the right touch-up ink from the right tattoo artist, you’ll be left with a vibrant tattoo that you can enjoy for years and years to come.
Now that you know all about cover-up and retouch tattoos, you can schedule a consultation to talk with one of our amazing tattoo artists to get the process started for covering up or retouching your own tattoo. Contact us today to get started.
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What You Need to Know About the Most Popular Types of Piercings
Piercings continue to be some of the most popular forms of body modification out there, and there’s no wonder why. With piercings that can suit almost anyone—from the location to the type, to the jewelry—piercings are a fun and unique way to express your personality and style.
These days, piercings are becoming much more widely accepted, too, with many employers being open to facial piercings and multiple ear piercings than ever before. It’s no wonder that piercing continues to be popular, and continues to be one of the most popular services we offer here at Certified Tattoo Studios. If you’re in the Denver or Colorado Springs Metro areas and are looking for the perfect place to get your next piercing, we’ve got you covered. And if you’re debating which piercing (or piercings—the more the merrier) is the right fit for you, read on to find out everything you need to know about the most popular piercings out there.
Earlobe Piercings
Earlobe piercings are hands down some of the most popular piercings around the world. For many, getting your earlobes pierced is a right of passage into adulthood, so it’s no wonder this type of piercing is at the top of the most popular types of piercings list.
Helix Piercing
Helix piercings are another extremely popular type of ear piercing. Once someone has one (or more!) ear lobe piercings, their next stop is often the helix piercing. It’s an incredibly versatile piercing that can show off a variety of unique jewelry options.
Nostril Piercing
Nostril piercings used to be more rare piercings, but they’re becoming more and more common—and popular. This is evidenced by the fact that many workplaces won’t even bat an eye if an employee has their nostril pierced. This is a classic piercing that allows for some subtle jewelry and adds some intricate body art to the face.
Septum Piercing
Septum piercings aren’t as common as nostril piercings, but they are steadily becoming more sought after. A septum piercing allows for a slightly different way of wearing jewelry in the nose, and can work well for a variety of different people.
Tragus Piercing
Tragus piercings are a subtle way to add some more interest to the ear. The tragus is a small part of the ear, so the type and size of jewelry worn on the tragus can be more limited, but it’s a great way to add more ear candy to your ear!
Industrial Piercing
An industrial piercing is a bar that passes through two sides of the ear. An industrial can be placed in numerous angles in the ear, and it’s an edgy piercing that can add quite a bit of visual interest to the ear.
Now that you know what some of the most popular types of piercings are, you can figure out which one might be right for you! And if you can’t decide, you can always go with more than one piercing—there’s no doubt that when it comes to piercings, more can sometimes be the way to go.
If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment for a piercing at Certified Tattoo Studios, contact us today to get started.
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Comparing Different Tattoo Styles
Have you figured out what tattoo art style you would like your new ink to be? With so many options to choose from, it can be hard to decide. Different tattoo designs lend themselves to certain tattoo styles, so it’s helpful to research the different styles of tattoos out there if you’re looking at getting a tattoo.
There’s a tattoo art style for almost every design and every person out there—narrowing down your options is where the process can become difficult! If you’re not familiar with all the different tattoo styles and their characteristics, read on to find out all the details so you can choose the style that’s right for you and your art.
Portraits and Realism
Portrait tattoos are, at their core, exactly what they sound like—a tattoo of a person displayed somewhere on the wearer’s skin. This type of tattoo is often immensely personal to the person with the tattoo, especially if the tattoo is of a real-life person who is important to the person sporting the tattoo. If there’s a specific person, real or fictional, you’d like to represent via a tattoo on your skin, a portrait tattoo is perfect for you.
Realism tattoos focus on portraying an image or concept in an incredibly realistic way. Even more so than portraits, realism tattoos focus on shading, subtleties, and extraordinarily detailed imagery to produce scenes that look almost like you could walk into them. Like portrait tattoos, realism tattoos require an intense amount of skill and knowledge of advanced techniques on behalf of the tattoo artist. Realism tattoos utilize portraiture techniques when there are people or animals in the tattooed scene, and subtle shading to create vivid imagery and scenes.
Watercolor and Color
Watercolor tattoos tend to ignore the lines, boundaries, and borders of more traditional tattoo styles, instead favoring blurred edges and bright colors that fade into one another in a tie-dye type effect. If you’ve ever seen an awe-inducing work of watercolor art on canvas or in a museum, you know the type of effect we’re talking about! Transferring this amazing type of artwork onto the skin via a tattoo takes a high level of skill and expertise, and our artists who specialize in this style have honed their craft for years to become the best in the business.
Color tattoos are just like they sound—tattoos that focus on the vibrancy of all the colors of the rainbow! Color tattoos can be in almost any style, including watercolor, and focus on richly-hued pigments to create eye-catching works of art on the skin. If you want your tattoo to pop, color tattoos work beautifully for portraits, nature scenes, florals, geometric art, or almost any design you can think up.
Black and Grey
While black and grey tattoos don’t rely on color to make the tattoo pop, that doesn’t mean they’re simple or ordinary by any means! This particular style of tattoo is one that dates back to the beginning of tattooing. For a long time, tattoos were primarily done with only black ink rather than colored ink. Black ink is often associated with more bold edges and classic, dark outlines, but this style can be so much more than that!
Artists who are experienced in black and grey tattoos use different amounts of black ink to create ever-so-slight variations in the way the ink shows on the skin. When done well, this leaves a soft and faded effect that doesn’t come across as too jarring to the naked eye. The contrast and variation between the many different shades of black and grey that are used in a tattoo are what give an exquisite amount of detail to the art, creating a unique and visually striking design.
Geometric and Ornamental
Geometric and ornamental tattoos are styles of tattoo that are rooted in mystery, religious symbolism, and ancient patterns. These styles focus heavily on lines and patterns to create mesmerizing tattoos that can have a hypnotic quality on viewers as they examine the patterns your tattoo creates. This tattoo art style takes an immense amount of attention to detail and skill due to the nature of the straight lines and detailed patterns.
With swirling lines and interlacing geometric patterns, ornamental and geometrictattoos often align with the body depending on placement. Some of the more common images associated with ornamental tattoos are of the sun, moon, flowers, or ocean. Many ornamental tattoos have different meanings as well, reflecting mandalas or amulets which might offer protection or could have various meanings such as power, beauty, or wisdom.
Lettering and Script
Lettering and script tattoos are some of the most popular tattoo styles today. These styles have been around for almost all of the time tattooing has been around. Historians have found evidence of tattoos in ancient Egypt, for example, written in hieroglyphics on human skin. Additionally, lettering and script tattoos have been inked in almost every written language under the sun!
Unlike tattoos that depict images, lettering tattoos focus on the beauty of the letters and words themselves rather than a particular scene or image. With a lettering tattoo, the focus of the art comes down to the particular script or font used, as well as the meaning of the words.
Traditional
Traditional style tattoos first rose to prominence amongst the captains and crews of sailing ships. Much of the symbolism used in traditional style tattoos can be traced back to imagery believed to provide protection for sailors while they were out on the treacherous seas. Because of the transcontinental nature of a sailor’s job, this style of tattoo spread in popularity around the world and is one of the most easily recognizable tattoo styles out there.
Traditional tattoo designs are characterized by bold graphics, excellent line work, and vivid colors. Despite being one of the oldest tattoo styles, traditional tattoos continue to remain very popular, and for a reason—these tattoos are timeless and beautiful. These tattoos age beautifully and are filled with so much history since there is a long line of iconic tattoo artists who tattooed in this style. Traditional tattoos are known for featuring elements like roses, anchors, skulls, crosses, and beautiful lady figureheads.
Now that you know all about the many styles of tattoos out there, you can decide which option will work the best for you and your art. If you’re still not sure about which style might suit your design best, or if you have questions about the tattoo process in general, contact us today and we’ll be happy to help you get started.
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Tattoo Pain: What to Expect When You Get Your Tattoo
So you’ve decided to get a tattoo. You’ve researched designs and contemplated whether or not you’re ready to have something inked into your skin permanently. Maybe you’ve talked to friends and family who have gotten tattoos to see what they think about your design idea or to simply hear more about what the tattoo process is like. Maybe you’ve already talked with your tattoo studio and had a consultation with a tattoo artist to make sure you’re on the same page when it comes to design and style. You’ve done all the research and prep ahead of time that you can think of, but there’s one thing holding you back when it comes to booking that final tattoo appointment—the pain.
It’s no secret that getting a tattoo can hurt. Needles are involved, after all, and depending on the area of the body you get tattooed, as well as your pain tolerance, the tattoo needle can hurt. For most people, the pain is worth it, though, to end up with a uniquely stunning tattoo that you can proudly show off for years to come.
If you’ve never gotten a tattoo before, you might be wondering what to expect when it comes to the pain level. While there’s no way to know for sure how much getting a tattoo will hurt for you since it varies so much from person to person, there are a few things you can keep in mind as you are preparing to get your first tattoo to give yourself an idea of what to expect.
Pain Tolerance is Key
No two people on the planet are exactly the same, and that’s the case when it comes to pain tolerance, too. It’s difficult to predict how painful the tattoo experience might be for each person because each person is so unique. Some people have a very high pain tolerance, so they can endure a quite painful experience, and some people have a lower pain tolerance, meaning that they experience pain a bit more easily than others.
Having some sort of idea about your own pain tolerance is helpful when determining where you want to get your tattoo and how big of a tattoo you want to get during your first tattoo session.
It can be hard to compare pain tolerances because different procedures can elicit different levels of pain. If you’ve had piercings in the past, this can help you gauge how high your pain tolerance is, though it’s important to note that piercings are quite different than tattoos. If you’re squeamish when it comes to needles, then getting a tattoo might be a tricky proposition, but the pain might not be as bad as you are anticipating.
Whatever your pain tolerance, it’s important for you to realize your own limits and determine what level of pain is worthwhile for you to come out on the other side with an amazing tattoo. No one else can tell you how you’ll feel when you get a tattoo, so it’s important to go into the process with an understanding of yourself and how you react to pain.
Other Factors That Affect Tattoo Pain
In addition to each person’s individual pain tolerance, there are other factors that can influence the level of pain you might feel when getting a tattoo.
Age can actually affect the level of pain you feel when you get a tattoo. There have been studies that suggest that pain becomes less painful the older you get. It’s hard to know exactly why this is the case, but just like your brain makeup changes over time, your pain tolerance can change over time, too.
Sex can also influence how much pain you feel in general, and when getting a tattoo. Although research is still being done to find out the specifics, men and women typically experience pain differently and have different pain thresholds. Your biological sex can, therefore, affect how you feel the pain of getting a tattoo.
Thoughts can also affect the level of pain you feel when getting a tattoo, just like they can influence many different aspects of our lives. If you go into your tattoo session bracing yourself for the pain that’s to come, you might actually end up with a more painful experience than if you relax and stay open to whatever experience is coming. That’s a lot easier said than done, but the mind can play an important role in whether or not you experience pain when getting your tattoo.
Pain Varies by Tattoo Location
The location of your tattoo can greatly affect the pain you feel during the tattoo process, too. This is due in part to certain areas of the body that have more nerve endings than others and also due to whether an area has more fat and muscle versus bone.
Some less painful areas of the body to get a tattoo are the outer and upper thighs, buttocks, forearms, shoulders, and back. Some areas that are reportedly more painful when tattooed are the neck and face, rib cage, ankle, shin, hands, toes, feet, knees, and spine.
As with everything we’ve already mentioned, this can vary so much from person to person. While one person might find a tattoo on the forearm to be easy, breezy, and pain-free, another person might find it more painful than when they got a tattoo on their ankle. The level of pain varies from person to person, though there are some common areas that are commonly understood to be more or less painful areas to get tattooed than others.
Getting a new tattoo is an exciting prospect, so try not to let worries about the pain of the tattoo process cloud your mind the closer you get to your tattoo appointment. Most people find that the pain of getting tattooed is well worth it when they finally have that amazing new body art to show off forever on their skin.
If you have questions about the tattoo process or are ready to take the plunge and schedule your next tattoo appointment, contact us today. Our expert team at Certified Tattoo Studios is here to help you through every step of the process.
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Everything You Need to Know About Lettering and Script Tattoos
Have you ever wanted to get a meaningful quote, verse, or song lyric tattooed onto your skin? What about a name or a date that’s important to you? All of these types of tattoos fall under the category of lettering and script tattoos, and they are some of the most highly requested, and highly personal, tattoos out there!
The History of Lettering and Script Tattoos
Lettering and script tattoos are some of the most popular tattoo styles today. These styles have been around for almost all of the time tattooing has been around. Historians have found evidence of tattoos in ancient Egypt, for example, written in hieroglyphics on human skin.
While lettering tattoos today are not usually directly quoting ancient hieroglyphs or dead languages, many of the lettering and script tattoos popular today can trace their inspiration back hundreds of years. Ancient tattoos often had symbolic and deep meanings, and modern lettering or script tattoos still often do today.
Why are Lettering Tattoos so Popular?
Lettering tattoos are one of the oldest forms of tattoos and have been popular pretty much since tattooing started. Lettering and script tattoos are popular because the style allows you to get words that are meaningful to you inked onto your skin as a permanent fixture. The only real limit to this style is the room on your body for words to be tattooed, but there are a neverending array of possibilities when it comes to the style of lettering or script tattoo you choose. This style is a great one to add to your tattoo collection and can even serve as a beautiful accent to another tattoo design—though lettering and script tattoos make a beautiful statement all on their own!
Unlike tattoos that depict images, lettering tattoos focus on the beauty of the letter and words themselves rather than a particular scene or image. With a lettering tattoo, the focus of the art comes down to the particular script or font used, as well as the meaning of the words.
When it comes to types of lettering and script tattoos, it really boils down to the fonts you choose for your particular body art. Lettering tattoos can vary in size from large chest or back pieces to intricate, short words on the wrist or ankle. Depending on the size and placement of your tattoo, you may want a bold, dark font that will stand out, or a delicate, cursive scrawl that reflects the words you’ve chosen to get tattooed. The beauty of this type of tattoo is that there are so many different options, each one uniquely fitting for different sayings, quotes, and words.
Some of the most popular fonts for lettering tattoos are Old English, cursive, and gothic-style. If you’re interested in getting a lettering tattoo at Certified Tattoo Studios, we can help you choose the best font and style for what you have in mind when you book a free thirty-minute consultation. We want to make sure that your lettering or script tattoo comes out exactly the way you envisioned it so you can proudly show off the meaningful words you chose to permanently affix to your skin for all to see. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and start the process of getting your next lettering or script tattoo!
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What is the Traditional Tattoo Style?
There are many different tattoo styles out there, ranging from geometric, to portrait, to realism, to watercolor, and beyond, but not all of these styles have withstood the test of time quite like traditional tattoos. Tattoos done in the traditional style harken back to the early days of tattoo culture, and continue to be immensely popular due to their classic style and striking artwork.
History of the Traditional Tattoo Style
This style of tattoo emerged in the 1960s and is still incredibly popular today. Traditional style tattoos first rose to prominence amongst the captains and crews of sailing ships. Much of the symbolism used in traditional-style tattoos can be traced back to imagery believed to provide protection for sailors while they were out on the treacherous seas. By getting these symbols tattooed onto their skin, many sailors believed they could protect themselves and their ships from harm—it was a way to always have a good luck charm or good omen near at hand. Names of loved ones and children were also popular adornments for sailors as a way to commemorate their loved ones back home. Because of the transcontinental nature of a sailor’s job, this style of tattoo spread in popularity around the world and is one of the most easily recognizable tattoo styles out there.
Characteristics of Traditional Tattoos
Traditional tattoo designs are characterized by bold graphics, excellent line work, and vivid colors. Despite being one of the oldest tattoo styles, traditional tattoos continue to remain very popular, and for a reason—these tattoos are timeless and beautiful. These tattoos age beautifully and are filled with so much history since there is a long line of iconic tattoo artists who tattooed in this style. Traditional tattoos are known for featuring elements like roses, anchors, skulls, crosses, and beautiful lady figureheads.
Traditional Tattoo Symbolism
These different symbols utilized in traditional tattoos all have meaning beyond what the tattoo itself is modeled after. An anchor, for example, is commonly thought of as a symbol of strength and stability, much like a literal anchor used to secure ships in the tossing waves of the ocean. Another traditional symbol in this style of tattoo is the ship itself. Not only was this imagery important to sailors and captains who sailed on these ships, but it also symbolizes direction and a love for adventure.
Skulls are another popular image to have tattooed in the traditional style, and a tattoo that can have layered meaning. A skull is often seen as a symbol of death, or even a bad omen, but that is not always how those who choose to get it tattooed on their skin view the popular image. A skull can also be interpreted as a challenge to live each day to the fullest or as a vote of confidence in life to live as if death doesn’t scare you.
If you’re not sure what style of tattoo you’re interested in, a traditional-style tattoo is always a classic option. Schedule a consultation with one of our expert tattoo artists to start the process of getting your own traditional tattoo today!
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The History of Piercings
One of the amazing things about the world of body art is that there’s so much history involved. Not only do tattoos have a long and interesting history dating back to ancient Egypt and beyond, but piercing—another form of body art we offer at Certified Tattoo Studios—has a similarly rich and intriguing history.
You might be familiar with the many different types of ear piercings, facial piercings, and body piercings out there, but do you know when some of those piercings first appeared, or where they originated? If you’re interested in learning more about the history of piercings (and maybe interested in getting a new piercing yourself), read on to find out all about this unique form of body art.
A Human Canvas
It’s no secret that many cultures and many people over the years have seen the human body as a living canvas for adornment and modification. It’s one of the reasons why tattoos and piercings continue to be popular and, if anything, only grow in popularity as the years go by.
This has been the case across numerous cultures and time periods, and dates back to as early as the ninth century B.C.E. Some of the oldest known evidence of piercings comes from stone artwork in Nimrud, Iraq which shows a man who is believed to have a pierced ear. Additionally, one of the oldest known mummified humans—over 5,000 years old—was discovered to have an ear piercing.
There have been many different sorts of piercings that have been used over the years in various tribes and cultures. For many of these peoples, piercing is an essential part of their culture and a sacred tradition. Some of the most prevalent types of piercing throughout the world (and throughout history) are earlobe and lip piercings. Many of these types of piercings have been found in depictions of cultures through art and the written word and piercing as a form of body art evolved independently in areas without contact from other people. Evidence of piercings dating back thousands of years has been found in diverse locations around the globe like North America, The Amazon, Asia, Africa, Polynesia, and New Zealand.
Reasons for Piercings
While nowadays there isn’t always a meaning or reason behind piercings other than for adornment or personal choice, some of the first piercings came about due to spiritual or religious reasons. Ancient tribes believed that piercings offered protection from demons and spirits because metal repelled such beings. Wearing metallic jewelry in piercings was a way to ensure bad spirits and dangerous demons were kept at bay.
Certain types of piercings and the jewelry used in piercings have also been used to show what tribe or clan a person belonged to. Piercings were (and still are in some cultures) a readily identifiable way to show who you were and where you hailed from. Similarly, some piercings were used as a way to indicate hierarchy or social status or to symbolically show a certain rite of passage or milestone in a person’s life.
Another reason that both piercings and tattoos have been used historically is to appear fierce and strong to enemies or to enhance attractiveness or adhere to a certain cultural beauty standard.
Just like with tattoos, there has even been a historical link to sailors and the sea when it comes to piercings. Sailors reportedly pierced their ears to improve their eyesight and therefore their sailing acumen as they sailed the vast open seas. If tragedy struck a crew of sailors and their bodies washed ashore, the jewelry worn in their ear piercings could also be used to pay for burial or any outstanding debts.
Types of Historical Piercings
Because of how easily piercable the skin of the earlobe is, earlobes are thought to be the first type of ear piercing. There is historical evidence of numerous different types of piercings, though, including stretched piercings in the ears and lips.
In ancient Egypt, there is evidence of belly button piercings, particularly in the royal family. This particular type of piercing is thought to have been a status symbol that denoted a person’s high ranking status and importance within Egyptian society.
In New Guinea and Solomon Island, there has been evidence of septum piercings amongst warrior cultures. Warriors would reportedly wear tusks pierced through their septums to appear strong and fierce towards rivals and enemies.
Nose piercings have been popular throughout history, too, and continue to rise in popularity today. Historically, nose piercings were most popular in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries in India.
In Ancient Rome, nipple piercings were a common whey to signify strength. Julius Caesar reportedly had his nipples pierced to show his unity with his men and his strength as a leader.
The Aztecs, Mayans, and numerous other Native American cultures were also known to pierce their tongues. This was done as a part of religious rituals and was believed to bring the person whose tongue was being pierced closer to their gods.
As time went on, during the Renaissance and Elizabethan times in Europe, most male members of noble families would have at least one earring, if not numerous earrings, to show their immense wealth. Large pearl and diamond earrings were popular because they were easily identifiable and instantly showed the wearer’s wealth.
It’s easy to think of piercing as a modern form of body modification, but in reality, there is a rich and complex history of piercing throughout time and place. Various cultures and peoples all over the world have practiced the art of piercing for various reasons throughout time—reasons varying from spiritual symbolism to signs of status and wealth.
Here at Certified Tattoo Studios, we’re all about body art—including piercing—and honoring this time-tested method of expressing oneself. We have two expert resident body piercing specialists at our West Colfax Location, and have over fifteen years in the body piercing business. If you’re interested in getting a new piercing, whatever the reason, we’d love to help you out! Contact us today to get started.
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What You Need to Learn Before You Tattoo
So you’ve decided that you’d like to become a tattoo artist. Maybe you’ve been the one sitting in the tattoo chair getting tattooed more times than you can count, and you’ve decided to take your love of tattoos to the next level and become the artist actually doing the tattoo. Maybe you’ve narrowed down who you’d like to apprentice with at your local tattoo shop, or actually approached a tattoo artist and begun a mentorship relationship so you can learn everything you need to know about the industry from someone you respect and admire.
Becoming a tattoo artist is no easy task, but it’s a worthwhile one if you’re passionate about tattoos, the tattoo industry, and creating incredible works of art on the skin. But what do you need to know, aside from the basics, before you actually start tattooing?
Where to Start
The first thing you need before you start tattooing is the equipment. Maybe you’ve purchased an expensive tattoo machine, or gone with an option you could find quickly online. Maybe you’re starting from scratch with very little knowledge about what it takes to actually tattoo, or maybe you’ve spent hours talking to experts and researching the tattoo industry extensively.
While many tattoo artists and tattoo shops like to keep information about becoming a tattoo artist and doing tattoos a secret, we at Certified Tattoo Studios are all about transparency. Sometimes even getting a tattoo can feel like stepping into an entirely new world. It can feel like those within the tattoo industry speak a different language—one that you’re trying your best to understand but are having trouble without the help of a translator. That’s one of the roles we want to fill here at Certified Tattoo Studios—we want to help you understand the tattoo industry. We love tattoos, and we want to foster that same love in others.
Wherever you’re at in your learning process, there are three important things you need to know:
Bloodborne Pathogens
Training in bloodborne pathogens is crucial before getting into tattooing. When dealing with blood (which, by nature of the fact that tattoos involve using needles that pierce the skin, is something tattoo artists deal with), it’s super important to make sure that you are knowledgeable about the potential risks that come with dealing with blood. Training on bloodborne pathogens takes more than simply watching a YouTube video or reading a few articles. It’s important to make sure you receive training from credible sources so you can get all your questions answered. Wherever you’re tattooing, having knowledge about bloodborne pathogens will help you take better care of your tattoo equipment and keep those you are tattooing as safe as possible.
The option for bloodborne pathogens training that we recommend is certification through the NationalCPRFoundation’s Bloodborne Pathogens Certification Class. The process is all done online and doesn’t take much time at all, but will ensure that you’re tattooing in a safer and more knowledgeable way.
Cross-Contamination
When you’re tattooing, you want to make sure that you’re not cross-contaminating the different tools you’re using. If cross-contamination occurs, that simply means that something that has been used for one purpose (in the case of tattooing that would usually be a tool used to create the tattoo or clean up after doing the tattoo) is used for another purpose. With tattoos and bloodborne pathogens, this means that germs and potential infections can transfer from one person to the next, which is something that can be avoided and should be avoided at all costs.
Every time you touch something that is dirty or has been infected, you have to be aware of that and make sure to clean your hands, the objects or tools you’ve touched, and anything else you or the object has touched. Like with bloodborne pathogen training, there are options online to learn about cross-contamination so you can prevent infections and other health issues from coming up while you tattoo.
Equipment and Sterilization
The most important things you’ll use as a tattoo artist are your equipment, and the most important aspect of your equipment is that it’s sterile. We recommend using disposable equipment. There are safe ways to sterilize reusable equipment, just like the equipment used in a dentist’s office, for example, but that’s simply not necessary these days. You are able to and capable of using new, sterile equipment for each person you tattoo. You can easily purchase single-use needles, tubes, and grips that are individually wrapped so you can use a new sterile pack of equipment for each of your customers.
The easiest way for you to become a successful tattoo artist is to learn proper sterilization techniques. Make that paramount in your journey to become a tattoo artist. If you’re seeking out apprenticeships or looking into tattoo school, the most important part of tattooing is your client’s safety (and yours, too!) However you break into the tattoo industry, hopefully, these tips and tricks will help you break in the right way which means doing it cleanly and safely.
Keeping these three things in mind when you start tattooing will ensure that you’re taking the right steps for yourself and for your customers. Knowledge is power, so learning all you can about bloodborne pathogens and cross-contamination, and purchasing the right sterilized equipment, will make your customers feel safe and have a good experience getting their tattoo. Choose your path to become a tattoo artist with care, and take good care of your clients to start out your tattoo career on the right foot.
If you’re interested in applying for a tattoo apprenticeship with Certified Tattoo Studios, you can find out more and apply for our state-of-the-art tattoo Apprenticeship Academy on our website. This competitive program will teach you all you need to become an amazing tattoo artist and start your career in the ever-growing and ever-thriving tattoo industry. Contact us for more information or if you have any questions.
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What are Black and Grey Tattoos?
Some of the most popular tattoo designs, and the most beautiful and stunning body art out there, are in black and grey ink. While black and grey tattoos don’t rely on color to make the tattoo pop, that doesn’t mean they’re simple or ordinary by any means! This particular style of tattoo is one that dates back to the beginning of tattooing. For a long time, tattoos were primarily done with only black ink rather than colored ink. Black ink is often associated with more bold edges and classic, dark outlines, but this style can be so much more than that!
History of Black and Grey Tattoos
Tattoos with only black ink and grey shading are sometimes referred to as “jailhouse” tattoos because this style is thought to have originated in prison tattooing. Tattooing was simplistic in prison due to the materials available and the time available for sneaking in a tattoo. This meant that black and grey tattoos started out with smooth and clean designs that could be tattooed quickly and resulted in striking, uncomplicated imagery on the skin.
Since the origins of what we know as black and grey tattoos today, which actually date back as far as ancient Egypt, this style of tattooing has only increased in popularity and in the depth of designs available. While tattoos in this style can simply utilize bold, black ink to create vivid and striking designs, subtly and delicacy can come into play when grey is introduced into the tattoo.
Shading Makes for a Smooth and Breathtaking Design
Shading is what makes black and grey tattoos shine and can differentiate a mediocre tattoo artist from an expert tattooist like those we have here at Certified Tattoo Studios. Artists who are experienced in black and grey tattoos use different amounts of black ink to create ever-so-slight variations in the way the ink shows on the skin. When done well, this leaves a soft and faded effect that doesn’t come across as too jarring to the naked eye. Shading with black ink is used to create shadows and fill areas of a tattoo rather than outline the design like darker, solid black ink. The contrast and variation between the many different shades of black and grey that are used in a tattoo are what give an exquisite amount of detail to the art, creating a unique and visually striking design.
Black and grey tattoos take an incredible amount of skill on behalf of the tattoo artist due to the different shading techniques used to bring out all the detail of a tattoo design. Our artists who specialize in black and grey tattoos use shadowing, depth, and contrast to bring tattoos to life with just a little black ink and a lot of talent. Many portrait and realism tattoos are done in black and grey, giving the effect of having a black and white photograph on your skin. Black and grey tattoos are arguably the most in-demand tattoo style overall due to the fact that they look stunning on almost all skin types.
Now that you know all about black and grey tattoos, you can get one of your own! If you’ve been eyeing the black and grey tattoos you’ve seen out and about, or those done by our very own tattoo artists at Certified Tattoo Studios, take this as your sign to schedule a free consultation. We’ll help get you on your way to having your own amazing work of black and grey art on your skin.
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