stretching

[voodoo]

how tight do you stretch the skin,and how do you do scars? :?:

[framey]

:evil:

[Choppers4Life]

Always keep the skin strecthed tight. This allows for proper penetration of the needle into the dermis layer. As far as scar a year is absolute minimum. Also I use cosmetic ink for this purpose NOT standard tattoo ink. I prefer Premier enhanced true color pigments.

[voodoo]

i need to pay just a bit more attention to it.
and i think i'm useing to much vasiline cause my hand slips... :oops:

[framey]

:evil:

[voodoo]

do you reapply after you wipe,or only when its totally gone?(tha' vasiline) :(

[framey]

:evil:

[Anonymous]

what does the vaseline do while you are tattooing? i try not to use that much of it becaus eit also makes my hands slip.

[Anonymous]

the vasaline hlps for when u wipe the exess ink , so it wipes off easily and dosnt just smear all over the skin . It sill also help a little to keep the blood from rising up too much ...

[Brad]

the vasaline hlps for when u wipe the exess ink , so it wipes off easily and dosnt just smear all over the skin . It sill also help a little to keep the blood from rising up too much ...

It also helps to keep the colors from mixing in the pores of the skin,lets say you just finished up doing your red & now your using green,The Vasaline will keep the last color you did from gettin all muddy like from the next color you are aplying.I have always done dark colors to light & that helps alot to, but some times you can't always stick to that order so the Vasiline really helps the colors from mixing then.Everything Runic & the rest of the guys said aswell are all of the other reasons wich are all just as important & all go hand in hand.
Brad
N.Y.C.

[Papa Gee]

Another function of the vaseline/gell is to irrigate or contain the ink in the line you're working. Like was said above. If you tattoo on dry skin the ink will spread out in the grain of the skin and make a real mess. With gel laid over the skin it's held there in the ditch you dug through it with your needle. I also belive that the gel tends to lubricate the needle somewhat. I'm probably wrong on that but it seems like it would.

[hydrophidian]

that's exactly how I would put it papa
RIco

[papadurivage]

Another function of the vaseline/gell is to irrigate or contain the ink in the line you're working. Like was said above. If you tattoo on dry skin the ink will spread out in the grain of the skin and make a real mess. With gel laid over the skin it's held there in the ditch you dug through it with your needle. I also belive that the gel tends to lubricate the needle somewhat. I'm probably wrong on that but it seems like it would.

yup.. all of what you said is right.. the a&d lubricates the needle a bit as they go in.. minimizing skin trauma.. also it helps your hand glide along when pulling lines..

[hotdiggitydawg]

Yep defo less snags when using petrolium jelly (Vasoline is best coz it doesn't melt like the ceaper stuff) but don't be slap happy with it coz you don't want it lube-ing your stretching hand.

What is A&D ?

[papadurivage]

What is A&D ?


A&D ointment.. Its used in place of vaseline.. its basically vitamins A and D in a petroleum base that soothes the skin while tattooing and is also often used for aftercare..

[hotdiggitydawg]

Sounds effective, i'll keep an eye open for it, cheers.

[confused tattooed]

Please correct me if i'm wrong but I was always told that Petroleum Jelly and Vaseline was not good for tattoos cause it pull the ink out of the skin. This is why i've always used antiboitic ointment.

[hotdiggitydawg]

I think you could be mistaken, Vaseline is good to use whilst applying the tattoo but it's not good for using on a healing tattoo, It stops the air getting to the tattooed skin thus causing heavier scabbing and thus causing the pigment to be pulled out.... voila;)

[Grafx]

I personally use A&D ointment.
Then again, you may want to re-think that if you are doing a long session. As Petrolium products will break down your gloves (BBP issue) if you are using Nitril then it's fine but any petrolium based product will break down the gloves so (CHANGE THEM OFTEN!)
A&D,(or any ointment for that matter) soothes the skin as you tattoo, as well as helps the needle penetrate the skin easier. It also aids in your ability to pull a nice line as it will allow your hand to glide across the skin easily without hanging up on dry skin. Most people don't drink enough water so there skin is going to be a little dry anyway. Just try it and you willl feel the difference.

[papadurivage]

Please correct me if i'm wrong but I was always told that Petroleum Jelly and Vaseline was not good for tattoos cause it pull the ink out of the skin. This is why i've always used antiboitic ointment.

not true.. the ointment itself does not pull ink out of skin.. over application causes the skin to weep more lymph than it should.. pulling the ink with it.. this is why we need to stress the words "thin coat" to customers..

and as far as using antibiotic ointment.. its just antibiotics in a petroleum base.. so really its the same either way..

I think you could be mistaken, Vaseline is good to use whilst applying the tattoo but it's not good for using on a healing tattoo, It stops the air getting to the tattooed skin thus causing heavier scabbing and thus causing the pigment to be pulled out.... voila;)

again.. this is only the case with over application.. a thin coat of a&d will breathe just fine as its only 60% petroleum usually.. depending on the brand.. I would never use vaseline for after care.. it has absolutely no healing properties.. but A&D for the first 2-3 days.. then unscented lotion without alcohol after that..

I personally use A&D ointment.
Then again, you may want to re-think that if you are doing a long session. As Petrolium products will break down your gloves (BBP issue) if you are using Nitril then it's fine but any petrolium based product will break down the gloves so (CHANGE THEM OFTEN!)
A&D,(or any ointment for that matter) soothes the skin as you tattoo, as well as helps the needle penetrate the skin easier. It also aids in your ability to pull a nice line as it will allow your hand to glide across the skin easily without hanging up on dry skin. Most people don't drink enough water so there skin is going to be a little dry anyway. Just try it and you willl feel the difference.

Yeah.. I use nitrile mostly .. sometimes I use black dragon's .. they are latex, but they are coated with some kind of polymer which provides a barrier that petroleum wont degrade..