Do you use new needles?

New needles are a must when it comes to tattooing for a variety of reasons; such as respect for the client, safety and quality. After about 4 hours use, the needle begins to wear smooth and does not inject the pigment into the skin properly, thus causing uneven colour in a tattoo, and due to the fact that many blood born diseases are very transferable, it's just not safe nor ethical to reuse a needle.

How do you sterilize your equipment?

There is only two ways to sterilize our equipment properly. Autoclave and chemiclave are the only ways. An autoclave is a steam heat sterilizer and a chemiclave uses gas heat to sterilize.

What is barrier protection?

Barrier protection is an absolute must in tattooing and piercing. Barrier protection means that there is a non-porous covering over the work area and over any equipment that would be handled during a tattoo session. Barrier protection and infection control is how tattooists are able to maintain a safe work area from one tattoo to the next.

Do you have to have a license to Tattoo?

There is no such thing as a tattoo/piercing license to tattoo/pierce. The only thing that is mandatory is that we have a health board official come in and inspect our studios for potential hazards. This is why people should do a little research before having a tattoo/piercing done so that you know what questions you should ask your artist and what the potential hazards are involved in having a tattoo/piercing done.

Can you get ink poisoning from a tattoo?

No, for the reason that tattoos are applied to the second layer of skin, which is your dermal layer, also for the reason that most of the tattoo pigments come out of the body during the healing process just leaving the dermal layer dyed. To get ink poisoning you would have to get the ink in to your blood stream.

 

Can you get HIV/AIDS from a Tattoo?

There has not been a case reported in North America ever for the reason that the equipment we use cannot hold enough body fluid to spread HIV/AIDS. It takes .1ml of body fluid (approx. 2 drops) to spread HIV/AIDS. However there are many blood born diseases that are much more transferable like Hepatitis as it only takes .04 micro liters of our body fluid to transfer from one person to the next. Other complications driving from having a tattoo done could include allergic reaction to pigment, keloid scaring or infection.

 

What is the difference between one shop and the next?

For the most part the quality of equipment make's a huge difference between one tattooist to the next. Also the level of dedication that the artist puts into their work. The artists years of experience or skill and ability is also a factor. So be sure when choosing a tattooing/piercing studio that you do your homework before you enter the studio.

 

Does it hurt?

This is one most common question in the trade of tattooing by far. Everyone has their own pain tolerance or perception on what is painful and what is not. But for the most part getting a tattoo is tolerable. What's important is that you spend more time considering what you want and where you want it instead of worrying about the pain aspect.

 

How deep does the needle go into the skin?

The needle goes a maximum of 1.5 mm into the skin.

 

Where does it hurt the most to get a tattoo?

The solar plexus (stomach) area of the body tends to be one of the tender areas to tattoo due to the amount of nerve endings in that area. It's always best to stay about an inch or two away from any joints of the body due to the fact that tattoos tend to be more sensitive in those areas and for quality reasons as well.

 

Does the ink fade over time?

Tattoo's fade due to a number of reasons. Your bodies lymphatic system in constantly flushing your skin to remove toxins in the body; this can cause fading over a long term. Some of the main reasons tattoos fade are, exposure to the sun, tattoo has not been taken care of properly during the healing process, poor quality equipment used to administer the tattoo, poor quality pigments and if a tattoo is too close to a joint on the body they tend to fade faster.

 

Where should you place a tattoo on the body?

Placement of a tattoo on the body is a much bigger factor than most would believe. If the tattoo is not centered right on the body it can cause the tattoo to not look as good; Because the body is not flat and consists of circular and oval areas, designs should be made to fit the body part and should flow with the natural curves of the body.

 

How do you keep the tattoo looking new?

The best way to keep your tattoo looking new is first, adhere to the healing instructions given to you by your artist. Over exposure to the sun is not recommended. Proper maintenance to your skin helps, for the reason that the outer layer of skin is clear and the second layer is where our bodies natural pigmentation is. The second layer is what gets dyed while getting a tattoo, so if you are not healthy or if you are not maintaining your skin the first layer goes cloudy and does not make the tattoo as visible. Water based hand cream and proper nutrition is recommended.

 

Can I get an infection from a tattoo?

As long as your artist is using new needles and is trained in infection control methods you cannot get an infection from a tattoo, however your body can react to the pigment if you are allergic to metals. For the most part infection occurs if the tattoo is not taken care of properly during the healing process.

 

How much does a tattoo cost?

At Endless Boundaries we charge $100.00 an hour for our work. There is a great deal of work that the general public does not see while getting a tattoo done. Such as keeping the area spotless, making needles, cleaning equipment, sterilization, art work and much more. A cheap tattoo can cost you hundreds of dollars in the long run. If you want to have your tattoo removed or covered up you will pay top dollar not to mention, who wants to walk around with a tattoo that looks like a three year old did the work? Ask to see examples of the artist work before you make a decision to have a tattoo done.

 

What does the word FLASH mean?

Flash is what tattoo shops call the designs on their walls and in books that they display to the customers.

 

What is the difference between a flash tattoo and a custom tattoo?

Flash designs are owned by the tattoo shop and re done over for anyone wishing to have them done. Custom designs are one of a kind design that the artist draws for their clients and only tattoos them once and gives the design to the client.

 

Can tattoo's cause cancer?

No tattoos have not been labeled cancerous.

 

How does weight gain/lose effect a tattoo?

Tattoos can definitely be affected by stretch marks. However if your skin stretches from weight gain and then shrinks back up without losing its elasticity (the lose of elasticity is what results in stretch marks), then there wouldn't be much distortion of the tattoo, maybe none at all.

 

How does lifting weights affect a tattoo?

For most people, the amount of muscle gain is nowhere near as quick or as dramatic as what you would see with the stretching of skin on a pregnant person. For this reason, you don't really have to worry about your tattoo changing shape when you start lifting weights.

 

Does pregnancy affect a tattoo near the abdomen?

If you are planning on getting pregnant, you should be very cautious about the placement of any tattoo near the abdominal area. Not only will the tattoo stretch during pregnancy -- there is no guarantee that the tattoo will go back to its original shape after the birth of your baby.

If you have any other questions that have not been answered, please send us an email or call.