... and the livin's easy

2007-04-09 07:23 AM | 0 comments

you got it! SUMMERTIME! it’s officially here whether the weather-man likes to admit it or not! people are takin’ off clothes and horrifically shocked to find their skin is looking a bit on the “beige” side… solution:tattoos!

summer time in the tattoo shop means

1. dehydration
2. water damage
3. sunburns
4. more customers

here’s a couple things to remember when getting tattooed in summer

drink water!

lots of it! getting tattooed while you’re dehydrated can be excessively painful, and can cause your tattoo to heal slowly. tourists beware! enjoying the strip during the hot, dry climate, drinking alcohol and not getting enough sleep all cause dehydration.

speaking of water…
stay out of the lake, ocean, pool, and bathtub! not only are these things disgustingly dangerous for an open wound, but can permanently destroy your tattoo and cause it to heal really funky. chemicals that might be in the water can burn or damage your sensitive skin. soaking can mean soggy tattoo skin, resulting in losing some or all of your tattoo. not to mention, all the gross bacteria and micro-organisms that just looooove to enter your body through vulnerable areas like open wounds and fresh tattoos. yuck.

they don’t call it a “sunburn” because it’s good for you!
sunburns are the ultimate tattoo-killer. whether you already have a tattoo and get a sunburn, or have a sunburn and want a tattoo… sun+tattoo=bad combo. tattooing sunburned skin is difficult, can be very painful, and potentially dangerous. even if the tattoo isn’t going on a sunburn, you may want to wait until your sunburn calms down. your immune sytem can only handle so much. did you know that your skin takes precedence over internal battles? it is your first line of defense against illnesses. giving it more things to spread its focus between can mean lots of other problems. like your tattoo taking longer to heal, making it more susceptible to infection. if you already have tattoos, make sure you’re taking care of them even after they’re healed! sunblock is always a good idea (as i’ve said before, baby sunblock rocks!). you dont have to do it , but if you want your tattoos to look older and faded, and pay for your touch ups, be my guest and tan it up, baby!

more customers in the shop!
please, to all our locals, your patience and understanding is always welcome. there are 35 million extra people coming and going and lots of them come during summer. calling for appointments well ahead of time or emailing us is always appreciated. to you 35 million people, pay attention to what i’ve just said and your tattoo experience should be a pleasant one!!!

also…

1. always remember to eat something substantial about an hour before you come in.
2. bring in any reference you may have, even if it’s a bar napkin with scribbles, anything helps!
3. it is never acceptable drink alcoholic beverages inside the shop or to show up drunk for your tattoo. your spot will be lost as well as your deposit.
4. stopping by the shop when you get into town to confirm that you’ll be there for your appointment is a good way to get comfortable with your artist, and let them see your face and your ideas.
   #have a rental car or taxi driver’s personal number handy as it is very difficult to get a cab to an off-strip location.

happy summer everyone!! stay healthy and happy and i’ll see you soon!!! :)

with love,
nickhole