Tattoo Shops in Tampa Archives - Page 4 of 4 - Black Amethyst Tattoo Gallery

Don’t Tell Mama

July 24, 2017/in Blog /by J Michael Taylor

Pretend you are a parent and your kid (not your favorite, but the one you love and all but, you know, can be a pain in the ass, truthfully) is in the market for a tattoo. What are the last things you’d want to think about?

That getting tattooed is considered to be medical procedure in some places.

That the ink is being pushed INTO skin. By a bunch of little pricks. Applied by a big prick. (Just checking to see if you are paying attention.)

That the open wound, which will ultimately be the envy of you friends, can put you at risk for allergic reactions, infections and blood-borne diseases. Yeah, that’s right, mama, there are risks even at the state-of-the-art St. Pete tattoo shops.

But wait, Ma, there’s hope!

Because your offspring is going to a licensed, inspected, clean, reputable shop. Because you have done your research. Because kids’ your tattoo artist knows the importance of health and safety and will instruct everyone – even people who didn’t ask and may not care – about proper healing and aftercare routines for that ultimately gorgeous, currently sore, itchy-while-it-peels new tattoo.

Your tattoo professional is the one person to listen to and trust when it comes to knowing what to do with your new tattoo form the moment you finish your session to the next time you come in for work. And if listen really hard then forget it all – call him back. Stop by again. Write it down this time.

In the best case, poor aftercare can distort the tattoo’s appearance. In the worst case, failure to take excellent care of your ink can result in expensive, unpleasant follow-ups. You know, at the walk-in clinic or family doctor. And the pharmacy. And the ATM.

So relax, all you Mothers, we got this. And remember, “kid” is a frame of mind, not an age. We don’t work on humans under the age of 18.

Looking to get a new tattoo? Schedule and appointment today at Black Amethyst Tattoo Gallery.

I’m on the Internet Telling You Not to Believe the Internet

July 19, 2017/in Blog /by J Michael Taylor

The Internet is just but one of the many resources that provide people with too much information. While it’s pretty much second nature now to find out things for yourself, that should only ever be a starting point. WebMD doesn’t fill prescriptions, in other words, and for good reason.

Your tattoo artist can help you avoid making costly mistakes. The most expensive and painful and crappy being paying to have a bad tattoo removed.

Good artists at the best tattoo shops in St. Pete love building a base of well-informed customers. Everyone wins, because you will learn from the source about:

Good Timing

Your tattooist will help you plan your tattoo experience, including estimated time for the piece(s) you decide to work on. You might be surprised how wrong novice-tattoo-getters can be when thinking they know how long something is going to take.

Being Yourself (Within Reason)

Tattoo artists have seen it all. So no need to be anything other than who you are – unless you are a foot tapper or a hair flipper or have other habits that might f-up your tattoo. So establish that comfortable one-on one thang, and then let your freak flag fly – or be a wallflower – just don’t fidget or feel the need to dance while being worked on.

Costs

Tattoo artists do not all charge the same price. Do your online research: you may find a range of price points, even in a relatively small place like St. Pete. Flat rate? Hourly charge? Pre-paid deposit? Tips? TALK to your guy (or gal) for all the important money info up front.

Positive and Negative Reference

St. Pete has a deserved reputation as an artistic place. That doesn’t mean you want your artist pulling stuff out of his or her, um out of the blue. Google yourself silly looking through references. Choose things that speak to you, and be ready to engage with your artist to discuss. Search. Research. Even choose a bad example to bring in to share.

Looking to get a new tattoo? Schedule and appointment today at Black Amethyst Tattoo Gallery.

Cool Your Jets on These “Hot” Tattoos

July 14, 2017/in Blog /by J Michael Taylor

Get Em While They’re Hot

Because we care, it’s time to remind everyone that unlike a trendy haircut, a “hot” tattoo is not “here today, gone tomorrow,” so you may want to re-think the following designs when visiting top St. Pete tattoo parlors:

Tribal Tattoos

These types of tattoos have spikes in their popularity over time. If you are of a certain age from a certain moment in pop culture, your tribal work may be juuuuust fine. But these days, in fact, they are often referred to as frat tats. There is no problem inking your body with these types of tats if you belong to an actual tribe. Avoid this trend if your only reason for inking them on your body is that you’re a young, white college boy out on his own for the first time.

Social Media-Inspired Tattoos

Tattoos that show your appreciation of or addiction to a social media network or meme of the moment should also be avoided. Let’s face it, even if Facebook turns out to be immortal, sites and apps and memes have a short relevancy lifespan. Yik Yak, anyone?

One-Word Statement Tattoos

Any word that you can remember without having to tattoo it on any part of your body is a good candidate for exclusion. You may also include quotes in this category. Also, do you really want people to randomly stop and grab you to read your skin on the streets? (If the answer is yes, then, by all means…)

Looking to get a new tattoo? Schedule and appointment today at Black Amethyst Tattoo Gallery.