Aldo Distefano's Five Tattoo Commandments

Aldo Distefano is a living art. With his body emblazoned completely with tattoos, the artist has been decorating people's bodies for more than a decade. As skin is his canvas, the American tattoo artist is excited about setting up shop and a learning school in the country.

He reveals that the reason why tattoos have always been such a rage is because mankind since the beginning has been obsessed with permanence. "Though tattoos are usually associated with biker boys and rebellion, our ancestors were also infatuated with body art. Be it cross, skull, wedding band or Chinese characters, tattoos have always been a way of expressing yourself. And even if you don't know what you want, you do want one (tattoo) on your body."

From celebs to your neighborhood hunk, tattoos have become the perfect style statement. But before you get into the chair, remember, "Your body is your temple, decorate it wisely."

Aldo's Five Commandments:

1)Hygiene factor: You don't want to get a tattoo done in doctor's cabin but make sure that the place is hygienic and the needles, equipment and gloves are sterilized.

2)Artist's Portfolio: You might get awed by the attractive designs on the tattoo parlor wall, but before you let the guy give you a permanent tattoo, make sure you know his style and his work experience.

3)Significance: It's going to be there for life, so make sure you don't get something you regret a few years down the line. Your current girlfriend/boyfriend's name might seem like the right thing now, but few years down the time, you might have to cover it up.

4)Diet: While you might think going their drunk might lessen the sensation- it's not a good idea as alcohol thins out the blood and you'll end up bleeding more. Better would be to carry a chocolate to give you instant energy.

5)Post tattoo care: Yeah, you are eager to see the tattoo in its full glory but give it at least two weeks time to heal. Put water based creams instead of petroleum (vaseline) products. And do not pick or scratch the scabs.


Subscribe to updates thru BBM: 32669473

Things to Remember After Getting Tattooed

It will break your heart if your tattoo doesn't look as good as it used to be when you had it done. You may even end up spending an equal sum of money on re-touching it. It's essential for a tattoo to look nice once it heals and if you don't want that that to happen to you, here are some tattoo after care tips suggested by tattoo artist Al Alva:

Cleaning and moisturising
A newly done tattoo is as good as a wound. The epidermis of the skin reacts to the wound and secrets a transparent fluid to protect germs from entering the body. The surface of the tattooed skin must be cleaned regularly without wetting it in water. You can take a piece of cloth, wet it in water and dab it on the tattoo to clear it of germs. Moisturises it with a body lotion afterwards.

Apply ointment
Calendula is a herbal remedy which heals wounds and soothes the skin. Apply a very thin layer of the cream on the tattoo thrice a day. Continue the treatment for the first 15 days.

Don't go for a swim, or the jacuzzi
Take short showers when you bathe. But going for a swim or taking a steam bath will lead your skin to form scabs as a reaction to chlorine and heat respectively and spoil the texture of tattoo. The thicker the scabs the lighter will be the colour of your tattoo when it heals.

Avoid sweating
If you are a health freak, don't exercise for 15 days after you get a tattoo. The salt in your sweat causes the same damage to the tattoo as chlorine or sea water by forming scabs.

Keep away from the sun
Long exposure to the sun could cause the tattoo to discolour. Avoid applying sunscreen and wear long sleeves to protect the area.

Don't shave
If you have got a tattoo on a spot where you need to shave regularly, avoid doing so till the tattoo is completely healed. Shaving may cause your skin to peel and erode the ink within.

No scratching
Your tattoo will start itching within first five-six days. Itching is a sign that your skin has started to heal but do not scratch, rub or press it against your body. It is possible that by doing so you may be scratching the ink out of the tattoo even before it can settle down in your body.


Subscribe to updates thru BBM: 32669473

Avoiding Tattoo Infection

TATTOOS are becoming popular, especially among young people who do not balk at having symbols or letters printed on various body parts.

Decades ago, tattoos could only be seen on outlaws, convicts, sailors or members of notorious gangs. Today, tattoos are part of body decoration.

However, you have to know first some safeguards for your protection. Remember, putting tattoo is like wounding yourself even if it is the henna type. Like any  puncture or cut,  having or  tattoo puts you at risk for infections and disease.

Make sure you're up to date with your immunizations especially hepatitis and tetanus shots and plan where you'll get medical care if your tattoo becomes infected. To avoid problems, choose a trusted artist.

Signs of infection include excessive redness or tenderness around the tattoo, prolonged bleeding, pus, or changes in your skin color around the tattoo.

If you have a medical problem such as heart disease, allergies, diabetes, skin disorders, a condition that affects your immune system, or infections or if you are pregnant, ask your doctor if there are any special concerns you should have or precautions you should take beforehand. Also, if you're prone to getting keloids, it's probably best to avoid getting a tattoo altogether.

To make sure your tattoo heals properly:

* Keep a bandage on the area for up to 24 hours.

* Avoid touching the tattooed area and don't pick at any scabs that may form.

* Wash the tattoo with an antibacterial soap. Do not use alcohol or peroxide. They will dry out the tattoo. Use a soft towel to dry the tattoo. Just pat it dry and be sure not to rub it.

* If you don't have an allergy to antibiotic ointment, rub some into the tattoo. Don't use petroleum jelly — it may cause the tattoo to fade.

* Put an ice pack on the tattooed area if you see any redness or swelling.

* Try not to get the tattoo wet until it fully heals. Stay away from pools, hot tubs, or long, hot baths.

* Keep your tattoo away from the sun until it's fully healed.

Even after it's fully healed, a tattoo is more susceptible to the sun's rays, so it's a good idea to always keep it protected from direct sunlight. If you're outside often or hang out at the beach, it's recommended that you always wear a sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor of 30 on the tattoo. This not only protects your skin, but keeps the tattoo from fading.

Before you get Inked remember this.

If you’re thinking about getting a tattoo but have some doubts about it, remember that before adventuring you should keep in mind certain basic aspects:
1) Choose the best combination between the design and size of the tattoo: there are endless images to put in your skin: drawings, letters, symbols, tribals… however, not all of them will look good in just any size. The rule is, the smaller you want your tattoo to be, the simpler the chosen image should be. This is simply because complicated drawings will become less clear as more reduced is the size of the surface dedicated to them; that is, if a drawing has many lines and the tattooist has to make it at a very small scale, two lines could become one, or a dot could come to occupy much more proportional space than it did in the original picture. So, the design will probably lose virtue and the result won’t be the best.
2) Choose the most adequate part of the body: there are certain “risk zones” that is better to avoid, the most common being the thighs, the abdomen, the breasts, and in some cases the biceps. Why? Because these areas tend to vary in size: if you gain weight, if you lose it, and the same with muscular tissue… when these parts change their size and the skin tightens or loosens, the design can lose its original shape. If you choose these types of areas, the most convenient is to get a simple drawing, for example a tribal, and avoid above all pictures of faces or bodies. Also keep in mind the hair matter; because to tattoo you they will shave you, and when the hair grows back it could ruin your design.
3) Always remember that a tattoo is a permanent mark: tough as we know there are many methods to remove a tattoo (later on we will examine some of them), when getting rid of a tattoo the zone in question can suffer changes such as hypo or hyperpigmentation, or the ink may not disappear totally and leave unwanted and unsightly markings. It is extremely difficult that the area remains as if the tattoo had never existed.
4) Don’t choose the design lightly: very often this is the reason by which after a certain time people decide to eliminate them. In general, you will be more satisfied if the tattoo has some personal meaning, if it expresses some aspect of its bearer’s personality, or his ideas, goals, likes, convictions.
5) Don’t drink alcohol before getting your tattoo: this could provoke excessive bleeding.
6) Always check out the sanitary aspect very carefully: this is probably the most important thing to have in mind before getting tattooed, you must make sure BEFORE any needles touch you that the place’s and the personnel’s hygiene and the instruments they use are appropriate. The syringes must always be taken out of their hermetic wrapping right in front of the customer’s eyes, the personnel must wear latex gloves, the place must be totally clean and it should inspire total trust. Remember that you could get very serious diseases if the conditions aren’t adequate: hepatitis b, hepatitis c, bacterial infections and mycosis, allergic reactions, malignant lesions such as melanoma and skin cancer, leprosy, psoriasis and even AIDS. It is chiefly important not to take these precautions lightly, for your health and your life are at stake.
Lastly , remember that if you’re not completely sure, there’s no need to hurry… and if you are, be sure to clear any doubts before deciding, and, once more, as our most important piece of advice, take a very good look at all the correspondent hygiene measures.
Good luck!