Process of tattooing facts for kids
The process of tattooing is how a tattoo is made. It involves putting special pigment (like ink) into the skin. Long ago, people often made tattoos by rubbing pigment into cuts. Today, most tattoos are made using a tattoo machine. There are also many steps and tools used to keep people safe and healthy during the process.
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How Tattoos Stay in Your Skin
When tattoo ink is put into your skin, it goes into a layer called the dermis. This is the layer of skin just below the very top layer. When the ink first goes in, it spreads out in the damaged skin. Your body's immune system then sends special cells called phagocytes to eat up the ink particles.
As your skin heals, the top damaged layer flakes off, taking some surface ink with it. Deeper in the skin, new tissue forms. This tissue traps the ink inside other cells called fibroblasts. The ink then stays in a stable layer just under the top skin layer. Over many years, the ink might move a little deeper, which is why old tattoos can look a bit faded or less clear.
Old Ways of Tattooing
Some cultures traditionally made tattoos by cutting designs into the skin. Then, they would rub ink, ashes, or other things into the cuts. Some groups still do this today. This can sometimes be combined with scarification, which creates raised scars.
Other cultures tapped ink into the skin using sharp sticks or animal bones, like needles. They might use clay disks or, more recently, metal needles. Traditional Japanese tattoos, called irezumi, are still often made by hand. This means the ink is put under the skin using handmade tools, often with sharpened bamboo or steel needles. This method is called tebori.
In Hawaii, traditional hand-tapped tattoos are becoming popular again. This practice almost disappeared after Westerners arrived. The process involves special steps and prayers. It is seen as a sacred event, not just art. The tattoo artist chooses the design based on family history, not the person getting the tattoo. Each design shows the person's duties and role in their community. The tools are carved by hand from bone or tusk, without using metal.
Modern Tattooing
Today, the most common way to get a tattoo is with an electric tattoo machine. This machine puts ink into the skin using one needle or a group of needles. These needles are attached to a bar that moves very fast. It pushes the needles in and out of the skin, usually 80 to 150 times every second.
This modern way of tattooing is usually very clean and safe. The needles are used only once and come in their own sealed packages. The tattoo artist must wash their hands and clean the skin area that will be tattooed. They must wear gloves all the time. The tattoo area is often wiped with a clean, disposable towel. All equipment that can be reused must be cleaned in a special machine called an autoclave before and after each use.
The cost of a tattoo can be very different. It depends on how complex the tattoo is, how skilled the artist is, and how long it takes. A small, simple tattoo might take only 15 minutes. A large, detailed tattoo, like a sleeve tattoo or a full back piece, can take many sessions. These sessions might last several hours each, over months or even years.
The first electric tattoo needle was patented in New York City in 1891 by Samuel O'Reilly. He changed Thomas Edison's electric engraving pen to make it work for tattoos. Modern tattoo machines use electromagnetic coils. Other early tattoo machines were also invented in the late 1800s.
Permanent Makeup
Permanent makeup, also called semi-permanent makeup, uses tattoos to change the color of facial features. Some permanent makeup is used for medical reasons, like covering scars or vitiligo. Other types are for looks, such as tattooing eyeliner, lip color, or eyebrows. The ink is put into the top layer of the skin in patterns to cover the desired areas.
Permanent makeup is usually done with a tattoo machine. There are now machines that do not use needles, which can make the process less painful. These needle-free devices are thought to be safer and cleaner than traditional tattoo machines. They are designed to make the experience more comfortable and to prevent the spread of diseases like HIV or hepatitis. These needle-free devices can also put the pigment deeper into the skin than machines with needles.
There are different ways to remove these tattoos. The most common way is using lasers. It is suggested that different colored inks should be removed with different lasers. This helps reduce the chance of scarring or ink staying in the skin. The needle-free machines can also remove or lighten the ink by putting a special removal solution into the skin.
Like any tattoo, permanent makeup can have side effects over time. These can include infections, fading, scarring, swelling, and allergic reactions.
Tattoo Inks and Colors
Early tattoo inks came directly from nature and had very few color choices. For example, in ancient Hawaii, people mixed ash from kukui nuts with coconut oil to make black ink. Today, there are countless colors and shades of tattoo ink made in factories and sold worldwide. Tattoo artists often mix these inks to create their own special colors.
Many different types of colors and pigments can be used in tattoos. These include natural materials like titanium dioxide and iron oxides, and man-made dyes. Iron oxide pigments are used more often in cosmetic tattooing.
Modern tattoo inks are usually carbon-based. These pigments are also used for things other than tattoos.
Sometimes, there is a concern about tattoos when someone needs an MRI scan. Some tattoo pigments contain tiny bits of metal. The strong magnetic fields from MRI machines can react with these metals. While it is rare, this can cause minor burns or make the MRI image unclear. The type and amount of ink, and the shape of the tattoo, can increase this risk. The TV show MythBusters tested this and found a small reaction between common tattoo inks and MRI machines, especially with inks that had a lot of iron.
Cleanliness in Tattoo Studios
Safety Steps
A good tattoo studio will have special containers for things that have touched blood or body fluids. They will also have special containers for used needles. They will use an autoclave to clean tools. Some places also require studios to have a sink with hot and cold water in the work area.
For good hygiene, a tattoo artist must wash their hands before preparing a client for a tattoo. They must also wash their hands between clients and any other time germs could spread. Using gloves that are used only once is also a must. These gloves should be thrown away after each step of tattooing. The same gloves should not be used to clean the tattoo station, tattoo the client, and then clean up again.
In some places, it is against the law to tattoo a minor (someone under a certain age), even if their parents say it's okay. Also, except for medical tattoos, it is usually not allowed to tattoo people who are not able to give their permission, or people who are pregnant or nursing.
Before the tattooing starts, the client is asked to approve where the design will go. After they agree, the artist will open new, clean needle packages in front of the client. They always use new, clean tools and supplies, and fresh ink for each tattoo session. The ink is put into small, disposable caps that are thrown away after each client. Also, all areas that might be touched with used gloves are covered in clear plastic to stop germs from spreading. Equipment that cannot be cleaned in an autoclave, like counters and furniture, is wiped with a special cleaner.
Training for Artists
While the rules for becoming a tattoo artist are different in various places, many require training in how to prevent the spread of diseases from blood. Local health departments often regulate tattoo studios. For example, in Oregon and Hawaii, tattoo artists must pass a test about health and safety rules. Tattooing without a proper license in Oregon is a serious crime. Tattooing became legal in New York City in 1997 and in Massachusetts in 2000.
Aftercare for Tattoos
Tattoo artists and people with tattoos have different ideas about how to care for new tattoos. Some artists suggest keeping a new tattoo wrapped for the first 24 hours. Others say to remove the bandage after two hours or less so the skin can breathe. Many tattoo artists advise against swimming in hot tubs or pools, or soaking in a bathtub, for the first two weeks. This helps prevent the tattoo ink from washing out. However, some artists suggest bathing a new tattoo in very hot water early on.
Most people agree that you should not pick at the flakes or scabs that might form on a new tattoo. Also, avoid putting a new tattoo in direct sunlight for long periods for at least three weeks. Both of these can make the tattoo fade. Everyone agrees that a new tattoo needs to be kept clean.
Many different products might be suggested for the skin, like creams for cuts or burns, or special tattoo balms. Oily ointments are usually recommended to be used in very thin layers. This is because they do not evaporate easily and can make the skin too wet. Recent studies show that wounds heal faster when they are kept moist. In recent years, special products have been made just for tattoo aftercare.
Even though opinions on these products vary, plain soap and warm water work well to keep a tattoo clean and prevent infection. It is best to use soaps that are free of strong smells and alcohol. This helps avoid burning or drying out the tattoo too quickly. Try to avoid loofahs and unwashed clothes, as they can carry bacteria that could get into the tattoo and cause an infection. The best way to dry your tattoo is with a paper towel, as regular towels might also have bacteria, even if they are clean.
The amount of ink that stays in the skin as it heals affects how the final tattoo will look. If a tattoo gets infected, or if the flakes fall off too soon (for example, if it gets too wet or is picked), the ink might not set properly. This can negatively affect how the final tattoo looks.
See also
In Spanish: Tatuaje para niños
