A future in body art is not something that any school or college career officer will actively promote.  It can therefore be difficult to find the information needed in order to get yourself on the right career path. Qualifications Tattoo artist training is usually done via an apprenticeship which can last for around 2 to 3 years.  This means that you will need approach some artists directly, and ask them if they are willing to take on an apprentice.  To gain an apprentice position a potential employer will need to see proof that you have some creative ability, so have a portfolio of design work available to show.  Artists come from all kinds of backgrounds so any artistic experience would be good, whether it is in the form of graphic novel design or another genre. Once in a position you will be expected to supply your own equipment and sterilising kit, some businesses may pay you whilst you are with them, others may not. Over the course of the apprenticeship you will gain the knowledge, skills and experience that will allow you to work unsupervised.  When you reach the end of your time as an apprentice a license to practice will need to be obtained from your local council. A license will not be granted unless you have proven experience of working in the tattoo business, which is why a good apprenticeship is important.  If you are found to be working without a license you are liable to prosecution and will incur a substantial penalty.  And the end of your apprenticeship you should be confident to work on simple designs progressing onto the more complicated patterns as you gain experience.  Many professionals agree that an artist is considered truly qualified after five years of full time work experience. Skills Required Tattooing is a very specialised job and you should show that you have the following skills and personality traits: creative flair and a talent for design; an interest and understanding of alternative cultures and lifestyles; good communication skills; an eye for detail and most of all a steady hand. Responsibilities You should be prepared to take responsibility for the cleanliness and sterilisation of all tools and equipment, whilst being up to date on all health and safety issues relating to the industry.  Keeping abreast of the latest trends and influences in tattoo design and using any spare time to design your own work is advantageous.  You will also be interacting with clients and suppliers so a professional image is important. Salary The majority of tattoo artists are self employed and income can vary as it dependant on the amount of trade that passes through the doors.  Whilst a trainee tattoo artist may start on approx £12,000 a year an experienced artist can expect to earn anywhere between £18,000 and £30,000 a year.  An artist that owns his own business and employs other artists has the ability to earn over £50,000, by renting out space to other tattoo artists.

Tattoos are currently more popular than ever and with the instant availability of DIY tattoo kits in numerous stores and online, it is even possible to tattoo DIY style.  Whilst no official figures exist for the numbers of people who are taking tattooing into their own hands – literally – tattoo artists have reported an increase in recent months of people asking for help to cover or change their botched tattoo designs.  Professional tattooists and hepatitis support groups are now encouraging people to look into the risks before they go ahead with DIY tattoos. Cheap and Cheerful DIY tattoo kits can be bought online from tattoo shops and more worryingly eBay for as little as $20 but many people who buy the tattooing kits are unaware of the risks that come with these kits, most notably the risk of HIV and blood poisoning.  It is also more likely that DIY tattoos will lead to an infection as most people who are choosing to tattoo themselves are unaware of the way to take care of a new inking in the way that a professional tattoo artist is.  With so much information available online, there is no way of guaranteeing that the advice you are reading is correct.  However, with the DIY tattoo kits being available at a fraction of the price of a professional inking it is a trend that is set to continue unless it is banned. What’s the Law? The law varies from country to country however you may want to think again before you start using a DIY tattoo kit on friends.  The law in most countries states that it is completely legal to use a DIY tattoo kit to tattoo yourself; however it is illegal to tattoo anyone else unless you are supervised and in a licensed premises.  There are also health and safety guidelines which must be followed if you tattoo anyone else which includes that both the tattooist and the person being inked must both be over 18 and that sterile equipment must be used to prevent the risk of disease of infection.  Of course, from a non-legal point of view, there will be consequences for people who tattoo a friend if the tattoo goes wrong or if the person who has received the inking doesn’t like it. What do You Think? Although health support groups are trying to warn people about the risk of DIY tattoo kits, many people are speaking out about the benefits.  When done safely and correctly, the only person you are effectively harming is yourself if something goes wrong.  As an individual you are completely within your rights to DIY tattoo although you should be aware of the risks and the consequences should something go wrong.  Many people are also speaking out about the artistic freedom that comes with a DIY tattoo kit.  Others have spoken out about the pain threshold being lower and others have said that they feel completely confident in their designs, which is not how they feel when their designs are inked by a professional. Whichever side of the fence you are on, we highly advise being aware of the risks.  The extra money that it costs to pay a professional tattoo artist is worth the price in our eyes.

White ink tattoos have seen a dramatic increase in popularity over the last few years.  At first sight, a white ink tattoo looks like a scar, which is part of the appeal of them for many people.  Differing from the traditional tattoo process which involves stencilling and outlining the tattoo in black ink, these are (surprise, surprise) completed in white ink which gives off a ghostly feel when completed.  They really are a unique tattoo design and can look very distinctive depending on your natural skin colour. Things You Need to Know If white ink tattoos sound like a cool idea to you, and you are considering getting one, there are a few things that you need to know first: Due to the ability of white tattoos to bleed off surrounding colour, they should be placed far away from any colour tattoos that you currently have. White ink tattoos look best on pale, unfreckled skin.  Freckles can cause the tattoo to look uneven, and dark skin can make the image look transparent – not a good look! As said above, white ink tattoos look more like scars or brandings than tattoos.  This is due to the colouring being thicker which gives the tattoo a raised appearance. Touch ups may be required to keep white ink tattoos looking as good as new.  They fade much more quickly in the sun than normal tattoos and can turn a dirty blonde colour if not looked after properly. If you later decide that you do not like your white ink tattoo you may have trouble removing it.  Multiple laser treatment sessions are not uncommon. Choosing a White Ink Tattoo Design When it comes to choosing a white ink tattoo design, simplicity is the key!  You should keep in mind when selecting a design that the ink will be white, which makes the tattooing process much more difficult.  Plus simple designs will look a lot better when complete and really will look like a unique branding on your body.  Trendy options include Chinese and Japanese characters, stars, writing, dragons, basic tribal patterns and hearts.  However literally anything is possible so long as it is simplistic in its design. Choosing a Location Due to white ink tattoos fading easily or becoming discoloured when placed in direct sunlight for extended periods of time, you might want to choose a location for your tattoo that is covered by clothes for the majority of the time.  Popular locations include the shoulder and ankle but anywhere that will be shielded by direct sunlight is a good idea. Risks Associated with White Ink Tattoos Although some people do have allergic reactions to black ink, these do tend to occur more often with white ink.  To prevent this from happening you may want to ask the tattooist to perform a small test with the ink on your skin so that you know whether you will be one of the unfortunate people who is allergic to the ink or not, plus you will feel more confident when you have the final tattoo done!