Ink

My mom brought me home this book called "Ink - The Not-Just-Skin-Deep Guide to Getting a Tattoo" by Terisa Green.  It didn't have that much to do with my project, but I am planning on getting a tattoo, and she and I thought that this book would be helpful. 
       It was actually a really interesting book.  It was written very well, and very easy to read. The author has a great sense of humor.  Something I found interesting was that the author wasn't a tattoo artist herself, just someone who was super curious about the subject.

       The book has eight great chapters on anything someone would need to know about getting a tattoo. The first chapter is sort of an introduction, and it talks about the main three questions people ask when they see someone with a tattoo, or just tattoos in general. The questions include "Is it real?", "Is it permanent?", and "Did it hurt?".
       The second chapter is all about finding the right design for you. The author includes a little paragraph of just about every "type" of tattoo in this chapter.  Things like Animals, Horror, Insect, Japanese, Lettering, Maritime, New School, Old School, Portrait, Tribal, and Zodiac. There are 40 of them in all.
       The third chapter is all about finding your artist and shop.  The author talks about researching the artist and shop. How you should find many pictures of the artists previous work, and how you should make sure the shop you're going to has a good reputation.  The easiest way to do this is through word-of-mouth.
       The fourth chapter is all about the science of tattooing; how the gun works, how deep the needle goes into the skin, and the healing process.
       Chapter five talks about all the things you can expect from the moment you walk into a tattoo shop until the moment you leave.  It talks about the way your artist should treat you, and the steps that happen leading up to and after you actually getting your tattoo.
       The sixth chapter talks all about how your tattoo will change over time, and what you can do to make sure it stays in the best condition possible.  The first three weeks of having a tattoo are the most critical, because how you take care of your tattoo in those three weeks determines how your tattoo will look for the rest of your life. 
       The seventh chapter talks about ways you can change your tattoo, things like laser removal and cover ups.
        The final chapter is a summery chapter, and discusses you and your tattoo.  It talks about getting a job while you have tattoos, and living the rest of your life having a tattoo.

       Overall, this book was great.  It didn't change my mind about getting a tattoo, but it gave me some really great things to think about, and I actually learned a lot. I found the chapters four and six the most interesting.  I was really interested to learn about how the gun works and how the ink stays in your skin.  The sixth chapter was great too, because I know that a lot of tattoos end up looking gross over the years because of where they have been placed or how the person took care of them. This book prepared me more for getting my tattoo, and I recommend it to anyone who is looking to get a tattoo.