(Q) 1. What is an autoclave?
(Q) 2. What kind of inks does Cannibal Graphics use?
(Q) 3. What about your needles?
(Q) 4. How many people can I bring with me?
(Q) 5. How old do I have to be to get a tattoo?
(Q) 6. Does it hurt to be tattooed?
(Q) 7. Are tattoos permanent?
(Q) 8. Will the color fade?
(Q) 9. How safe is it to get tattooed?
(Q) 10. How long does it take a tattoo to heal?
(Q) 11. What about infection(s)?
(Q) 12. Why does a new tattoo often have a flaky or peeling appearance?
(Q) 13. How does the tattoo machine work?
(Q) 14. Can I get my new tattoo wet?
(Q) 15. How do I prepare for a tattoo?
(Q) 16. Can I suntan my tattoo?
(Q) 17. Can I excercise with a new tattoo?
(Q) 18. Can a mole, scar or other skin imperfection be tattooed?
(Q) 19. How much does a tattoo cost?
(Q) 20. Should I tip my tattoo artist?

What is an autoclave?
(A) 1. An autoclave is essentially a pressure cooker primarily used in the medical field for sterilizing medical instruments. An autoclave must maintain a temperature of at least 246 degrees for 30 minutes in order to fully sterilize the equipment.

What kind of inks does Cannibal Graphics use?
(A) 2. We exclusively use the Eternal Ink product line. The inks are all natural and organic so that your body accepts the ink without pushing it out causing color loss.

What about your needles?
(A) 3. We buy all our needles pre-made, pre-sterilized from King Pin Tattoo Supply.

How many people can I bring with me?
(A) 4. You should try to limit the number of people that come with you to 3. If necessary for you to bring more, please contact us beforehand.

How old do I have to be to get a tattoo?
(A) 5. You must be at least 18 years of age with Government issued ID (drivers license, passport, military ID etc.) to get a tattoo.

Does it hurt to be tattooed?
(A) 6. Yes, it does hurt to be tattooed, the pain is not severe, but it is very uncomfortable, the pain is generally handled well by most people, as it is not an excruciating pain but more of an irritating pain. The tattoo will feel like a bad sunburn after it is complete and will feel that way for about 5 to 7 days. After the tattoo is completely healed it will not hurt at all.

Are tattoos permanent?
(A) 7. Yes, tattoos are permanent, they can be lightened by laser treatment, but the laser treatment hurts significantly more than the application of the tattoo, and is very expensive. So you should make sure that the design you have chosen is one that you are willing to live with for the rest of your life. The urban legend that there are 5 year tattoo's etc, are totally false.

Will the color fade?
(A) 8. The color on your tattoo will fade if it is not properly taken care of as it heals, or if it is exposed to the sun or tanning beds. Proper care of your tattoo is vital to its appearance and healing. Exposure to the sun will fade the color just as it fades the paint on a car that sits in the sun. If your tattoo will be exposed to the sun it is important to use a high quality sun block (not sunscreen) with a minimum SPF of 25.

How safe is it to get tattooed?
(A) 9. In this day and age tattoos are completely safe if done in a clean environment by a professional with sterile instruments. There have never been any cases of AIDS reported due to tattoos. Hepatitis can be contracted through dirty needles in tattooing, but this can be completely avoided by going to a professional who practices sterile/aseptic techniques and never re-uses needles or inks.

How long does it take a tattoo to heal?
(A) 10. Initial healing of a tattoo is about 5 to 10 days, complete healing of a tattoo is 45 days, this is how long it takes for skin to regenerate itself after being damaged.

What about infection(s)?
(A) 11. If your tattoo was done under the cleanest possible circumstances with sterile instruments, sterile ink, and by a gloved artist, the after care of your tattoo is up to you. The risk of infection is minimal if your tattoo is properly taken care of and is not exposed to dirt, pet hair, swimming pools, lake or ocean water, hot tubs, dirty clothes, dirty bed linens, etc. It is important that you keep your tattoo clean at all times while it is healing.

Why does a new tattoo often have a flaky or peeling appearance?
(A) 12. This flaky or peeling look is part of the normal healing process. Often the peeling will itch but it is very important not to scratch or pick at the flaking skin. Refer to the aftercare section for more information.

How does the tattoo machine work?
(A) 13. The machine is hooked up to a power supply that regulates the amount of electrical current going to the machine. The needle is attached to a needle bar that is inserted into a tube and then attached to the machine itself. The electrical current makes the needles move back and forth at a high rate of speed moving in and out of the tube. This movement is turned on and off by a foot pedal on the floor, the whole process is similar to a sewing machine, with the needle moving only when the foot switch is depressed. The needle pushes the ink into the skin about 1/16th of an inch below the surface of the skin. The skin heals up over the ink leaving a permanent mark in the skin.

Can I get my tattoo wet?
(A) 14. For best results in healing your new tattoo, you should not get it wet at all. If you are using a product like Tattoo Goo which is a beeswax formula, it should be applied before you shower. Using the beeswax formula, the water will just run off. You should never soak your new tattoo in any kind of water. Lake and ocean water are teeming with bacteria and could cause an infection. Swimming pool water has chlorine in it, which has a bleaching effect on a new tattoo.

How do I prepare for a tattoo?
(A) 15. First, and most important, you should not be under the influence of any drugs or alcohol. Alcohol works against a tattoo in several ways: First, it impairs your judgment and you may pick out a tattoo that is silly or not at all what you really want. Second, alcohol thins your blood and makes you bleed more, therefore pushing ink that we are trying to get into your skin, out of your skin. Third, alcohol can make you flinch or twitch, and we can not tattoo on someone who is moving around. Drugs are a bad combination with tattoos, in fact, they can be a fatal combination. The adrenaline rush in your body can react with some drugs and can cause respiratory and cardiac failure. Some drugs, such as marijuana can cause the pain of a tattoo to be intensified and can be extremely painful. A sober person is the easiest to tattoo, and a sober person can handle a tattoo much better than a person under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It is a good idea to eat a full meal 2-3 hours prior to being tattooed.

Can I suntan my tattoo?
(A) 16. NO! Never ever should you expose your tattoo to the harmful rays of the sun! You wouldn’t put the Mona Lisa in the sun would you? This tattoo is going to be with you for the rest of your life, take care of it! The sun will fade your tattoo even after it is healed, always use a SPF 25 or higher sun block, not sun screen, sun block is the only thing that will block the rays of the sun.

Can I excercise with a new tattoo?
(A) 17. Exercise should be avoided while your tattoo is healing, the pulling and stretching of the skin is not good for a healing tattoo, 10 days should be a sufficient amount of healing time.

Can a mole, scar or other skin imperfection be tattooed?
(A) 18. Moles are generally a benign, colored growth on the skin. However, on occasion a mole is identified as a cancerous growth. Due to this unknown factor any mole should be left unaltered for the unlikely event that it ever is a cause for concern. Moles can be tattooed around but you should watch for any changes in the mole and report any changes to your physician. Scars can be tattooed over depending on the size, shape, color and texture. A relatively flat scar can be easily tattooed over with minimal discomfort and great success. A large raised scar may not hold ink well and you should discuss with your tattoo professional about any scar you wish to have covered. Many skin imperfections are covered with tattoos. Freckles, pigmentation loss in the skin and other similar conditions are frequently tattooed over. However, remember that many imperfections should not be altered. If you have a skin condition that you wish to have covered with a tattoo speak to your physician about any safety concerns.

How much does a tattoo cost ?
(A) 19. Every shop and every artist has a different price for their tattoos. Many shops and artists also have a shop minimum and you should inquire about the minimum when setting up your appointment. Typically a shop cannot give you a price over the phone and it is best to get your quote in person so that the artist can get a true grasp of the piece of artwork that you wish to have put on your body.

Should I tip my tattoo artist?
(A) 20. You are not required to tip your artist. But, you must remember that each artist typically has to pay a booth rent or percentage of each tattoo to the shop owner. A tip is voluntary and should be dependant on the service that you receive. If your artist does an amazing job and makes the experience a positive one it would be appropriate to tip. If you are displeased with the artist or experience you should feel free to not give a tip as well. 10-20% of the cost of your tattoo is a typical amount to tip your artist.