Hand Foot and Face Tattoos

If you’re looking to get a tattoo on your foot or hand, and especially your face, you’re probably going to have a difficult time finding an artist to do it. Many studios have policies against doing tattoos in these areas. The studio where I apprenticed happened to be one of them. Some artists feel strongly enough about it to turn down potential business by refusing to do this type of tattoo. But what is the big deal?

A Moral Dilemma
You may not realize it, but many tattoo artists bear the burden of becoming the conscience of naive and impetuous customers wanting tattoos that could potentially cause them a lot of problems down the road. They know that highly visible tattoos like hand and facial decorations can cause the wearer to become the subject of ridicule or impede their chances of finding employment. If they feel you don’t seem to be ready for that kind of heavy responsibility, they cannot in good conscience allow you to get such a tattoo. True, you could probably just find someone else to do it, but at least they can rest knowing they were not the cause of ruining your life.

Tattoo artists know the true weight of wearing permanent art and want their clients to be happy with the choices they make. So, sometimes it becomes the duty of the artist to draw a line over which they will not cross in order to protect you, the customer. There are artists out there that will do these tattoos, though, and you will be able to find one if you are determined. But this should at least cause you to stop and think about the potential consequences of your actions. Are you really ready to handle the reactions of the public that result from your decision? Are you prepared to accept rejections to future job applications? Remember – it’s permanent and it’s not in a place where it can be easily covered up. It’s always out there – always visible. And no matter how “popular” tattoos get, you will still have problems being accepted in many places and by many people. If you are not ready to handle that, it’s best that you hold off on the tattoo until you are.

A Quality Issue
Of course, not all studios refuse to do certain tattoos for moral reasons. Foot tattoos certainly aren’t high-visibility social and work impeders. When it comes to tattoo quality, foot and hand tattoos are the ones that become the issue. The fact is, your hands and feet are the two parts of your body that come under the greatest amount of physical “abuse” as a result of normal everyday life. This makes maintaining the quality of a tattoo in these areas very difficult.

Most tattoo artists guarantee their work 100% and back up that guarantee with things such as free touch-ups. When they do a tattoo, their reputation is on the line the moment you walk out the door. Every person that sees your tattoo and finds out who did it will base an opinion of the artist by the quality of the work. If you mess up your tattoo, it’s the artist that’s going to get the blame.

Hand and foot tattoos are extremely difficult to maintain. Socks and shoes constantly rubbing against your feet can wear away even a healed tattoo. Getting to the healed point is even more difficult, requiring the sacrifice of going practically barefoot for 3 months if you really want it to heal properly. But remember, going barefoot or wearing sandals exposes your foot to the elements, including the sun, which can also destroy your new tattoo. If you really want to get that foot tattoo – and honestly, I don’t blame you! – you have got to be totally prepared to baby it like you have never babied your skin before. The same thing goes for hand tattoos – if you’re a mechanic, a dishwasher, or do anything else that is rough on your hands, don’t do it! You’ll only ruin the tattoo and be stuck with a mess in a very visible area.

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9-11 Memorial and American Pride Tattoos

Tattoo by Raven Landry-Keckler

To The Heroes and the Victims of 9-11-01

This page, and any resulting additional pages, is dedicated to the tattoos done in remembrance of 9-11 and American Pride. If you have one you would like to add, please email it to tattoo.guide@about.com. Newest Picture Additions are at the Bottom

Previous Features > Previous Articles by this Guide

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Tattoos in Foreign Languages

Chinese and Japanese Kanji words and phrases are among the most popular tattoos chosen by many collectors. Because they are ornate and - at least to those who can't read it - contain a "hidden" message that only a select few may be able to identify. It's easy to understand why they're so popular, but the problem is this: if you can't read it, your artist can't read it, and you don't know the source the design came from is trustworthy, then there's a good chance that your pretty design doesn't actually mean what it's supposed to.

Chinese and Japanese
Chinese and Japanese "symbols" are not actually symbols - not in the way that a pink ribbon is a symbol for breast cancer awareness. What you're seeing are actual words, combinations of letters and sounds that create literal, readable words and phrases just like this article you're reading. A letter out of place or drawn incorrectly can create a completely different word or simply create a combination of letters that say nothing at all. Or, worst case scenario, you could end up choosing a word or phrase that actually states something really offensive or embarrassing. But that's not the only thing that can go wrong when you cross a language barrier.

Every culture has its own dialect and slang terms. What might be a completely innocent word in one culture could be highly controversial in another. For example, the word "fag" simply means cigarette in some British cultures. However, here in the United States, that word is an offensive insult used against people who are gay. And English/American culture isn't nearly as diversely separated as American/Chinese or English/Japanese are. Imagine how different slang terms might be in languages that come from cultures that are so different from your own.

"This girl I once knew who was born in the Year of the Rooster decided to get the Chinese word (they are words, not symbols) for 'chicken' on her back. Well, little does she know, 'chicken' is slang for 'prostitute'. Because of the allure of a foreign language and lack of research, she will now be forever branded with a word with a meaning she never intended. Some people end up with words on their back that mean nothing by themselves, or are not even words at all, but just look cool. Some people end up with words like 'death' on their bodies, which in Chinese (it is also the same word in Japanese) may also mean 'die', this word is considered extremely unlucky and cannot even be spoken around holidays." - Anonymous Reader

Talk about embarrassing! But Chinese and Japanese characters aren't the only cultural icons that get mistranslated and lead to humiliating mistakes.

Maori / Ta Moko Facial Designs
Another type of design that has the potential for mistakes and embarrassment is Maori-style facial tattoos. These tribal designs may look very nice but were designed and are reserved for the members of their own culture. Each moko facial tattoo was created for that specific person, to tell a story as to who they are and what tribe they belong to. To copy such a design from someone else would be showing immense disrespect. To try to create your own pattern based on others you've seen could inadvertently "say" something inaccurate.

"With regard to Maori facial tattoos (ta moko), I would just like to point out all moko patterns (facial and otherwise) are gender specific and are often used to denote tribal rank and/or affiliation. I'm a Kiwi of Maori descent, and a friend of mine on holiday in LA saw an Anglo-American man wearing a moko that indicated he was a woman from the Kai Tahu tribe in the South Island. Clearly this guy had no respect for, or interest in, the meaning of his tat. Please research your tattoo's meaning before getting the ink, no matter what culture it comes from. A lot of cultures developed their designs for religious and social reasons and it would be pretty insensitive (not to mention stupid) not to know what your body art says." - Clare

Here's the bottom line: To wear moko is to claim that you're a member of their culture or intimately affiliated with it in some way - if that's not the case, you're just a poser with a copycat tattoo. 'Nuff said.

Other Foreign Languages (Even Made Up Ones)
The same thing goes for any language you can't read or a symbol from a culture you don't understand. It doesn't matter if it's Urdu or Klingon - if you can't read it, don't get it unless you know someone personally who you trust to help you find the correct translation. It may work to ask your waiter at your local international restaurant or some kid coming out of a Star Trek convention, but keep in mind that they might give you the wrong translation just to be funny. None of us would appreciate someone wanting to take something from our culture without putting forth the effort to learn anything about it first.

If you're dead-set on getting a tattoo that's in a language or from a culture you don't personally understand, at least do some research. If you don't, and you end up with a screwed up tattoo as a result, don't say I didn't warn ya.

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MRSA and Tattoos

With all the talk about MRSA (pronounced MER-suh) in the news lately, it’s no wonder it’s causing such widespread panic. It seems like every day we’re hearing about someone having the dreaded “superbug,” which then leads to discussions of cleanliness, quarantines and the blame game. As a result, I’ve also been getting a lot of emails from readers wanting to know what their risks are in relation to getting tattoos (and piercings).

What is MRSA?
I don’t think I need to get into the details of what MRSA is, seeing as we’ve been bombarded with those facts in every news report about it. But, just in case you still aren’t clear on the details, here’s a few great resources:

Note: The rest of this article was written based on the helpful information provided by Emily Booth, Ph.D., Chief Information & Training Officer of the Indianapolis (IN) Red Cross.

What are the Risks?
Potentially, anyone who gets a tattoo or piercing is at risk for contracting an infection – and yes, that includes MRSA. MRSA is a bigger threat in comparison to other infections because it’s easily spread and more difficult (but not impossible) to treat. And, in rare cases, MRSA is more severe and can even be fatal.

When getting a tattoo or piercing, the bacteria can be passed from the artist to the client, from a tool to the client, or even from the client to themselves. Since the MRSA bacteria can reside on the body of a carrier (known as a colonizer) without their knowledge and with no adverse effects to their own health, it’s possible for an artist to spread the infection to a client through skin or tool contact. But if the client themselves are a colonizer, they can be infected with the bacteria from their own bodies once the skin has been broken for the tattoo or piercing.

That can sound pretty scary, but by following Universal Precautions, your artist can reduce your risk of exposure to infectious bacteria and blood borne pathogens almost completely.

What are Universal Precautions?
Universal Precautions – which some tattoo artists refer to as a “sterile chain of events” – is a set of precautionary steps defined by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to prevent the spread of disease. Tattoo artists are required by law to follow Universal Precautions for the safety of themselves and their clients. Any artist found not following this sterile chain of events can have their licensing and/or certification revoked. Any studio found not following U.P. guidelines can be shut down. Details of U.P. guidelines can be found on the CDC website, but the basics include things like using gloves and other barriers on anything the artist comes in contact with, disinfecting all surfaces and general cross-contamination prevention. When followed to the letter, your chances of being exposed to staph infection of any kind are very minimal.

Notice that I can't promise there is no risk, even if everything is done properly. That can be a little disconcerting, but life in general is full of risks. You might get hit by lightning if you go out in a rainstorm and you might get shot when you're out grocery shopping. But those risks are minimal enough that we continue to live our lives, accepting the fact that freak accidents are still possible. Knowing that these risks exist should only make us more aware and more careful; not paranoid.

Client Responsibility
Your first responsibility as a patron of any tattoo or piercing establishment is full disclosure of any illness or medical conditions, and any medications you are currently taking. Don't leave something out just because you don't think it should affect getting tattooed or pierced, and do not avoid being honest with your artist because you think they might deny you. It is not worth losing your life for a tattoo or piercing!

Assuming that your artist follows Universal Precautions and does everything possible to give you a clean and safe tattoo, that doesn't end your risk of infection. Your artist will provide you with aftercare instructions for your new tattoo or piercing, and the moment you walk out their door it becomes your responsibility. An open wound is still vulnerable; until your tattoo or piercing is completely healed, your risk of exposure continues.

It is very important that you follow your artist's aftercare instructions, keeping your tattoo or piercing clean at all times. It's also important that you keep a very close eye on it during the healing process so that you notice anything suspicious right away. If you detect any signs of any kind of infection, go to the doctor immediately. Unfortunately, we are beyond the days when you could try to treat an infection at home. Because of the MRSA threat, it's important that you have any infection examined by a doctor before it becomes life-threatening.

Artist Liability
In November of 2007, two unlicensed tattooers were brought up on criminal charges after three of their clients were infected with MRSA. Does that mean all tattoo artists risk being blamed if a client gets sick? Not necessarily, but it depends on the situation. The tattooers in question were unlicensed in a regulated state. That automatically lays blame on the artist for not following proper licensing procedures required by the state. Also, since there were 3 cases of MRSA in a short period of time, it was less likely that it was the fault of one client not properly caring for their tattoo.

That being said, it is prudent to recognize that the body art industry is still denigrated by a significant portion of the general population. Any connection between a MRSA case and a tattoo or piercing is an opportunity for those people to accuse the trade as a whole, which could lead to them punishing an individual to serve as an example.

So, it's a shared risk and a shared responsibility. If everyone does what they should, neither client nor artist should suffer any ill effects.

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