How Do Tattoos Work?

Each year, the statistic figures on adults with tattoos continues to grow. Tattoos are a pretty common trend, with many people having at least one or knowing someone that does. But how exactly does the tattoo process work? What makes them so permanent? It’s worth learning a little bit about what’s happening under your skin when you get a tattoo.

First Things First

Once you and your artist have agreed upon a design, the artist will prepare a stencil. There are several ways to create stencils, some artists don’t even use stencils – instead opting for free hand designs that are drawn directly onto the skin. Regardless of the method, the artist will first clean the area of skin to remove any potential contaminants. At Creative Ink, we primarily use two forms of stencils – inkjet stencils or carbon transfers. An inkjet stencil is made by printing out your prepared tattoo design using a special ink that transfers onto the client’s body. Carbon transfer stencils are created using special sheets of paper that duplicate designs based on heat or pressure. Your artist will make sure that the stencil is placed just right, because it basically serves as a map while they’re tattooing you.

How Do Tattoo Machines Work?

Much like cars, there are so many different makes and models for tattoo machines. Some machines are great for lining, while others are great for shading. Regardless, the key part of any machine is how it drives tattoo needles into skin to create tattoos. Some machines function off of a coil mechanism, in which electromagnetically charged coils pull and release a bar that holds the tattoo needle. The other most common type of machines are rotary machines, which function using an electric motor that rotates quickly to push and pull tattoo needles in and out of skin. The types of needles also vary depending on the design that is being tattooed. Some of the most common types are liners, shaders and magnums. 

Inking It Down

With the proper stencil and tools laid out, your artist will begin tattooing. Ink is loaded into the tube that holds the tattoo needle. A tattoo needle punctures the skin anywhere from 50 to 3000 times a minute. The key is depositing ink into the correct layer of skin, called the dermis. The dermis is below the outer layer of skin – the epidermis. The correct depth is typically 1mm-2mm but depends on the client and body part that you’re tattooing. The process of tattooing essentially creates an open wound, and your body responds as such. It sends cells to that area to try and clear the foreign substance (ink), but become trapped in the dermis because the ink particles are too large to disperse. Over time, the cells that absorbed the ink will die off and be replaced naturally. This causes ink to fade in visual saturation over time.

What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

As with any tattoo, there are risks involved. That is why it’s incredibly important to do a bit of research before hand. Determine your design idea, where it would work best on your body and find a quality artist that specializes in that style. As mentioned above, the needle depth is very crucial to the tattoo quality. Too shallow and the ink will be deposited into the wrong layer of flesh and is very likely to fade out in a short period of time. Too deep and the ink runs the risk of dispersing incorrectly into the surrounding area, appearing blurred or blown out.

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