myths about tattoos — Blog

Here’s the second part of our “Myths” feature, see how many you thought were true beforehand.

You should take a painkiller before getting a tattoo

This sounds like a good idea, but it’s not. A lot of painkillers have anticoagulant properties, which will thin your blood and make it difficult to clot. This in turn means you’ll bleed more, and that brings its own problems, such as a higher risk of infection. Popping a couple of aspirin before going to get your tattoo may seem like the sensible thing to do, but please don’t. MYTH BUSTED

You can’t donate blood after getting a tattoo

You can absolutely donate blood after getting a tattoo, but there is of course a waiting period. It differs from country to country, but here in New Zealand, you can give blood six months after getting a tattoo. We recommend donating- you can save someone’s life, and maybe someday someone will save yours. MYTH BUSTED

Only gang members have tattoos

Oh please, do we even have to debunk this one? Especially here in New Zealand? We have perhaps the most tattoos per capita in the world, and obviously not everyone is a gang member! And yes, it’s true gang members are notorious for their tattoos, but that doesn’t mean everyone with a tattoo is in a gang. That’s like saying both Hitler and Stalin had moustaches, so everyone with a moustache is an evil dictator! MYTH BUSTED

Black ink tattoos will turn blue over time

While this may have been true 50 years ago, the advancements in tattooing ink have made sure it doesn’t happen today. That old, faded blue tattoo your uncle has isn’t a true representation of tattoos in the modern world. MYTH BUSTED

If you’re interested in tattoos or have any questions, please feel free to give Sunset a call. Our friendly staff will only too happy to help.

For those not part of the “sub-culture”, tattoos can seem like something dangerous, rebellious or even crazy. But sit and talk for two minutes with anyone who’s inked up, and you’ll soon realise they are just normal everyday people. There are a lot of myths about tattoos, and some of these myths go back a long time, but others appear along with new technology or cultural watersheds. In this article, we bust a few of the most common tattoo myths.

Myth: Getting a tattoo can be a health risk

Ok, let’s be clear here; anything can be dangerous if not done correctly. Tattoos are no exception, but as for the myth that you’re risking catching Hepatitis or HIV, well the statistics don’t agree. Licensed tattoo studios must undergo strict health and safety checks by the council, and for this reason, there has NEVER been a single documented case of HIV transmission from a tattoo in New Zealand. MYTH BUSTED.

Myth: Anyone who can draw can tattoo

There was always that one kid in class who was amazing at drawing, but pretty dumb at everything else. He could draw Eddie from Iron Maiden and it looked AWESOME, so one day his friend decides he wants a tattoo. “I’ll do it for free!” Bad idea. Just because someone can draw, doesn’t mean they can tattoo. Without the proper training, equipment, health & safety knowledge or technical ability, all you’re going to end up with is a mess that will have to be covered up by a professional anyway. MYTH BUSTED

Myth: Tattoos only hurt if you’re a pussy

Ask any “tough guy” if his tattoos hurt, and you’ll get a “Hell no!” in response. Maybe even a “I fell asleep during mine!” Here’s the thing- pain is subjective. What hurts one person may not hurt another. People have different sensitivity, especially when it comes to skin. And of course, WHERE you get a tattoo is also a huge factor in how painful it will be. It’s true some people feel nothing, but it’s also true others scream the studio down. You just don’t know which one you’ll be until you go! MYTH BUSTED