Tattoo and Race!!!?

Question

I'm a black UK female i really can't wait 2 get my tattoo BUT i have a PROBLEM. I've looked around 2 find the best artists. They are all happy to book an appointment but when i say i'm black can i see some photos of work u've done on black people i get NO REPLY!!!

Has any1 ever had a problem or heard of tattoo artist that don't like tattooing black people???

The tattoo artist that i've found that have picture of their tattoos done on a black person are not up to the standard i like. The really good artist i've found have stopped contact when i ask the question of black skin.

I've heard of artists messing up tattoo's on black people just for a laugh. Keeping the needle in longer and making it go deeper and saying it's because they have 2 do that with black people which is a LIE!! How do i know who 2 trust this is going 2 b my first ink? What should i watch out 4? I don't want a bad tattoo from someone who dislikes black people HELP me. I've waited years 2get a tattoo because of this.

I'm in the uk and i'm not sure who Hispanic people are i've never meet a Hispanic person?? I haven't found any black tattoo artists in the uk. I've been searching for YEARS. The local tattoo shop in my town tends not to tattoo black people and they put you off as soon as you walk in the door.

It's not rude to ask to see work they have done on black people. It was something a artist in the USA told me i should do to make sure the artist i find has worked on black skin before and uses the right ink ect....

What questions should i ask the artist?? I don't know what it's like in other places but in the uk it's hard to find a good artist that will tattoo a black person and do a good job.

Answer 1

I too am black and I have 5 tattoos, 2 of which are pretty large pieces. I have never had a problem with an artist taking issue with my blackness. In fact I have had the opposite experience where the artists have taken the time to explain what will and won't work with my pigmentation. The lack of contact after you reveal that you are black may just be the artist's own feelings of inadequacy with experience in tattooing black skin and they avoid you rather than tell you that they don't know.

I am a medium toned brown with yellow and red undertones. I have held all of my colors with little to no fading. The one thing I will say is that purple and blue together do not work well on me. I have a butterfly on the top of my foot that I got with my BF years ago and we chose purple and blue for the wings. Well, she is white and hers is bright and gorgeous with mine not being as vivid.

With he first tat I got I hate to say it but I I thought the artist was one of the scariest people I'd ever seen but I really admired his work. He was tattooed all over including his bald head and face. He reminded me of a skin head but once I started talking to him he wass a great person. By the time my tat was done I was looking at him thinking "he is kind of cute"!

Go in for consultations and you will pretty much know immediately if that is the artist for you. Do not listen to what you hear, go and see for yourself. Take a list of ?'s with you and keep it moving if you get a negative vibe, just don't go expecting to find negativity or you surely will. I haven't a clue what the tattoo scene is like in the UK but I thought that race relations were ok.

Answer 2

Its a definite possibilty. I have 6 tattoos. 4 small ones and two large pieces one on my lower back and one on my upper back. Right after getting tattooed and the day after as well. I felt like I had gotten my butt kicked. I felt like I had been beat up. It depends on how long you are getting tattoed for and how big it is. If your tattoo will take an hour or more to do... You are probably going to have some pain and definitely some discomfort tomorrow. I would wait to get your tattoo after the race. Go with your cousin tonight and experience the event with her so that you may be more prepared. Good Luck! ;-) Remember think about what you are planning to get tattoed. Try to pick something that you know you will love for as long as you live because its on there forever. Try not to get things that are trendy or that you may not appreciate 5 or ten years from now. Message me with any more questions.

Answer 3

I hope that this is not true that wouldbe so wrong!

I would have to say, that you shouldn't ask to see pics of black ppl they have tattooed, because then you insinuate that race is invovled.

It doesn't matter about the skin colour for a tattoo artist, it's not like there's special pigments labelled "for white" or "for black" or different procedures. The only difference really is that according to your complexion, you might not be able to use colours like pink, or blue etc.
I say go in person and speak to the tattoo artist and ask him in person without mentioning race if you can get whatever you want done. Ask the typical questions.
Do they use autoclave, do they use new needles, how long will it take, will you get a free touch up, after your tattoo has healed. And then ask to see his portfolio.

if you really feel that race is an issue, don't get tattooed, why would you want a potential racist to tattoo you

**try finiding black people who got tattooed and no problems and let them refer you to that parlour.

Answer 4

do you know any other black people who have tattoos? it is possible that the artists you have contacted have not had any or very much experience with tattooing black skin and don't want to mess up your tattoo. it took me years to find a great tattoo artist so you may just have to be on constant lookout for the right artist for you.
good luck!

Answer 5

Try asking around on sites like www.bmezine.com or www.bodymod.org to find an artist. Make sure you check out thier work and see it on darker skin. Tattooing anyone with dark skin is a bit trickier, but looks great when done properly! I haven't heard of any artists messing with black people in that way (which is disgusting!) but I'm sure it could happen. Just make sure you find someone with lots of experience and who you feel comfortable with.

Answer 6

there is nothing rude about asking if they have done work on darker skin tones....especially ask to see their work either way.........sounds like the shops u are going to are racist. keep searching until u find a shop that u feel comfortable with and will show u at least one pic done on a darker skin tone.... if u cant find that in the UK u might want to take a trip to another country or state to get what ur looking for if u want the tattoo that bad.

Answer 7

My sister got her tattoo done by a Hispanic person. I suggest going to Black and Hispanic neighborhoods and having a Black or Hispanic tattoo artist do it. That way the entire problem is solved! Make sure any shop you go to anywhere is clean, though!

Enjoy!!

P.S. Hispanic people are people who speak Spanish outside Spain. Their coloring is often the same or similar to Black people since they, too, are often mixed with African blood. Therefore, their experience with tattoos would be the same as our experience.

Answer 8

tattoos are nasty on anybody. Some call it art. I think its a form of insecurity with who you are so you get a tattoo to make you more interesting.