The 10 Best Tattoo Artists on Instagram You Need to Know

 

Sasha Unisex

Who: @sashaunisex

Followers: 860K

Why: Sasha specializes in colorful, geometric pieces that she's expanded into temporary tattoos, pins and other merch

Tea Leigh

Who: @tealeigh

Followers: 121K

Why: Leigh is an illustrator who specializes in old-fashioned "stick and poke" tattoos, which use a needle to poke ink into the skin. Leigh's nature-inspired designs and hand motifs are beautifully delicate—and in high demand.

 

Johnny Gloom

Who: @johnnygloom 

Followers:194K

Why: Gloom's graphic, all-black pieces evoke the mystery and seduction of film noir.

Georgia Grey

Who: @georgiagreynyc

Followers: 149K

Why: Grey's signature watercolor-inspired pieces look like they belong in a museum

Susanne König

Who: @suflanda

Followers:

Why: This German tattooist works solely in black ink to create surreal, highly-detailed pieces.

Corey Divine

Who: @coreydivine

Followers: 258K

Why: Divine's graphic, geometric tattoos are positively mesmerizing.

Bang Bang

Who: @bangbangnyc

Followers: 190K

Why: Keith "Bang Bang" McCurdy is a celebrity favorite; he's famously inked Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Kylie Jenner and Cara Delevingne. McCurdy opened his first shop in NYC last year, and his Instagram showcases his work alongside the pieces done by his talented team of artists.

Sarah Gaugler

Who: @sarahgaugler

Followers: 146K

Why: Gaugler proves her range with an oeuvre that includes tiny, spare line pieces and heavier, detailed works—all rendered with precision and skill.

Dr. Woo

Who: @dr_woo_

Followers: 130K

Why: Dr. Woo (real name: Brian Woo) is one of the most in-demand tattoo artists in LA. He's inked the likes of Drake (famously, a prayer hand emoji) and Rihanna. According to the New York Times, his signature is a grouping of circles, arrows and dots, which fans have dubbed "Woo arrows."

Jon Boy

Who: @jonboytattoo

Followers: 551K

Why: Those seeking tiny, delicate works flock to Jon Boy at West 4 Tattoo.

Baby Getting A Tattoo

This is the moment a baby appears to be getting a tattoo inked as surrounding adults hold the wiggling tot down.

Yet the infant can’t be heard crying or screaming as the tattoo artist draws onto the baby’s skin.

 

The footage, believed to have been filmed in Vietnam, shows the toddler being held down by others as a sketch is etched onto the tot’s tiny chest.

And although the baby can’t be heard crying, the infant moves around and tries to escape the hold as the needles buzzes.

A picture of what appears to be a cartoon character soon emerges through the artist’s work.

                The baby appears to be getting a tattoo inked as surrounding adults hold the wiggling tot down

The clip was posted with the caption: ‘Baby gets some ink’ and left some viewers shocked, while others questioned its authenticity.

One commented: ‘Grown men cry when they get a chest tattoo and this little child doesn't react at all. Fake as h***.’

Others agreed: ‘There's a chance this is fake unless the baby is sedated.’

‘It’s just a stencil. If this was real the baby would be crying.’

More were left gobsmacked at the clip: ‘That’s just not right’ one said, while another social media user added: ‘That’s cruel.’

What's your idea about it?

Henna Tattoo

HENNA tattoos are increasingly popular with children and teenagers - especially with the summer holidays in full flow.

Here's everything you need to know about the ever-growing trend, whether schools allow them and whether or not they are safe...

What are henna tattoos?

Henna is a type of dye, from the Egyptian privet or henna tree.

The name henna is also used to refer to a form of temporary body art based on staining with those dyes.

It has been used to dye skin, hair and fingernails - as well as fabrics - since the Ancient Egyptian times.

Henna tattoos are often applied during religious celebrations - such as weddings and holy days.

It's important to distinguish between the usually safe, age-old orange natural henna, and the dangerous new black henna.

However, the word henna is now often used to describe both types, including black or "neutral" henna - which is made from chemicals rather than occurring naturally.

Are black henna tattoos safe?

Black henna tattoos have become fashionable as a temporary, but realistic looking, form of body art.

They are readily available abroad and are sometimes offered in the UK at festivals and fairs.

However, the NHS warns these tattoos can contain high levels of toxic chemical dye, which it is normally illegal to use on the skin.

The paste contains an ingredient called paraphenylenediamine (PPD). In the EU, this chemcial can legally be used in hair dyes - but not for tattoos.

Dr Chris Flower, director general of the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association, explained: "When applied to the skin in the form of a black henna temporary tattoo, PPD can cause chemical burns and lead to allergic reactions."

In extreme cases, black henna tattoos can lead to swelling, blistering and permanent scarring of the skin.

Black henna tattoos can also increase sensitivity to PPD, meaning you could have a serious allergic reaction to legal hair dyes.

A British mum recently warned parents to steer clear of the tattoos after her seven-year-old son had a terrible reaction to the temporary ink.

Atomic Kitten singer Natasha Hamilton's six-year-old daughter, 22-year-old Sophie Akis and school girl Teigan Koorts all suffered serious allergic reactions from henna tattoos.

While British woman Julie McCabe, 38, died in 2012 after suffering an awful allergic reaction to a L'Oreal hair dye she had safely used before.

In her inquest, it was ruled that a black henna tattoo Julie got in 2007 increased her reaction to hair dye.

If you've ever had a henna tattoo in the past, take extra caution and do patch tests before dying your hair.

Real henna, which is safe to use, is an orange colour - often with a red or brown tint to it.

"Real henna is never black, but is orange-brown," Dr Chris added. "Any very dark temporary tattoo should be treated with caution."

Are henna tattoos allowed in school?

Schools set their own individual uniform policies, which henna tattoos could be in violation of.

Henna tattoos applied for religious reasons may be treated differently to those chosen for fashion reasons.

To be safe, only get the orange, natural henna "tattoos" in places which are easily hidden under your child's school uniform.

And buck the trend completely when it comes to black henna tattoos, which aren't worth the risk of a reaction.

How can you remove henna tattoos?

There are a number of ways to speed up the removal of your henna tattoos.

1. Rub with a loofah during your daily shower.
2. Put a cotton pad, soaked in saltwater, on the tattoo. Apply two to three times a day, for around 20 minutes.
3. Scrub the tattoo with a mixture of soap, lemon juice and baking soda.

The Oldest Tattoo Found

The illustrations are of a wild bull and a Barbary sheep on the upper-arm of a male mummy, and S-shaped motifs on the upper-arm and shoulder of a female.

The discovery pushes back evidence for the practice in Africa by 1,000 years.

Details of the tattoos have been published in the Journal of Archaeological Science.

Daniel Antoine, one of the lead authors of the research paper and the British Museum's Curator of Physical Anthropology, said that the discovery had "transformed" our understanding of how people lived in this era.

"Only now are we gaining new insights into the lives of these remarkably preserved individuals. Incredibly, at over 5,000 years of age, they push back the evidence for tattooing in Africa by a millennium," he told BBC News.

The first tattoo

The male mummy was found about 100 years ago.

Previous CT scans showed that he was between 18 and 21 years old when he died from a stab wound to the back.

Dark smudges on his arm were thought to be unimportant until infrared scans revealed that they were tattoos of two slightly overlapping horned animals. One is interpreted to be a wild bull with a long tail and elaborate horns; the other appears to be a Barbary sheep with curving horns and a humped shoulder.

The female mummy has four small S-shaped motifs running down her right shoulder.

She also has a motif that is thought to represent batons used in ritual dance.

The designs are under the skin and the pigment is probably soot.

Previously, archaeologists had thought only women wore tattoos in the ancient past, but the discovery of tattoos on the male mummy now shows body modification concerned both sexes.

The researchers believe that the tattoos would have denoted status, bravery and magical knowledge.

Small S-shaped motifs running down  the female mummy's right shoulder

The mummies were found in Gebelein in the southern part of Upper Egypt, around 40km south of modern-day Luxor.

The individuals were buried in shallow graves without any special preparation, but their bodies were naturally preserved by the heat, salinity and aridity of the desert.

Radiocarbon results indicate that they lived between 3351 and 3017 BC, shortly before the region was unified by the first pharaoh at around 3100 BC.

The oldest example of tattooing is found on the Alpine mummy known as Ötzi who is thought to have lived between 3370 and 3100 BC. But his tattoos are vertical or horizontal lines, rather than figurative.

 

Can You Get a Tattoo While Pregnant or Breast-feeding?

Pregnancy is a unique and memorable time and getting a new tattoo can be a way of marking the occasion.

However, if a woman is thinking about getting a tattoo while pregnant, it is essential that she understands the risks and knows what precautions to take.

There is limited research on the safety of getting a tattoo during pregnancy. If a woman chooses to get tattooed during pregnancy, there are some steps she can follow to ensure she is taking all possible precautions to reduce any associated risks.

It is a good idea to let the tattooist know about the pregnancy. This way, they can make sure that the studio is set up safely before they begin.

To get a tattoo done safely, a woman should also:

• Make sure the tattooist is a registered practitioner. 

• Make sure the studio has separate spaces for tattooing and piercing.

• Ensure the tattooist uses new gloves for each procedure.

• Feel confident that floors and surfaces are all clean.

• Check that the tattooist uses an autoclave, a unit to clean and sterilize 

equipment in between uses, or disposable equipment. 

• Check that all needles are brand new. 

• Make sure that all dyes and ink used for the tattoo are sterile and unopened, or that they are taken from single cups and thrown away after use.

• Check that the tattooist is easily reachable during the first 24 hours after they have carried out the procedure.

The tattooist should also supply contact information and be happy to be contacted with questions and concerns in the months following the tattoo.

People should voice any concerns about the safety, cleanliness, or practices of a tattooist or tattooing facility. A reputable studio and experienced tattoo artist will have no problem addressing any concerns a person has.

If anyone is worried that their tattoo was performed in unsafe or questionable conditions, they should contact their doctor and request to be tested for hepatitis, HIV, and syphilis as soon as possible.

Risks

The primary concern about getting a tattoo when pregnant is the risk that it may lead to an infection.

The chances of developing an infection are low if a woman follows all the safety and hygiene procedures.

However, serious infections such as Hepatitis B or HIV can be passed on to the baby during pregnancy.

Symptoms of these infections can take years to become noticeable, and it may take a liver function test to diagnose these infection types.

A fresh tattoo is an open wound and therefore susceptible to infection. Signs of an infected tattoo include:

• fever or chills

• foul-smelling discharge, pus, or red lesions in and around the area of the tattoo

• areas of hard raised tissue around the tattoo

• dark lines that become visible in or around the tattooed area

Following the studio's aftercare instructions should minimize risks of a tattoo becoming infected. 

However, if a woman experiences any of the signs of infection, she should seek medical attention immediately.

There is also minimal research available on the safety of dyes used in tattooing and pregnancy.

It is possible that the chemicals in the dye are passed to the unborn baby and could affect its development, particularly during the first 12 weeks.

Things to consider

Getting a tattoo is not a decision anyone should take lightly, as it means a permanent change to a person's body.

Depending on its location, the shape of the tattoo may change during the pregnancy as the body changes to accommodate the baby. The tattoo may not return to its original shape after the pregnancy.

Many pregnant women develop stretch marks on their hips, thighs, and stomachs, which may also change the appearance of a tattoo.

If a woman chooses to get a tattoo on her back, this could affect whether she decides to have an epidural during labor.

There are insufficient studies on whether a new tattoo causes any increased risks when having an epidural. Most anesthesiologists should not refuse to give an epidural even if a woman has a back tattoo.

Scar tissue may form where the epidural is given, which may affect the appearance of an existing tattoo.

If a pregnant woman is considering getting a tattoo on her lower back, it is a good idea to check the hospital policy on lower back tattoos and epidurals. If the tattoo is very new and still healing or has become infected, an epidural may not be recommended.

A pregnant woman is also more susceptible to certain skin conditions that can make getting a tattoo difficult and more painful.

These skin conditions include:

• Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPP). This skin condition can cause a red rash, bumps, and areas of swelling, usually on the legs, arms, or stomach.

• Prurigo of pregnancy. This is an itchy and uncomfortable rash that causes small bumps called papules to appear on the skin. It can last for months after a woman has delivered her baby.

• Impetigo herpetiformis. This is a rare form of psoriasis that can cause side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills.

• Hyperpigmentation. Hormone changes that occur in a woman's body during pregnancy can also cause hyperpigmentation in some women. Hyperpigmentation causes some areas of the skin to darken. It affects up to 70 percent of pregnant women and is made worse by sun exposure.

What about henna?

In some cultures, it is customary to receive henna tattoos during pregnancy to bring good luck.

The henna tattoos are usually applied to the pregnant woman's belly during the final trimester. Henna works by staining the skin with natural dye and lasts up to 4 weeks.

Henna tattoos are considered safe to get during pregnancy. However, it is essential to ensure that the tattooist is not using black henna. Henna tattoos should be applied with dark brown or red henna.

Black henna is unsafe as it contains para-phenylenediamine (PPD), which can be very damaging to the skin, causing burns and blisters.

Can you get a tattoo while breast-feeding?

Some women have concerns about the safety of getting a tattoo while breast-feeding. However, a tattoo needle only reaches the dermal layer of the skin, and the molecular structure of the ink is too big to pass through breast milk.

However, women considering having a tattoo while breast-feeding should be aware of the possible risks of developing an infection that may harm the baby. 

While the risk of infection is low, it is possible. Although infections, such as hepatitis and HIV do not necessarily spread through the breast milk, contact with cracked or bleeding nipples while feeding can increase an infant's risk of contracting a disease.

It is usually safe to breast-feed when sick with a minor infection or illness. 

However, a woman should be sure to ask for antibiotics that are safe to use during breast-feeding if she visits a doctor for a bacterial infection.

Taking appropriate precautions, such as researching the tattooist, checking out the studio, and following aftercare instructions will minimize any risk of infection.