Pins & Needles Magazine by Amii Scarlet

MUTILATION VS SELF-EXPRESSION What is the history and the cultural impact of extreme modifications in the UK today?

STUDIO ETIQUETTE

Worried about your first tattoo? Read our guide and find out what the artists REALLY want you to know!

WOMEN OF THE INDUSTRY Find out what makes two women at opposite ends of the tattoo industry tick.

PLUS: Do children belong in a tattoo studio? We turn the tables and interview the editor!

SPRING EDITION 2017

Â£2.60

Contents

4 6 10 12 14 16 18 20

So you want to be a body piercer?

“…just imagine, if everyone was themselves, how different everyone would be.” Grace Neutral, 2016

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to the first issue of Standing Up, Standing Pins&Needles! It’s crazy to think that a Strong: an interview with mere year ago we were Leigh-Ann Hamilton a little Facebook page with a sparsely-updated Instagram, Extreme Mods: and a Twitter that I only ranted Modification or Mutilation? on when tipsy. And look where we are now! The community has grown, and we finally have Reader Writes! Letters a magazine up and running… and photos submitted by and it’s all thanks to you, readers. We appreciate your our readers support endlessly and hope you’ll continue to join us on our Studio Etiquette: Do’s journey with P&N.

and Don’ts for your first tattoo!

Flowers for the Dead: we chat things and ink with Arienette Ashman The dangers of home tattooing

Labrets & Love: Pins&Needles editor Amy Whitfield on the realities of bringing a child up in a tattoo studio Don’t forget to check out page 22, where you could win a years subscription to Pins&Needles and more!

Love, Ed x

Get in touch with us! Share your thoughts and opinions, or even just keep up with happenings at P&N HQ! Twitter & Instagram: @pinsandneedlesmag Facebook: Pins & Needles Magazine opinions@pinsandneedles.co.uk Or, if you’d like to contribute anything to the magazine, get in touch here: contact@pinsandneedles.co.uk

CONTRIBUTERS: Articles: Amy Whitfield Editor: Amy Whitfield Photography: Amy Whitfield Comic: Steff Wood Design: Amy Whitfield

So You Want To Be A Body Piercer? Every month we run our ‘So you want to be...’ segment, exposing the realities of various jobs within the industry and dispelling some myths along the way. This month we’re covering a body piercier’s career - and as we found out from our guest writer and beloved editor, Amii Whitfield, it’s not as simple as it looks...

no official, legal qualifiacations or certificates accepted across the UK apart from First Aid. Not only are these schools a farce, taking these courses will only drain your bank account and leave you confused about proper techniques. They aren’t worth it – apprenticeships are like hen’s teeth, but they’re the only way to truly learn. We aren’t in the 80’s any more, there’s no excuse!

I’m not good with blood though! You will get puked on when customers don’t make it to the sink on time. You will have slobber running down your arm while you’re changing

But it’s just piercing…

s kids, we all go through stages of wanting to be different things when we grow up. An astronaut. A vet. An archaeologist. Personally? I wanted to be a body piercer. Let me tell you though, it’s not the glamorous lifestyle everyone makes it out to be – it’s not as simple as jabbing someone with a needle and letting the money pour in! So I’m here to dispel some myths and half-truths about what it’s really like to be a body piercer.

You don’t need to learn much! Wrong. Before you even as much as open a box of needles there is books upon books of information to learn, routines to practice until you can do them in your sleep, and environmental health loopholes that are flaming and suspended mid-air above a

pool of sharks. Kind of. When you start an apprenticeship, most studios go the old school way. That is, you’re fetching coffee and lunch and playing receptionist for a year. In a studio that has tattooists you generally end up becoming their lackey, and take care of their appointments, stencils and minor consultations so they don’t have to. Then you’re taught how to scrub the full studio from top to bottom, so you become a cleaner as well as a receptionist. You learn how to decontaminate work surfaces and follow asceptic techniques that stay with you forever (I still cringe walking into a hospital and seeing them touch tools with the same gloves on!). From there you learn about blood borne pathogens, cross contamination and sterilisation techniques. After this you start learning about anatomy,

what’s suitable and what’s not, what forceps are used for certain placements and how to choose appropriate jewellery, problem-solving and how to act in an emergency. Only after all of this and after your mentor considers you ready are you allowed to pierce. And that’s a whole other ball game!

I saw a course online that offered to teach piercing for £400. Is it better than an apprenticeship? Absolutely not. Any studio worth their salt would turn away anyone wanting a job on the back of these ‘courses’. These ‘schools’ try to cram a 4-5 year apprenticeship into a weekend and give you a ‘certificate’ after pocketing your money and rubbing their hands gleefully. These qualifications aren’t even worth the paper they’re printed on because there are

Did you not read the first question?! The skills gained from becoming a body piercer aren’t just how to wield a needle. In a busy studio, you act as receptionist, cleaner, steriliser, errand boy, tattoo consultant, nurse, mum, and confidant. People trust their piercers, and you develop a bedside manner that would make Florence Nightingale jealous. Right there is till work, numeracy, customer service skills, medical knowledge, first aid… so many skills are gleaned from an apprenticeship that if it doesn’t turn out to be the career path for you, it leaves you in good standing to walk into another job. Also, never tell a piercer they’re ‘just a piercer’ because they’re more than likely the one keeping the shop running smoothly!

tongue bars. And yes, you will more than likely end up with blood on you at some point. Bodily fluids are par for the course!

I heard the needles are huge. Not at all. They’re about finger length, and around the same thickness as earrings. Sometimes slightly thicker ones are used for navels and tongue piercings, but they’re only 0.4mm thicker. 1.2mm is about the same as the one your nurse uses to give you immunisations or take blood.

Do you have to deal with ‘weird’ customers?

Studios attract people from all walks of life. From 15 year old girls clutching their mum’s arm looking for an ear piercing, to elderly couples that turn out to be rampant fetishists looking for an insane amount of intimate piercings in one go, to the guys who stomp in with their mates full of bravado to get a nipple done then pass out at the sight of the clamps, a customer base that’s varied is never boring. Granted you’ll always get the ones who push their luck, ones who have zero respect for personal hygiene, and the ones who will ask about crazy piercing ideas at 2 in the morning on Facebook and get offended when you don’t reply…but it comes with the territory. You need a thick skin for this career, good customer service skills, and a reservoir of patience the size of the Atlantic Ocean – but it’s one of the hardest, most rewarding jobs in the world.

We hope you enjoyed this issue’s feature! Next time, we interview famous performer Frank Turner and how his passion for music and tattoos helped him live his dream.

Women of the Industry:

Standing up, Standing Strong Our Studio Spotlight this issue is on Midtown Tattoos, a new studio located in Falkirk, Scotland. As it happens, the manager of the studio is not only an accomplished body piercer, she’s also one of my oldest and dearest friends. I caught up with Leigh-Ann Hamilton to chat female empowerment, trips down memory lane, and talented women within the industry.

ou know, we’ve known eachother a long, long time. Since we were teenagers – and it all started by working in the same studio. How long have you been in the industry now? How did you kick off your career? It’s been about 9 years now, on and off…I always had an interest in subculture and alternative clothing. When an alternative fashion boutique opened in Falkirk I’d visit it frequently, save up to buy expensive clothes, then eventually that same store evolved to also offer body piercing which I immediately took a great interest in. (Editors note: this is the same shop where we first met and ended up working together in!) I suppose I was always influenced by my peers and people I spent a lot fo my time with, who happened to have tattoos and piercings –

they were much older than me at the time. So there was definitely an aspect of socialisation. I went to that shop so much I became a frequent feature and really pestered the owner to give me a job – it took a few years, but she relented!

Is it primarily body piercing you do?

industry because it’s so fast paced, it evolves so quickly.

I’d say it’s pretty eclectic – I’d be lying if I described it as a purely positive experience! Tattooing especially is still a very male dominated industry and being a female body piercer can be so trying at times. A lot of male clients would prefer to be pierced by a male and have some seriously archaic views of women. The nature of modification means that often your clients will be members of the fetish community which can go either way: it can be a really positive interaction or it can end up a totally negative experience depending on how they view people. I’ve had some great experiences within that but I’ve also had some awful moments with male

clients. I do think it’s best to be transparent as an industry and as a professional, so in all genuineness I couldn’t say it’s always great to work in this profession. You’ll know yourself, there will be male clients who behave so intimidating and inappropriate – but for the most it’s been so positive, I love giving people their first piercings especially. It’s very liberating for them I guess.

It’s totally a double edged sword though, isn’t it? Not only can it be a mixed bag with clients, it’s even harder to gauge an outside situation.

When it comes to conventions and dealing with other studios and artists. You never know how they’re going to take you because you’re not in the ‘boys club’. For sure, in terms of colleagues and my experience of other studios and coventions I’d say I personally feel a lot of great female artists are overlooks. A lot of individuals who’ve been in the industry a long time harbour really ‘traditional’ views on women’s roles in the tattoo world. 30 years ago women were receptionists and now they’re headlining conventions so it’s a big change for them, and a lot of men

What has your experience of being a woman within the

attooing especially is still a very male dominated industry and being a female body piercer can be so trying at times.

Mainly yeah, I do on occaision offer traditional hand poked tattoos, but sadly my health doesn’t allow me to do this as often as I would like. I try to keep a toe in all aspects of modification – not only from a business point of view but because I have a genuine interest, and I like to keep up with what’s happening in the

industry been like? I know it’s definitely not been all sunshine and rainbows, sadly the same can be said for most of us. 7

artists. You develop this no-nonsense attitude very quickly, and I guess people can interpret that as quite sharp or dry. That small number of people don’t like to deal with women in charge.

Oh yeah – you’ll tell them something they don’t like, ‘we don’t do those kinds of tattoos’ or ‘that doesn’t work as a piece’ and you get an eyeroll and a ‘Can I speak to the manager?’ They don’t like it when they find out haven’t really adjusted to that I think overall it’s a lot more yet. Personally it’s best to be common now than say, 20 you’re in charge, and try honest, direct, take others with years ago. I mean I an only to find the nearest male a pinch of salt and focus on speak frm our experience and artist. The amount of putting out your best quality of say that for the majority it work. doesn’t seem to generate much times we’ve been looked of an opinion, but a small over when one of the Yeah, you kind of grow minority do feel intimidated or guys are there because put off by a female in charge thick skinned with this they don’t realise it’s us of a studio. profession, learn that that run their day for you can’t really fight it. Exactly. They’ll try to them! Water off a duck’s back take the mick a lot more Yeah! I don’t know if it’s their own social upbringing or and all that. I mean, than if a male artist is otherwise, but many find a heavily tattooed women present – I don’t think women in charge intimidating. are only just starting to they realise we don’t You’ve just got to stand firm be accepted – women at the end of the day, you’re suffer fools lightly! there to do a job and whether Yep – most female managers running studios now or not that makes people I know are logical and don’t is the norm too, at uncomfortable isn’t your mince their words. You tend least round here. That problem. to become a jack of all trades, ruffles a few ‘traditional’ from an accountant to artist That brings us to one to marketing executive to feathers for sure. babysitting 30 year old tattoo of the things I know

we’ve chewed over a lot through the years: the inherent misogyny within the industry. It’s definitely a maledominated profession, and how often women are overlooked or dismissed as hangerson even today is scary. We’re shot down at every turn, and criticised much more due to our gender. I mean, one of the main reasons I quit was I got so burnt out from feeling like I constantly had to prove myself. How do you stay motivated?

rehearsed: “Speak to me or you we can stand together – or we won’t be speaking to anyone can be mowed over. else.” I mean, I’m here to do a I agree. In saying that, job and my gender shouldn’t even be an issue. But it’s one there are some real that women in this industry powerhouses who are deal with every single day. putting their work It’s part of the person I am now, I don’t make a conscious out today that are just effort to get up and fight the blowing my mind. I patriarchy or whatever, it’s just ingrained in who I am. My remember a few years ago there was only mum’s an offshore engineer, with more degrees than I can maybe two or three count and raised four kids female artists across the as a single parent – so from UK that had any clout, a young age there was never any ‘restrictions’ put on my that people were talking ambitions or potential abilities about – and now thanks within any industry. My to social media we’ve got mother got up, got out, and so much more exposure just did it, and to incredible female I’ve

talent taking over the UK. Who are some of your favourite artists these days?

e I generally don’t think as women can too much There’s some female artists about it. either choose to be whose work I follow that Like you are ever changing – I said, you’ve the best we can be in like an eclectic mix of got to everything. I love Sam grow a Whitehead’s tattoos, they anything we do, we really thick skin. appeal to me: they’re I think so kitsch and twee and when you can stand together unapologetically cute which spend years I just love. Kate Mckay Gill pushing ... or we can be does animals in a style I really against the love – Abbie Williams, Dee stream it becomes mowed over. Vector…I have many female part of who you are. We experience male prejudice on a day to day basis with clients who openly say they’d rather speak to a man – whether it’s a client booking work in or the gas company on the phone. Years ago that probably would’ve bothered me but now it’s part of a script that’s well

always had a similar attitude. It’s so unfortunate that sexism is rife in our society and whether people choose to acknowledge that or not, it IS a part of the world we live in. We as women can either choose to be the best we can be in anything we do,

artists whose work I enjoy and many female body piercers whom I admire. I love how much the industry is adapting, women are finally starting to come to the front line where modification is concerned, it’s great to see. AW

their bodies beyond the norm, and is an active part of the UK altering their appearance industry. He was sued by forin often irreversible ways. mer clients, with the charges People love a good stare, and brought against him being the men and women behind three counts of causing grievthese modifications often make ous bodily harm with intent money from this – look at and three counts of wounding Elaine Davidson, the world’s without intent. The strangest most pierced woman: she part? The people suing him are regularly hangs around on former clients, who had these the Royal Mile and makes a procedures performed with small fortune from punters their express written consent. desperate for a photo with her. It’s a case of regret This ‘freak show’ culture has – somemoved on from travelling thing he circuses and takes place evon our very streets. funny thing is,

EXTREME MODS: Modification... or Mutilation? As recently as the early 2000’s, the heavy mod scene was an underground movement: a small group of individuals, spread across the globe, united in tattoo studios after dark or even brought together in online chatrooms to discuss things that were considered taboo... to most of us, they still are.

T 10

oday we’re talking about the heavy modification culture. You’ll have seen snippets of them gracing click-bait sites online: photos of people with tattooed faces and huge plates in their lips with a headline similar to “OMG THEY DID WHAT TO THEMSELVES?!”. These normally fall under the guise of opinion articles, designed to get people thinking and debating, and the ‘don’t read the comments’ rule definitely applies to these as the comment section is full of cries of disgust and shock. Heavy modifications split opinion right down the middle: people expressing themselves, modifying

most of these practices The people who modify their bodies – stretching piercings, this way are still splitting tongues, skin just that: people. branding and scarification, They have thoughts facial tattoos – are and feelings and opinions that are older than the social often disregarded in constructs that the name of crying “look define us at THAT!”. The funny thing eryis, most of these practices – one in stretching piercings, splitting the industry has tongues, skin branding and dealt with at one point. The scarification, facial tattoos procedures were of the more – are older than the social extreme sort: a tongue splitconstructs that define us today. ting, ear pointing, and a nipple Most are ground in tribal removal. These are fairly compractices, to signify adulthood, mon things if you’re within masculinity, a great warrior, the industry but the UK was belonging to a group. Selfrocked by these headlines:and expression is a beautiful thing, it begs the question, how far is and as the old saying goes, too far? Tongue splitting is a each to their own. But where very quick and relatively painis the line drawn between art less procedure, but elective and mutilation? amputation and nipple removRecently, Mac McArthy hit headlines when he was taken to court over body modifications. Better known as Dr. Evil, Mac has been performing heavy mods with a trained and steady hand in scrupulous conditions for over 7 years,

and opinions are becoming more and more divided on the more extreme practices as tattoos are becoming acceptable. While tongue splitting is old hat to people involved in this world, it’s a shocking practice to your Average Joe, and we find ourselves constantly having to defend the right to self-expression. The main worry is that instead of calling for better regulation in the industry and more weight being placed on consent and creating proper governing bodies, it’ll tip things the other way. Heavy mods are already in a grey area in the UK, falling between ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ for the studios and ‘medical malpractice’ in the eyes of the law. If they were to place an outright ban on these practices as has been done in Japan and certain USA states, we could be pushed back ten or fifteen years, and end up back underground. The taboo will never leave, the stigma will sting for years to come, and heavy modifications could face a huge increase in unsafe practice.

al is definitely on the more extreme end of the spectrum.

So where do we draw the line? How do you govern and legislate something that is akin to medical procedure? All we can do in the coming months is follow Mac’s case with an open mind, and hope that all ends well. We’re balancing on a knife’s edge at the moment, and things really could go either way.

The industry as it stands is at a cross roads: shows like Miami Ink and Tattoo Fixers, while the bane of studio workers’ lives, have catapulted body modification into popularity,

What do you think? Do you have any heavy modifications? Do you think it’s self-mutilation? Email us at opinions@pinsandneedles. co.uk

Submit your letters and photos to opinions@ pinsandneedles.com and let us know what’s on your mind!

Reader’s Write! You write it, you send it, we publish it! Letters, thoughts, opinions, or tattoos - if we feature you, you bag £20!

A beautiful snapshot of a continuing backpiece, and a dinky ankle unicorn – both sent in by Isabelle Salter on Facebook. Her thoughts on it: “I like cute shit.” We agree!

Dear Editor,

-Leviticus (19:28)

So, the Lord has spoken and so, we must listen! After all, if it’s in the Bible then it must be true! Did you know that the Holy Bible contains approximately 61,100 words? There are NO OTHER BOOKS in all of mankind that contain that many words. Not even the English Dictionary!! So let me hit you with some hard facts* about tattoos:

-Tattooed parents are 356% more likely to spend their money on a new “tat” than on food and clothing for their children. -Tattoo needles have been proven to give people autism. -Last year alone 250,000 children died working in tattoo gun factories. -It is statistically proven than tattoo guns kill more people each year as opposed to real guns.

*these facts are sourced purely from Faith and the Word of our Lord. If you require references - put your hands together and contact God!

A striking black and grey piece based on a dressmaker’s mannequin, sent in by @Hufflefluff on twitter. She says: “I’ve been making things for as long as I can remember, and dressmaking is one of my biggest passions. It’s one of a collection of pieces based on crafts I do, like knitting and embroidery. It’s my favourite one so far!”

I hope that my letter will reach the readers of your magazine and touch the hearts and souls of today’s youth.

Yours FAITHFULLY, Celia

ongratulations Celia, you win our very first ever Star Letter award! We’re sending you a gift basket and a year’s subscription to Pins & Needles! Love, the Editor x

Cass and her Customers,

“You shall not...tattoo any marks upon you for I am THE LORD.”

by Steff Wood

My name is Celiac and I am a 68 year old housewife from Austin, Texas. My granddaughter lives in London and shared your Facebook page advertising the disgraceful content of your upcoming magazine and I felt compelled to write to you with my thoughts regarding tattoos. I will begin with an excerpt straight from the most sold book OF ALL TIME: The Holy Bible.

Studio Etiquette: Do’s and Don’ts for your first tattoo Welcome back to another instalment of Studio Etiquette! We asked readers on Facebook what you wanted to read about next in this series, and you all answered unanimously: First Tattoos!

DO:

Research your chosen artist. Is their work something you enjoy? Do they have a portfolio you can look through? Do they only offer custom work when you would prefer something off the rack? Take your time – there is no rush to jump in, it’ll be on you for life! Any artist would be happy to answer any questions or worries you have.

DON’T:

Mess them about. Make sure you price it first, and if need be save up for your first tattoo. They will not be happy if you go through a consultation, get given a price, only to come up short on the day and cancel on them; they may even refuse to let you book in to avoid being taken for a mug again. Obviously illness and family issues happen, but as long as you explain this to them they will be happy to rearrange your appointment. Some studios even offer a payment scheme where you can slowly pay up your tattoo, which is handy for larger more expensive pieces!

DO:

Check everything you’ll need with them beforehand. Photographic I.D., if you need a list of any medications you’re on or if they’ll trust you to be honest on a consent form, a change of clothes if it’s going on your back or thigh for example. Check, check, and check again – you don’t want to be left in the lurch on the big day!

DON’T:

Be disruptive. It’s a scary thing, your first tattoo. Some people can be more nervous than others. Your artist will be well used to first-timers, and won’t mind if you want to talk to them the whole way through it or if you’d rather plug in your earphones and play games on your phone to distract

yourself. But be reasonable: some don’t mind if a friend or relative tags along, but bringing a whole squad of friends who are screeching and laughing the whole time while your artist is trying to concentrate is just plain rude. Likewise, if it hurts, let them know – don’t scream your head off and play dramatic! Basically, be a decent human being. They’ll appreciate it. Let them know if you’re going to faint! This is a big one. Many first-time clients aren’t aware of what fainting feels like, and don’t want to be a nuisance to their artist. Trust me, they are well used to it, it’s more common than you’d think – and on top of that, every person in the studio would have went through first aid training, so they know how to take care of you if you pass out. If you feel a little wobbly, let them know! They can stop, fetch you a drink of water and a cold compress, and put your feet up to let you calm down until the feeling passes. It’s nothing to be ashamed of! If you’re worried you might pass out, have food at least an hour before your appointment, and bring some sugary juice to sip at while you’re getting tattooed.

DO:

And finally… DON’T WORRY! It’s a little scary, it’s a little daunting, but at the end of it you will have something beautiful on you for life. Trust us, the pain is worth it!

What would you like to see in our next instalment of Studio Etiquette? Get in touch online and let us know! Twitter.com/ pinsandneedlestweets facebook.com/pinsandneedlesmag instagram.com/pinsandneedlesmag

Flowers for the Dead an interview with Arienette Ashman Instagram has become one of the best places to search for up and coming tattoo talents to showcase their work, and Bournemouth-based Arienette Ashman is no exception. We caught up with her to chat tattoos...

meant I had to develop a number of artistic skills Okay, let’s get down quickly. If people walked in off to it. Your style is just the street and wanted script I had to be able to draw it, if incredible – it’s like someone wanted an old school neo-traditional with panther or a black and grey rose or a realistic butterfly I equal parts cute and creepy sprinkled on top! had to be able to produce these things to a high quality. It was How did you develop it? a baptism of fire but it meant In all honestly it did not come I became a decent all round naturally to me. It took me artist. It wasn’t until maybe the YEARS to get to this point. last 3-4 years I’ve been able to When I first started working in solidly develop my own “style” First of all, thank you for agreeing to be inter- the ndustry I had solid ideas of and start producing tattoos the style of tattoos I lovedbut that I can look at and think viewed! We’ve known it turned out the things I loved “you know what? I’m doing eachother a while on the most were not the things okay.” I take great comfort I loved to draw, not in the Instagram now, haven’t and pride that if someone beginning anyway! Back when walked in off the street I could we? I started neo traditional was almost always design their idea Thank you for asking me! We only just starting to become quickly and efficiently thanks sure have, it must be about 2-3 the sought after thing, I to the apprenticeship I had years at least? How time flies!! became exposed to artists like but I do appreciate that now I Eckel and Tiny Miss Becca get to work mostly on things I How long have you been among other super talented really enjoy designing. tattooing? Tattooers bringing a new wave I’ve been working in the of artwork to the forefront of Can you tell us a little industry for about 9 years tattooing which I quickly fell about your experience as now, first as an apprentice/ in love with. A combination shop manager and body a female tattooist? of these different influences piercer then progressing onto In the small 9 years I’ve mixed with working in a high tattooing full time, I’ve been street studio with high demand worked in the industry things tattooing for about 7 years.

have changed so much. I find way to unwind after a that being a female in the long week of tattooing? industry now is definitely more I am so massively into WWE “acceptable.” When I first and wrestling it’s ridiculous. started I was shocked at how So watching some kind of much sexism I encountered wrestling with my sister is the on a day to day basis. perfect evening for me. Despite this I do I do like to spend a find that there lot of time on my ’ m is a great own as well, not very good unity so it’s not between at “unwinding”, I’m unusual to the very much one of those find me out annoying restless jack of all in the forest trades types. Something somewhere or hiking catches my eye and I’m around feminists like “I WANNA KNOW outside being of the a little savage HOW TO DO industry, all discovering THAT!” genders alike! places I’ve never been. I’m looking into For every person, archery lessons and blacksmith artist or client, with outdated workshops at the moment ridiculous misogynistic views which I’m very excited there’s 5 feminist artists who about. I’m not very good are ready to back up why at “unwinding”, I’m very female Tattooers are equal much one of those annoying and deserve the same level of respect and that’s exactly what restless jack of all trades types. Something catches my eye and this industry needs! Unity is I’m like “I WANNA KNOW key. HOW TO DO THAT!” But I do like reading a good book! What’s your favourite

Haha.

Finally, do you have any parting words for us? I just want to say thank you so much for interviewing me! I hope I didn’t ramble on too much haha. I once heard a saying “forwards ever, backwards never” and it resonates with me always. So here’s to this wonderful “industry” that so many of us call home, I hope to be a part of it for many years to come!

Thanks, Ari! Much appreciated.

You can catch Arienette on her social media here: facebook.com/ arienetteashman tattooer Instagram: @aatattooer 17

The Dangers of

Home Tattooing We’ve all experienced tattoos at home in one way or another. Scratchers. Kitchen wizards. Insert your local colloquialism for someone who tattoos from their house untrained and without a licence. Whether we’ve visited one ourselves before we knew better, or have a friend who has a friend who does them from home and boasts it proudly, it’s a growing problem in the UK. Regulations and safety laws are tightening up around the country in a bid to stop home tattooing; despite it being illegal, a large part of the problem is misinformation that is perpetuated among people. In this article, we revisit some of the most wellknown reasons why people opt for tattooing in houses rather than studios, and disprove them with facts that may well shock you.

“

It’s cheaper!”

It most certainly would be. Studios are expensive to run: rent, business rates, council tax, liability insurance (which unsurprisingly, is expensive for a tattoo studio), and overhead costs have to be met. Then there is the small matter of the actual supplies used to tattoo: good machines, good gloves 18

and splashback aprons, needles of various sizes, good inks in a plethora of colours, electricity… even the tables and chairs run upwards of £500. On top of all of this, artists have drawing supplies and sterilising supplies and even have to pay for their rubbish to uplifted specially by hazardous waste management companies, like hospitals do. Studios even have to pay for licence renewal: it can cost as much as £200 just to keep working!

At the end of it all they have to make a wage, and charge appropriately for their time. It isn’t as simple as drawing on something and tattooing it, and the price reflects this. As the saying goes, cheap tattoos are rarely good, and good tattoos are rarely cheap!

“

My friend can’t get an apprenticeship, so she’s teaching herself – she’s

just learning and needs someone to practice on!” Apprenticeships are hard to come by, especially these days. Studios will have a list longer than their arm of people who are ready to jump in and learn, and they receive on average a person a week coming in and asking for one. Apprenticeships are difficult, long, and worth it: working under an artist who can pass on their hardearned expertise from years of tattooing is invaluable (Editors note: see our article on page 3 regarding apprenticeships to get the gist!). It isn’t a case of ‘learning’ from home; it’s a case of playing hard and fast with people’s bodies and health while home tattooists experiment to see what kind of works and what ends disastrously.

“

He opened the needles in front of me, I know he’s clean!” That means absolutely zilch in the context of tattooing from home. Studios are scrubbed routinely, up to four times a day, from top to bottom with hospital-grade cleaners. This means that combined with all the pre-sterilised equipment a tattoo artist uses, a sterile environment drops the risk of infection for a client. A kitchen or someone’s bedroom is decidedly not a sterile environment; and again, if

they are tattooing from home they won’t be shelling out the money for a licence, which means they probably don’t have a £9,000 autoclave to sterilise fresh stock in or used grips. Which also means they probably are unaware of the risk of cross contamination. Which can result in infection, or worse, the risk of passing on blood borne pathogens such as hepatitis C and even HIV. The risk is little, but it’s there, and it’s not worth taking.

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My friend went to this guy, and hers turned out not too bad.”

on you!

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I feel more comfortable getting tattooed at home; I can sit in my pyjamas and relax.” If any studio has made you feel any less than welcome, you need to find a new studio! You could turn up in a Halloween costume for all the artists care; your comfort level is one of their highest priorities alongside giving you the best possible tattoo.

We here at Pins&Needles want our readers to enjoy There is a reason artists train the experience of for years before they’re even getting tattooed, and allowed near a machine: to be the best they can be and to to love what they end give the best to their clients. up with. We come “Not too bad” shouldn’t be a from a place of love standard to strive for – there and of respect for are so many wonderful artists out there with incredible work artists who graft hard and heaps of talent, and could to keep pushing this put something beautiful on industry to be the you for life. “Not too bad” is best it can be. Saying accepting anything less; tattoos that, we respect all are definitely one thing you’re opinions and views allowed to be snobby about! of our readers – and if you disagree with The machine us on anything, we was cheap on would love to hear eBay, so why from you. Get in touch by emailing opiniopns@ not?” pinsandneedles.co.uk to Cheap Chinese tattoo machines share your views, and aren’t tested by EU technical you might even be standards, so that little printed in our Readers vibrating bundle of nuts and Write page next issue! bolts could very well blow up

“

’m an impatient person. My mum said I was born impatient, turning up three weeks early, and I guess that’s a trait that’s carried through to my adult years. I had to be the best at whatever I did and it had to be done yesterday, like Hermione Granger but with worse hair – I was just determined to grow up quicker. I always told Mum I’d move out before I was 20 and I’d be a world famous body piercer. By the time I was 17 I was living in a tiny homeless flat, working days as a piercer in an unpaid apprenticeship and answering the phone to disgruntled T-Mobile customers at night. It wasn’t ideal, but it was close enough for me.

e’s been brought up around people from all walks of life – crazy hair, facial tattoos, bikers, you name it – and as a result he treats people the way he would like to be treated, not based on their appearance. He never judges a book by his cover, he’s respectful, and his manners are excellent.

Labrets & Love Why I raised my son in a tattoo studio

Of course that means I was one of the first in the family to fall pregnant. My longterm boyfriend Andrew and I made it work, ignored anyone who said we couldn’t, and we welcomed Brandon into the world when we were 18. He took to fatherhood like a duck to water, changing nappies and showing me how to make up bottles like he’d done it all his life. I was distracted though; I was worried about losing my apprenticeship I’d worked so hard for, and he stayed home so I could go back to work when Brandon was 5 months old. It was hard work, I won’t lie. But it was worth it. Andrew loved being a stay at home dad and I loved balancing my dream job with our wonderful son. We got a lot of nasty comments as time went on; ignorant quips about covering our baby in tattoos and snidey

remarks about how we looked like unfit parents. We still get stares occaisionally – we’re in a small town, we’re long used to it. But regardless we’re proud of the way we raised our son. Since he was born, he’s visited the studio at least once a week. He’s been brought up around people from all walks of life – crazy hair, facial tattoos, bikers, you name it – and as a result he treats people the way he would like to be treated, not based on their appearance. He never judges a book by his cover, he’s respectful, and his manners are excellent. I used to have to bring him into work with me during the week, and he’d sit quietly at the table drawing, never interrupting when a customer was talking, not running around crazy trying to climb the walls. Even now when I go to get tattooed, I’m happy for

him to come with me because he knows a studio isn’t a playground, and he’s at home in that environment. He’ll park himself on a chair opposite me, or if he’s bored of it all he’ll sit in the waiting room curled up with a book. Customers will stop to chat to him, ask things like “Oooh, isn’t that buzzing sound scary!” and he’ll shrug, go back to his book, and reply, “It’s just a tattoo machine.” That kid could tell you the importance of washing your hands, how to set up and break down a tattoo station, and could probably even answer the phones. But if you ask him if he wants his ears pierced, he’ll whip round with a horrified expression and shout, “No way! That hurts!”

To share your stories with us, email us at opinions@pinsandneedles.com

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