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05:52Last update on: 12 Aug 2013
The Namibian
Mon 12 Aug 2013
SMS Of The Day * MINISTRY of Gender and Child Welfare, TEARS are rolling down as I write this SMS. The killing of women in Namibia is now like reciting a poem. Are we really getting the protection we deserve while women not being treated as part of this c Food For Thought * SO the Zimbabwe elections were free and peaceful and not free and fair? Bouquets And Brickbats * NURSES at Katutura Hospital must stop wearing those big plastic sandals at work because they are not the official working shoes. We want to see you looking smart and beautiful with your full uniform. SMS Of The Day * THIS nation is in dire need of a massive conference on housing. When we experienced a crisis in the education sector a crisis-control brain-storming conference was organised which resulted in the best deal ever for the Namibian child, nam Food For Thought * BOURGEOISIE has become a daily occupation if not the order of the day of the upper-echelons, President Hifikepunye Pohamba we urge you to revisit this unpatriotic geocentricism among your staff and the well-connected, for everybody to r Bouquets And Brickbats * COMMISSIONER of Prisons, can you please explain the strategies you use to appoint officers to certain positions? It is my observation that you are being fed with wrong information then you just promote individuals without making p SMS Of The Day * I THINK Paulus ‘The Rock’ Ambunda lost his belt because of this promoter and trainer. How can a world champion still be training at the Katutura Youth Complex where there is not enough equipment. I think they must follow the example of Ha Food For Thought * NAMIBIA Dairies are unable to match low prices of imported milk and this ultimately means the consumer will have to pay more for local milk. Look at the prices of the local chicken. All these profits are going in the pockets of a few in Bouquets And Brickbats * I AM pleased to hear that Cabinet has responded positively to the proposal of Namibia Dairies to support the industry. The restrictions which support the industry by reducing competition to ensure the survival of the industry is a SMS Of The Day * CEO’s golden handshakes. Somewhere on our statute books there must be a provision that if a board of directors suspends/dismisses a CEO without due regard to legal provision (substantive/procedural law) such board must carry the costs for Food For Thought * JACKY Asheeke was so right with her last column- why are the fathers of the dead children not being prosecuted? (Reference to the children who died in shack fires last week) Our justice system still protects men over women. In this cont Bouquets And Brickbats * ALEXACTUS Kaure, your column in Friday’s newspaper opened my eyes. One hardly finds impartial case study analysers in Namibia. Let’s not destroy the Polytechnic’s strong foundation (Tjivikua) as yet. At least wait until the transf
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| 2013-07-23
Thinking of Getting Inked?
Yvonne Amukwaya
Getting a tattoo
It can seem like almost everyone, young, old, conservative or liberal are sporting some sort of ink nowadays.
Once only sported by sailors, outlaws, and biker gangs; tattoos are now popular body decorations for many people from different walks of life.
And the types of tattoos range too, no longer are they morbid or scary looking anchors, skulls, and battleships, body art now ranges from school emblems to Celtic designs to personalized symbols, quotes, fairies and even angels. People have found many ways to express themselves with their tattoos.
In Namibia, people are still relatively conservative about body art but according to Norman Begley, tattoo artist from Buzz Tattoo, tattoos are growing in popularity.
“We have a lot of young people walking into our offices, but the minimum age for our clients is 18. However, anyone over the age of 16 can get a tattoo but with the consent and company of their parents.”
Perhaps you’ve thought about getting one. But before you head to the nearest tattoo artist, here’s a few things you need to know.
What Exactly Is a Tattoo?
A tattoo is a puncture wound made in your skin, that’s filled with ink. It’s made by penetrating your skin with a needle and injecting ink into the area, usually creating some sort of design.
What makes tattoos so long-lasting is they’re so deep; the ink isn’t injected into the epidermis (the top layer of skin that you continue to produce and shed throughout your lifetime). Instead, the ink is injected into the dermis, which is the second, deeper layer of skin. Dermis cells are very stable, so the tattoo is practically permanent.
Tattoos used to be done manually. That is, the tattoo artist would puncture the skin with a needle and inject the ink by hand. Though this process is still used in some parts of the world, most tattoo shops use a tattoo machine these days.
A tattoo machine is a handheld electric instrument that uses a tube and needle system.
On one end is a sterilised needle, which is attached to tubes that contain ink. A foot switch is used to turn on the machine, which moves the needle in and out while driving the ink into your skin.
Most tattoo artists know how deep to drive the needle into your skin, but not going deep enough will produce a ragged tattoo, and going too deep can cause bleeding and intense pain.
Does It Hurt to Get a Tattoo?
Getting a tattoo can hurt, but the level of pain can vary. Because getting a tattoo involves being stuck multiple times with a needle, it can feel like getting a bunch of shots or being stung by a hornet multiple times. Some people describe the tattoo sensation as tingling. It all depends on your pain threshold, how good the person wielding the tattoo machine is, and where exactly on your body you’re getting the tattoo. Also, keep in mind that you’ll probably bleed a little.
Aftercare for Tattoos
Follow all of the instructions the studio gives you for caring for your tattoo to make sure it heals properly. Also, keep in mind that it’s very important to call your doctor right away if you have bleeding, increased pain, or any signs of infection.
To make sure your tattoo heals properly, here’s what Buzz Tattoo Studio suggests:
Day 1 - This is the day you get your tattoo, two hours after getting tattooed, wash the tattooed area with mild soap and lukewarm water. Pat dry, do not rub. Repeat before going to bed.
Day 2 - First thing in the morning wash with mild soap again. Repeat this at lunch time and again before going to bed.
Day 3 - First thing in the morning wash again as before and pat dry. From now on until the tattoo is fully healed, apply a thin smear of unscented baby oil to the tattooed area and around it before bathing or showering. Pat dry until the oil is removed from your skin.
Even after it’s fully healed, a tattoo is more susceptible to the sun’s rays, so it’s a good idea to always keep it protected from direct sunlight and too much moisture, cautions Begley.
What Are the Risks?
If you don’t go to a tattoo studio or the tattoo studio doesn’t follow precautions like using sterilised equipment or if it shares ink between customers, you’re putting yourself at risk for getting viral infections.
Begley warns people to stay away from non-professionals and equipment made by hand as these could pose serious health threats. “When making a tattoo, many things have to be taken into consideration. If the tattoo artist goes too deep, he/she could reach the fat layer underneath the skin which is unstable, and needles that are not of the right standard could cause terrible scarring,” states Begley.
Also, some people have allergic reactions to the tattoo ink.
Because tattooing involves injections under the skin, viruses such as HIV and hepatitis B and C can be transferred into your body if proper precautions aren’t followed.
So Is It Worth It?
Is getting a tattoo worth the money and hassle? It’s up to you. Some people really enjoy their tattoos and keep them for life, whereas others might regret that they acted on impulse and didn’t think enough about it before they got one.
Getting a tattoo is a big deal, especially because they’re designed to be permanent.
If you’ve thought about it and decided you want a tattoo, make sure you do a little detective work and find a clean, safe, and professional tattoo shop. Also, remember that getting and maintaining a tattoo involves some responsibility – after you leave the tattoo shop, it’s up to you to protect and treat it to prevent infections or other complications.
– Additional information www.kidshealth.org
And the types of tattoos range too, no longer are they morbid or scary looking anchors, skulls, and battleships, body art now ranges from school emblems to Celtic designs to personalized symbols, quotes, fairies and even angels. People have found many ways to express themselves with their tattoos.
In Namibia, people are still relatively conservative about body art but according to Norman Begley, tattoo artist from Buzz Tattoo, tattoos are growing in popularity.
“We have a lot of young people walking into our offices, but the minimum age for our clients is 18. However, anyone over the age of 16 can get a tattoo but with the consent and company of their parents.”
Perhaps you’ve thought about getting one. But before you head to the nearest tattoo artist, here’s a few things you need to know.
What Exactly Is a Tattoo?
A tattoo is a puncture wound made in your skin, that’s filled with ink. It’s made by penetrating your skin with a needle and injecting ink into the area, usually creating some sort of design.
What makes tattoos so long-lasting is they’re so deep; the ink isn’t injected into the epidermis (the top layer of skin that you continue to produce and shed throughout your lifetime). Instead, the ink is injected into the dermis, which is the second, deeper layer of skin. Dermis cells are very stable, so the tattoo is practically permanent.
Tattoos used to be done manually. That is, the tattoo artist would puncture the skin with a needle and inject the ink by hand. Though this process is still used in some parts of the world, most tattoo shops use a tattoo machine these days.
A tattoo machine is a handheld electric instrument that uses a tube and needle system.
On one end is a sterilised needle, which is attached to tubes that contain ink. A foot switch is used to turn on the machine, which moves the needle in and out while driving the ink into your skin.
Most tattoo artists know how deep to drive the needle into your skin, but not going deep enough will produce a ragged tattoo, and going too deep can cause bleeding and intense pain.
Does It Hurt to Get a Tattoo?
Getting a tattoo can hurt, but the level of pain can vary. Because getting a tattoo involves being stuck multiple times with a needle, it can feel like getting a bunch of shots or being stung by a hornet multiple times. Some people describe the tattoo sensation as tingling. It all depends on your pain threshold, how good the person wielding the tattoo machine is, and where exactly on your body you’re getting the tattoo. Also, keep in mind that you’ll probably bleed a little.
Aftercare for Tattoos
Follow all of the instructions the studio gives you for caring for your tattoo to make sure it heals properly. Also, keep in mind that it’s very important to call your doctor right away if you have bleeding, increased pain, or any signs of infection.
To make sure your tattoo heals properly, here’s what Buzz Tattoo Studio suggests:
Day 1 - This is the day you get your tattoo, two hours after getting tattooed, wash the tattooed area with mild soap and lukewarm water. Pat dry, do not rub. Repeat before going to bed.
Day 2 - First thing in the morning wash with mild soap again. Repeat this at lunch time and again before going to bed.
Day 3 - First thing in the morning wash again as before and pat dry. From now on until the tattoo is fully healed, apply a thin smear of unscented baby oil to the tattooed area and around it before bathing or showering. Pat dry until the oil is removed from your skin.
Even after it’s fully healed, a tattoo is more susceptible to the sun’s rays, so it’s a good idea to always keep it protected from direct sunlight and too much moisture, cautions Begley.
What Are the Risks?
If you don’t go to a tattoo studio or the tattoo studio doesn’t follow precautions like using sterilised equipment or if it shares ink between customers, you’re putting yourself at risk for getting viral infections.
Begley warns people to stay away from non-professionals and equipment made by hand as these could pose serious health threats. “When making a tattoo, many things have to be taken into consideration. If the tattoo artist goes too deep, he/she could reach the fat layer underneath the skin which is unstable, and needles that are not of the right standard could cause terrible scarring,” states Begley.
Also, some people have allergic reactions to the tattoo ink.
Because tattooing involves injections under the skin, viruses such as HIV and hepatitis B and C can be transferred into your body if proper precautions aren’t followed.
So Is It Worth It?
Is getting a tattoo worth the money and hassle? It’s up to you. Some people really enjoy their tattoos and keep them for life, whereas others might regret that they acted on impulse and didn’t think enough about it before they got one.
Getting a tattoo is a big deal, especially because they’re designed to be permanent.
If you’ve thought about it and decided you want a tattoo, make sure you do a little detective work and find a clean, safe, and professional tattoo shop. Also, remember that getting and maintaining a tattoo involves some responsibility – after you leave the tattoo shop, it’s up to you to protect and treat it to prevent infections or other complications.
– Additional information www.kidshealth.org
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