Q&A: Who’s To Blame If A Tattoo Is Misspelled?

Tattoo mistakes are never fun, but unfortunately, they happen. One of the most common errors is spelling mistakes. But who's at fault when this happens?
Well, it all depends on what stage the error was made at.

 

When It’s The Artist’s Fault

Artists try to not make mistakes, but they are only human. Typically a client will discuss their tattoo design with the artist, who will then go create a stencil. Once the stencil is approved they'll place it on the body giving the client an idea of how it will look. Then the tattooing process begins.
Now because clients approve the final design, if the error happens at that stage, even if it's the artist the misspelled the word, if the client approves it, it's on them.
So any mistakes made after the tattooing process has begun is the artist's fault.

What Happens If It’s the Artists’ Fault

The good news is that almost every reputable tattoo shop will make every effort to fix the issue if it's the artist's fault. That could mean fixing the original design, doing a cover-up, or refunding the cost of the tattoo. It's usually decided on a case by case basis. But you can bet the artist will feel horrible and do everything they can to remedy it.

When It’s The Client’s Fault

Somehow it's even worse when it's the client's fault. It's on them to check the spelling and grammar of the final design. If you approve misspelled words, that's on you, not the artist.

A lot of times clients come in with a word or a phrase written down and hand it to the artist to reformat it into an appropriate tattoo. Usually, if the artist notices a misspelled word they’ll ask the client, but sometimes they don’t notice or they assume it was intentional to the design.
So basically if the error happens during the design process and was approved by the client (whether they realized it or not) it's on them.

What Happens If It’s The Client’s Fault

Here’s where it gets tricky. Most tattoo shops want a happy client, so they'll try to work with them to fix the issue. If it's an easy fix they might do that for free, but if they can't it's even more complicated. The shop may offer a free cover-up or full refund, but since it's on the client they could only refund part of it or offer only a partial discount on the fix or coverup. Or, they could do nothing.

How To Avoid Misspelled Tattoos

Double and triple check any words or phrases for spelling or grammar mistakes. Running the sentence or words through Google is another great idea too as it will usually catch errors. Or you could show the design to family or friends since a fresh set of eyes is more likely to catch mistakes.


Also, please do research before picking an artist.

Conclusion

To sum it up, if the spelling mistake happens during the design process and is approved by the client then the fault lies with them, but if it happens during the tattooing process and wasn’t on the original approved design it’s on the artist. No matter who's at fault you can bet the artist and shop will feel bad.

Nail Tattoos 101

Move over cuticle tattoos, this trend is the next evolution of tiny hand tattoos. Nail tattoos are exactly what they sound like, but there's some more info people should know before getting them. Here's everything you need to know about nail tattoos, the latest tattoo trend.

Location
Did you know you can actually tattoo your fingernails? Well, you can. Other trends such as cuticle tattoos were on the area just around the nail, but this trend takes place on top of the nail itself.

Pain
As painful as it sounds to get your nails tattooed, it’s actually not that bad. Most people who've gotten them say they're pretty painless. That makes sense since your nail doesn't have any nerves. At most you'll feel some small fibrations on your fingers.

Time
Small tattoos take more time to complete than people realize. The exact time all depends on how detailed the design is and how many fingers you're getting done, but the most amount of time goes into the consultation and planning. It should also be noted that these aren't permanent. As your nails grow out so will the ink. They should last around 6 weeks, but it all depends on your individual nail growth.

Design
Nails are pretty small, so the design has to be too. Most nail tattoos fall into the minimalist style out of sheer necessity. Designs like letters, dots, lines, or simple images like flowers are popular.

Artists
This is a fairly new tattoo trend. So new in fact that only a few locations in the world probably do. If you’re looking for a local artist it’s best to find one that has done it before, or who at least has experience doing tiny tattoos. There's a risk of going too deep which can have serious consequences.


Conclusion
This tattoo trend certainly is crazy, but it’s definitely fun.  If you’d like to learn more or want to book an appointment feel free to contact us or stop by our downtown Toronto tattoo shop.

Q&A: Can You Get A Tattoo If You're Sick?

Getting sick sucks, and it's even worse when you can't stay home with some soup and a box of tissues. But while life must go on, there are still some things you can't do when you're sick. Like, getting a tattoo.
We get asked all the time if people can get tattooed while fighting a cold, a cough, or even the flu. The answer is a solid NO. This is why it's a bad idea.

Immune System
When you're sick your body isn't at 100% and getting a tattoo puts a strain on your body. A new tattoo is no different from any other wound to your body, so it works to heal the area. If your sick, your body is already working to fight that so trying to heal a tattoo at the same time could push it too hard. Basically, your immune system can't fight off a virus/bacteria and heal your tattoo at the same time.

Healing Time
Simply put, if your body is fighting a battle on two fronts it can't be as effective. It also can't do it as fast as normal. This means that your tattoo won't heal as quickly. The longer a wound is open the greater chance of infection there is.

Spreading Germs
No one likes that person that gets everyone sick. Your tattoo artist has to get pretty close to you, so if your sick chances are you'll get them sick too. So do everyone a favor and just reschedule your appointment if you're not feeling well.

Sitting Still
People often forget this, but you have to sit pretty still when getting tattooed otherwise you could cause your artist to make a mistake. You know what causes your body to move a lot? Being sick. Think about how much your body moves when you cough or sneeze.

Aftercare Time
Being sick doesn’t just complicate the actual tattooing process, but it also impacts your ability to care for it afterward. A fresh tattoo needs care, and if you don’t follow proper aftercare you increase your chances of infection or ruining your tattoo. Are you really going to feel like running out to get tattoo cream when you can barely breathe out of your stuffed nose? Are you really going to want to wash your new ink when you have a fever? Make aftercare easier for yourself by just waiting until you're better to get inked.

Medications
So what if you’re feeling better but are still on medications? We recommend you still stay at home and reschedule. Even if you’re feeling better, taking medication means your body still isn’t at it’s best. Your body is still running hard, even if you no longer feel the symptoms of the sickness. Plus, certain medications can aggravate the healing process. If you’re on medications for reasons other than small illnesses, contact your doctor and get their advice regarding tattoos. Be sure to also discuss any medication you’re taking or any long-term medical conditions you have with your tattoo artists.

Conclusion
It sucks having to put off a new tattoo, especially if you've been looking forward to it. But do everyone a favor, including us and you, and just rebook your appointment. It's important that you're at your best so that your tattoo turns out perfect.Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or need to reschedule your booking.