 es!! Tattoos are often an integral part of the Tribal Style "look".
 ut... they are not necessarily REAL ones!! Most tribal dancers paint on facial tattoos, (I use liquid eyeliner) and add bindi's. Some will also paint on body tattoos or have a design done in henna. And yes... some will have a real tattoo!
 t is interesting to note that quite a few tribal dancers do indeed have real tattoos. Many of the Fat Chance Bellydance dancers are quite heavily tattooed, and they have been featured in several articles about tribal dancers and their tattoos. Visit the Fat Chance Bellydance website, to find links to those articles.
 attoos are most certainly not compulsory tho! *laugh*.
 ere is a pic of my very own tattoo!! I had my tattoo done on my lower back and waist at the beginning of January 2003. I do not regret it one little bit... and I love it to bits!
 ow to get down to the reason for this page. There is a LOT to consider when deciding "when" and "if" you want to get your first tattoo. I debated about it for six months or so, before I finally took the plunge. Here's some points for you to consider:
Are you really SURE you want one?
 ost people were rather negative when I hinted that I might get a tattoo. Some were shocked. "Why on Earth would you want a tattoo? You will have it every day for the rest of your life! Are you crazy???"
 unny thing is... I did not really have a valid reason. I didn't actually like most tattoos! Almost all of the tattoos that I had seen were horrendous ugly things that I would never dream of having. In fact, I had only ever seen two tattoos that I liked. The first one was a workmate - Leanne. She had a lovely tribal design on her lower back - gorgeous purple and lavender swirls. I did not know you could get colours like that in a tattoo! I was amazed. It was beautiful, and I was very surprised about that.
 our years later, I saw another one that I liked. This time it was Sarah's - from The Kismet Tribe. Sarah had the most beautiful dragonfly tattooed on her shoulder blade. It was shimmery aqua, teal, green and silver. I could not stop looking at it... and I wanted something like that!
 as it just because I am "into" American Tribal Style bellydancing at the moment? No. That's not why I wanted one ( the thought had been floating around in my head for a little while now ), but to be totally honest, I do have to say that it did finally give me a valid "reason" for getting one!
ou need to evaluate your "reason" for wanting a tattoo. Is it a whim? Is someone persuading you into it? Are you happy to have it for the rest of your life? Can you really afford it? ( a good tattoo artist is not cheap ). Is there any chance you'll change your mind?
 nother really important consideration is your "significant other" if you have one. Would your partner be negative about it? Would it upset them so much that it could undermine your relationship? Some people have very strong negative feelings about tattoos. It's too late to find out that your partner thinks tattoos are totally disgusting.. AFTER you've gone and got one!
The Design & Location
 hoosing your design and location is obviously very important. I think that choosing the location for your tattoo is the first place to start. Where exactly do you want it to be?
hen deciding where you want your tattoo, consider your lifestyle.
- Do you want it easily seen - like on your arm or shoulder, or would you prefer it less obvious - like lower back
- Would it bother you to have your tattoo showing if you were wearing a lovely ballgown?
- Does your "significant other" have a decided preference? My husband was fine with me having one on my lower back, but would have been far less happy about it if I'd had it on my arm or shoulder
- What about your work - is it inappropriate to have an obvious tattoo at work?
- If you are going to have one one your belly - consider what will happen to it after pregnancy! It could stretch and shrink way outta shape!
- Are you going to lose a lot of weight? If so, consider how your skin may change.
 nce you have decided the location, then comes the fun part... choosing your design! The choices are endless. Don't rush out to the tattoo parlour that's closest to you and pick the best design out of the patterns that they have available. Look everywhere for inspiration! My own tattoo is a variation of a design that I saw on the internet. I loved it as soon as I saw it, but... it was not quite "right". So I tweaked it and modified it over a period of about 4 months until I was finally happy with it.
 deas for designs:
- Internet Tattoo Galleries - there's 1000's of designs out there
- Books, magazines, postcards, greeting cards, posters, CD covers
- Photographs
- Flash - that's the design posters that you see in many tattoo parlours
- Remember that you don't have to keep the design exactly as you found it. Modify it to suit yourself!
 hen comes the decision about what size to make it. I spent ages and ages with my design. I modified it using a graphics program on my computer, and then printed it out in several different sizes. I then cut them out and sticky taped them to my back to see what it looked like! This was also really helpful in deciding the exact positioning for the tattoo.
hatever design you decide on... make sure that you LOVE it!! If you are not totally in love with it. Don't get it done. Wait until you find something that is just perfect!
Choosing the Artist & Studio
n my opinion, there is no higher reference than a personal recommendation. Ask your friends. If you see some work that you really like, ask them where they got it done.
actually found my tattoo artist, Reilly's Tattoo & Art Gallery on the internet. I was searching for designs and found an absolutely beautiful blue butterfly design by Reilly. So, I decided to go and have a look at his studio.
 ow, most of the tattoo parlours and studios that I had visited up until then were... ahem... full of big bald bikies - no hair, full of tattoos and piercings. Ick! I'd take one look at them and think "No way!". Often the shops were slightly "grungy" looking too. There was no way that I would have had any confidence in going to a place like that. I was uncomfortable.
 eilly's Studio however was totally unlike that. When you walk into the clean, stylish, modern studio, you are immediately impressed with all the trophies and awards that adorn the walls. There's also many photographs of their work in albums and on the walls. No flash. Just photos of actual work that is done. It is clean, tidy, welcoming and very professional looking. I felt a sense of relief as soon as I walked in. I just "knew" I had found the right place!
 hat to look for when choosing a studio and tattoo artist:
- Clean premises
- Photos of actual work, not just Flash
- Professional manner
- Sterilizer and sterile equipment
- Certificates of membership in Tattoo organisations
- Awards and trophies
- Health leaflets
- Aftercare leaflets
- Good lighting
Health Considerations
here is no doubt about it, you MUST consider the health implications of getting a tattoo. If you go to a reputable artist in a reputable studio, then everything should be of very high health standards and awareness.
ad practices, unsterilised equipment etc, can spread infections of AIDS and hepatitis.
hings to look for:
- On site sterilising equipment
- Tattoo artist wearing disposable gloves
- Clean premises and clean staff
- Individually wrapped, sterilised instruments
- Disposable covers on spray bottles
- Disposable razors
- Health department literature
- Refusal to tattoo clients who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol
"So, does it hurt?"
 hhh... that's the big question! YES, it does hurt, but it's not what I would call real pain. And apparently, how much you feel depends on where your tattoo is going to be. Some places are just more sensitive than others.
was very nervous about how much it would hurt, especially as I was having a big tattoo done. I wanted to get the whole thing done in one sitting ( it took just over two hours ), because I did not want a half-done tattoo. I am over 50 years of age (!!) and I wanted to go "Ta daaaaa" to show my friends. A half-done tattoo would not do, so I steeled myself for two hours of... what?
ell, at the first pinprick I thought it was not too bad after all! He was doing the outline first - apparently that hurts more than the filling in. Soon, it began to hurt a little. Then a bit more. Then some more and I began to wonder what on Earth was I doing here? But it was really not too bad, certainly not as bad as I was expecting. The bits at the side of my waist (the tickle spots) DID hurt quite a lot and I had to really focus on my breathing to distract my mind. I didn't like that part at all and was really glad he did not start at that spot. The artist seemed to work in one area, then move onto another place, then another, then back to the first spot. That way it spread the tenderness around and made it easier to bear.
was determined to keep really still, and played all sorts of silly games in my head to keep me distracted. There were a few times when I thought "I do not like this at all!! OUCH!!!!" ... but then... he'd move onto another area and it was OK again. Finally the outline was done... and it looked GOOD.
ow it was time to add the lovely colour! I actually found that part quite easy. It was a buzzy, pressurey type of feeling. Almost soothing after the outline work! *smile* It was easy from here on...
nd then it was finally finished. I could not believe it. I survived and I was grinning! And it did not hurt at all now. Not a bit!
f course, different people feel pain to different degrees. Two other women were in the studio at the same time. Occasionally we'd look at each other and wince in sympathy, but we all managed to bear it rather well. At times we each looked really unhappy, but on the whole it was not that bad after all!
ould I do it again? Yes, I certainly would!
Aftercare
o preserve the beauty of your new tattoo is is vital to look after it properly. Your tattooist should give you a fact sheet outlining their personal aftercare recommendations. If not - ask for one!
 y tattoo healed beautifully with no scabbing or discomfort. I was actually really surprised about this! I expected the tattoo to be painful for a while, and was very pleasantly surprised to find that it just felt like very mild sunburn.
 se of a specialised tattoo aftercare cream is highly recommended. My tattooist gave me Protat cream, and it is excellent. What's more, Protat is an Australian product, made in South Australia!
hen your tattoo is finished, your artist will usually smear it with a little Vaseline to stop the dressing from sticking, and then they'll apply a dressing pad to cover it and protect it until you get home.
ftercare guidelines:
- When you get home, remove the dressing and gently wash the tattoo with a liquid antibacterial soap. Do not rub or scrub, but gently pat dry.
- Wait 30 minutes or so for your skin to dry completely, and then apply your aftercare cream thinly over the tattoo. Do NOT layer it on thickly.
- Do not re-bandage your tattoo
- Re-apply the cream thinly several times throughout the day to keep your new tattoo from drying out
- It is vital to avoid infection, so always wear clean clothes and use clean hands when applying your cream
- Apply cream thinly every day until it is completely healed (approx 2 weeks)
- Wear loose clothing over the tattoo
- Do not soak in a bath, spa, sauna or steam room
- Avoid chlorine or salt water
- Do not get sunburnt!
- Don't scratch!! - and it will itch during the healing period. That is normal.
found that my tattoo shed colour inside my clothes for the first few days. I panicked at first, thinking I had somehow ruined my new tattoo!! *angst* But, it is normal to shed some colour as the skin and pores close up. I wish I had known that before it happened!!
Happy dancing!
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