NURSES and TATTOOING

Ready for some Controversy?

I created a post recently and said 'a nurse taking a tattoo training was like a tattoo artist taking a nursing training' - with the intention of clarifying that no serious trade can be learned just in one training.

*Yes, maybe I could have worded it better - "class" may have been a better word than "training" - but I'm not perfect and I deserve grace in those moments, too.

*Because the post was inspired by yet another doctor thinking he could just send his nurse to my training and they'll be able to do what an experienced tattoo artist can do!

*I'm passionate about this because I KNOW how it feels to have botched nipple tattoos

*It hurts my heart that other women have to deal with that when A.R.T. was created to stop this from happening ever again.

Well, after I said this, nurses ganged up on me, attacking me and my profession and defending themselves to no end. Hate messages and more. Brutal. Heartless. Vicious.

*But you know what didn't happen?

- Not one of them stood up for the survivors GETTING the tattoo, confirming my point exactly.

Some told me that I should only say things people approve of...

Or 'in a way' that they approve of!

They said 'don't rock the boat', don't be *that* person.

But they don't know I’ve lost my breasts AND been the victim of botched nipples,

• And someone needs to stand up for the people getting tattooed.

• Obviously I don't want people to hate me, but even more - I REALLY don't want survivors to hate their bodies because of 'shoddy' tattoo work.

Eventually, tattooists will come to the conclusion on their own that maybe they DIDN'T learn enough, and they might retrain or keep taking different courses - none of them filling the gap from lack of fundamental tattoo training. How is this acceptable?

The real question here is: HOW MANY SURVIVORS WILL BE HARMED ALONG THE WAY?

I deliver this message with force, back by sacred rage - for the women who deserve better, hoping it will inspire respect for tattooing as a profession.

*And stop them from harming the people they really want to help. And I know they just want to help...

Listen, if you really want to be a tattoo artist- great!

But it’s NOT easy and it CANT be learned in one training and that’s the simple truth. Period.

I’m sorry if you've been sold a lie. Not everyone should tattoo just because they can get a certificate.

We have to do better for survivors. End of story.

P.S. -

Now remember - it's my life's calling to train and help tattooists get better at this - so it doesn't serve me professionally to tell you to NOT take a training.

- A.R.T. was designed to raise these standards.

*And if it protects survivors from getting tattoo work that may be detrimental to their emotional well-being then I've done my job...

*Better than perpetuating this problem by remaining silent about it.

These survivors are my SISTERS and I intend to STAND for them with every ounce of my being.

SURVIVORS, previvors, trans clients and more:

Please please please be choosy with who you get restorative tattooing done by.

*Make sure they've been tattooing AT LEAST 3 years - NO LESS.

*Ask to see their healed tattoo work and their drawings.

*And make sure they didn't learn online- that they actually took an in-person training with someone who is also proven - artistically and technically.

*Bonus - if they also have scar tissue training and experience.

NURSES:

- all this being said - yes, anyone can learn to tattoo areolas - as long as they have strong fundamentals in healthy skin first.

*First, please love tattooing as an art form, not a simple task or service.

*Draw - if you are tattooing areolas, draw them for at least 100 hours. If that sounds like too much work, then this isn't the job for you. Sorry but sweetie, it really does have to be said.

*Learn from someone who cares about your ability. Find a great trainer that can prove their drawing ability AND tattoo in scar tissue in a way that lasts.

(If they tell you this is easy to learn - they might not be so invested or knowledgeable)

It is my humble opinion that an experienced body artist or pmu tattooist can learn paramedical artistry after 3+ years of working in healthy skin. If you don't - it is your trusting clients who pay the price - and thats why all the controversy.

If you aren't completely in love with the art of tattooing, maybe don't tattoo - you may be doing yourself, your clients - and our entire trade - a disservice. Leave it up to the pros!

Someones gotta say it - tattooing well is hard to learn - AND it's worth it ;)

Watch my PARAMEDICAL TATTOO PODCAST Episode on this topic at YouTube

or listen on SoundCloud