I’m a tattoo artist – here’s the most gruesome and dangerous places to get inked
PEOPLE get tattoos for a myriad of reasons.
Whether it's to commemorate someone, or just because you fancy a new etching, getting inked is a very personal thing.
A lot of people get scribbles on their arms or backs and usually have no issues.
But one expert has revealed the most gruesome and dangerous places to get tattooed and why there is a fine line between inking up and 'mutilation'.
Speaking to Sun Health, Claudio Traina, an artist at in London, said one of the most gruesome places to get a tattoo is around the bones.
This is simply because of the pain it will cause, and it might also feel as though someone is drilling into your bones - depending on your pain threshold.
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He said: "Hand tattoos are also very on trend at the moment, such as henna style on the fingers.
"The process will hurt when getting these done, especially close to the nail and knuckles.
"These will also fade more than most tattoos over time."
Claudio added that the healing process for these is slightly more tricky as you can't wrap these areas in clingfilm for protection.
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So if you don't take care of them with a spray-on product, like spray-on plasters, then you could risk infection.
The expert warned of another trend that is currently doing the rounds, which could be harmful.
"There is a trend of tattooing meets mutilation at the moment, which is quite extreme but dangerous.
"We've seen people asking for things such as black eyeballs.
"And in some more extreme cases we are aware that people are requesting split tongues and partial ear removals.
"The black eyeball trend can go horribly wrong and you could lose sight in your eye.
"It is done by injecting ink/dye into the eyeball so you should avoid it at all costs," he said.
DO YOUR RESEARCH
One of the most important things when it comes to getting a tattoo is doing your research, Claudio said.
Claudio said a lot of clients often come in after opting for cheap deals.
He sympathised with younger people and students who want to shop around for the cheapest places - but warned that you 'only get what you pay for'.
"This is a permanent procedure and worth spending the money on.
"If you can’t, save up and wait until you can. You should never cut corners or try and save money on having a tattoo done."
He said that paying a bit more will mean you reduce the risk of issues, adding that his team have come across tattooists “sterilising” their needles in the dishwasher.
"One girl came to us and said she was 16 when she was in Spain getting a tattoo done and only had five euros, so went to the cheapest place she could find, essentially in someone’s flat.
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"Ten years later she is still paying the price, her leg got so badly infected she ended up with a hole in her leg, a cavity that oozed pus for months and she is now permanently scarred and sensitive.
"Kids saving money will end up paying the price and spending more in the long run fixing the problems," he added.