WOG Magazine

As the Motorcycle and Biker world is our Ministry field, it is obvious that today’s Bikers, Motorcycle and Motor Cross Riders are tatted and enjoy the Ink era. 

It is also important to know that Tattoos especially when it comes to Christians it is a personal choice and that, having tattoos Christian or not you will never make everyone happy as some people like them, some love them and some despise and judge by them.  


I believe that if you decide to get Ink you must be a certain age where you have decided where you’re going in life.  What you want to do with your future and the world you want to live in.  Besides for one small tattoo that I wrongly got when under the influence of alcohol in my twenties and later had removed, I got my first permanent Ink at the age of 35. 


Make sure what you are getting you will keep for life!  Having removed a tattoo I strongly suggest you are sure of your self (more about tattoo removal at the end of this article).

One way to do that is, find an artist that is willing to draw with a permanent marker on you the tattoo you want to get.  Some may want payment for it and some may want payment and will deduct off the price that you were quoted for the final piece.  Whichever way you go about it, it is well worth it.  Once drawn on you, avoid scrubbing that area when washing, in order to keep the drawing on you for one to two weeks.  That experience will allow you to get used to it, or not, and decide if you really want that permanent marking on you.

This experience will also help you see the reaction of others in your life and of strangers especially if the Ink is to be in an easily visible place.  If the Ink is in an easily visible area, the truth is that, there will be times you will wish you didn’t have it.  Depending on the circles you attend and your personality it may happen often or almost never. 



For the last ten years I have been the “outcast” in my family.  No one in my immediate family has tattoos and I am often looked upon as an outcast.  No one in my family has them and most don’t agree with them.  The closest person to me my brother Victor, and which prayed for me for years (see my testimony) does not have any Ink and I don’t believe he will ever get any.  His sons and the loves of my life are parted on the issue.  One keeps wondering if I will ever take it off.  The other keeps looking at the Lion and the Lamb with a fascination.  My five-year-old niece told her mother that, she wants a tatt like her uncle (me) of a small butterfly.  Although cute at first, I am not sure that influencing four and five year olds is the right thing to do.  With time, people that see you on a regular basis will get used to your tattoos but its does not mean that they will ever get used to them. 

It is common for people to affiliate tattoos with celebrities but also with criminals and/or gang members.  Make sure you have thought and prayed about it before that tattoo gun hits your skin. 





There are people that wish they had tattoos and ones that regret ever getting them.  Names of exes, naked women and profane wording may be “cool” when you get it done but I am sure that at some point in your life you will regret having it.  Tattoos can make a bad impact just like a good one or raise curiosity.  I have been asked before about some of the Ink I wear especially the one without a Scripture by it.  It can be a conversation opener as well as the target of a condemning look.  Either way you look at it, Ink will attract attention.


This is something that some ponder about often.  For one, the tattoos that most people have will tell you they are very tastefully done.  But we are talking about “sexy” here and what if your spouse does not think so.  Some think they can be trashy and others just don’t care for them.  Others on the other hand, find it very attracting when a man is covered in tattoos or a woman has several of them.

So this got me to thinking, what do people think about this issue?  Are tattoos sexy or not?  Well come to find out a survey was done and it revealed that at least a third of Americans with one or more tattoo(s): say they make them feel sexier.  To break that down even further 34% of Americans think having a tattoo is sexy.  Surprisingly, enough 42% of females feel having tattoos makes them feel sexier and only 25% of men feel this way.

One the flip side of things people that do not have tattoos were asked the same question and their answers were quiet different:             
42% of Americans who are tattoo-less think tattooed people are less attractive                                                                        
36% non-tattooed people think tattoos make someone less sexy.

So according to this survey that was conducted in July of 2003, more people think tattoos are less sexy than people who think they are sexy. 
In another survey, some Americans with tattoos say they feel sexier (34%) and more attractive (26%).  Many who don't have tattoos, however, think people who do have them are less attractive (42%), more rebellious (57%) and less intelligent (31%) Source: Harris Interactive



Body art is everywhere and most people can name at least one person they know who has some kind of bodywork done.  People with tattoos work in a variety of industries and hold entry-level jobs, as well as, top executive positions.  Based on the number of new tattoo parlors and the number of people getting tattooed, this trend doesn’t appear to be slowing any time soon.

So, is body art a workplace issue?  Does having a visible tattoo say anything about an individual that is relevant to his or her job?

According to Vault.com survey, 85% of survey respondents believe that tattoos and body piercing impede ones chances of finding a job. They asked a few questions including:

1. Do you think that tattoos and/or body piercing hinder ones chances of finding a job? 85% answered Yes and only 15% answered No.  Some of them left interesting comments:
“If you don’t have any tattoos or piercing you are more marketable.”
“It depends on the industry.”
“They won’t hinder ones chances as long as the person is smart and keeps them in places that an employer cannot see.”

2. How do tattoos and/or body piercing affect the opinions of co-workers and employers?  Hinder said 64%,  No Effect said 34% and Helped only 2%.  Comments:
“I know it hasn’t helped, however my job performance speaks for itself.”
“Regardless of who the REAL person may be, STEREOTYPES associated with piercing and tattoos can and do affect others.”

3. Do you conceal your tattoo(s) and/or body piercing(s) when at work?  Yes said 53%, No said 47%.   Comments:
“I wouldn’t get tattoos that couldn’t be covered.”
“It depends on the job. At my day job in finance I keep my tattoos concealed.  But at my night job as a booking agent I show them off.”

Reactions to tattoos in professional situations seem to be highly dependent on the specific industry and the employer.  Even though tattoos are becoming more acceptable in the workplace, there are still some customer service industries that are concerned that employee with tattoos can affect their business (for instance, in retail they may startle children).  These types of businesses should have a policy on tattoos and body piercing where they clearly explain the company rules.  Employers with dress code or other grooming policies should review their policies frequently and make sure all managers are consistently enforcing the policies.

Can employees be forced to cover their body art during their shift? Talar Herculian, partner in one of the nation’s oldest and largest employment law firms said: “Yes. There is no right to expose your tattoo at work.  However employers should be careful to apply their policy consistently to avoid the appearance of discrimination based on a protected category such as gender, race or religion.  For example, if you require only men to keep their tattoos covered but allow women to keep theirs revealed because you think the women’s tattoos are not as offensive, your practice may be challenged as gender discrimination.”


When you are going to a job interview we recommend you to cover up tattoos and remove body piercing when interviewing.  While dress codes have loosened, companies still expect candidates to look professional in an interview.

That is not the only reason why candidates should cover up their body art when interviewing; you do not want to distract an interviewer. People want interviewers to focus 100% on their qualifications and not be taken aback by their appearance.

While we should expect body art to gain further popularity and acceptance, we should remember that it does affect getting a job.  So it is best to think twice before having it done.  While times are changing not all things have, so plan your future body art.  If you are entering a career field that recognizes and even appreciates artistic expression, you probably don’t need to worry about it.  However, if you were applying for a customer service job, for example, it would be prudent to keep your artistic side to yourself.


I know what you’re thinking…”what a wuss!”  As my old Pastor used to say: “Tell the truth Shame the devil”.  The reality is that tatts hurt.  It is a form of cutting, thus why we bleed.  For some it hurts more than others.  But for the majority of people getting a tattoo, there is pain involved before and sometimes after the fact.  If you’re one of those that say: “they don’t hurt…its nothing…” you may just have not inked a sensitive place like the inside of you bicep or the chest area.  If you have and you didn’t feel any pain, you are an exception.  On the other hand some enjoy the pain and that an exception as well.


People describe the sensation of getting a tattoo as similar to bee stings, sunburn or being pinched.  Some say they experience a slight tickling or "pins and needles."  Individual pain tolerance, the size and type of tattoo, and the skill of the artist all contribute to the amount of pain.  Location also makes a difference - skin that rests right over a bone is usually more sensitive.


Having enough Ink on my body by now, I can say that the only tattoo I got when I had been drinking was in my B.C. days and it is the only one that I had removed.  Face it folks, alcohol makes you do things you would not do if you weren’t under the influence of alcohol.  In addition to not being completely alert of what you’re doing, when you have alcohol in your body and get a tattoo you will bleed more.  Alcohol is a blood thinner making it easier to bleed when the human flesh is being cut and tattoo is a form of cutting.  Most Tattoo artists will not tattoo if they realize that you have been drinking or are under the influence of any illegal substance, other will make you sign a waiver and some will tattoo you anyway.

The tattoo on this man’s back says: “The fat bas***d is going to kill me when he finds out I’m not really tattooing a big eagle…please feed my cat, and”.  I know that you would not want to be in this mans place. 


The tattoo itself involves several steps:

Outlining, or black work: Using a single-tipped needle and thin ink, the artist creates a permanent line over the stencil.  Most start at the bottom of the right side and work up (left sided artists generally start on the left side) so they don't smear the stencil when cleaning excess ink from the permanent line.

Shading: After cleaning the area with soap and water, the artist uses thicker ink and a variety of needles to create an even, solid line.  Improper technique during this step can cause shadowed lines, excessive pain and delayed healing.

Color: The artist cleans the tattoo and then overlaps each line of color to ensure solid, even hues with no holidays - uneven areas where color has lifted out during healing or where the artist missed a section of skin.


Clients work with artists to create custom tattoo designs, or they chose images from flash, which are tattoo designs displayed in the shop.  The artist draws or stencils the design onto the person's skin, since the skin can stretch while the artist uses the tattoo machine. The artist must also know how deeply the needles need to pierce the skin throughout the process.  Punctures that are too deep cause excessive pain and bleeding, and ones that are too shallow cause uneven lines.

Final cleaning and bandaging: After using a disposable towel to remove any blood and plasma, the artist covers the tattoo with a sterile bandage.  Some bleeding always occurs during tattooing, but most stops within a few minutes.


Since tattoos involve needles and blood, they carry several risks. These include transmission of diseases like hepatitis, tuberculosis and possibly HIV.  When tattoo artists follow all the correct sterilization and sanitation procedures, risks for disease transmission are relatively low or none.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there has not been a documented case of HIV transmission from a tattoo.  However, doctors warn that non-sterile tattooing practices can lead to the transmission of syphilis, hepatitis B and other infectious organisms.

Infections can occur in new tattoos, especially without appropriate aftercare.  Some people also experience allergic reactions to tattoo inks.  Although the pigments used may have U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for other purposes, the FDA does not regulate tattoo inks.  Finally, some people experience pain or burning during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations because of metallic pigments.  Some doctors have also reported interference and distorted MRI images from permanent makeup pigments.

In addition, most states place restrictions on whether people who have tattoos can donate blood.  Because of the danger of hepatitis, the American Red Cross will not accept blood from someone who has been tattooed in the past year unless the tattoo parlor is state-regulated.  Most states do not regulate tattoo parlors (Source: American Red Cross).

Tattoo professionals use rules known as universal precautions to prevent the spread of illnesses during tattooing.  These precautions are part of the Blood borne Pathogens Rule issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The same rules apply to hospitals and doctors' offices.  The CDC is a good resource for information about universal precautions.


Other than the use of universal precautions and laws requiring minors to have parental permission, few regulations cover tattooing. Licensing usually involves completing a health department course on infectious disease transmission and passing an exam, but no governing body inspects tattoo businesses.  Laws allow anyone to buy a machine, get a license and start tattooing whether or not they have any artistic ability, a situation that professional tattoo artists object to.


Here are some basic steps for choosing a safe tattoo parlor:

• Look around to see if the studio is clean and professional.
• Ask questions:  Is there an autoclave?  Are the needles and other materials single-use?  Are EPA-approved disinfectants used? Do the tattoo artists wear gloves?  Professional artists won't mind the questions.
• Watch the artist and pay attention to health and safety precautions.
• Watch the artist open all needles before beginning work.
• Ask about the staff's professional memberships.  These are not required, but artists who participate may have the most current information about trends, innovations and safety issues.