Tattoos are prevalent these days. In the past, you would have to be a sailor, member of the Hell’s Angels, or a diehard punk to put ink on your body. In these recent, liberal days, this is no longer the case. All people are getting body art from Afro-American CEOs to Irish, retired grandmothers; it doesn’t matter who you are anymore in order to get a tattoo.

What does matter is what you get, and more importantly is the manner in which you treat your artist. A good artist comes in all forms; they could be wearing the latest in punk clothing or a surfer t-shirt and sandals. These people are devoted artists, and should be treated accordingly.

The following is a series of suggestions devoted to promoting awareness of the artist-customer relationship. It is partially humorous, but any artist will agree with the suggestions, so it is best to read it with a smile while still taking the information seriously.

1. Eat within four hours prior to getting a tattoo. Not eating can cause anxiety and the last place you want to feel anxious is in the chair.


2. Do not go drunk or in any altered mental form to the parlor. Artists take their business and work seriously, so you should take the experience seriously as well, and not be too loopy going in there.


3. Dress appropriately. Unless you want to take off that black dress you just bought at the punk clothing store completely, wear something that will enable the artist to get to your skin.


4. Be realistic about the experience. A stellar job cannot be done, if you are moving around incessantly in the chair. If you are one that is scared of needles, gets nervous, or is sensitive to the touch, seriously reconsider whether you want to go through the experience.


5. You must be at least 18 to get a tattoo. Your parents may get a little upset because you just spent your all of your paycheck at the punk clothing store, but they will be really upset if you get a tattoo (especially at whomever put ink on you). Most artists will allow you to have one person with you, but no entourage.


6. Please turn off all cell phones (unless the ring plays anything punk) and make sure your company does the same.


7. Most artists will let you have a drink with you, but refrain from bringing in any food.


8. Do not bring children into the studio, and especially do not leave them in the car (that is both heinous and illegal).


9. If you do not speak the same language as the artist, bring a translator. Do not expect optimal communication processes to take place if you speak different languages.


10. Most artists will help you develop an idea of what you want. They will not completely devise a tattoo for you nor tell you what to get. Have a good idea of what tattoo you would like or select one from the walls or books before taking up the artist’s time.


11. FOLLOW YOUR AFTERCARE PROCEDURES CAREFULLY. Do not depend on others to give advice. It would be like asking the local drug store clerk what to do about your rash instead of going to a dermatologist. Listen to the professionals and no one else.

Do not go to the artist if you are sick. Reschedule if you come down with a sickness. Tattoos are done in close quarters and germs are not welcome there. Be considerate; tattoo artists are people too.

Introduction
Dyeing hair is common for women and men. Hair coloring is a form of self-expression. People enjoy changing their hair to another natural shade, or going completely creative with unnatural hues.

The following article presents information and tips on dyeing your hair. It is always better to seek the help of a professional, but it can be expensive; with attention and care, you can achieve the same results yourself.


Permanent or Semi-permanent
Permanent hair dyes will stay until you dye your hair again or the original shade grows from the roots. Semi-permanent dyes will begin to fade over the course of weeks due to washing and the passing of time. Permanent dyes usually will do more damage to the hair due to the inclusion of chemicals.

Tips
Choose a product that will rinse out relatively quickly the first time so you will definitely know if you like the color before doing something that lasts longer.

Have someone help with the process.

Always follow the directions provided with the dye kit.

Test an area of the hair first before proceeding to dye the whole head.

Leave your hair down while dyeing.

Part your hair into sections and apply the color from the roots to the ends.

Apply a layer of petroleum jelly at the hairline to evade dripping.

Wash your hair first before you dye it.

Do not condition your hair before you dye it.

Mistakes
Try to stay close to your natural color. Going too light makes hair look over-processed.

Be sure to cover all of the areas of your head.

Dyeing too often will dry and damage your hair.

Make sure you are dyeing somewhere with sufficient ventilation.

Be sure to protect your skin from the dye.

Be careful in dyeing your eyelashes or eyebrows.

Popular products
There are many products on the market. Some use natural ingredients rather than chemicals. Be sure to read the labels of each product.

The following is a list of popular names and products:
http://www.manicpanic.com/
http://www.veganessentials.com/catalog/special-effects-punk-hair-dye.htm
http://www.headsite.com/shop/lariche_directions_hair_products_directions_punk_hair_dye-c-167_100.html

Hair resource pages:
http://www.zyra.org.uk/hairdye.htm
http://punkhairfaq.necrophiliacs.net/