SINGAPORE - Once associated with secret societies and gangs, tattoos have over the years sloughed off their negative connotations to represent expressions of personality and art.
Those who practise hand-poking do not need to invest in a tattoo machine, which would cost at least a few hundred dollars. Ms Mi-e , a 22-year-old home-based artist, started her hand-poke tattoo journey in a similar way. She took an interest in it after graduating from Nanyang Polytechnic last September.
“Today with the Internet, everything is free. People are just copying art from Pinterest . There is a death of originality,” he lamented. She struck an agreement with her firm that would allow her to juggle being a tattoo apprentice with her job in architecture. “I don’t think I’d be able to reach where I am today if I didn’t go through my apprenticeship,” said Ms Chio, who is now with Tooth and Nail Tattoo studio in Kandahar Street.
“Look at the number of home artists there are in Singapore now. How clean are they? Do they know anything about cross-contamination?” Said Dr Heng: “Amateur tattooists who perform home tattoos may not have proper infection prevention and control training... may carry a greater risk of contracting skin infections.”
Dr Christopher Foo, a dermatology specialist and consultant at Raffles Skin & Aesthetics Centre, said a common reaction is allergic contact dermatitis.