Tattoos on the Playa
Tattoos on the Playa
I am not quite sure where to pose this question, but for some reason I am feeling the need to get another tat while I am there. Is this even worth considering? Does anyone offer it? Do ya think it might be remotely safe? Probably stupid questions, I know.
- LeChatNoir
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I've never seen anybody actually doing tattoos on the playa and it seems like it'd be a really, REALLY bad idea to try it there. Its a very harsh and dusty environment. You know when you cut a piece of drywall and that fine dust gets everywhere?
…that's the same stuff that's blowing around at 60 mph and invading every crack and cranny of you and your stuff.
And I can tell you that open wounds on the playa seem to just not heal, in fact the dust can crack your skin open from being so alkaline, and care should be taken to help avoid this problem. Therefore even getting a tattoo before the event seems a bad idea.
BUT!!!
There are plenty of places on your way back from the playa that would love to help you get the perfect ink.
ETA:
This is assuming someone actually was gifting tattoos with clean, sterile equipment in a safe environment with a health department permit… which would NOT be issued for such a thing, I’m pretty certain.
…that's the same stuff that's blowing around at 60 mph and invading every crack and cranny of you and your stuff.
And I can tell you that open wounds on the playa seem to just not heal, in fact the dust can crack your skin open from being so alkaline, and care should be taken to help avoid this problem. Therefore even getting a tattoo before the event seems a bad idea.
BUT!!!
There are plenty of places on your way back from the playa that would love to help you get the perfect ink.
ETA:
This is assuming someone actually was gifting tattoos with clean, sterile equipment in a safe environment with a health department permit… which would NOT be issued for such a thing, I’m pretty certain.
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- CapSmashy
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Taking a fresh tat to or getting a tat on the playa would strike me as being a very bad idea.
For pretty much all the reasons LeChat listed.
I put off getting my leg worked on for 2 months prior to my trip out just to ensure it was fully healed so I could cover it with sunscreen.
Which is another thnig. Fresh/healing tattoo vs sunscreen = a no go.
For pretty much all the reasons LeChat listed.
I put off getting my leg worked on for 2 months prior to my trip out just to ensure it was fully healed so I could cover it with sunscreen.
Which is another thnig. Fresh/healing tattoo vs sunscreen = a no go.
- Kinetik V
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UV on a not yet healed tattoo is something the artist I go to strongly recommends avoiding. There's also the questions of would the artist doing the work be willing to schlep all of the necessary sterilizing and sanitary equipment out there to insure that the work is done correctly? If for some reason there's a need for follow up or if you have questions, can you contact this person again? Do you have any idea about the artist's background and experience? On and on it goes...this ain't like going to Sturgis and having one of the true mobile shops do the work. I've yet to see any tattoo artists on the playa with that level of sophisticated equipment, ie; autoclaves and other sterilization tools.
I understand the desire behind the question but for something that's permanent I'd be very damn picky on who did it and where I got it at. Otherwise what seemed like a good idea could turn out looking like a Russian prison tat instead of what you really want.
I understand the desire behind the question but for something that's permanent I'd be very damn picky on who did it and where I got it at. Otherwise what seemed like a good idea could turn out looking like a Russian prison tat instead of what you really want.
Kinetic V
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- CapSmashy
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There was someone (theoretically) tattooing people on the playa last year. I went with a friend to check it out and he had pulled up shop and left. They were however in the what when where guide.
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- Pink Daddy
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I would be interested, just so I could say that I got the tattoo at Burning Man. It would suck having to keep it covered the whole week.
Then again, I am a little masocistic...
Then again, I am a little masocistic...
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- ragabashpup
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- Intubater69
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- Rat Bastard
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My wife is a tattoo historian as well as having a lot of ink from all over the world. She's even given herself one with a needle by hand. I told her about someone doing tattooage at BM and her jaw hit the ground. She's been around the tattoo scene for 20 years. She also knows that it's virtually impossible to have a sterile environment for it to be done. Aside from spending the rest of the week with alkaline dust impregnating itself into the open wound.
I suppose if an artist had an RV with a clean room like media mecca has for it's computers it could work. If you do get one, get it on the last day. Then you don't have to worry about keeping it coverd the whole week.
It's your skin and your health. Getting a gifted tattoo is your business. Just make sure you have 1st use needles and everything is sterile. If you wouldn't lick every area of the artist's space that they're doing tattooage in, then I wouldn't do it. There's nothing worse then an infected tattoo.
Get one now so when you get to BM you can say, "look at my Burning Man tat. Isn't it cool?"
I suppose if an artist had an RV with a clean room like media mecca has for it's computers it could work. If you do get one, get it on the last day. Then you don't have to worry about keeping it coverd the whole week.
It's your skin and your health. Getting a gifted tattoo is your business. Just make sure you have 1st use needles and everything is sterile. If you wouldn't lick every area of the artist's space that they're doing tattooage in, then I wouldn't do it. There's nothing worse then an infected tattoo.
Get one now so when you get to BM you can say, "look at my Burning Man tat. Isn't it cool?"
Read my posts with a grain of salt.
- chiefdanfox
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I don't have any tattoos, but last year I got a scrape on my hand, near my wrist on the top, the day before I left for the playa. It was small, and something that would have normally been essentially healed in two days. It stayed raw the entire week, and left a scar. I normally heal rapidly, without scarring much. FYI, the alkaline dust is most likely going to complicate things in ways you probably don't want experience.
Sharpie tattoos?
No, if that were the case he would have said he wanted to get a "little Tattoo".
I hope this idea isn't insulting to tattoo artists, but couldn't someone take those fine-tip sharpies and do "tattoos"? I think it'd be kinda neat and less-invasive. Would sunscreen make it bleed or wipe off? Well, I guess now I have an experiment to do this weekend.
I hope this idea isn't insulting to tattoo artists, but couldn't someone take those fine-tip sharpies and do "tattoos"? I think it'd be kinda neat and less-invasive. Would sunscreen make it bleed or wipe off? Well, I guess now I have an experiment to do this weekend.

Re: Sharpie tattoos?
There were some body painting places and a Bad Tattoo Artist.Cassidy wrote:No, if that were the case he would have said he wanted to get a "little Tattoo".
I hope this idea isn't insulting to tattoo artists, but couldn't someone take those fine-tip sharpies and do "tattoos"? I think it'd be kinda neat and less-invasive. Would sunscreen make it bleed or wipe off? Well, I guess now I have an experiment to do this weekend.![]()
He was quite popular.
[quote="skibear"]I'd think the TEMPORARY stick on tattoos (good for up to 5 days)
would be great -and safe.
They're available at a lot of places online. They could be gifted
out on-playa.
hth
[/quote]
Yeah, those and just simple rubber stamps. Over at the carcass wash that's the third or fourth most common "off limits" request
would be great -and safe.
They're available at a lot of places online. They could be gifted
out on-playa.
hth

Yeah, those and just simple rubber stamps. Over at the carcass wash that's the third or fourth most common "off limits" request
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ink
I got my Burning Man tat in April before we went to the playa. I must have had a hundred people asking if I got it there. To the best of my knowledge, I explained, only henna was offered there. I couldn't IMAGINE getting inked in those conditions. Good luck!