Color a Hole New You at Four of Raleigh’s Tattoo and Body Piercing Palors
Want to show that extra sparkle next time you go out with your friends?
Love great art that is truly skin deep?
Mostof us think of the tattoo as a rather modern appliance. In fact the art of placing permanent designs on ones body goes back at least 32,000 years based on discoveries made in Germany. In the Tattoo Archive ( www.tattooarchive.com ) it mentions that Barbarosa, Emperor of Germany in the mid to late 1100’s had cross shaped designs on the back of his hands.
Of course modern tattoo practice, in America, dates from the 1800’s. Professional tattooing is said to have arrived in New York city in the 1840’s and migrated to Chicago within a few years. At that time tattooing was a very laborous task.
The invention of tattoo machines helped make the process less tedious. The first prototype for the modern tattoo machine was an automatic pen, patented in 1877 by Thomas Edison. Modifying Edison’s design a man named O’Reilly patented the first Tattoo Machine. Making modifications to the Edison patent Charlie Wagner of New York patented a more up to date version in 1904. In 1929, the current version of the Tattoo Machine was patented by a Percy Waters of Detroit. It took fifty years for someone to come up with a better mousetrap. In 1979 a Carol Nightingale patented an updated version of the machine.
Early tattoos where first associated with the circus from overseas, specifically circus that originated in Germany. Later tattoos became closely associated with seamen and the military particularly following the major periods of conflict.
In addition to permanent tattoos, the use of dyes and coloring agents has long been a tradition in societies in nearly every corner of the world. Perhaps the most well known version of this in recent times is the Henna used in certain marriage ceremonies.
With the development of the tattoo machines there were still a lot of problems with how the process took place. Infection from the tattoo process and potential poisoning from the inks were real and present dangers. Fortunately we live in a time when the inks have progressed to the point people now know what is in them. Sanitation is well regulated with most professional tattooists showing great concern for their clients well being. The local tattoo shops all follow safe procedures and use approved products.
Body piercing has probably been around nearly as long as people. In earlier times body piercing could be used to show religious status, tribal membership, having come of age or family relationship.
Like tattooing, body piercing has moved to become a process that is generally safe. To some degree the loss of the Taboo nature of piercing can be a little disappointing.
Should you want some pretty spectacular designs or just need a small place to put your new diamond stud, here are some Raleigh locations that may please you. All these locations provide both Tattoo and Piercing services.
Just off Wake Forest in North Raleigh you can find:
Mama’s Ink Tattoo Emporium
2236 Wake Forest Road
Raleigh, NC 27608
(919) 834-9061
Hours Mon-Thur 12-10 pm Fri-Sat 12-12 pm Sun. By Appointment
( www.mamas-ink.com )
In s South West Raleigh you can find “Warlock’s Tattoos and Body Piercings”. They are located at the end of Plaza West Shopping Center on the corner of Western and Jones Franklin. They have three of the four store fronts in the building the parlor is located in. Warlock’s is proud of being the area’s oldest tattoo emporium with more than fifty years of experience. The parlor has won many “Best in the Triangle” awards based on popular votes in local newspapers. They are located at:
Warlock’s Tattoos and Body Piercings
Plaza West Shopping Ctr.
5535 Western Blvd.
Raleigh, NC
(919) 858-9540
Hours Mon-Thurs 12-10 pm Fri-Sat 12-11 pm Sun 12-6 pm
( www.warlocks-tattoo.com )
A third choice is Blue Flame Tattoo near the North Carolina State Campus. They are also a winner of local acclaim in the small newspaper polls. They offer a wide array of art and also body piercing. Located near a local college campus makes locating their store easy, though parking in the area can be difficult at times. They are located at:
Blue Flame Tattoo
3015 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 755-3355
( www.blueflametattoo.com )
One final offering in the Raleigh area is the Inkkeeper’s which originated in Wilmington, NC. Located on Hillsborough Street they are near Shaw University, just south of downtown. Inkkeeper’s is open 7 days a week, and offers discounts to the military and college communities.
They are located at:
Inkkeepers Tattoo & Body Piercing
1215 Hillsborough St
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 857-4658
