Old Timers In the Cosmetic Tattoo Industry

I have mixed feelings about some in our industry who have been around over 15 years or so. I am in a situation where I feel I never stop learning. I think this is a healthy point of view. There are those out there, however, who feel they know it all - they are the Masters and everyone learns from THEM...

They are above networking, above continuing education, and above joining professional organizations. The real deal is they suck at what they are doing, much of the time. They have not gotten out of the whole "micropigmentation" gimmick that was forced down our throats back then, telling us we needed to use a single needle and "dot" the color in...pointillism...and if we were doing anything else, we were tattooooing (as if it were some sort of cult ritual.) They told people they were "certified" when all they got was a piece of paper - really a certificate of attendance - after spending thousands on a weekend class.

They call themselves things like dermalogists - better yet, LICENSED dermalogists - which is a huge deception on the general public making clients think they are medically related to the dermatology field. I have heard this word is banned by the FTC (not verified.) They have not kept up with cross contamination education and their artistry is lacking. As I have said before, I never stop learning and the day that happens means it is time to shelve my machines.