How to get to Barak Studios

Barak Studios: Custom Tattoo and Art Studio is conveniently in Chicago’s River West neighborhood two miles away from the Magnificent Mile. Our address is 751 N. May St., Chicago, IL, 60609.

We are accessible by vehicle from I-90/94- Exit 50A with ample street parking. You may also take the CTA Blue Line and exit at the Chicago and Milwaukee stop. Clients from out of town may take the Blue Line directly from O’Hare airport.

We serve patrons from across the Chicagoland area, providing tattoos to clients from River West, River North, Lincoln Park, Streeterville, the Gold Coast, West Town, South Loop, West Loop, Bucktown, Wicker Park, Logan Square, Ravenswood, Boystown, Lake View, Roscoe Village, Lincoln Square, Near North Chicago as well as surrounding areas such as Winnetka, Wilmette, Naperville, Highland Park, Lockport, Deerfield, Oak Park, Aurora, and Evanston.

Clients may contact us via the contact form or email at baraktattoos@gmail.com with any questions or concerns. Barak Studios does not have a landline at the studio to provide an quiet, ambient environment for patrons being tattooed; however, we are highly responsive via the contact form or email.

Why Micro Tattoos Require Specialized Tattoo Artists

Micro tattoos and micro portrait tattoos may be small, but they require a specialized skill set. Many artists may tell you that they can give you a micro tattoo, but unless they have a portfolio showing examples of successfully executed micro tattoos, they may not be the artist for the job. In this post, I will explore why micro tattoos, micro portrait tattoos, and fine line tattoos require a specialized skill set.

Traditionally speaking, fine line tattoos are done with a single needle; however, with modern advances in technology, I prefer a 3-round liner of the smallest (4) gauge. A regular 3 round liner is a 12 gauge, and they go down in size by even numbers from 12 to 10 to 8 to 6, and the smallest you can get is a 4 gauge. The difference in each one is approximately one millimeter. The 4 gauge mimics a single needle.

I prefer the 3-round liner over a single needle because a single needle more easily slices the skin. With a single needle, there isn't any tooth or grip to adhere to the skin whereas with 3 needles, there is more bite. Furthermore, by reducing the size of those three needles to the smallest gauge possible, it mimics a single needle: it's the exact same size with far less trauma to the skin.

To elaborate on this concept, think of a magician’s bed of nails trick. A person can lay on a bed of nails and the nails do not pierce the skin because the pressure is evenly distributed over the surface area of their body. If the person were to lay on a single nail, their body would be pierced by the nail. It is a similar concept with using 3 needles for fine line micro tattoos as opposed to one needle: three needles are less likely to slice the skin than a single needle.

The smaller needles required to execute micro, micro portrait, and fine line tattoos require the artist’s hand to be extraordinarily steady. A larger needle is far more forgiving if there is a slight bump or movement; larger needles do not catch every tiny movement. With a small needle, any slight movement is extremely noticeable.

Micro body art also requires an understanding of simplification of form and understanding how to capture a three-dimensional form in its pure essence, which can be very difficult for a novice artist. When seeking this type of work, please do yourself a favor and make sure the artist you are researching has examples of this type of work in their portfolio.

Also keep in mind that micro tattoos require advanced skills to successfully execute because they are very reliant on two major components in tattooing: line and shading.

• When an artist is tattooing on a larger scale, they may be able to get away with just shading and avoid linework completely, which some artists may enjoy because they find themselves having difficulty executing precise lines but they're comfortable with shading, so they gravitate towards that style.

• There are other artists who adhere to a more graphic, bold look which is very line dominant with little shading required.

• Micro tattooing requires strong linework and shading skill sets confined in an extremely small scale, which is far more difficult to execute than on a larger scale.

Micro tattooing is entirely its own beast and far more difficult than any other style out there. I do not want to take away from any other style or skill set: traditional and neotraditional tattoos pose their own obstacles. One may say that a bold design is more difficult because it is bold- one little wobble, and the entire piece is destroyed; however, I would argue that an artist may calligraphy or shade out those mistakes and, in a sense, the error is corrected, but those options are simply not available with micro tattoos: there is no room for error. The artist must have a strong skill set, perfect vision, controlled breathing, and a calm demeanor while executing a micro tattoo. Everything must be on point for a successful application.

I implore you to always research your artist before getting work from them. In the case of micro tattoos, micro portraits, and fine line pieces, researching the artist and their portfolio of work is even more important for the reasons outlined above.

How to Prevent Tattoos from Fading?

So, you’ve just gotten the tattoo of your dreams and followed the aftercare instructions to the letter. The tattoo healed perfectly, and you are extremely happy with the results. All done taking care of the tattoo, right? Not quite.

It is normal for tattoos to look the brightest right after the session and for colors to dim slightly as you heal and the ink settles into your skin. Proper after-care will ensure that the tattoo heals beautifully.

As you age, tattoos will naturally fade over time, but there are ways to care for your tattoo to increase the longevity of your ink and help the tattoo remain vibrant and crisp longer. Taking care of your skin is the best way to prevent a tattoo from fading or becoming irregular.

Here are a few tips for maintaining a great tattoo after you have followed the after-care instructions and your tattoo is healed:

• Daily lotion application is the best way to keep your tattoo canvas- your skin- hydrated, supple, and healthy

• Staying hydrated helps your skin stay moisturized

• Avoid harsh or abrasive cleansers or exfoliants when cleaning the skin, which can irritate the skin and fade the tattoo, and instead opt for gentle cleansers

• Avoid overexposure to the sun, which will cause fading, especially with a newer tattoo

• Avoid overexposure to tanning beds, which also expose the tattoo to UV rays that cause fading

• Apply sunscreen to protect your tattoos (and the rest of your skin!) if you are in the sun

• Wear protective clothing to shield your tattoo from UV rays if you are in the sun

• Avoid smoking, which can make your tattoos fade, bleed out, and/or age poorly because it reduces the body’s collagen production, which reduces skin elasticity

• Getting adequate sleep encourages collagen production which can increase skin elasticity and help your tattoo stay looking amazing longer

Do Tattoos Hurt?

Short answer: yes. But really, it depends on a number of factors, one of which is the location of the tattoo. Today’s tattoo post will talk about the most painful areas of the body to tattoo.

Before I get into the list, one thing to keep in mind is that at Barak Studios, I offer the use of topical products that will reduce pain and maximize your comfort during the tattoo. I will elaborate more on this in a separate post. Also, following the tattoo pre-care instructions found on the Barak Studios website will make for a more comfortable tattoo experience.

One more thing to consider is that pain is a deeply personal experience that can vary greatly from person to person. Pain tolerance can differ immensely from individual to individual. Some may even find the pain to be a healing or cathartic experience.

If you are new to tattooing, you may want to consider waiting to get these more sensitive areas tattooed until you have a few tattoos in less painful areas. Getting a highly sensitive area tattooed without being familiar with the pain of the tattoo medium and its effects on you may set you up for tapping out early during the tattoo session and having to deal with an unfinished tattoo. If you are set on the placement and it happens to be one of the notoriously painful areas listed below, consider a design that is small or simplified in case you are unable to sit for a long tattoo session or work with your artist on a design that can be expanded upon in the future.

Without further ado, here are the most notoriously painful areas of the body to get tattooed:

• Ribs: While the ribs can be an aesthetically flattering area of the body to be tattooed, it is a painful area to be tattooed for a number of reasons. The skin in the area is thin and tends not to be as fatty as compared to other “meatier” areas of the body. Combined with the bones and nerves located here, the tattoo needles will tend to feel more intense compared to other areas of the body.

• Chest: Another visually pleasing yet sometimes painful area to get tattooed is the chest. Like the ribs, the area tends to be the trifecta of thin, sensitive and close to bone. Having more body fat or muscle in the area will make the tattoo a less painful experience.

• Top of the Foot/Ankle/Shins: Thin skin and the bony nature of these areas make it one of the more painful areas to be tattooed. There is very little fat or muscle in the area to cushion the bones from the tattoo needle.

• Hands/ Wrists: Hand and wrist tattoos are becoming increasingly popular, and with good reason. We use our them in almost everything we do, and it is a great location to be able to enjoy your tattoo throughout the day. But the area can be painful to get tattooed. Because hands and wrists are bony and covered in just a thin layer of skin, there’s no cushion to absorb the pain of the tattoo needles. These areas also have a high concentration of sensory nerves, which may make for a more painful tattoo experience.

• Neck: The neck is an area with thin skin and containing the spine as well as numerous vital arteries and nerves. This is one of the most sensitive areas of the body to get tattooed.

• Head/ Face/ Ears/Lips: Similar to the neck, these areas have thin skin and contain many nerve endings that can be irritated during a tattoo, causing severe pain.

• Shoulder: While arms tend to have a lot of great real estate for tattooing as far as pain is concerned, the shoulder tends to be a painful area to be tattooed. Shoulders tend to be leaner and bonier than the rest of the arm, which lends itself to being a painful area to get tattooed.

How to Find a Great Tattoo Shop

Tattooing is an invasive and intimate procedure, the results of which will last the rest of your life. The tattoo shop you chose will impact not only the tattoo itself, but also your experience while getting the tattoo. The best tattoo shop is one that is safe, clean and comfortable. Here are a few things to consider when picking out the best tattoo shop.

• Licensing- the tattoo shop and its artist(s) should be properly licensed by the state’s health department with licenses (and expiration dates) being prominently displayed for clients. This tells you that the tattoo shop has at least met the minimum requirements of the health department and that the artists know how to prevent the spread of blood-borne pathogens and disease.

• Cleanliness- this should go without saying, but a great tattoo shop must be clean. Think of a tattoo shop as you would a doctor’s or dental office- tattoo shops should be held to the same level of cleanliness! The tattoo area should be sterile. There should be a handwashing station nearby that is only used by the tattoo artist. Disposable nitrile gloves should always be worn by the artist. There should be no carpeting in the tattoo area as it is impossible to keep sanitary.

• Transparency- Tattoo shops should be fully transparent about their cleaning practices. You should not be made to feel afraid or uncomfortable about asking questions such as how the tattoo area is cleaned or whether the shop is all-disposable or autoclave. If the tattoo shop is annoyed at these types of questions, take your business elsewhere.

• Organization- great tattoo shops are highly organized. Tattoo supplies should never be stored in a messy or haphazard way and should always be stored separately from other items such as food or cleaning supplies.

• Sobriety- tattoo artists (and clients!) must be sober while tattooing, no exceptions. Tattooing while intoxicated is dangerous and unprofessional. Drawing straight lines is hard enough when you're sober, so your artist should definitely be sober when tattooing.

• Vibe- you should feel comfortable in the best tattoo shop for you! Tattooing can be a painful experience and so you should look for a tattoo shop that is as comfortable as possible. Some tattoos can take all day or even require multiple sessions, so you want to pick a tattoo shop where you enjoy the space. Check out the ambience of the tattoo shop during your consultation and pay attention to how you feel. Is it welcoming? Is it crowded? Is there loud music or chatter? If you prefer a quiet atmosphere where you can relax or value your privacy, the best tattoo shop for you may be a one-on-one private studio as opposed to a tattoo shop with lots of tattoo chairs in a small space.

What Makes a Great Tattoo?

Everyone wants a great tattoo, but how can you tell if a tattoo is amazing? While preferences are subjective, there are a variety of indicators that professionals use to judge whether a tattoo is amazing.

• Linework refers to the lines in a tattoo. Linework should be clean and consistent throughout the tattoo. The best tattoos have straight, crisp linework. Shaky lines are a tell-tale sign that the tattoo artist is inexperienced.

• Saturation refers to the color and shading in a tattoo. Great tattoos have fully saturated black, color and shading. If the tattoo is not fully saturated, there will be unsightly gaps in the tattoo.

• Contrast is one of the main principles of the visual arts. In terms of tattooing, contrast refers to differences in the tones of the tattoo. There should be contrast in the tattoo so that it does not appear flat. Great tattoos have contrasting areas of light and dark to really pop.

• Composition refers to the aesthetic arrangement of the elements of a tattoo. A good tattoo artist knows how to arrange the different elements of a tattoo design in an aesthetically pleasing, balanced way.

• Artistry refers to the artistic quality of the design. If the tattoo is poorly drawn, it will not look great on the skin. The tattoo design should have an artistic quality. After all, we are called tattoo artists.

• Readability refers to the legibility of the tattoo. Tattoos should be readable. If it is unclear what the tattoo is, it is not a great tattoo.

• Placement refers to where and how the tattoo is placed on the body. Tattoos should fit the body properly. They should be proportionate to the area of the body being tattooed. Faces should face in toward the body and not away. Text should appear upside down to the wearer. The design should take into consideration the placement on the body.

• Healing is a great sign of the tattoo’s application. If a tattoo scars or blows out, not only does the tattoo not look good but it was also not applied properly.

Can Tattooing Hide or Cover My Scars?

A scar is a mark that is left on the skin after a wound or an injury to the surface of the skin. Tattooing may or may not be a great option for hiding or covering scars. The best way to decide whether tattooing over a scar is the best option for you is through a tattoo consultation with a professional tattoo artist. There are a few factors when determining if a tattoo over a scar is the best plan of action for the results you want to achieve.

• Time- scars take time to heal. It is never advised to tattoo over a fresh scar. Depending on the severity of the scar, it may take anywhere from six months to a year or more to fully heal.

• Goals- options will vary depending on the goals you have for the tattoo. In some cases, it may be possible to completely conceal the scar with a thoroughly planned custom tattoo; in other cases, the best hopes may be to simply minimize the appearance of the scar with a well-placed tattoo. Unfortunately, sometimes tattooing over the scar may not be a viable option.

• Body placement- skin varies in different areas of the body; while some areas of the body have thicker skin, other areas have thinner skin. The location of the scar will be a determining factor in whether a tattoo is the best decision for you.

• Characteristics of the scar- assessing the scar includes the size, depth, color, texture and other elements that will determine whether tattooing the scar is the best option for you.

• Patience- tattooing over a scar will require more patience than a regular tattoo. An open mind about the design will help facilitate the best custom tattoo to meet your goals.

How to Book a Tattoo Appointment

The best way to request a tattoo appointment is to fill out the contact form available here. Once you fill out the brief form, I will reply to you via email to coordinate a date and time that works best for you. You may also explore the website to view my tattoo portfolio or review client testimonials.

You may also email me directly at baraktattoos@gmail.com to request a tattoo appointment.  

My studio does not accept phone calls or walk-ins to encourage a peaceful ambience for clients getting tattooed.

Tattoo Pre-Care

While there is not a whole lot that needs to be done to your skin to prepare for a tattoo, there are a few steps you can take to make sure your skin is in the best condition possible prior to your tattoo appointment.

• Stay hydrated in the days leading up to your tattoo appointment. Healthy, hydrated skin is the best foundation for your tattoo. Drinking the recommended amount of water each day will keep your skin hydrated for your tattoo appointment. Well hydrated skin will be in better condition for getting tattooed because the surface of the skin will take the ink easier, making tattoo application easier than it would be on dehydrated skin.

• Moisturize your skin in the days leading up to your tattoo appointment. Moisturize with your normal moisturizer for a week beforehand, especially if you have dry skin, to make sure that your skin is in the best condition possible for your custom tattoo.

• Avoid getting a sunburn on the area you are getting tattooed prior to your tattoo appointment. Please wear sunscreen as needed to prevent getting the area sunburned.

• Do not shave the area to be tattooed in the days prior to your appointment. I prefer to shave the area myself if needed right before the tattoo to assure that the skin does not get irritated, which could interfere with the tattoo process.

• Avoid alcohol and products that thin your blood prior to your tattoo appointment. To limit your bleeding, you should avoid products that thin your blood for 24 hours before getting a tattoo. This includes avoiding alcohol before getting a tattoo. Also, avoid taking aspirin for the 24 hours before your tattoo appointment. Aspirin is a blood thinner, so being on aspirin will make your tattoo bleed more.

• Make sure to eat before your tattoo appointment. Having low blood sugar can increase the physical reaction to a tattoo. Eating a solid meal before your appointment will give you the energy and stamina to withstand the tattoo application.

What to Expect at a Tattoo Consultation

The best custom tattoos are a collaborative effort between the client and the artist. Having an original piece of art tattooed on your body typically requires a consultation prior to the tattoo appointment to exchange ideas and to make sure that the artist and the client are on the same page as far as the tattoo concept. I pride myself on creating complex artistic and original designs. I strive to create bold, innovative pieces that will satisfy my clients for a lifetime.

The free tattoo consultation is your opportunity to share your vision about the tattoo, including placement, style, and imagery you would like to include in the tattoo. We will discuss ways of translating your concepts and vision into a custom tattoo design. We can also discuss any concerns you may have about the tattoo design or the tattoo process including the tattoo application itself or the tattoo healing procedures.

My design process requires brainstorming with the client during the tattoo consultation, researching quality references, putting your vision on paper and refining the composition to ensure a perfect custom fit. Proper tattoo design often requires much more time than the actual tattoo procedure. Rest assured that your design will have my complete effort. The tattoo design will be shown to you at your tattoo appointment. Any changes may be discussed and implemented on the day of the tattoo appointment.