You have bought your ticket to the Land of Smiles, and the turquoise Andaman Sea is calling your name. But even before you can part with your passport and switch it for a sundress, you are likely thinking about the ideal souvenir: a tattoo to remember your trip.
Phuket is a global center of ink, which has two different directions. On the one hand, there is the old and spiritual art of the Bamboo Tattooing (or Sak Yant). On the other hand, the contemporary, accurate world of the Tattoo Machine.
But which one is right for you? Is one better than the other? It is not a question of being the best but a matter of fit. Here are the practical differences that are divided into this guide: levels of pain, healing periods, and more, to enable you to select the kind of experience that suits your vibe and your vacation.
It is vital to have a clue about the philosophy of the tools before we get down into the nitty-gritty.
This is performed with a bamboo stick (or metal rod) that has been sharpened and joined to a needle. The artist uses it as a pen and taps the ink into the skin with his fingers. It is rhythmic, ancient, and in Phuket, it can be closely associated with the Buddhist blessings and Sak Yant geometry.
This is the modern way of tattooing. The needle is implanted thousands of times per minute by moving the needle up and down an electromagnetic coil or rotary motor. It is fast, predictable, and enables the use of unbelievable detail.
This is arguably the greatest consideration of a beach vacation. You’re in Phuket. You want to swim.
Due to the less aggressive hand-tapping on the skin (dermis), the skin tends to close more rapidly. Their bamboo tattoo does not remain an open wound, as many people find themselves in their peeling stage 3-5 days later. You can always listen to your artist, but bamboo tattoos may enable you to play in the sea (or the pool) earlier, say within a week, but this is provided all is healed, and you use the high-factor sunscreen diligently.
Machine tattoos are more micro-traumatic. A new machine tattoo is likely to be tender, maybe oozy, and an open wound in the first 24-48 hours. To avoid infection and to prevent losing ink, you will be strictly recommended not to keep it in the water for less than two weeks.
Hint: When you are getting tattooed on the first day of a two-week vacation, then a machine tattoo is okay. When the fifth day is at hand, you are planning to get inked, and you want to snorkel Phi Phi later in the week, then bamboo may be your savior.
The pain is subjective, whereas the kind of pain varies greatly.
Just imagine that somebody is striking your skin with a sharp fingernail. It is a less flowing, more stinging percussion. It has been likened to a cat scratching your skin. Since it is slower, your body has microseconds to shut down in between taps.
Relentless buzz. In some parts of thin skin (ribs, inner bicep), it may seem like a painful scratch that never ends. But as the machine is more rapid, there is a great deal of shading to be done in a very short time compared with bamboo.
The Detail Trade-Off:
Bamboo is strong in bold and traditional lines and the geometry of Sak Yant. It possesses a natural and slightly uneven appearance that contributes to its attractiveness. But, ultra-fine execution or portraits of an individual cannot be done with a bamboo stick with great ease.
In all other things, machines are superior. You want a hyper-realistic portrait of the King (or your dog), a splash of water paint and ink, as well as incredibly intricate mandalas with perfect symmetry, then you must use a skilled machine artist.
You do not simply get a tattoo in Phuket, but experience.
It is the actual immersion into the culture. There is usually a blessing, a prayer, and an application of sacred oils during a Sak Yant session with a Ruesi (hermit) or Ajarn. It is a safeguarding and a fortunate sale. You are not a customer, but you are a receiver of a spiritual gift. The atmosphere is so low-profile and strong.
Phuket is full of global hygienic studios operated by international and Thai artists. This atmosphere is that of a modern art gallery and a clinic. You will talk about the design theory, peruse through portfolios, and observe your artist create a perfect design surgically. The atmosphere is innovative and work-related.
The studio has to be clean, either by hand or by machine. The needles should be one-time use and should be opened before you. Bamboo sticks can be traditionally one-time use and thrown away.
When you are getting a real Sak Yant from a monk or Ajarn, you must keep in mind that your legs and shoulders must be covered. It is a religious practice and not a tourist spot.
Do not simply choose a design that is on the wall. Consult with the artist. A machine artist can make a design appear photo-realistic; an Ajarn can answer what specific Sak Yant geometric designs mean.
Phuket is kind of sunny. Despite the technique used, the sun should always be covered at all times with your new tattoo. Bring loose cotton clothing.
It is part of the permanent. Haggle over the price, and you are haggling over the quality of something that you will have on your body all your life.
Use Bamboo when: You would like to experience a different culture, be linked to Thai spirituality, want a bold traditional design, and have a quicker time healing on vacation.
Use the machine when: You desire a complex, detailed, or photorealistic work of art, and you appreciate the accuracy and speed of contemporary technology.
In the end, it is the experience that appeals to you that is the right one. You can take a little bit of the island home with you because, whether you come out of Phuket with the blessings of an Ajarn or a masterpiece of a well-known artist, you will have something of the island.
Not necessarily. The feeling of bamboo is that of sharp, percussion striking, tapping, or scratching of a cat, and the machine is that of a burning buzz all the time. The tolerance to pain is subjective, although some people have characterized bamboo as not as aggressive since the skin has half a second between tacks to rest.
No. Although bamboo tattoos tend to heal within a short time (1-2 weeks), you cannot be sure that they are completely closed. Going swimming before long in the ocean or pools can be severely infected. Never apply your artist until he confirms, and always apply sunscreen after healing.
In general, no. Bamboo can be most applicable to classic bold lines, geometrical patterns, and Sak Yant scripts. It does not have the speed or consistency required in fine shading or photorealism. When it comes to in-depth portraits or watercolor effects, a professional machine artist is the way to go.
Find studios that are open about the sterilization procedure. Single-use needles and bamboo tools must be opened in front of you. Look at recent Google reviews, request to view their autoclave equipment, and follow your gut- if it does not look clean, leave.
Wear decently as a sign of respect towards the religious custom. Keep your shoulders and knees covered. Comfortable and loose clothes are the most suitable, since it gives the artist easy access to the part of the body to be tattooed (usually the back, chest, or arm) and leave the other parts of the body covered during the blessing.
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