There are dozens if not hundreds of tattoo parlors in Haizhou City.
But every tattoo shop has its own unique features.
The types of tattoos performed by each tattoo shop are very different.
Different tattoo artists have different tracing techniques for different tattoos.
Sun Biao, the leader of the Third Squadron, sent out three groups of people to investigate the tattoo shop.
The tattoo on the deceased's arm was a butterfly.
For people who depict tattoos on their bodies, different tattoos represent different meanings.
Sancho, the brother-in-law of Wang Tao, a member of the Third Squadron, is a tattoo artist.
"Brother? Why are you here?"
Sancho was a little surprised. His eldest brother rarely came to his store.
After he and his wife both quit their jobs as art school teachers and opened this tattoo shop three years ago, their family didn't understand.
Especially this uncle who is a policeman has never been to his store since it opened.
Why did you come to the door in person this time?
Wang Tao had no expression on his face, he just hummed.
Wang Tao didn't understand at first that his sister and brother-in-law chose this job.
As an art teacher in school, the work is not tiring, the income is guaranteed during droughts and floods, the benefits are good, and the social status is high. Why did you quit your job and open a tattoo shop like this?
But in the past two years, when he learned that his sister and brother-in-law could earn more than 100,000 yuan every month, he no longer thought so.
The two of them are different from ordinary tattoo artists. They have more skillful backgrounds in art.
It is also somewhat famous in Haizhou City.
Sancho poured tea for Wang Tao and his colleagues.
"Sancho, look at this tattoo, have you seen it before?"
Although Wang Tao now understood the two people's choices, his words were still stiff.
Sancho doesn’t care either.
Being a teacher is indeed great, but the salary is too low.
As a couple, when I was a teacher, I could not earn more than 10,000 yuan per month.
If you want to make more money, there are actually some ways to learn art by yourself, such as taking some art classes on weekends.
But in this case, I have to attend classes on weekdays and take care of students on weekends, so I have no free time at all.
It’s different now that you have a tattoo shop.
My wife and I are from art backgrounds and have studied sculpture. It is very easy to learn tattooing.
Much better than those who were born in Yeluzi.
So half a year after the store opened, business gradually picked up.
Many people come here because of its reputation.
Sometimes I have to provide door-to-door service, because some people are inconvenient to come to their store due to their jobs or social status.
In this case the charges will be higher.
The two of them originally earned 20,000 to 30,000 yuan a month, and now it has gradually increased to 70,000 to 80,000 yuan a month, and sometimes even 100,000 yuan a month.
Excluding rent and other costs, you can still make a net profit of 50,000 to 60,000 yuan every month.
Contrary to what most people imagine, the cost of tattooing is relatively high.
The main cost is the pigment for the tattoo.
The pigments used by low-end tattoo artists are mediocre and cheap, but they are harmful to the human body.
The materials used by Sancho are all biological pigments, which have only become popular in recent years.
It causes very little harm to the human body and is relatively easy to clean after the tattoo is no longer needed.
This is much better than the original chemical pigments or mineral pigments.
Of course, good means more expensive. A simple tattoo, such as a word, can even cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Taking the tattoo photo handed over by his colleague Wang Tao, Sancho could tell something about it at a glance.
"This tattoo...is a monarch butterfly?"
Wang Tao was stunned: "What?"
Sancho pointed to the photo: "I'm talking about the type of butterfly on the tattoo. This is a kind of butterfly called the black butterfly, which is not found in China. It is a relatively famous butterfly abroad."
"What is the explanation for this kind of tattoo?"
"Indeed. There’s no explanation, but not many people have this kind of monarch butterfly tattoo.”
"Why?"
"Because it's complicated."
After Sancho put down the photo, he stood up and walked to his workbench and took out a picture album.
“Butterflies are a big category in tattoos, and many people like to get butterfly tattoos.”
“Butterflies symbolize love, rebirth from the ashes, and start all over again. There are many different Meaning, so many people, especially women, choose to get butterfly tattoos.”
"But usually those who get butterfly tattoos will choose geometric shapes. This kind of tattooed butterfly outlined by strokes is also very beautiful, and it is not that painful."
Sancho opened the album and pointed to it. Several butterfly tattoos, explained to Wang Tao.
“But the photo of the tattoo you showed me is of a monarch butterfly. This butterfly is very beautiful, but the lines of the tattoo are complicated, and many types of pigments are used, which are also very expensive.”
“So, few people would choose this kind of butterfly tattoo.”
After hearing this, Wang Tao asked: “How much does it cost?”
"If you get a tattoo here, it will cost at least 20,000 yuan."
"20,000?"
Wang Tao's colleague shouted in surprise.
This tattoo is his three or four months’ salary.
Wang Tao was stunned. He didn't expect that this small tattoo would cost 20,000 yuan?
No wonder tattoo shops make so much money.
"In addition," Sancho picked up the photo again: "The pigment used on this tattoo is very good and the color is bright. It should be a very good mineral pigment."
"If the other party I got this tattoo in Haizhou City. There are only two or three shops that can do it, and the price is more expensive than mine."
"Tell me the secrets of tattooing."
Wang Tao didn't rush and went directly to the other three tattoo shops mentioned by Sancho.
But first I want to know about the tattoo situation.
Sancho roughly said: "There are many types of tattoos."
"In layman's terms, they are divided into realistic tattoos, just like the butterfly tattoo you showed me."
“I got the tattoo on my body because I like some animals and plants.”
“In addition to realistic tattoos, there are also tribal tattoos, motorcycle tattoos, religious tattoos, etc.”
"Except for some specific groups of people, in China, people can get tattoos of whatever they like, unlike in foreign countries."
Domestic tattoos have developed in a relatively short time, and they are not developing rapidly.
Although more and more people are getting tattoos in recent years, they are always tattooed with some words or flowers, birds, insects and fish on some more hidden parts.
In fact, few people do large-area tattoos such as arm tattoos.
According to Sancho, most people in China choose tattoos on shoulders, ankles, legs or arms.
There are really not many people like that who are covered with dragons and tigers.
Besides, large-area tattoos are really expensive, regardless of whether they hurt or not.
It is not something that ordinary people can afford. (End of this chapter)