Alton Towers Rollercoaster Crash Victims Vicky Balch Gets Strength And Unity Tattoo On Leg

The ill-fated Smiler rollercoaster accident at the theme park in Staffordshire left four youngsters badly hurt. Vicky Balch, one of the major Alton Towers Rollercoaster crash victims, who had to get one of her legs amputated, has got a family of elephants tattooed on her remaining leg as a symbol of strength, unity and family.

The recovery has been tough for 20-year old dancer Vicky Balch who had to get her right leg amputated after the tragic rollercoaster accident on June 2, 2015, when a carriage carrying her on the Smiler rollercoaster smashed into an empty car. The nightmarish moment left her really heartbroken and weak.

While Balch awaits a bionic that will allow her to stand back on her two feet and dance yet again, she got her left leg inked with family of elephants. The tattooing procedure was carried out by expert tattoo artist and TV host Jay Hutton and was shown in the second episode of the Channel 4 series Tattoo Fixers. Hutton described the experience as deeply moving – he said, “It was nice to get some joy out of an awful situation.”

Vicky Balch is a very confident and strong hearted girl. Despite undergoing eight surgeries post her accident, and having her leg amputated; she is really optimistic and very excited for her new prosthetic limb. The prosthetic leg she will be receiving will replace the more painful artificial leg that she now wears. The bionic leg will allow Balch to walk again for the first time after the accident and let her do more complex things such as climbing stair or even dancing yet again.

Leaving aside the excitement of her bionic leg, Balch was recently excited about the new tattoo that she received. Talking to Mirror Online about the tattoo she got on her leg, Balch said, “I worried whether I could face a needle after having so many put into me in hospital. But the procedure was fine. I actually enjoyed it.

Balch has been very fond of tattoos; she describes her new ink as, “I love tat­­toos and had three already, so having another was like a return to normality – something I did before the accident". On being ask the reason for wearing elephants on the leg, Balch says, “I chose an elephant as to me they represent strength, unity and family."

Vicky Balch is steadily returning to normalcy. She has recently started dating Dan Halton. Balch met Halton while studying at the University of Derby. On knowing about her ordeal, Halton asked Balch out for the first time.

Eighteen year old Leah Washington was the other seriously injured at the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash. Washington also had to get her leg amputated, while her boyfriend, nineteen year old Joe Pugh broke his knee caps. Daniel Thorpe was the fourth person on board the carriage that fateful day.

The Smiler is expected to reopen soon post undergoing new safety checks. While most people are really excited of getting back to the ride, Vicky Balch believes, the rollercoaster should be called off and closed for good.   

The American Who Become Scotland’s Premier Tattoo Artist

PAUL Slifer decided to take a voyage to the world after leaving Massachusetts 19 years ago, however, he quickly fell in love with Edinburgh and opened Red, Hot and Blue Tattoo. Cover his entire journey with us!

“I firmly believe tattooing is a craft and not art. It takes a certain level of skill to produce a tattoo that has the hallmarks of a well-executed tattoo; these being clean, sharp lines, smooth shading, and solid, saturated color. I'm not putting any ideas of my own into the work. I'm not trying to convey a part of my soul into the tattoo! I think that's the difference between art and craft. The crafts person works with their hands and head while the artist works with their hands, head and try's to communicate a personal message to the viewer. Tattooing doesn't work like that. Someone comes into my shop, says they want a dragon for example, and I give them the dragon they want, in the colors they want. I'm not going to tattoo an expression of the refuge crisis in Syria on them because I've decided I'm an artist!” says Paul Slifer - one of the most successful American Tattoo Artist working in Scotland.
You might be wondering, how an American can be a tattoo artist in Scotland? Here’s his story.

The Making Of A Tattoo Legend

PAUL Slifer runs his tattoo business in a shop called Red, Hot and Blue Tattoo on Brougham Place, Edinburgh. He is originally from Massachusetts in the U.S.A.
Slifer was an evolving tattoo artist who worked in Providence, Rhode Island in 1997. At this time, he decided to travel to the UK with the purpose of working for three months and then heading back to the Continent to experience more countries.
Hence, he started his journey in Scotland – Edinburgh. It was also the place where he met his future wife not long after arriving and he never left. About the meeting, Slifer that the in the beginning h felt like it was a fateful meeting to put an end to the idea that he would be a rambling tattooist traveling the globe. However, soon he realized that he has landed where he belongs.

Slifer and a number of other tattooists have been working at Red, Hot and Blue Tattoo, at their trade and building on a reputation for quality craftsmanship and beautiful work. Slifer has recently written a children’s book entitled “A is for Anchor” which teaches the Alphabet in letters using the tattooist style to demonstrate it.
Married to Clare and father of two beautiful daughters, an architect and a part-time teacher at Edinburgh University and Napier University, Scotland today caught up Paul at his home in Edinburgh.

When asked about how the changes have taken place since settling in Scotland 19 years ago, Slifer says,

“When I first arrived here 18 years ago, I (in my ignorance) viewed Scotland as more of a province of the UK rather than its own country. I know people from elsewhere in the United Kingdom have those sentiments as well, but as my time here went on my idea of Scotland changed. It's a country with its own language, customs and shared values. I can't forget to mention food and drink as well. I am now an avid porridge eater, (cooked in water and salt only!) and have been known to appreciate a single-malt on occasion.
Coming from the States, one of the things that I really like about Scotland is this idea that we're all in this together. I heard a saying when I first moved here "that we're all Jock Tamson's bairns". I love that and it's probably the thing I like most about Scottish people. 
I think that Massachusetts, where I am from, and the USA could do well to embrace some of those values.”

Tattoo Etiquette And Tips For The New Artists!

Do you like that particular ‘tattoo artist’ in the parlor who behaves rudely with the other artists, managers, piercers, and above all the customers? Obviously, NO! If you are new to the tattoo world, you need to learn that criticizing the other tattooist’s design, haggling for a lower price, etc. are of no use. Here is something you must follow. Read on.

When it comes to a perfect tattoo, it is often said, finding a good tattoo artist is half the job done…

And this might be the biggest reason, why people who love to get a tattoo search for the most professional and experienced artist. Whenever a person plans for a tattoo design, they first decide about the artist and the appropriate studio. For this, they ask a friend or relative for their opinion, might be they have some good or bad experience with some local tattoo shops. But, this is not all.  The customers today take more than that. Yes, they prefer making a deeper research for choosing the proper tattoo studio. Here are some major points what people look for:

• Whether the artist they are considering at the parlor has taken a course designed for tattoo artists? Is the area clean? Does the furniture in the parlor has the water proof barrier to prevent infections?  

• Are they using proper needles? Is the needle packing opened in front of you and disposed of after every client job is done? What about the ink quality? Is it poured into individual cups before use, and then discarded late?

• A licensed parlor and artist is enough to allure clients. As you are new to the field, start with your homework and find out what those regulations are. You can also ask for help from some studios to get the license.

• Is the artist you are considering is cooperative and friendly? Do you feel comfortable enough with him? As you need to communicate with the artist before and after the tattoo job, if something makes you uncomfortable or you are unable to talk, it might be stressful for you. Obviously, customers don’t want to enter a studio where the artist talking to them acts like a stranger. 

• Another thing customers check on priority is the portfolio. Often parlors display their work to the customers. And from here the clients get idea of their work and expect the same level from the artist. Hence, to attract more number of clientele, make sure the work meets the standards.

• You need to understand that people don’t really want to pick the cheapest place. As they look for good quality artwork to be done and if a place seems a lot cheaper as compared to others in the market, this can turn cutting corners somewhere. But, this never means you need to keep a hefty price list.

• As you are a newbie in the market, there might be some who advise you to start at home. But, this is a fact that people don’t count on someone who tattoos out of their home. It is not a good deal because it puts your career and the customer’s health at risk. The biggest reason is that sterility cannot be guaranteed, which is highly significant for tattooing.

• The aftercare matters a lot. Just getting the tattoo job done is not all. Customers expect a sense of affection. So, how you take care of their tattoo later is a great way to attract customers. Keep a good communication level with them, suggest them a good body lotion or help them in wrapping the tattoo with plastic wrap for an extended period. Providing basic first aid can help.

In the end, make sure you don’t show any kind of behavior that causes distraction or kills the vibe of the shop. Provide the best tattoo designs following the best shop etiquette!

Top 5 Tattoo Aftercare Tips You Must Know!

Had your new tattoo? Definitely, you are super excited about this. Meanwhile, don’t forget to take care of the fresh design. Yes, there is a lot you need to pay attention. If not done, you might face some type of infection or severe problems in future. Therefore, it is very important follow the aftercare processes.

The fashion world is never constant. But, what has been ruling this world is the body art. This amazing and transformative way pleases every age group and gender. You can get it done anywhere and in any size, ranging from your neck, arms, wrist to you face and back. Well, that’s your choice completely. But what more important is the tattoo aftercare. Nowadays people love to brag about their new tattoos and show off their design. They hardly give their design a chance to heal. The consequences of which are that the color fades, designs bleed and scabs occur. On other hand, if you have been a little patient the same design would have been a colorful and beautiful ink job. Hence, if you are planning to get a new tattoo or recently have tried some, here are few essential tips for aftercare you must follow.

Follow the instruction: While you get a tattoo done, the tattooist tells you a number of dos and don’ts. Be a good listener and then follow the instructions precisely.  They are professional and have experience of years in the same field. They certainly have the knowledge of the product and different healing problems. Keep in mind, the tattooist is not responsible for what happens to your tattoo afterwards. Thus, it is your responsibility to take care of the design and your skin once you leave the parlor.

Do not wrap: Some people wrap the tattoo to keep it safe. But, unless you are instructed to do so by the artist don’t attempt it. Remember, that it is important to keep the tattoo clean. It is just like an open injury, you cannot take any risks with this. Generally, the tattooists will advise you for washing it with an unscented and anti-bacterial soap. And you will be asked to let it air dry instead of wrapping it over and over again.

Moisturize: Undoubtedly, you need to let it dry for better and faster healing. But, moisturizing holds its own importance. The reason being, if you let it dry, thick scab formation can occur, which is never desirable. Moreover, in some cases it has been observed that drying out leads to slow recovery procedure and it even harm the tattoo. You can consult the tattooist to advise a cream or ointment to use.  

Don’t try unnecessary medications: The tattoo process includes needling of your skin. Hence it is obvious that your skin will weep in the first couple of days. Along this, a fluid, clear or slightly colored will also appear out of your tattoo. But there is nothing to fear in this. It does not mean that there is something wrong with your skin or something is coming out of your tattoo. Don’t try any medications on your own. All you need to do is just clean it as instructed and let it heal with time.

Don’t panic: If your skin becomes sensitive, red or slightly inflamed, then don’t panic. It is not something different. Your skin has undergone a change and painful treatment. A number of people experience some kind of irritation after getting a new tattoo for few days. However, if the symptoms continue for more than 4 to 5 days, you can consult your tattooist for better advice.

Healing a tattoo is not that challenging. Just you need to be a little patient and careful!