Ep 8. Tatt-Too Hot for TV

In season two, episode eight of Bad Ink, titled Tatt-Too Hot for TV, the tattoo experts, Dirk Vermin and Ruckus, are ready to take on another challenging case. They meet with a Las Vegas local named Serene, who has a tattoo that she's been wanting to get rid of for years. Serene has an offensively large tattoo on her back that she got when she was 18, and now that she is in her mid-30s, she realizes that it's not the best representation of who she is.

The tattoo that Serene wants removed is a portrait of the legendary rock and roll musician, Elvis Presley. However, the portrait is not a good likeness of the King of Rock and Roll. To make it worse, the tattoo artist who did the job signed his name in the corner of the portrait. Serene hates the tattoo so much that she will not wear anything that will expose it, even at the beach.

The guys, Dirk and Ruckus, are excited about this challenge, but they face one difficulty. Serene's tattoo is older than the usual tattoos they work on, and as a result, it is very faded. Dirk and Ruckus decide to use different techniques to remove the tattoo. After examining the tattoo more closely, Dirk concludes they can't use a laser. Instead, they have to resort to a neutralizer to remove the ink. Dirk explicitly notes that neutralizers are not typically used by professional tattoo removalists.

Dirk takes Serene to a tattoo artist for Serene to get a new piece on her back to cover up the Elvis tattoo. The artist is reluctant to work on her back because he is worried about the neutralizer that was used to remove her previous tattoo. Dirk assures him that it is a safe procedure, and the artist agrees to work on her. Serene wants something small and simple to conceal the bad tattoo, but the artist suggests a large and colourful piece.

While Serene gets her new tattoo, Dirk and Ruckus work on removing the portrait of Elvis. They use the neutralizer technique, which involves painting a solution over the old tattoo, which reacts with the ink to dissolve it. The process is long and tedious, as they have to paint the solution on one section of the tattoo at a time, and then let it sit for a while. They have to repeat the process several times to get the desired effect.

After a few hours, the old tattoo starts to lighten, and they can finally see a part of Serene's unblemished skin. The work is time-consuming, and the guys hardly make it out of the studio on time to see Serene's new tattoo. To their surprise, her new tattoo is a beautiful and massive image of the planet Saturn with its rings. They are impressed with the artistry and the skill of the tattoo artist.

Serene is delighted with her new tattoo and how it covers her previous ink. She feels free to wear any bathing suit or clothing that she desires, with the added bonus of not having to explain the Elvis portrait. Dirk and Ruckus are delighted to remove a bad tattoo and happy to see the satisfaction on Serene's face. They take it as another successful mission accomplished.

In conclusion, Tatt-Too Hot for TV is another thrilling episode of Bad Ink that showcases the tattoo expertise of Dirk Vermin and Ruckus. Equipped with creativity, the guys deliver a quality tattoo removal. Serene is just one of many clients that Dirk and Ruckus have helped get rid of any bad tattoos that affect their confidence.