HELP! thinking about getting my 1st Tattoo

[sunnie_skys]

link didnt work.

[shell64]

Welllll, if you insist!

Mine are here.

the link does not work

[VivaciousJewelz]

Ooops! Okay, hmmmm: I'll try this.

[melodyjg]

I have a lizard on my ankle, gotten after having brain surgery and feeling like I needed something to say.....dang! I made it!

I am perfectly happy with it, even thought about adding to it but I do have to say I thought nothing about the fact that he put the tail on my ankle bone. When it was being done........it was not fun! Didn't really hurt awful but it was almost like when you hit your funny bone, that was the feeling that I likened it too. My leg kept jerking spontaneously so much that my girlfriend had to lean across my leg and hold it down.

I am perfectly happy with the one I have and probably will not have any more.

[abond0017]

Ok, I'll give you the rundown of what I have learned with mine and my DH's combined 15 tats.

1.The most important thing you need to do is research research research your tattoo artist. Look on every type of review site you can find, and DO NOT let cost or haste be your deciding factors on who to choose. That will be the easiest way of ending up with a tattoo you regret. A good tattoo artist should have a cost on par with their talent, an extensive well documented portfolio, and may even have up to a couple months waiting list to be seen. And a lot of good ones will do a consultation first.

2. Bring in a design if you like but allow (and even ask for) the artists opinion of how it may need to be tweaked to be a suitable tattoo. Designs that look great on paper may not look that good on your anatomy.

3. The most painful areas that me and my DH have experienced are:
soft area of back of shoulder nearest armpit
spine
calf muscles
ribs/side
tricep part close to armpit

4. Areas we have gotten them that didn't hurt that bad:
lower left of back
top of foot (although many might beg to differ, it was actually my least painful)
most of shoulder (just the part near armpit hurt)
biceps

5. Shading is what makes tattoos hurt more, so the more shading, the more pain because they have to go over and over an already open wound. And, If the pain is intense at first, your adrenalin should kick in after about a half an hour and relieve some of it, but then it may start hurting again before it is finished if it is a long session.

6. Do not take alcohol or pain relievers to help with the pain. There just really isn't much you can do except remember to breathe and try not to think about the pain. Kind of like mind over matter...just go to a happy place.
Oh, and you can ask the artist for a break if it is getting too much for you, but do that too often and you will annoy them.

7. Make sure you see them open the packages of sterile equipment in front of you. That way you can be sure they are newly clean.

8. The location of your tattoo will have a great impact on how long it takes to heal. Anywhere that has clothing pressed on it or an area that moves a lot or has friction will cause the healing process to take longer and may actually distort parts of the design or colors through scarring. You want to make sure that you will be able to leave the area fairly free of clothing pressed against it until it heals, so if you have to work and need to wear certain clothes that will be something to consider. Like if you get one on your hip, loose dresses will probably be the best bet for the first week or so instead of pants with a waist band.

9. Aquaphor and Fragrance-free Curel work best for healing. And be sure to use them as often as needed to avoid the tat getting dry. And also be prepared with your bedding and pajamas because some ink will leak out a bit the couple nights, so it could easily stain.

10. Oh and they ARE addictive

[gctattoo]

I got my five tats within an eight month period back in 2004. I think having your kids' names make a heart sounds like a cute idea. As for location, I think it's just what feels right to you. Don't choose a location based up whether it may or may not hurt. All of mine "came to me" with the right design and location.

For me, getting a tattoo feels good. I enjoy the sensation. The best way I can describe it is a cat scratching you repeatedly. Then it feels like a sunburn afterwards for a day or two.

The pp is right about the fragrance-free Curel. That's what I used on all of mine. Keep it very moisturized and never scratch it or pick at the scab. If it itches as it heals, patting it firmly actually does the trick.

As for leaking some ink-- my first one leaked a bit in bed. And the ink came right out of the sheets. None of my others leaked.

Tattoos are definitely addictive. That's why I got mine within such a short period of time. I stopped because I couldn't justify the money anymore with my financial situation. Which is a good thing because the ideas I had for more would've been ones I regretted. Yikes!