Tattoo Advice (Full Version)

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norarc -> Tattoo Advice (10/29/2007 1:45:08 AM)

Hmm, it's possible that this topic is better suited to the "Health and Safety" forum, but since it's not related to BDSM, I figured it would fit better here.

I'm contemplating getting a tattoo; it'll be a large piece, taking up a fair portion of my back, and yes, it'll be my first.  Now, given that this is a permanent bit of body art, I figured doing a little research and asking around a bit would be prudent before simply diving in and letting some local fiend jab needles in me.

No, I'm not a masochist, but thanks for asking. [;)]

Anyway, I've seen a few photos on Collarme displaying some pretty nifty body art, so I thought I use this opportunity to ask for advice from those who have been through the tattooing process before -- what do you look for in a tattooist?  What sorts of things do you think I ought to know before going in?  What sorts of risks or problems have you encountered?  (Yes, there's the question of contaminated equipment, but one assumes that a reputable establishment wouldn't have that difficulty.)

Thanks in advance to all those who offer their thoughts.  Cheers.



canupleaseme -> RE: Tattoo Advice (10/29/2007 2:53:48 AM)

Hi as a proud owner of 11 tattoos I thought I would tell you my experiences.  Research what qualifications tattoist should have and any boards (not message regulators) and always check their certificates out.  Word of mouth and recommendation are also good ways to go.  Of course checking that they are usuing sterile equipment and are happy to show you this before hand.  The main problems I encountered were feeling like I had been kicked in the back after I had a peice done on the right hand side half over some ribs half just below I will say thatthat was my most painful one ( i have them all over)  take some painkillers before you have it done and plenty after.  Dont use pile cream to put on it after I know a lot of people recommend that but I find it just dries it out.  I used a nannpy barrier cream I cant think of its name right now I will come back to you on that one.  Becareful when towel drying after a bath or shower make sure you dab it dry and then apply the cream.  Also in the first few nighta after while its scabbing over it will stick to the bed sheets or your night clothes, be aware of that becasue it really hurt me one morning when i peeled the duvet off and had the perfect replica of my tattoo stuck to it ouch[:'(]



adoracat -> RE: Tattoo Advice (10/29/2007 3:26:42 AM)

a&d ointment is commonly advised as a good skin protectant for new tats, but i dont like it.  i've used it before (i have 6 tats) but what i really prefer is pure cocoa butter.  it keeps the skin lubricated...you do NOT want to scab up at all, scabs can very easily take the color out.  and if you're planning a large piece, you really dont want to have to go back for unnecessary touch-ups!

head on over to the BME website. http://www.bmezine.com/ is the site...see what artists in your area are recommended.  go in and ask to see the artist's portfolio.  look at the cleanliness of the place, not just the equipment.  watch for a bit, if you can.

i got my first tat at age 21.  i got my latest one in march.  (that one was great...my daughter and i both got inked at the same time!)  i'll probably get one more, at Daddy's wishes. its definitely addicting!

kitten



pahunkboy -> RE: Tattoo Advice (10/29/2007 4:56:50 AM)

1. make sure the tatt artist cleans the needles with autoclaving.

2. an investment like this- one should place it where you can see it. That is just my preference - but it iis your deal.

3. contrary to belief it doesnt hurt. Relax your muscle always- as with any needle. It has a prickly sensation. Some parts of teh body it can be ubearable.  Like on the underarm.

4. word of mouth is best- pics of the work is good too.

5. Look for color and clean lines. They are the value.

6. expect to freshen it up in 30ish years.



IrishMist -> RE: Tattoo Advice (10/29/2007 5:09:33 AM)

quote:

what do you look for in a tattooist? 

My first tattoo was done by a friend of my husbands. The others I got by myself. I went to a shop in Van Wert Ohio who was recommended to me by someone that I know. I had seen their work already, and the people that I asked all had good things to say about them. When I went to ask if they could do the ones that I wanted, I did a cursory glance to see how clean the place was, asked about their procedures, if they had ever had any complaints ( and yes, they gave me the names of those who had complained against them ). Little things like that.
I looked at the various designs they had; I looked at their free drawn designs just in case they needed to go free hand for some reason. It was important to me that if for some reason they could not follow a pre-drawn design, that they be able to still draw it free hand.

Everyone reacts to tattoos differently; mine went off without a hitch fairly easily. It only took about two days for the swelling to go down; no infections after, everything went very well.
Make sure that they offer you a tube of antibiotic ointment after; along with written instructions on how to care for it while it heals. If they don't talk to you about these sort of things, I would be worried.
I also had to sign a release stating that the tattoo I was getting was being done at my request; the design was at my request with a disclaimer that if it went freehand, I understood the complications that could arise from that. Any immediate medical issues that arose from the actual tattoo ( infection ) that required emergency care would be covered by them until (unless) it was shown by a medical professional that the infection was caused by myself.
There was a huge list that was followed but those were the issues most important to me in picking a place to go.

I was very happy with the place that I went to and have gone back to them for every tatttoo and piercing since that first one.



pahunkboy -> RE: Tattoo Advice (10/29/2007 5:23:48 AM)

I got my tatt in Chicago. They photocopied my drivers license and I signed the I was in my right mind- not drunk. or drugged. The copy went in my file. I felt sorry for the artist, as he got to hear all my troubles. Anyhow on the bicept I can tell your it isnt painfull.


- allright I heard the gasp about me being in my right mind!  ^foot stomp!



IrishMist -> RE: Tattoo Advice (10/29/2007 5:29:04 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

I got my tatt in Chicago. They photocopied my drivers license and I signed the I was in my right mind- not drunk. or drugged. The copy went in my file. I felt sorry for the artist, as he got to hear all my troubles. Anyhow on the bicept I can tell your it isnt painfull.


- allright I heard the gasp about me being in my right mind!  ^foot stomp!

/nods
they took my DL also [:)]
the one I have on my bicep hurt more than the others which is really odd because I figured the one on my back was going to be the worse one but it wasn't. Don't figure.
I have one that covers my entire left hand that hurt REALLY bad; I would not recommend anyone getting a tattoo on their hand. LOL



subconscious1 -> RE: Tattoo Advice (10/29/2007 5:39:19 AM)

If anyone is in or near Omaha, NE, i highly recommend my tattooist. He has an art degree, and is very good at his craft. I told him what i wanted, he drew it all free hand, then enhanced it with the computer. My daughter's butterfly looks so very realistic!
Agrees with the necessity of clean needles! Shudder to think of otherwise. When i got my 1st tatt, i kept it fairly simple. And now i have 5 tatts and want more more more!
Pain? sorry..haven't felt the last 3 tattoos...used self hypnosis and enjoyed the experience. Feels like a mild cat scratching your skin, but can get irritating after an hour or so. Thus the use of self hypnosis.
My tattoos always burn for several hours after. Aquaphor works wonders. Had no scabbing and little to no burning, and the last one was big as my hand.



Phoenixandnika -> RE: Tattoo Advice (10/29/2007 5:40:10 AM)


I have 4 tattoos one of which is a back peice. I plan on getting several more in the future. Although meaningful they can and are also addictive. ~laughs~ This is my advice to you or anyone else that asks about getting ink work done.
 
Remember for the most part they are on your body forever, removal is expensive and painful and covering them up with something else isn't always possible.
 
Be safe.
- Make sure the ship and stations are clean and sanitary. I love the small local shops personally but if I can't sit on their chairs in the waiting room without smelling funk, sit on the toilet without sitting on urine, or if there is fast food laying around the stations I am probably going else where.
- Make sure they use new sterile needles EVERY time I personally want to see them take it out the package.
- Do they were gloves? Do they have new razors (if needed)? Do they have to share the ink with the guy in the next station?
-Do they use an autoclave system to sterilize non-disposable equipment?
Choosing an artist.
-Are they any good? Have you seen their work. I personally will go into a shop and ask if I can sit for awhile.
-Can you talk to him/her about questions or concerns?
-Last thing you should think about is cost - remember you get what you pay for.
 
Blessed be,
Nika



joanus -> RE: Tattoo Advice (10/29/2007 6:11:26 AM)

First of all make sure you get a talented guy not just some yahoo of a friend with a needle and a busted ink pen cartrage like most people around here.
Also make sure your not drunk when you get your tattoo, trust me not a good idea.
Lastly make sure you get some thing relivent and meaningfull to you not just some crapy tribal/barbed wire/I love mom/ flame skull type bullshit. that tattoo will be on you for life. And haveing Hell Hound or some such shit tattooed on your fore head WILL effect how people see you and some of your job choices.
Lastly never tattoo you kids alright its not funny and it's not cute, cause when their older like say 20 and they have a tattoo on their ass that says "made in Japan" (like me) they will hate you.



IrishMist -> RE: Tattoo Advice (10/29/2007 7:26:53 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: joanus

First of all make sure you get a talented guy not just some yahoo of a friend with a needle and a busted ink pen cartrage like most people around here.
Also make sure your not drunk when you get your tattoo, trust me not a good idea.
Lastly make sure you get some thing relivent and meaningfull to you not just some crapy tribal/barbed wire/I love mom/ flame skull type bullshit. that tattoo will be on you for life. And haveing Hell Hound or some such shit tattooed on your fore head WILL effect how people see you and some of your job choices.
Lastly never tattoo you kids alright its not funny and it's not cute, cause when their older like say 20 and they have a tattoo on their ass that says "made in Japan" (like me) they will hate you.

Geeze; someone sure is a bit defensive about tatt's

I have 'REDNECK HILLBILLY' tattooed across my lower back in huge letters; my left arm is all tribals of some kind or another, my right leg is devoted to my children [:D] while the top of my back is devoted to my late husband.




pahunkboy -> RE: Tattoo Advice (10/29/2007 7:39:20 AM)

I dont reccomend words. I have a bald eagle soaring - near a sunset. I thought about words- but then concluded they would cheapen it.

Getting a tattoo has sexual overtones to it. A bad needle can give you hepatitus. The entering of the projectile- is like another projectile enterring. It can be an intimate event.

You can tell jail tatts- as they are black with no color and sloppy lines- when it ages- it looks very faded.

One bright spot- is that a tatt cant be stolen.

Penetration!   -less intrusive then a colonoscopy.  yikes!



Alumbrado -> RE: Tattoo Advice (10/29/2007 7:40:58 AM)

I'll offer that the 'word of mouth' advice is not without pitfalls. 

A shop can build up a good reputation and by the time you show up, the good artists may have moved on and been replaced by less stellar types.

One local shop has great word of mouth... among the local college students, many of whom don't know how badly they are being overcharged, or how easily their Xerox tat could have been done elsewhere.

Asking to see the individual artist's porfolio is a good place to start. Licensing for health and safety should be non-negotioable.

 



Phoenixandnika -> RE: Tattoo Advice (10/29/2007 7:45:58 AM)

 pahunkboy,
 
Why do you not recommend words or text in or as tattoos?
 
Also I know many people who have tats with absolutely no color, myself included (my back peice) and it is not a jail house tat so stating that jail house tats are the ones with no color is a huge generalization. Plus how a tat fades depends on alot of things including the persons skin, how much sunlight it is exposed to, if they use sunscreen, and how heavy or light handed the artist was.
 
Blessed Be,
Nika



joanus -> RE: Tattoo Advice (10/29/2007 7:49:08 AM)

I was just wondering I read somewhere but I cant remeber where that Tattoos on the backs of hand where Illegal to get in America anyone got a better understanding of tattoo laws?



pahunkboy -> RE: Tattoo Advice (10/29/2007 8:00:54 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Phoenixandnika

pahunkboy,
 
Why do you not recommend words or text in or as tattoos?
 
Also I know many people who have tats with absolutely no color, myself included (my back peice) and it is not a jail house tat so stating that jail house tats are the ones with no color is a huge generalization. Plus how a tat fades depends on alot of things including the persons skin, how much sunlight it is exposed to, if they use sunscreen, and how heavy or light handed the artist was.
 
Blessed Be,
Nika


It is only my opinion. What is sheik and in vogue now- is out of style or on the back burner later. Even if one is "sure"- people move on in life.

In my case- I did not choose "god bless America" or the like- at the time I was angry with this country. In retrospect I made the right decission. [4 yrs ]

I dont have kids so I dont know about that. I know English is a prevalent language- still an emblem/design can be quicly understood in any language.

As much as we would like to think we are "with it" in 2007, trends come and go, if they didnt platform shoes and disco would be in.

Joanus mentioned tatts n forhead or fingers. DONT. that makes you a freak.   Even the make up tatts- you know like eyeliner gets dated as the style changes.

It costs $500 a square inch to bleach a tatt, it is painfull and takes several visits.



Alumbrado -> RE: Tattoo Advice (10/29/2007 8:01:32 AM)

quote:

Also I know many people who have tats with absolutely no color, myself included (my back peice) and it is not a jail house tat so stating that jail house tats are the ones with no color is a huge generalization.


I think he is saying that 'customers' for tattoos in prison, usually aren't offered a choice of colors.[;)]



Phoenixandnika -> RE: Tattoo Advice (10/29/2007 8:14:05 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: joanus

I was just wondering I read somewhere but I cant remeber where that Tattoos on the backs of hand where Illegal to get in America anyone got a better understanding of tattoo laws?


Here is a site with all of the current laws in the US pertaining to tattoos and tattoo shops.
 
http://www.tattoodesign.com/tattoo_laws/united_states.php
 
I personally have never heard of the law your speaking about, I do know that many law enforcement agencies look at specific tattoos and placement of said tattoos to regonize gang affiliation.
 
Blessed Be,
Nika



IrishMist -> RE: Tattoo Advice (10/29/2007 8:32:21 AM)

quote:

Joanus mentioned tatts n forhead or fingers. DONT. that makes you a freak.   Even the make up tatts- you know like eyeliner gets dated as the style changes.

Now see, my whole hand is covered, back and front including fingers. It does not make you a freak [8D]

Oh wait a sec. I am a freak. That's why I got the tatts in the first place [:D]



SeeksOnlyOne -> RE: Tattoo Advice (10/29/2007 1:22:35 PM)

an old biker dude told me to use prep h on the last tatt i got.......it did better than anything i have ever used before.....

oh......if youre 15 and gettin a cute lil bluebird on ya boob, just know that when youre 45, it will be a long legged stork[:D]



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