Tattoos...and Tattoo Care

[The Freudian Slip]

Anyone ever gotten a tattoo? I'm wondering what kind of pain level we're talking about here and how the after-effects go, etc...

[Lyrica]

Spouse has a couple.

Supposedly pain isnt too bad depending on where you get it.

Afterwards for about 1-2 weeks you are supposed to put on a sort of triple antibotic type ointment to keep it moist and help prevent scabbing which hcould pull the ink out (I believe)

[TheImperial]

I have two (one on each bicep). I'm not claiming to have any sort of high level of pain tolerance, but I didn't think they were bad at all. But, it's largely a matter of just where you want to get inked. Some areas of the body (where there is not a lot of meat on you or the skin is thin - think inside your arms, around your nipples, neck, hands, feet) hurt like a mother, so I'm told.

As far as aftercare - I was told to keep it covered for about 24-36 hours and then take the bandage off and let it air out. Be careful when you shower. Clean it a lot with antibiotic stuff. Keep it out of the sun. Don't pick the scab!

And under absolutely no circumstances should you even think about getting "tribal" anything. Use the flash on the wall only for getting an idea of a custom piece of art.

Sorry, I'm really opinionated about that part.

[Kinetix]

It can't be TOO bad, so many people have them. I think thin areas like the neck are the most painful.

[The Freudian Slip]

I'm getting one on my right buttock(s) and one on my ankle.

[Joe Schmoe]

I hope to be getting Patrick Star on my right arm sometime soon. :)

Then if I am happy with it, Homestar Runner on the left. :D

[Gogo-chan]

I plan on getting the Samus symbol behind my right shoulder soon. :3

[Powerhelm]

I've thought often about getting one.

Howver I soon realized that the odds of me being as enthusiastic about what tattoo I get 40 years from now as I am the day I get it aren't too high...

Not to mention I'm not about to pay anyone to stick me a few million times an deposit ink into my body...If I got it for free then ok I'd consider it...but a good artist will charge a big price to do most things even small ones...50 bucks is 3 months of CoH or another game and that's just a small tattoo...

Of course these are Northern Virginia prices...you're local tattoo parlor may vary...

[Kinetix]

I'm getting one on my right buttock(s) and one on my ankle.

Ankles are for girls!

[ThunderMace]

Ankles are for girls!

What he said.

I have a Mjolnir I designed on my deltoid, there was virtually no pain whatsoever.
and I would suggest that if you get one on your butt, think about how that area will look when you are 60.
Nobody likes a saggy tattoo.

[razoras]

The buttocks of 60 year olds should be hidden and are never supposed to be exposed to anyone, ever.

[coldcut]

I've got a bear on my shoulder and a dolphin on my arm. Went through an animal totem period. Not serious about it or anything, just liked the idea. And basically, what Imperial said. My bear came off the wall and it's basically just a big black blotch. It sort of looks like a wombat. Dolphin also came off the wall, but looks a whole lot better. But I've actually seen it on other people. I've thought about trying to draw up some sort of upper arm tattoo that would actually connect it all, adding in the planned turtle on my shoulder. I'm just not that enthusiasic about it though.

As for pain, virtually none. A friend of mine, when asked how it feels said, "It feels like a tiny needle going in and out of your skin." Which isn't a helpful answer, but describes it perfectly. It's not comfortable or anything, but shots hurt worse.

[The Freudian Slip]

When I'm 60, it'll just be all the more hilarious... :chuckle:

NSFW!!!



But I'm getting this on my right cheek...
http://www.bmfwallets.com/printed.jpg

And this on the calve, or ankle, or whatever.
http://www.eden.rutgers.edu/~hca/grflag.gif

[Green Tower]

I've got an extensive tattoo collection. Anywhere that's near a joint is going to hurt more than usual. Pain tolerance varies with each person, of course. I've sat for 4 hours to get some work done. Ankle tats are definately for girls. Get some antibiotic/anti-itch cream and use it regularly for a few weeks. At least as long as it's flaking. Keep it out of the sun for this duration as well.
Don't get work done while drunk (I never have). It hurts more and you bleed like a stuck pig.

[8 Ball]

I have a couple myself (Asian characters on my left shoulder & a tribal sun in the middle of my upper back).

Pain-wise it really depends where...if it's hitting a lot of flesh you won't notice it as much but if it's over any bony areas it's gonna hurt like hell. Just remember...THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PAINLESS TATOO. All of them will hurt, it's just the degrees of pain that are different.

As for care afterwards, After the bandage comes off use some medical-quality vitamin E gel/lotion on it for a few weeks and keep it out of the sun.

Also be damned sure you're happy with your choice in Tatoo's, just think "Will you be happy to show this to your grandkids in 50 years" (well...not the buttocks one).


And yes....ankle tatoos are for girls, so are tatoo's on your lower back :D.

[Sword]

And yes....ankle tatoos are for girls, so are tatoo's on your lower back :D.

Yeah, lower back tatoos is so guys have something interesting to look at while they're you know.. :P

[Gaia]

Rules for tattoos (I've got a good sized one on the upper part of my left arm to just above the shoulder joint)

1. Know what you are getting into. That flash on the walls is just a starter suggestion. Have a discussion with the artist before committing to ANYTHING! Also take a good look at the shop. Watch the person work. How sterile do they keep the environment? Are they using disposable needles or is there a really good doctor grade sterilizer in use? Look at the way they dispose waste. IF there is trash I would really question the shop. Here in Oregon the tattoo places MUST be registered with the Board of Health and artists are certified. Washington is a different story. I think you know where I got mine.

2. Once you have made the decision to commit to this process design what you want. Seriously think about NOT having words on your body. Think about art placement and how much or how little body fat you have in that area. I went with my cousin as she had one of her sleeves worked on, it was from elbow to the underpart of the lower arm. I still have the marks where she was holding on to me from the pain. That's another thing--bring a friend with you so you will be distracted and have someone to help with what little pain there is.

3. Okay you like the shop, you have the design in mind, now bring on the drinks. Huh? Take gatorade, water or other sports drinks with you. This replaces the electrolites from all of the adreneline you will be pumping through your system. Be prepared to bleed also. I know I bled like a stuck pig. Don't worry though the artist will clean it off as they go. Also UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES GO AND GET THIS DONE AFTER ALCOHOL!!! It may come off funny in movies but its not so funny in real life. Alcohol thins out your blood and most sane shops will not take you if you even have a whiff of it on you. Plus the legal complications would not be good for them. As for pain mine wasn't that painful, I've had a lot worse (*cough*
labor *cough*)

4. Afterwards. I found this stuff called Tattoo Goo. Its a natural lotion and does not sting like other lotions. Be careful also with the vaseline it tends to dry out the skin by itself. Don't pick the scab you are actually picking at the ink believe it or not and it will mess up the design once its finished. For bathing try to keep the fresh tattoo out of the water then gently sponge it off till its healed. I had a hard time with my tattoo initially due to having to keep it hidden from certain family members (try getting hugged by grandpa and he is holding onto your shoulder or dad giving you a friendly punch in the arm. Eep!). Keep the new tatoo covered for at least 48 hours, so don't expect to go to the tanning salon or outside on the chasis lounge for a while. You want that ink to look good when you do eventually and sun dulls it out.

And here is mine which I've had for five years now and it has yet to fade away or get blotchy ugly. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v123/kid_atomic/Avatars/caratatjpg.jpg

[TheImperial]

Cool design, Gaia.

I think the bleeding thing must vary from person to person. One of my buddies bled like it was going out of style with his first tattoo (and supposedly with his others, too - I just saw the first).

On the other hand, I bled very, very little. Litereally only a few drops at most.

[Akamaz]

same for my wifey, she went for the back of the neck (i'll see if i can get some pics to post) I'm thinking of one myself, but have to deal with climbing kids grabbing everything :)

[Remianen]

Some good advice here. I can convey and reinforce some of the things folks have said previously. I've tried to get tattoos but have been talked out of it by tattoo artist friends for various reasons that should be explained in this post.

Know your colorations. Several of the tats I've wanted to get, I've been advised aren't suitable for someone with milk chocolate skin (like the Hermes/Namor wings on my ankles I wanted). Given the area of the body I wanted them on and the level of detail I wanted (with the feathers easily apparent), it wouldn't come out the way I wanted it to.

Know your body. In my case, situational weight fluctuations make getting a chest or arm tattoo problematic. I usually like to stay around 160 but during the year, I have been known to "bulk up" to 200 for various occasions (hyperthyroidism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperthyroidism) FTW!). Considering the expansion of my chest and arms when that happens makes the possibility of the tattoo looking wonky very high.

To back up what Imperial said, stay the hell away from tribal tats. Yes, it looked cool on Bill Goldberg 10 years ago but he's probably the only person who can pull it off. There are literally MILLIONS of tribal symbols that can be used (though not being a member of the tribe can leave you open to accepting incorrect interpretations :p). A friend of mine has the Pequot symbol (a stylized fox) on his left pec but he's a member of the Pequot tribe. The same symbol on a WASP just wouldn't have the same impact or meaning.

Tattoo as identification is pretty big among law enforcement types. If there is any chance whatsoever that you'll see yourself in legal trouble of any kind within the next 25-30 years, stay away from tattoos. You can change your appearance but that brand on your skin doesn't change quite as easily.


Getting a tattoo of your own design (or designed, if not really drawn by you) is always the best way to go, I'd say. Just realize that with some people, tattoos can become somewhat of an addiction (just like with piercings). I'm told that oftentimes, you can't pick these folks out until after they get their first work done (then they come back several times within a year to get more). Tattoo on your ass cheek is kinda pushing it IMO but then again, I wanted art done on my ankles (it's NOT just for girls. You name me a place on the body that works better to denote running speed than the ankles :P).

[Kinetix]

Lower back tat=tramp stamp :shinner:

[Darknesse]

Tattoos don't hurt much in my experience, and mine are fairly large. It's when they get to the more sensitive areas like across the ribs or on the inside of the bicep when it supposedly hurts alot.

My tongue didn't hurt at all when it got pierced. Ears were way way way worse.

Know your body. In my case, situational weight fluctuations make getting a chest or arm tattoo problematic. I usually like to stay around 160 but during the year, I have been known to "bulk up" to 200 for various occasions (hyperthyroidism FTW!). Considering the expansion of my chest and arms when that happens makes the possibility of the tattoo looking wonky very high.


Heh, I weighed more than that in highschool. I was a BEAST (power lifter).

[Larke]

I want a very small shamrock on my hip (possibly both at some time) like 1/4'' or something... real small. Thought about amotherhood celtic knot, but then decided not to. I'm suppose to wait til my 30th birthday and then I can get one.

[Gaia]

I got mine when I was 31.

As for the tribal tatoos. My brother has one that was designed for him. The artist he went to is an anthropolgy professor at one of the universities in Californina. So the tatoo actually has both meaning to my brother and is correct from a Polynisian tribal view. I'll see if I can find it. It has the symbols for fish hooks and sharks teeth.. Its supposed to be protective in the water.

[The Freudian Slip]

Yeah, I would never get a tribal. Or asian characters. My friend David got the chinese symbol for, "chinese symbol". :)

[Kinetix]

Yeah, I would never get a tribal. Or asian characters. My friend David got the chinese symbol for, "chinese symbol". :)

What a waste. Just like people who get dicks tattood on their feet or something.

Heh, I weighed more than that in highschool. I was a BEAST (power lifter).
LOLSWEETLOFL

[Krypto]

Heh, I weighed more than that in highschool. I was a BEAST (power lifter).

Dude, Darknesse, what compells you to constantly remind us how manly you are? Are you so insecure that you have to make sure everyone on here knows what a beast you are?

Or perhaps compensating for something?

[Kinetix]

He doesn't need to compensate, he can break **** with his hands.

[Darknesse]

No, I was trying to point out that going up to 200 lbs isn't a mark of shame, and that weighing that much because of a condition is nothing at all to be sheepish about. 200 pounds isnt that much at all, and just because you all the sudden go up to that weight doesn't mean it looks bad at all.

For god's sake, how about you stop assuming everything I say is like that? and stop being a ****ing asshole about everything I say Krypto. You just look at everything and take it in the most negative way possible and I am tired of it.

Seriously. No more trolling. You aren't going to bait me, so just stop it.

[The Freudian Slip]

<---weighs 265 and struggles to lift his e-peen.

[Got]

I have two lion rampants on my shoulder, the Scottish and Czech one, encircled by the Russian Imperial eagle. That didn't hurt much at all. I also have a gladius through a Roman laurel wreath on the inside of my right arm with "Deo Invicto" at the bottom which hurt a lot more than the shoulder but still not really unbearable. But then I made the mistake of getting another tattoo on the inside of my left wrist. It's a train wheel with wings with "To Moscow!" in Russian below it. The problem is the wings stretch round my wristbone. It absolutely killed getting that done.

My friend has a pair of wings on both his ankles (I'm not even sure he could tell you who Mercury was) and he tells me it's the most painful thing he's ever experienced... so good luck!

[TheImperial]

I have two lion rampants on my shoulder, the Scottish and Czech one, encircled by the Russian Imperial eagle. That didn't hurt much at all. I also have a gladius through a Roman laurel wreath on the inside of my right arm with "Deo Invicto" at the bottom which hurt a lot more than the shoulder but still not really unbearable.

Those sound like absolutely rad tattoos, my Scottish friend.

[Meltman]

Yeah, lower back tatoos is so guys have something interesting to look at while they're you know.. :P

"Might as well be a bulls-eye..."

[Darknesse]

Doesn't know what an e-peen is..

[Akamaz]

eensy weensy peensy

[Kinetix]

Doesn't know what an e-peen is..

Your badassity on the internet. How many 50s you have, how nice your computer is, how good at counterstrike you are, blah blah.

E-Penis

[Graphite]

Don't have any, don't plan to get any, so no advice from me, but there is a great Red vs Blue PSA on this. Absolutely hilarious.

[Darknesse]

Your badassity on the internet. How many 50s you have, how nice your computer is, how good at counterstrike you are, blah blah.

E-Penis

Oh. My friends usually use digitally hung. I have 0 50s now, my computer makes a funny sound and I suck at CS.. TERRIBLE at it.

so I guess I have a DH score right around the same number Michael J Fox hs for his Street Cred.

[Remianen]

No, I was trying to point out that going up to 200 lbs isn't a mark of shame, and that weighing that much because of a condition is nothing at all to be sheepish about. 200 pounds isnt that much at all, and just because you all the sudden go up to that weight doesn't mean it looks bad at all.

Nah, it's not a bad thing. In fact, I know hundreds of people who wish they had my "condition" since I can eat a side of beef and not gain an ounce of weight seemingly. :) But usually during the summer and for certain special events, I'll bulk up a bit, even though it only affects my look in very subtle ways.

But I'm sure as hell not ashamed. In this day and age of people killing themselves to lose weight, I feel kinda good since I can lose weight with just a thought (okay, slight exaggeration but not too far from the truth :P). When I need to slow my metabolism down a bit to bulk up, I get a script from my doctor and can put on 25+ lbs of muscle (and some water) in 6 weeks. It's not easy (60 hrs a week in the gym) but very doable. Then I quit taking the meds (though they usually run out) and the weight melts away. That's not bad, that's ideal IMO. :)

[Overbite]

*raises eyebrow...*

Let me get this straight...you put in about 10+ hours a day in the gym. Only assuming you give your body the 2 days it needs to recoperate. The two days in which your muscles start to heal themself to make them bigger giving you your 25+lbs...

And red meat helps you bulk up, white meat helps you loose it, low carbs. So it's no suprise to me that you can eat it and not seem to gain "bad weight".