Do you have a tattoo?

[HTP99]

Thinking about my next tattoo,I want it in a similar Trash Polka style to my last one and in memory of my dad who died 4 years ago.

When we see a Robin we say it is him, so I want to get something along the lines of a Robin in flight with a representation of a crucifix (he was religious) in the background, most likely on the left side of my chest.

[ashleyman]

I've never had a tattoo before. How do you find out what you can have?

For example, I really like this guy https://www.instagram.com/mowgli_artist/ and I like the piece below



But instead of the skull could you have a cat face, and instead of the lines at the top if it could be like this emanating from behind the helmet



Honestly have no idea how it would work.

[HTP99]

ashleyman said:

I've never had a tattoo before. How do you find out what you can have?

For example, I really like this guy https://www.instagram.com/mowgli_artist/ and I like the piece below



But instead of the skull could you have a cat face, and instead of the lines at the top if it could be like this.



Honestly have no idea how it would work.

The first "proper" one can be daunting as where do you go; just some random tattoo parlour? a recommendation? tattoo places can be quite intimidating and some artists can be arses.

It took me years to get my first one due to much of the above and it happened purely by accident. I'd wanted one for years, I had an idea of what I wanted but I'm not artistic at all; something original and representing my marriage, we had a skull and rose themed wedding so wanted something along those lines but where to start, years went by with the idea in my head but I was just so nervous about where to go and all my friends weren't in to tatoo's so I had no real advice.

Then one week my wife came back from a massage and told me that the lady who did her massages and had done them for years; her husband had just left his job with McLaren to concentrate 100% on setting up a tattoo business, he had been dabbling for years and was bloody good.

A meeting was arranged and would you believe, we were both on the same college course decades prior, as soon as he opened the door he recognised me straight away, we had a chat, I told him a rough outline of what I wanted, he recommended the Trash Polka style and a couple of months later he e-mailed me a design that he came up with and that is what I had done.

He now has a shop in town and I hope to pop along in the next month or so for a chat and to come up with a design for my next one.

[Usget]

ashleyman said:

I've never had a tattoo before.

You're in the right place starting on Instagram and finding artists whose styles you like. It's great to take other pieces as inspiration, but a good artist will never do the same thing (or anything close to it) twice. So you are best to:

1) Find an artist whose work you like the look of
2) Mail them with what sort of elements you want to include, where you would like the piece to be, and roughly how big.
3) Most artists will invite you to book a time for a chat/consultation (sometimes you'll have to call their shop to book a slot)
4) Take some examples of work you like (from the artist and from other artists) as well as any reference images, so the artist can get a better idea of your taste, when they meet you in person.
5) Pay a deposit and get some sessions in the diary.
6) Most artists will start drawing a few days before your appointment, so don't expect to see anything or make big changes months in advance. You have to be vigilant when you do stages 1-5, so that you have a good level of trust by this step.

Hope this helps! Oh and there is a stage 7 which involves you getting stabbed thousands of times with sharp needles but don't worry too much about that one for now

[S11Steve]

Usget said:

ashleyman said:

I've never had a tattoo before.

You're in the right place starting on Instagram and finding artists whose styles you like. It's great to take other pieces as inspiration, but a good artist will never do the same thing (or anything close to it) twice. So you are best to:

1) Find an artist whose work you like the look of
2) Mail them with what sort of elements you want to include, where you would like the piece to be, and roughly how big.
3) Most artists will invite you to book a time for a chat/consultation (sometimes you'll have to call their shop to book a slot)
4) Take some examples of work you like (from the artist and from other artists) as well as any reference images, so the artist can get a better idea of your taste, when they meet you in person.
5) Pay a deposit and get some sessions in the diary.
6) Most artists will start drawing a few days before your appointment, so don't expect to see anything or make big changes months in advance. You have to be vigilant when you do stages 1-5, so that you have a good level of trust by this step.

Hope this helps! Oh and there is a stage 7 which involves you getting stabbed thousands of times with sharp needles but don't worry too much about that one for now

Agree with all of this - took me 20 years of thinking before I went ahead with it.

A good artist will relish the prospect of doing something unique that highlights their skills - give them some ideas and reference images, and "set them free" to create a design. If the artist is enthusiastic about the project the finished result will be so much better.

And remember if you are doing a long session, keep snacking to maintain blood sugar levels.

[LosingGrip]

It's done! So happy with it. Came out better than I hoped!

Photo isn't brilliant. I'll get a better one.

Despite being 30 in a couple of months, I already know she'll not like it! Told my younger sister this is the time for her to get some more as she'll be too busy to notice another little one ha.

[LosingGrip]

After some advice...

It's starting to scab and I've been told not to pick them off etc.

Trouble is when I'm rubbing the cream on they are coming off. I'm being really careful and it's only a tiny bit. Any advice on what to do? Carry on as normal?

Also, I'm still sleeping with cling film on as I don't want it to get court on the bed sheets. Is this ok? The tattoo place on their aftercare leaflet say 3-4 days.

[Turn7]

I take the cling off as soon as home and then keep it buried in Bepanthen.

Overniight, cling and Bepanthen for a week and then all done.

I never let it remotely dry so it never actually scabs.

[slopes]

Turn7 said:

I take the cling off as soon as home and then keep it buried in Bepanthen.

Overniight, cling and Bepanthen for a week and then all done.

I never let it remotely dry so it never actually scabs.

See i did clingfilm for 3 hrs, then let it air and bepanthend it for a week. It's been fine so i guess horses for courses etc.

[anonymous-user]

Unusually take the cling film off after an hour and cover it in savlon.

One night woth a long sleeve t shirt in bed then back to normal bed wear and just savlon regularly

[Turn7]

The over night cling is just to keep the sheets clean tbf....

[slopes]

Turn7 said:

The over night cling is just to keep the sheets clean tbf....

Yeah mine oozed plasma after the first sitting and i was not popular when the wife found it on the sheets

[Some Gump]

slopes said:

Turn7 said:

The over night cling is just to keep the sheets clean tbf....

Yeah mine "oozed plasma" after the first sitting and i was not popular when the wife found it on the sheets

At least you didn't "ooze plasma" in her hair. She'd really dislike that...

[LosingGrip]

Thanks! How much Bepanthen are people putting on? I was told a light shine?

I'm putting cling film on when I'm at work as I go to some dirty places (mud etc) and don't want to risk it. Comes off when I drive between customers if it's a bit of a drive though.

Paranoid that I'm going to do something to ruin it

[80sMatchbox]

Turn7 said:

The over night cling is just to keep the sheets clean tbf....

Everyone seems to have their own way of looking after tattoos but the way that I do it, it doesn't scab, doesn't get itchy and I'm yet to have any major problems.

I use a light layer of bepanthen and cling for 3 days or so. The cling is to stop the plasma turning into a scab. Depends what I'm doing, I wash it at least twice a day.

[Pericoloso]

I never re applied cling film after leaving the shop.

Took it off couple of hours later ,careful wash ,lots of cream for just a few days.

everyone's different though.

[FN2TypeR]

LosingGrip said:

Thanks! How much Bepanthen are people putting on? I was told a light shine?

I'm putting cling film on when I'm at work as I go to some dirty places (mud etc) and don't want to risk it. Comes off when I drive between customers if it's a bit of a drive though.

Paranoid that I'm going to do something to ruin it

A light coating, it still needs to breathe so don't pile loads of it on. Rub it in gently with a couple of fingers, take your time and apply as little pressure as possible if it's scabby.

Don't worry too much though, it's meant to be enjoyable after all, despite the initial bit of upkeep, just be sensible, keep it well moisturised and well cleaned and you'll be fine. Don't pick at any scabs or dry/flaking skin no matter how tempted and don't scratch it either.

Where is the tattoo? Be careful that you don't let the shower beat down on it for a good few days and if it's on the underside of your arm or armpit don't spray deodorant on it.... It hurts like hell, ask me how I know

In fact, don't get your arm pit tattooed at all!

Edited by FN2TypeR on Sunday 24th March 22:06

[Long Drax]

No.

[Ruskie]

Shower as soon as I get home, light covering of Benpenthen 3 times a day, cling film for 2/3 days. I always give it a bit of air between washes. Never had any issues.

[LosingGrip]

FN2TypeR said:

A light coating, it still needs to breathe so don't pile loads of it on. Rub it in gently with a couple of fingers, take your time and apply as little pressure as possible if it's scabby.

Don't worry too much though, it's meant to be enjoyable after all, despite the initial bit of upkeep, just be sensible, keep it well moisturised and well cleaned and you'll be fine. Don't pick at any scabs or dry/flaking skin no matter how tempted and don't scratch it either.

Where is the tattoo? Be careful that you don't let the shower beat down on it for a good few days and if it's on the underside of your arm or armpit don't spray deodorant on it.... It hurts like hell, ask me how I know

In fact, don't get your arm pit tattooed at all!

Edited by FN2TypeR on Sunday 24th March 22:06

Its on my calf. Showers weren't a problem. I didn't shower the first day, just washed it by hand. Now I wash the leg first with Dove, let the water run down my body which takes the soap off. Then just wash as normal. Last night was really itchy. Hairs are growing back as well which isn't helping!

Today is a lot better. Letting it air dry seems to help a lot (before I was patting it with kitchen roll).