Advice on Tattoos needed!
Saturday, January 5th, 2008 - 1:40am
Howdy folks. So I've decided to get a tattoo. My first tattoo, to be more precise. And, as someone not familiar at all with many people who have tattoos, nor the culture surrounding it, I need a few pointers. I've already decided where I plan on getting it (the back of my right shoulder,) the content, the place I'm getting it done, and the size (about the diameter of a baseball.) I don't know, however, what the dos and do nots are of tattooery.
What should I be aware of beforehand about getting a tattoo and the care of it? What kind of percentage should I tip? Am I going to cry like a little girl during the process? And and all advice would be greatly appreciated!
You can't control the wind, but you can adjust your sails.
I'll get Karla in here, stat!
Certis beat me to it. - Elysium
Hey Fennec,
I got a tattoo on the same spot a couple years back, also my first one, so I'll share a few things with you.
#1 Most important thing is finding the right place to get it done. You seem to have decided this already, but this was huge for me. I specifically went for a place that was a bit "classier" than most of the tattoo parlors in Ottawa, as was evidenced by the fact that they didn't have any flash (binders full of pre-made tattoos) - IMO, a place that's trying to cater to a crowd that knows what they want is more likely to be professional and experienced. If you've already picked a place, I'd ask if you can see some of the pictures of the stuff each artist has done - you might be able to find one who has done a lot of work similar to what you want and can pick someone who is likely to do it well.
Regarding the care: Assuming everything is cool with the above, your tattoo artist should be able to best explain to you what you need to do. I'm not entirely certain how much it varies, but I'm almost certain there is nothing that we could tell you that he couldn't.
Tip: Call me a cheapo, but I didn't Tip. I feel like we're overtipping as a society anyways, but that's more for P&C. Tattoos are expensive as hell anyways!
Crying: In the spot you're getting it, not a chance. I'd describe it as "significant discomfort for an extended period of time". Definitely unpleasant and somewhat painful, but the CIA would definitely not have to destroy the tapes.
Anything else: Don't get addicted to Tattoos. Once you pop...
Also, you may need to go back every once in a while for touch ups, depending on the level of detail/colour/how much you care if it's perfect. Again, your artist will be able to fill you in. I haven't gone back yet, but it's one colour and given that I don't see it very often I'm not super concerned with it's perfection.
Morrolan wrote:
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Dyplastic has good advice.
I have three tattoos, done in four visits, in three different places. I was dumb as a rock for the first one, and just went with a friend to a place that we happened to drive by. Went to a friend of a friend the second time, and the third time I did a lot of research, starting with asking someone where they got their ink and culminating in a sit-down consultation with the artist I finally settled on.
I have to disagree about tipping, though - it is never a good idea to be chincy with someone who is doing something permanent to you - and if you ever go back to that artist, you really really want them to remember you fondly. I've been twice to my last artist, since I have a piece that is going to be a long time in the making, and I have a really good relationship with her. It's like your hairdresser, but way, way more important. Hair grows back. Lazer surgery ain't cheap. I'm just saying. Tipping is ESPECIALLY important if your artist doesn't own the shop, but just rents a chair/space.
Tattoos are more painful the less flesh there is between bone and the needles. The back or shoulder is a really good place for minimal pain, so long as you aren't a supermodel or dying of anorexia (but I didn't need to say it twice! *rimshot*). The most painful ink I ever had done was right on the bone under my left big toe. I don't recommend it. Take deep breaths and recite a mantra or bring an iPod to help distract you, if you're really concerned about the pain. DO NOT take a painkiller before you go in - painkillers thin the blood and will contribute to bleeding, which can damage your ink setting properly, and also makes for longer healing periods. I heal pretty quick, but expect it to hurt for about a week. Follow your artist's instructions for after care.
Remember to put sunscreen on your ink before going out with it exposed. Sunlight is a tattoo killer, especially for darker colours. I am careful with mine, and my back tat, which is black, is just as dark and well defined as when I got it three years ago.
Hope that helps!
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Don't get aids from the needle, I suppose.
The man wears a bucket of KFC on his head. I wouldn't expect anything less. - Pred
Helpful. But covered in the "research your artist" part.
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Don't drink and tattoo. More precisely don't be so drunk from the night before that you are still hammered the next day prior to going for a tattoo. Otherwise you end up with a large blue Tick on your leg.
Somewhere on a deep ocean vent no man has ever seen, God smites a small colony of tube worms because you masturbate.-JoeBedurndurn, on sin
Done and done. I did some research and http://www.tattoomadison.com/index.swf seems like a pretty classy place to get things done. I went and and had a consultation with Houstin already and they said that everything there is custom done. I was especially impressed with their online FAQ, they seem to be very focused on the professionalism and cleanliness of the business. Two big concerns of mine.
Regarding Brennil and tipping in general, I was wondering if there was a norm as to the percentage one should tip? I worked as a waiter for years and I know that if I got anything under 20% I considered my service to have been less than adequate. But if I am looking at a $200 tattoo as a college student am I really expected to tip $40? I mean, I don't tip my pizza delivery guy 20%, but I realize that there is a LOT of skill and specialization require in tattoo artistry. You get what you pay for I guess.
You can't control the wind, but you can adjust your sails.
Dysplastic and Brennil covered it pretty well. I have three tattoos and I suppose the only thing new I have to contribute is to be sure you're going to be happy with the design you get since they are permanent. The first tattoo I got (right after turning 18) is a design that I am somewhat embarrassed of.
I will second that the less skin between skin and tattoo = more pain. I have one on my upper back, one on a shoulder and one on the inside of a forearm; the one on my forearm hurt a lot more than the others. None of them were anywhere near as bad as having a tooth drilled at the dentist though.
Also, tip; it's good karma (I think I tipped $10 - $20 per tat, they cost between $100 and $150 each. I don't know if there's a standard). And most reputable tattoo parlors will give you an aftercare pamphlet discussing how to take care of it until its healed.
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Also good for caring for a tattoo is Eucerin. It's what I slathered on mine while it was healing, and it helped a lot with keeping the skin healthy and letting the tat settle in nicely.
As far as the pain goes, in the area you're describing, my bet is it'll be something similar to a very sharp sunburn-like pain. As has been indicated, less padding between the skin and the underlying bone, the more it hurts.
As far as tipping goes, I'd say a $40 tip for YOU might be excessive, but you are trying to keep this person happy, especially if it's a multi-session process. So, frankly, save up. It'll help you out in the long run.
I accrue pens like Hefner accrues bimbos. -- duckideva
I agree on the balls. Not a fan of the balls. -- wordsmythe asserting himself in OOC Theater
Very true... like Dys already said, once you get one... you'll want another. These are something that you'll have the rest of your life so you want someone you trust doing them, and someone who's happy
as for the pain... pain don't hurt
honestly if you can handle a game of paintball you can handle a tattoo.
Oh they'll probably tell you as well, but it really does make a difference. Don't drink alcohol before you go and get it. You'll bleed more and they'll have a rougher/longer time getting it done.
Gamer Tag: Rantyr
2 things:
1) Fennec, no matter how expensive the tip may seem, remember: this person is permanently marking your body. Keep them happy and they are much more likely to make you happy.
2) Damn I just can't do it, the animated smilies will pop up soon enough without my input...
"Also, I have four legs and am covered in wool. Baa!" *Legion* reveals his inner furry.
As Rubb Ed said, it's crucial to take care of your tattoo while it is healing. That is the most important time for the long term look of the tattoo.
Take a tour of the parlor. Make sure that the space is clean and their equipment is sterile. All artists have a portfolio, have a look and see how their past tattoos have come out. When I got mine I went out to a bunch of different parlors in the area and looked at their portfolios until I found a guy whose work I really liked. Since the effect is for all intents and purposes permanent, a little extra leg work should be taken.
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All I know about 'tats'.
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Perhaps your experience is different, but I don't know a single tattoo artist that will touch you if they even so much as smell any booze on you. The last thing they need is someone coming in all pissed off that they got a tattoo and have booze to blame for it.
My only piece of advice is make sure you want what you want. Don't get a tat just to get a tat. And for the sake of the gods, don't do something stupid and played out like spelling your name in Chinese characters. All that's going to get you is laughed at by Asian girls and snickered at by Asian guys.
I have one tattoo and I love it. My fiancee hates it and has threatened several times to dose me and take it off with surgery while I'm out. I suppose I should be more worried than I am considering she's an NP with access to drugs and she does a good deal of the cooking, but I'm not.
Lastly, don't date girls with tramp stamps. You don't know where they've been.
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Everywhere?
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This is why you shouldn't assume. I thought this was a joke even though I don't know Karla at all other than her great taste in avatars but poor taste in men. Ba-Zing!
JUST PUZZLED YOUR ASS UP, SON! -Mr Crinkle
for the love of god, please don't get a tattoo of a video game character
I don't know... I waffle back and forth about ever getting one. I'm pretty flabby right now, so I'd also worry about what it would look like if I lose (or gain) weight. The whole "regret it later" thing is also a huge factor... I see 18 year olds who are still in high school get lame ass "playah 4 life" kind of tats, and all I can think of is how their 25-30 year old self is going to be paying out a lot for laser removal...
Ah well. I do know that I very rarely find tattoos attractive when on a woman... might be sexist, I guess, but the ink just seems to spoil the natural beauty.
Are you ever going to have the guts to TELL us what your design is?
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II have a lot of ink, so learn from some of my earlier mistakes.
Rule 1 Make an appointment. An artist who can block his time around you will have time to look over the design and really see where they want to take it.
Rule 2 Listen to the artists ideas for change. You don't have to follow them but listen they may have a lot of cool ideas for what you want and if you don't like them no big deal walk away artists and customers before ink is laid are not married to each other.
Rule 3 Make sure MAKE SURE you are absolutely happy with your design. It is permanent and laser treatment is not fun.
Rule 4 Unless it is the owner of the shop tip well and before you start and after if you are happy with the result. If it is the owner you need not per tip because he is not paying rent to himself for the chair. When I had my Back piece done by Fat Joe (owner of Jade Dragon in Chicago) I tipped him $100 afterwards only because the work was stellar. $100 may seem excessive but when you take in to account when it was all said and done i paid almost a grand it wasn't that bad.
Rule 5 After care of your tattoo is the most critical step of the process. I prefer preparation H for the first 48 hours not to gloppy but keep it moist. After the 48 hours are over simple fragrance free lotion is good, I prefer Lubriderm Sensitive skin. That you want to make sure you are applying 3 to 4 times a day but as painful as it is rub it in well you don't want it damp to the touch. if your tattoo scabs do not pick them just apply more lotion.
That is it for my absolute rules, I personally won't go to a shop that bakes the needles i want new out of the package needles but you can go either way it just depends on your level of paranoia.
Oh don't drink or take aspirin before you go it will make you bleed more and make your artist's life miserable.
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Karla, exactly where is your big toe tattoo? On the toe itself (a ring design of some sort, I would guess), or on the metatarsal? What a strange choice of the spot. I think the only people with tattoos on their feet I saw (on TV) were fighters on UFC and Pride circuits.
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You missed like a million punctuation marks here that would have made it a lot easier to read this post.
That being said, I always like to go for "Assume it is going to hurt like h-e-double-hockey-sticks" and enjoy the lack of pain if it doesn't. But I don't have tatoos, just piercings.
"I can't knife you right now. I have a chair and some pants."
My advice is to make sure you get a really really big tattoo so that everyone knows your name is Mr. Cool Ice.
Fedaykin98 wrote:
wordsmythe wrote:
A lot of people find them pretentious but I kind of like the meaningless pretty-looking tribal-style tattoos. I figure they age pretty well, too, and you certainly don't require the same level of explanation as a name or a dick with a sword through it or something.
NOTE: This is not a doodle bug.
Spore
It started with the leaf on my ankle, which I got when I was 18 and just wanted to prove that my body didn't belong to my parents anymore. Could have been worse, my friend got this enormous rose-and-dagger that fills the entire side of her right calf. Later I wanted to make it a bit more individual, and decided on this:
Please ignore my hammertoes.
I still really like it, and if ever I have some loose cash laying around I might get the other foot done to match. I believe that tattoos should enhance the body, not obscure it. You won't see me with full sleeves or some massive intricate scene across my back.
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Everyone already said what I was going to recommend. I think what's most important is that you're 100% sure of the design you want. It took me two years to decide that a tiny eighth note was what I wanted on my shoulder blade.
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Neat foliage there.
However, doing another foot too would take away the subtleness, I'd say. The symmetry would trivialize the design. Although I understand very little in tattoo conventions.
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I don't have any tats, but I really want one or two after watching the INK series...one thing I learned from watching that is: look at the artist's book.
If you like what you see, then make an appointment with that person, and make sure you don't get pawned off on someone else in the shop.
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Hahaha, well, to assuage all of your fears that I am getting a tattoo to look cool or, god forbid, getting an asian character/tribal anything, I'll tell you. I plan on getting a tattoo of a sailboat in the middle of a stormy ocean setting with limited color on the back of my shoulder. The reason why and the exact symbolisms are mine to know.
I really have to agree with you there. I used to be incredibly anti-tattoo as early as two years ago. My girlfriend at the time, whom I had dated for 2 years at this point, told me she wanted a tattoo and I flipped out. When my family and I went out West for a week and I came back, I was surprised to find a tattoo on her foot. I don't know if I've ever been more pissed in my life. In retrospect, I was acting incredibly immature and was completely out of line, but I just thought this girl was the most beautiful thing in the world, and to possibly ruin that by permanently marking her skin with something foreign seemed...I'm not sure on the word here, but 'blasphemous' is the closest I can come up with.
Regardless, she is the reason I'm even getting a tattoo in the first place. We had a fairly nasty breakup two months ago after four years of dating which involved cheating and lying and the whole nine yards, all on her end. It's amazing how many life lessons you can learn in such a short period of time!
Thanks for the tips and such thus far, if you think of any more keep em comin'!
Oh and Brennil, I really like your tattoos.
You can't control the wind, but you can adjust your sails.
I've always been tempted to get ye old family crest or coat of arms over the left breast, but alas I am poor.
shihonage wrote:
PSN: BoogleGWJGet one that says "Certiz Forevah" with a rose and a thorn and Certis' face on it, it's all the rage and I'm actually getting one right now
The man wears a bucket of KFC on his head. I wouldn't expect anything less. - Pred
Someone should get one of the Pillow of Heterosexuality on their ass. All I'm sayin...
You can't control the wind, but you can adjust your sails.