#Tattoo advice

[virtualgirladv]

how do i find tattoo artists doing what i need when all the bios are like "traditional" "neo Japanese" "fine line" "realism"??

i need someone labeled "for robotfuckers by robotfuckers" and "has more hours in cyberpunk 2077 than you've had sleep" is that so much to ask???

[genericpuff]

Out curiosity what’s your honest opinion of people getting there girlfriend/boyfriend name tattooed on a them?? Because honestly I think it’s bad luck.

haha there's definitely a superstition among artists that once you get your partner's / friend's name tattooed on you, the relationship is doomed. The craziest real life example I have of that happening is when I gave matching tattoos to a boyfriend and girlfriend who then went through a break-up so messy just a week later that it literally led to her getting a restraining order against him, which was NUTS (she's doing a lot better now tho which is great to see)

But also it's one of those things where it's just superstitions, a tattoo is a tattoo. I do generally recommend that people who get matching tattoos with their besties / tattoos of their partner's names / etc. do all the proper amount of thinking over it to ensure that it's not a last minute spur-of-the-moment decision and that their relationship is generally stable enough that they don't see it going anywhere any time soon. One thing I've been seeing people do more of is get 'matching' tattoos that are still perfectly fine on their own, so if the relationship does fall through, they still have a tattoo that stands on its own with its own meaning without needing the other half to make sense.

Shit happens though, tattoo or no. If you really want to get tattooed together as a fun outing and bonding experience between you and a partner / friend / etc. then ultimately it's your choice and superstitions be damned. Just make sure you weigh the pros and cons properly and that all the people involved are going in fully informed and aren't just getting dragged along into it! It can be hard to draw boundaries regarding something like matching tattoos because it usually involves at least one person being super excited to do it and it can be hard to say no to that, but at the end of the day it's your body that you have to live with for the rest of your life, so you need to make the decisions that are right for you and your skin (•̀ᴗ•́)و

[librarisxng]

on a scale of 1-10 how screwed am I for getting a tattoo 3 days before the stray kids concert and I got a soundcheck ticket?

[tatttoosworld]

30 Small Matching Tattoos for Married Couples

Getting small matching tattoos as a married couple is a beautiful way to express love and commitment. These tattoos not only reflect your unique bond but also serve as a permanent reminder of your journey together. Below, you’ll find 30 inspiring ideas that can help you choose the perfect small tattoo to match with your spouse.

[crazypantsjewels]

In other less depressing news I’m probably getting my first tattoo this weekend! Any advice for a first timer? 🥺

[slimylayne]

Lettering practice! Booga and Stimky are nicknames for my cats

[kingxfmischief]

[Alright, opinion question time!

Do you think it's bad to get a "common" tattoo? I ask because I want to get a tattoo for my favorite book. And the idea I have is apparently common among fans of this book and I've had people try to dissuade me because "everyone gets that tattoo!"

And I'm curious what people think about getting an "overused" tattoo]

[alo3eev3ra]

🐟

[messyhandstattoo]

Numbing Cream - fight or flight the pain

Numbing cream can be used during a tattoo to help manage the pain of getting a tattoo. It's an interesting topic in the tattoo space, as some are fiercely against it, some are for and some don't care.

So let's break it down, so you can make decisions about whether you use it or not.

Why do people use numbing cream?

Numbing cream is usually considered an option to manage (not eliminate) pain during a tattoo. I'm sure most people who have sat through hours of tattooing can tell you the different waves of feeling okay and wanting to bite your artist through the experience of getting a tattoo.

This is because while getting tattooed, your body is having a variety of chemical responses to the process and pain. Your body at first is going to feel a rush of adrenaline, which may carry you a bit from feeling lots of pain. When the pain starts to hit, your body releases endorphins - in response to pain, which can make you feel sort of high, and relive the pain to come extent.

This can make the body feel intense and relaxed at the same time, and can last 2-3 hours, depending on the person. It's usually why most people say after the 4 hour mark, everything sucks.

Pain is also psychological too! I'm sure most of us can say our first tattoo, or tattoos in spot people grimace or straight up tell you it's cooked, can be pretty nerve wracking. Which impacts your body's response to pain.

What is it?

We're going to get a bit science-y (very professional way to refer to this), but I think it's important to look at it from this perspective, so you can make an informed decision, rather than just repackaging opinions I have or have heard.

Numbing cream is also known as topical anaesthetic, can include the following main active ingredients

Lidocaine (also called lignocaine)

Prilocaine

Tetracaine.

Please note that here in Australia at least, topical anaesthetics are considered scheduled medicines due to the concertration of these active ingredients. This means they can only be sold/supplied by authorised/licensed individuals under the controlled substances act 1984. Tattoo artists and laser technicians are not authorised to sell or supply scheduled medicines to the public.

Numbing creams that contain more than 2% but less than 10% lidocaine (lignocaine) are available for purchase in a pharmacy. Anything above 10%, are only available via prescription from a doctor.

Why is this? Well there's dangers and risks associated with numbing cream. But let's peddle to how it works first.

How does it work?

Numbing creams work by blocking the nerves responsible fo transmitting pain signals to the brain. I'm sure we would all know from early school science diagrams, nerves extend throughout our bodies.

Numbing cream can come in a gel or cream form, the three main active ingredients (lidocaine/lignocaine, prilocaine and tetracaine) are absorbed through the skin and inhibit nerve function, which provides pain relief.

Sometimes adrenaline or epinephrine are added to numbing cream to reduce bleeding during a tattoo.

Lets extend on those active ingredients and look at what they actually do:

Lidocaine is a nerve deadener, and it stops the initial shock of pain. Though they only affect the nerves on the first layer of skin. You'll still be able to feel pain from the nerves below.

Prilocaine causes loss of feeling in the skin and surrounding tissue.

Tetracaine is a nerve blocker, and stops the nerves from registering pain by dulling the intensity of pain signals sent to the brain. Your body is less what the actual fuck, and more god damn okay.

Epinephrine is a vasoconstrictor, which constricts blood vessels (reducing swelling/bleeding) and slow down the absorption of other aesthetics. Which means a nerve blocking ingredient (such as tetracaine) will last longer. Without a vasoconstrictor, creams wear off quicker.

What are the dangers/risks?

Some of the anaesthetic can get absorbed into the blood stream through the skin, which can have serious side effects or toxicity. You can also have allergies to these anaesthetics.

The amount you apply and how you apply it can have severe side effects or toxicity including:

Irregular heart beat

Seizures

Breathing difficulties

Coma

Death

Applying too much or using occlusive methods without advice from a health professional advice or following product instructions can put you at risk. You may also have underlying health issues that can effect what cream you can and can not use.

Occlusion, is the blockage or closing or an opening, blood vessel or hollow organ. In relation to numbing cream, occlusion techniques you may have heard of is applying a large amount of numbing cream and covering the area with plastic or cling wrap. This can lead to an increased absorption of the active ingredients into the blood stream leading to the toxicity and side effects mentioned above.

To minimise these risks:

Seek, chat to and follow the advice of a health practitioner (pharmacist, compound pharmacist, GP, nurse etc)

Purchase from a reputable pharmacy or chat to a doctor about whether something more than 10% is safe for this process.

Test patch - use the cream in an area away from where you're intending to get the tattoo, to test if you're allergic.

Follow product instructions, along with health practitioner advice.

Openly communicate with your tattoo artist about your decision - as I said in the beginning, there are varying opinions from all sorts of artist about the use of numbing cream. I have been tattooed by and work wth artist that don't mind or are for it, and I've also been tattooed and worked with artist who will cancel or turn you away on the day for using numbing cream. So always inform your artist or ask if they are happy to tattoo you with numbing cream.

Numbing Sprays? And gels? While tattooing?

You may have also see numbing sprays and gels, usually used during the process of tattooing.

I personally have had artists use numbing sprays towards the end of sessions on large pieces, when I start to be a bit more sensitive to touch and tattooing.

Generally it's use on skin already opened by tattooing, which is continually worked on. Usually these sprays and gels are some type of first aid pain relief or antiseptic, used for cuts, scrapes and minor burns. Which can sometimes contain the active ingredients in numbing creams.

Always check what and when your products should be used during a tattoo to minimise any risks. Generally you should also not be choosing multiple products for before and during the tattoo as well.

Why do some artists not like numbing cream?

It's all personal preference for an artist. Generally many will say the pain is a rite of passage (is this kind of sadistic?)

Well it is part of the tattooing culture, and in some cultures it's extremely important. In ancient Polynesia, traditional body tattoos take years and the enduring of pain demonstrated character depth, allegiance and earned respect. "Pe'a", the traditional male tattoo translates to "protect" Mayans receive tattooed in honour of braving the process, as it symbolised they had the fortitude to deal with pain and suffering. Tribes in northeast India perceive tattoos as a symbol of strength, courage and vitality because of the associated pain.

Deferring from the opinions of pain being an essential part of tattooing, we already spoke about the potential risks and dangers associated with using these creams, gels and sprays. This is a valid stand point to have, as we aren't medical professionals and we are not all fully equip to deal with the adverse reactions that can arise from use.

Some also are of the opinion that these creams, gels and sprays interfere with the process and healing of the tattoo. This is a hard one to be on either side of the fence, I think at least. Everyone's body is different and a tattoo artist is susceptible to their own tattoo application as well (you can never guarantee you're tattooing EXACTLY the same every time or every person). There's a lot of competing factors, I think, that create variables already, without the involvement of numbing creams, gels and sprays.

However some say the desensitisation of the skin can make it hard to stretch the skin, make the skin texture slippery or difficult to get the needle and ink into the skin.

I've definitely had this experience, without the knowledge that my client has applied numbing cream, I as an apprentice, thought I was absolutely loosing my god damn mind, because I could not get the needle or ink in.

Some have said during the healing process, the numbing cream, gels and sprays interfere with the natural healing process. Ingredients that impede blood circulation (epinephrine - a vasoconstrictor) delay formation of healing cells, which hinder skin regeneration essential to healing. So you may have a longer healing process and can be susceptible to infections that lead to complications.

Where are we at with it all?

Alright at the end of all this info dump, what should you take away?

Understand the ingredients in your numbing cream to guarantee yourself safety and effectiveness.

Talk to a health practitioner about your health, the risks and options about using numbing creams, gels and sprays before and during a tattoo.

Chat to your artist about what would make you feel most comfortable to manage pain, and if they feel comfortable about your use of these products.

I personally really don't have much opinion due to my own lack of experience using and working with numbing creams, gels and sprays. I am of the opinion to chat to a medical professional to make an informed decision, chat to me about your intention of use and we'll make a decision that make you and I feel comfortable for the process.

[gen0c1de]

I got my first tattoo!

A longer post about the details of my experience and whatnot. Hopefully a bit of a stress/anxiety relief for those who are getting their first tattoo and want some form of reassurance. <3

I'm 19 years old, and in the state of Michigan in the US, idk what tattoo laws are anywhere else, but when you turn 18 years old, you're considered a "legal adult" although you can't legally purchase nicotine or tobacco nor can you purchase or drink anything alcoholic. Can't go into a casino or even rent a vehicle. But I digress.

The tattoo I got is in memory of my father who passed away July 12th, 2017. Just a few minutes shy of my 13th birthday... so that was fun to wake up to. He had an all black tribal armband tattoo around his left upper-arm, which was his dominant arm, and it wasn't finished because it hurt him too much to finish the underarm part.

I was gonna get his tattoo or something close to it on my left upper-arm, but I have an implant where the tattoo would be so I chose to have it mirrored and put on my upper right arm, my dominant arm.

I was nervous as fuck and I was low on iron at the time so I was twitching like hell, so that didn't help calm my nerves or anxiety about it getting messed up. The outline didn't hurt and he did the underside of my arm first because that part is a bitch to do last cause of how sensitive the area already is. So adding on it being tender from doing an outline would've made the ordeal WAY worse. I likely wouldn't have been able to get it finished so it would have been unfinished like my dads was lmfao.

The filling part of the process was decent in the beginning, it only really hurt when he would have to go over the same spot multiple times to get it filled, much like when you color in a book or on paper, you have to go over the same area a few times to make sure its all even and complete. So when he reached the back of my arm it was more painful because it had an hour untouched, so the newly sore areas were being abused again.

It wasn't as painful as I had expected though, I'm a bit of a cry baby when my body actually LETS me cry and I surprisingly didn't cry, so the anxiety of me crying and embarrassing myself went away after a while. I did flinch a time or two and I apologized a lot throughout because I wanna be a good client and I don't want the artists to have a bad impression of me so when I go and get another tattoo they won't be annoyed that they have to deal with me.

The artist was super cool and talked to me every now and again and let me rest my arm when I had to have it above my head so he could do the underside. He said if I needed a break to let him know and complimented me on how I barely reacted in the beginning and how, although I was shaking from adrenaline, my right arm was perfectly still for him. He did grab, pull, and stretch my skin some and I had a large bruise but it didn't hurt, just looked weird for a few days.

When it was peeling it was SO HARD to not pick at the skin... I ended up picking some off and so there's a couple little places that are discolored, but if I make an appointment to get it touched up within the next 3 months then the touch up is completely free, so that's a plus! I'll make sure not to pull at the skin when I get it touched up...

Also, it's at the itchy stage. It's so hard not to scratch it... so if anyone has any tips or pointers on what to do, that would be great... cause I can not ignore it... I have ADHD. If it bothers me, I will focus on it and won't be able to distract myself. If I do manage to forget about it, my brain will suddenly be like: "Yo, remember how itchy it is? Wonder if it still itches like a motherfucker." and then the cycle repeats.

My dad's tattoo

My tattoo!

[squid--inc]

on the rare chance someone actually notices this: theoretically, if someone was planning on getting into tattoo artistry, would anyone have any advice on what kit to get as a beginner that could be used at a shop? and also, do tattoo shops prefer that a total noob have at least some experience with a tattoo gun, or do they prefer someome fresh with no tattoo experience? (my sister has also been looking into things) also, just basic advice that's maybe less discussed, perhaps advice about portfolios.

[genericpuff]

Do birthmarks make it harder to tattoo?

It depends on the birthmark, they can range from being the size of a pencil tip to being entire sections of varied color and texture. One of the biggest tattoos I've ever done, a massive back piece for a pal of mine, actually had to travel over a large birthmark where the skin was a little "rougher", but it all worked out fine! I just had to adjust the needle depth, voltage, stroke speed and hand speed to accommodate, meaning I had to make the machine hit a bit harder while slowing down my line pulls to saturate those areas where the skin was tougher / coarse.

Of course, that tattoo was black and grey, results may vary with color, so be sure to do your research and ask around at professional shops to see what can be done if you're concerned or have questions about what you can and can't achieve if you have a large birthmark! Rest assured, birthmarks are rarely a dealbreaker, just make sure you find yourself an experienced artist! 💖

[a-land-of-infinite-wonders]

Im getting an arctic monkeys tattoo next week and I’ve fully decided on what I’m getting but I don’t know where to put it on my arms, I already have one tattoo on each arm and plan to get more but idk where to get this😭

[eightypercentjack-blog]

As the happy host of 17 tattoos my main advice is to really take aftercare seriously, your new skin buddy will thank you 😊

Also don't get two 7 hour calf tattoos. I mean...do, because that's awesome prime tattoo real estate and I went back to get my second calf done after making a literal break for it 5 hours into the first because I love them sooooo much.... but you will want to die 😆

helpful tattoo reminder: they are technically Injuries so u have to eat a lot of calories drink a lot of water and sleep a lot after so your body can Heal The Injury

[flem17ng]

1st tattoo placement

hey mooties/tattoo people!

I'm probably getting my first tattoo in a few months! I have found a reputable artist and i know the design i want! I only have one question: where should i put it?

for context: this will be my first tattoo but probably not my last, it will be medium size (not massive but not a tiny fine line), i want it to be somewhere tasteful but not super obvious (My guardians are anti-tattoo)

any input would be wonderful (obvi the final decision is up to me but i just wanted to see if anyone has any advice or more placement ideas). thank you!!!

[wariomolly]

PSA for tattoos with saniderm‼️

WET IT THEN PEEL IT OFF. DO NOT PEEL IT DRY.

Do Not peel up away from the skin, like a 90degree angle. DO: peel close to the skin, as small of an angle as possible, gently

i have just seen wayyy too many videos of people taking off the second skin/saniderm from fresh beautiful tattoos DRY and you can see on their face how much it hurts!!! pain is a bad sign why do people keep doing this!!!!!!! Peeling wrong can and will fuck up the tatt!!!!!!

maybe it’s because all the advice that says do not submerge or waterlog your new tattoo. you dont have to fully soak it, just run it under warm/ lukewarm water for a few seconds and the saniderm will peel right off. then pat dry with a paper towel. and of course wash your hands before. many people take it off in the shower which is fine as long as you dont let it soak too long.

the best advice is to ask your artist what they recommend doing and if they dont give fully detailed instructions keep asking questions.