Tattoo Experiences

[hillarygayle]

A couple of conversations this morning revealed to me that I know absolutely nothing about the process of getting a tattoo. Will those of you who have tattoos please share stories with me? First tattoo, best or worst experience, what to wear, how long it took for a tattoo of how many colors or what size, whether yours was broken down into different sessions, etc. Anything you think that a total tattoo virgin should know.

Pertinent info: I plan on getting a compass ross on my back, centered approximately between my shoulderblades. It will be the size of my palm and circled by the words "I ain't waiting for the world to change; gonna change the world for you..." I'm going to talk it over with the tattoo artist & decide on what colors would work best on my skin, how many colors, etc. I have the pain tolerance of a slab of granite and no fear of needles, but I do not know what a tattoo needle is like.

Thanks for the help!

Comments

I wanted to be a tattoo artist once. I never managed to get an apprenticeship.

[facet]

The short version: Take your time and plan it all out.

The detailed version: Scope out all your local tattoo parlors. You're a nurse so you know what a sterile environment looks like.<3 You'd be surprised at how disgusting some tattoo parlors can be.

Look through the artist's portfolio with a critical eye and see if their style is something you like. Have the artist draw the tattoo on paper and or ink transfer to your skin so you can see what s/he'll be doing before it's actually permanent. (Letting someone freehand is a very risky business.) It might help to have several pictures that are similar to what you want. You could even commission a sketch on Etsy.com.

Be prepared to be very sensitive for a week or so. Think "bad sunburn". Use a bra that's not going to rub on the tattoo. Get 'tattoo goo' or a similar product and use it liberally.

[katieastrophe]

I've had a tattoo; I wrote about it when it was done, under the bodymods tag on my journal. I think my friend dimethirwen's experience will be more useful to you, though, as she had the exact same thing you're planning done:

http://dimethirwen.livejournal.com/515639.html
http://dimethirwen.livejournal.com/514604.html