Tattoos

Rburke....

I COMPLETELY AGREE!!
JennC


>I don't care
>what people might think of
>it as it is my
>body, my money, and my
>decision. When I am
>80, I hope it is
>still there to remind me
>of a time when I
>was daring and chose to
>do something different with no
>regard for what others might
>think of me. I
>hope at 80, my tattoo
>is the worst of my
>worries.
 
Well, I'll be going on 60 this December, and I've promised myself that if I can lose my final pounds by my birthday I am going to get myself a tattoo for my shoulder, to highlight my fit, muscular shoulders and body and show how in shape a 60 yr old can be. My kids (aged 33 and 30) are all for it! Age is no limit. My mom had her ears pierced at age 75, so I guess body adornments run in the family (LOL)!
 
Just a note from someone who got a tattoo in her 20s. Don't get it where it always shows if you have to worry about a professional image. First impressions do matter, believe me!
Second, the CDC has a great new study out (their latest) on hepatitis C and contrary to what you hear, their statistics do NOT show that Hep C is contrated through piercings or tatoos, but through iv drug use. You can log on to their site and read the whole interesting thing if you'd like.
Third, make triple sure you would really want it, because they are expensive to remove. The laser treatment looks great afterwards, but it is costly!
Fourth, If you weigh it all out and still want it then do what you feel like! Some people love them, some people hate them, but it's YOUR personal feelings that count! I would get mine again, but in a more easily hidden place. Also make sure the place you go is licensed, and ask to see their autoclave (which sterilizes instruments for surgery and many places use). If they aren't willing to show you those things then don't stay.
Have fun, because life is too short not to!
Lynn
 
Just a note from someone who got a tattoo in her 20s. Don't get it where it always shows if you have to worry about a professional image. First impressions do matter, believe me!
Second, the CDC has a great new study out (their latest) on hepatitis C and contrary to what you hear, their statistics do NOT show that Hep C is contrated through piercings or tatoos, but through iv drug use. You can log on to their site and read the whole interesting thing if you'd like.
Third, make triple sure you would really want it, because they are expensive to remove. The laser treatment looks great afterwards, but it is costly!
Fourth, If you weigh it all out and still want it then do what you feel like! Some people love them, some people hate them, but it's YOUR personal feelings that count! I would get mine again, but in a more easily hidden place. Also make sure the place you go is licensed, and ask to see their autoclave (which sterilizes instruments for surgery and many places use). If they aren't willing to show you those things then don't stay.
Have fun, because life is too short not to!
Lynn
 
Haven't been on in days so I'm probably a little late with my reply but I had to chime in. I say GO FOR IT! I just got one a few month ago to celebrate my thirtieth birthday and I absolutely love it. As many have suggested, I got mine in a place where people will only see it if I show them (about three inches below my belly button and to the left.) The pain was very tolerable. I'd say the only time it was remotely uncomfortable was while he was coloring it in and went over a spot he'd already colored. My suggestion would be to find a parlor that does ONLY tattoos...no piercings. It should be obviously clean and the needles and pots he uses should all be brand new out of their own wrappers. You should also see one of those sterilizing machines that they use in dentist offices. That's for cleaning the non disposable parts. Check out his/her artistry by looking at his portfolio. You'll know bad artwork if you see it. Just keep in mind that the pics of the tattoos you're looking at will be somewhat red and blotchy because they were just done.

The day before I got mine done, the guy had tattooed a ninety-three year old woman who always wanted to do it but never did because her husband wouldn't let her. He died four years ago and she finally went out and did it. And not just one, but two! Now there's a fiesty little number for ya!

Good luck!
 
You go Jen!!!
What is your tattoo a picture of, if you don't mind me asking?
Your story about the 93 year old reminds me of my wife.....in that she won't let me get a small tattoo! Heck she cried when I got my ear pierced! I'd like to get another earring in the same ear but I am afraid she'd divorce me! lol!
I continue to be amazed by her attitude. Heck it's my body.
Trevor :) :-jumpy
 
Don't forget the BBB!

Hi Bonne. You've already gotten a lot of good advice from other posters so I'll just add one more thing, check with the BBB before you decide who to use.

I got a tattoo around my left ankle (Celtic knotwork) many years ago and my only regret is that I ended up making a spur of the moment decision without researching the guy's work first and the artwork is pretty lousy. Fortunately, everything was perfectly sterile (I did make sure of that before I jumped in) but it's no fun to have a tat you're not proud of. I'm going to have it reworked one day but it's going to be expensive. For now, I'm just getting ideas from artists I trust as to what I might possibly do to enhance it.

I'm planning to get another couple of tats and my husband wants a couple more (one will be a cover up) so I'm definitely not making the same mistake twice. I've researched the many parlours around here and I've narrowed it down to two shops, both of which are members in good standing with the Better Business Bureau:

http://www.bbb.org

Check it out. Whichever parlour you choose, you'll want to make sure they have a squeaky clean record with the BBB! And do have a good look at the portfolios, some artists specialize in different sorts and you want to have the best possible artist for your specific job doing the branding.

I'll be interested to hear about what you get, and where!
 
Oh yeah, the pain factor

I forgot to mention my perception of the pain. I hadn't 'heard' anyone else say this specifically (I might have missed something though) but I'll just tell you that, for me, it stung while the needle was down but it stopped hurting as soon as the needle was removed from the skin. Mostly though, you pretty much just get used to it after the initial shock wears off. Yes, it hurts more closer to boney areas but as one poster pointed out, you really don't want it anywhere that might start to sag one day ;-).
 
RE: Don't forget the BBB!

You must be a Lord of the Rings fan! Me too!

My husband just recently got the Celtic Knot in his ankle. We just got our first about a week ago. Darn things are itching us to death. Lotion helps tremendously though.

Good advice on the BBB thing.
 
My tattoo has special meaning!

Caroline Knorr
I live in San Francisco where tattoo parlors are as prevalent as coffee shops! And that's pretty prevalent...You would definitely do well to look into tattoo artist's associations and ask other tattooed people where they got theirs.

I got my tattoo with my mother several years ago. Yes, she got one, too! My tattoo is on my upper back/shoulder and while I don't see it very often, I get comments on it when I wear a tank top. My mother passed away a few years ago, and now I have this unique reminder of the time she visited me. Some people might think it's weird or crass or something, but for me, knowing I had a cool mom who would go and get a tattoo with me, is a very special memory. I remember everything about that day, partly because of the visual, physical reminder.
 
Elvish Nines & Celtic Art

Hey! A fellow Rings fan, fantastic! I really wish I could find the design used for the Elvish nine they all got towards the end of filming. So far, I haven't been able to locate it on the web and the guys at the parlours around here have no idea what I'm talking about. Sheesh!

When we got our tats several years ago, we used tripple antibiotic ointment to help them heal and keep them from itching so badly. I'm not sure if that's the same thing as Neosporin but it really helped.

By the way, if you like Celtic, be sure to have a look here:

http://www.tribal-celtic-tattoo.com/celtic.htm

It might take a few minutes to load but it's really worth it! I'm thinking of ordering some flash art from this place since I have yet to find the perfect Scottish Thistle design, I'm really hoping they'll come through for me!
 
RE: My tattoo has special meaning!

Hi Caroline. I think that's really special, I'm so glad you've got that to remember you mother by. A tattoo can be such a significant thing to share with someone, a real bonding experience, so it's great that you have that unique experience to treasure. :)
 
Hi Trevor!

Of course I don't mind you asking. It's a picture of a rose, just the face of it in full bloom with three leaves around the edge. It's really pretty, if I do say so myself.

My husband was against me getting one for years, even though he had one himself. (A little hypocritical, wouldn't you say?) But I guess after I brought it up for the fifteen-thousandth time he knew I wasn't changing my mind. And we both love it! You're right, it's your body...

Jen
 
I HAVE 2. ONE ON MY INNER ANKLE(SCORPION), ONE ON RIGHT BUTT CHEEK (PLAYBOY BUNNY). THEY DIDN'T EVEN HURT. I SUGGEST THAT YOU GO FOR COLORED ONES. MINE ARE JUST OUTLINES.
 
I just got a my old tattoo covered a week ago. I now have a deep purple & yellow lilly on the inside of my ankle. Let me tell you, IT HURT LIKE HELL! When the "artist" would hit the soft spot between my achilles tendon & the boney part of my ankle, my foot twitched every time. I had to hold myself down in the chair. Then as the site began to heal, it hurt to put pressure on my foot!

All that being said, a week later, my ankle is healing quite nicely. The dead skin is coming off & the color is beautiful. I love it & am glad I had the old one covered!
 
Sounds like you are a satisfied customer Getting!
Where do you female tattoo lovers think is the sexiest place for a guy to have a tattoo? Also, what kind of tattoo?..large, small, etc.?
On women I love small ones on the ankle, shoulder, small of the back, butt, below the waist in front.
I once thought about getting a small one below the waistband on the right side in front but didn't follow thru.
My wife would not be happy though....my left ear is pierced and I wear studs or small hoops in it and my wife actually cried when I got THAT!
Anyway, just a few questions I had.
Trevor
 
I looked at examples of work before having my tattoo done. I looked at the line work, some artist do crooked line work, or it looks fuzzy. I also asked if they reuse their needles - they don't. The guy who did mine has people fly in just to have him do their tats.
 
I knew a guy who had a tattoo of a fly on his @$#*. How could he sit still for THAT ? Someone els I knew had the ROLLING STONES (the lips w/ the tongue) right on his lower waist. It looks really good when your stomach does too.
 
Don't know if you've taken the plunge yet, but thought I'd chime in. I got a tattoo on my shoulder almost 5 years ago while on my honeymoon in Vegas. We just picked the parlor with the coolest name (although I can't remember what it was now). Probably not the smartest way to pick a place, but it was very VERY clean. The artists wore surgical gloves and all the needles were sterile.

My advice for getting a tat (as those in the know call them :) ), get it where it can easily be hidden for those occassions where you wish to appear less "wild", and can be shown when you feel like letting the world know that you have an adventurous side. I absolutely love my tattoo (it's a dragon). I work in a professional atmosphere, so it is easily hidden by my clothes. In the summer I can show it off by wearing certain tops. I also forget it's there sometimes. By having it on my shoulder, I don't have to see it if I ever become sorry that I got it.

It really doesn't hurt as bad as you think it will either.
 
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