Getting a Tattoo....Need advice!

**lovestolaugh** · 03-02-2008, 11:58 AM

Okay, so I've been wanting a tattoo for the last five years but something always stopped me from getting one. I am finally going to get one!!!! I have a picture of what I want so that's all good. I'm just looking for a little advice from anyone who has a tat. What should I know before and after getting one? What is the healing time and how do I take care of it? That kind of stuff. Thanks in advance for all the info!!!!

**Jskell911** · 03-02-2008, 12:09 PM

I have one on my ankle. They are excellent on letting you know how to care for it. If I remember correctly, the gauze stayed on for a week and I applied bacitracin to it about 3 times a day for 2 to 3 weeks. It will bleed for a few days (normal) so don't panic.

Show us the final result!

**Homekeepn** · 03-02-2008, 12:20 PM

First thing you need to do is find someone to recommend a decent parlor. IDK about your state, but mine it very strict on codes. Shop around before you just jump in. That being said go in with a clear head. Do not drink or take pain meds before having the tat done. Some pain meds will make you bleed more.

Are you designing your own, or are you picking out one already drawn? I have two. The first one I designed totally myself. It is a combination of my and my husbands first intitials linked together. The second one was already drawn, but I tweaked it to personalize it.

I don't know how you deal with pain, but I thought it was bearable. I wouldn't let thoughts of any pain deter you from getting it done. You will be fine.

I do suggest that you purchase some kind of ointment like Tattoo Goo or what else they may have at the parlor.

Just remember this is permanant. Choose your tat knowing that you will live with this for the rest of your life.

BTW my husband just had his first one done 4 days ago from someone who does this privately. It is almost healed.

Good luck and let me know how it turns out.

**lovestolaugh** · 03-02-2008, 12:31 PM

It's one I picked out. I have no artistic talent at all so designing one myself would never work!!!! I have thought about this for five years so you can be sure I'm not rushing into it!!! Can you say procrastinate?

Anyways, my good friend is going with me and she has five tattoo's. She is the pro! She's taking me where she goes so I know it is a good parlor. I just didn't want to appear completely stupid when I go!!! I understand that they draw it on first right? I'm getting one on my ankle. Not the meatiest part of the body, I know. But I want to be able to show it off when I want and hide it too if I need to!! I hear they itch a lot when they heal. Not looking forward to that!

**Jskell911** · 03-02-2008, 12:42 PM

If you are crossing bone, the pain is a bit more. Mine goes all around the ankle crossing the achilles tendon and ankle bone. I am a total wimp pain wise, but I survived it all !

I definately agree with no alcohol and anything with aspirin.

**Ceashels** · 03-02-2008, 12:53 PM

Don't put it any place that is going to sag when you are seventy!

Blue unicorns and kitty cats can be worn by a 20 yr old but not as well by a 50+ yr old. So make your choice something you will enjoy ALL of your life.

After it heals, keep it moisturized and out of the sun. So put a spf of 15+ on it in the summer.

**shoiji** · 03-02-2008, 01:15 PM

After I had my tatoo done, I was told to slap it if it started to itch. This of course was impossible since I was working in a very conservative place at the time. Plus the tatoo is on my rear. LOL

Since it is somewhere I can't see I forget I even have one.

**Lady_V** · 03-02-2008, 01:41 PM

I have 7 tats... all done by reputable shops.

Make sure they open the needles and pour the ink in front of you. If you walk in and everything is already 'set up and open' you have the right to request that they start over again. I have never had a problem with this and any reputable place wouldn't either.

Over the bones do hurt more. In general, the tracing hurts more than the coloring. You will bleed, it will sting more than actual pain... think intense bug bite you can't reach to scratch... I actually slept through a few of mine. The ones that touched my ankles had me on the edge of my seat, the ones on my fleshy bits were almost relaxing, and I laughed my way through one of them because of the position I had to stay in.

They will tell you how to care for your tat. I think it's better to get them in winter/early spring because you won't be exposed to the sun as much (unless it's on your face

) and you need to avoid salt water, spas, etc. Each shop will differ as far as after-care, but here is the general ideas...

Keep it clean and moisturized with (whatever lotion they recommend, I used A&D)

Do not over-moisturize

Do not pick the flaky onion-like scabby pieces!!

Never let the shower directly hit the tattoo.

**ravenmaniac** · 03-02-2008, 01:53 PM

A shop recommended by friend's is the best place to start. The shop will give you all the instruction you need to take care of your art work after they're done. The artist will look at your art work then redraw it. Good luck.

**KJayEsq** · 03-02-2008, 02:21 PM

I have one on my low back. Pick a reputable shop. That's the #1 thing you need to do and make sure the artist is really listening to you when you describe what you want. I seem to recall the recovery was putting ointment on it for at least 2 weeks (you have to keep it moist during the scabbing). As it was healing, it felt like a sunburn to me.

When you are getting the tattoo it is more painful when the needle goes over a bony part of the body. I won't lie - it's painful, but after a while, then pain kind of goes away and it feels better. It's good to have a friend with you (I sure did) to talk to you while you're getting it done.

Some people say "oh, you'll get a tattoo and you'll regret it." Not so in my case. I love mine and I've had it almost 8 years. It represents where I was at that point in my life and I wouldn't take it back.

Good luck!

**Megareader** · 03-02-2008, 02:43 PM

After you get your tatoo, can you post a picture of it for us? I'd love to see it.

**Jskell911** · 03-02-2008, 04:18 PM

I've never regretted mine either. I've had it for over 14 years and still love it!

**YankeeMom** · 03-02-2008, 04:26 PM

I've had mine for almost 10 yrs now

It still looks like it did the day I got it because I keep it out of the sun or covered in sunscreen. I have a friend who got hers the same time I got mine & in the same place (ankle) hers was unrecognizable after 3 yrs because she went tanning and refused to cover or sunscreen her tattoo. Definitely do that.

I am a wimp when it comes to pain. I didn't think it was that bad. Mine goes all the way around my ankle and for me, the worst part was where the tattoo went over an old scar on the front of my ankle. Other than that, it felt like she was pulling the hairs on my leg.

As for how the picture gets on your leg before they ink it...mine used a type of copy machine to make a rub on version of the outline of my tattoo. Put that one and used it as a guide while inking.

Definitely DON'T drink alcohol beforehand. It thins your blood and makes it more likely that you will bleed a lot afterward. I'm fair-haired/skinned and a bleeder...I didn't bleed much at all during and none after.

Ditto the slapping rather than rubbing or scratching when it itches. That was the worst part after...the itching when it was healing. Right afterward it only stung a little...kind of like a sunburn, only unlike a sunburn it didn't hurt to slap or bump it. There was no pain at all from that.

I think I only used the Neosporin for 7-10 days.

Gross note: the scabs that form when it's healing (DON'T PICK OR ITCH) are colored

LOL