stonefaceddog

I'm thinking of finally biting the bullet and getting that tattoo I've thought about getting for the past 15 years. I've done some research, know the design and have the money saved but I am still unable to go through with it. Not certain why. I would like to hear from others who have a tattoo or who are thinking of getting one.

Bear Cub

Finding the right tattoo artist is just as hard as selecting the right tattoo.

Go to as many shops as possible. If you walk in and it doesn't feel right, don't give it a second thought. Look through as many portfolios as possible, and use that to narrow down the artist.

Ask them to show you around, their sanitation procedures, etc. If they're reluctant or something seems questionable, leave.

If the artist has more of a "yea I can do it" approach than a "yea, I'd really like to do it" approach, then look elsewhere. I looked in over 20 shops until I found the artist I wanted, and she was more excited to work on it than I was (my full rib piece will be scheduled for shortly after New Years).

If you are not 100% certain that you want the tattoo, then don't. Its not something you can change your mind about once its there, but you've got all the time in the world to have it done.

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Plan9

I've got a couple of tattoos and you really need to be 100% sure you wanna carry that design / symbol / whatever on your hide for the rest of your life.

Location matters. My tattoos are located in areas that aren't visible when wearing a t-shirt and shorts. Something to keep in mind in the professional world.

I don't know what you have in mind, but the ink I've had done is simple, no shading, and solid black. Even when I'm 80, my tattoos will still be clean and legible, instead of what happens to highly-detailed comic-book quality pieces with lotsa colors: they turn into puke-colored liverspots.

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ngdawg

I waited 30 years to get my first one, mainly out of fear. A friend of mine kept cajoling me about it and threatened to "kidnap" me when we were coming down to his state, swearing it didn't hurt at all, etc. When we got there, he "kidnapped" me, took me to where he'd had his done and stayed with me while I was getting mine. By having him take me, there was no backing out plus he and his wife kept talking with me so I was preoccupied while having it done. Also, he had recommended the place and his were nice, so I wasn't arriving "blind".
So, in short, I had a place recommended and a friend to stay with me through the process.

Ask questions of other friends. He kept insisting none of his hurt, but mine did the first halfway thru. That may have been due to a scar that was getting covered or just might have been, as the tattooist put it, a "sensitive nerve".

Don't let anyone volunteer to do it-that's a sure sign you'd be their practice.

I had my design all drawn out only to find that it wasn't feasible, so I had to choose something else that still conveyed what I wanted. Make sure they draw it out on paper first, not just trace what you have onto your skin. The reason mine couldn't be done was it would look like a blob because it didn't have a good "spread". (two intertwined roses and the roses were touching sides-the size of the sketch I'd done was too small and tight).

As long as you're sure that what you have is what you want to live with into old age, go for it! Or, be like me and wait until you ARE old to get it.

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nomcat

+1 on finding an artist who really WANTS to do it, rather than WILL do it. The guy I went to is very picky about what he does, and it shows!

Have you been looking at the same design for 15 years? If so, then as long as it's done by a good artist I'm sure you'll love it. Usually it's people who have tats done on impulse that regret it. Get it somewhere you can cover with jeans and t-shirt and it shouldn't be a problem.

Pay the extra $$$ for the artist who won awards for his work... a couple hundred $$$ more is worth it since it's gonna be there for life.

Chris

stonefaceddog

Thanks for the advice. I plan on having the design on my upper left arm (which would be covered even by a short sleeved shirt-due to work concerns). I am cajun and the design I want is the Acadiana flag. The flag is 4 colors (white, blue, red and yellow). I want the design to remain crisp and clear-would it be better to have the design done without color?

Bear Cub

The "issues" with a tattoo like that would be the fact that the color white typically doesn't show well on its own, and is most often used for highlights. That, and the symbols would have to be outlined. It can be done in color, but to be done right, it won't be a verbatim copy of the flag.

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PonyPotato

Depending on your skin color, if you find the right artist white won't be a problem at all. I can show you a couple of white portfolio pieces from my favorite artists if you PM me.

Also depending on your skin color, leaving the space empty that you want white could also be ideal as an approximation.

I agree with the rest of the advice here. If you have a friend with decent artistic skills, see if they can put the design on your arm in the size, placement, and colors you want and make sure to move around a lot. See if you want to change size or placement, or even experiment with removing the colors. Doing this can tend to make you wishy-washy about the idea or really excited about it: when you're really excited about it, get it done! Because I had no one to put the design on me to experiment, I photoshopped myself to determine size, placement, etc.

Good luck! A friend of mine has the Texas flag on his left upper arm, and he's pale enough that the white wasn't filled in.

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Zoolady

Just remember that you WILL be old some day and skin sags and tastes change.

thingstodo

REally. I've seen some pretty nasty old tats!

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skizziks

I'm tattooed a bit, not too many, but enough, and I love each and every one of mine. If you want it, get it. Get it for YOU, not for someone else, or to look cool or whatever. Once you get it, dont apologize for it, it's yours, it's art, it's you.
Understand it will be with you for the rest of your life.
If you want it crisp and clear for as long as possible, use Lubraderm once you get it until it is healed, and afterward, to keep the skin moist. Keep it out of the sun or put on assloads of sunblock, sun deteriorates the ink and makes it blur. It WILL eventually blur, you cant help it, but it will blur less and not as soon if you take care of it.

Halx

On the day of, make sure to eat plenty of carbs. Getting a tattoo is draining on your body and you'll probably want to have enough fuel in the tank.

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Strange Famous

I had a small tattoo on the inside of my forearm... I cant offer much in the way of artistic advice, but I could only say that for me it barely hurt. It kind of stung and wasnt pleasant but not really painful. Mine only took about 20 mins though.

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