Questions About Tattoos
OK ladies, I've been thinking about getting a tattoo (I'm saying ladies - I don't think I've got any male readers. If I do, sorry guys!) Thinking being the operative word. I've been thinking about it for years, yet I've never gotten the nerve up to even step a toe into an actual tattoo parlor. Part of the problem is that I have a ton of questions, but I'm too shy to just walk into a tattoo parlor and ask them. I guess I could ask one of my friends who have them, but I don't have anyone that I know all that well who has one.
Anyway, I know that a lot of you have a tat or two. Maybe you'll have answers to some of my questions. The design I'm wanting is a celtic knot. I'm Scottish and I have a ring that wear all the time. I just love it and it has a very intricate round celtic knot design that I think would make a great tattoo for my foot or leg. I tried so hard to get a picture of it, but my camera just doesn't have enough resolution to capture it.
A tattoo is such a permanent thing, I really want to do my homework to make sure it's going to look right. I've seen some on-line pictures of celtic knot designs, but I don't like most of them. Most of them have a lot of red and they just look harsh. I want something that is going to be delicate and beautiful and very feminine.
- First of all, where to put the darn thing. I'd like some place where I can show it off without wearing anything too revealing, but I'd also like somewhere that I can cover it if I want to. The foot or the ankle seems to be the most typical place for the 40-something woman, but I've heard that is more painful than a lot of places. Any great ideas on where to put it?
- When you are getting a custom design like this, how does it work? Do you have to make an appointment to give them the design ahead of time? Does it cost extra? How do you pick an artist? Do you just walk in and take whoever, or are there people who specialize in different types of designs?
- Obviously this design is just silver, but I'm thinking I'll want a couple of colors to shade it properly and make it look nice. I'm thinking either two shades of green with a black outline, or else two shades of blue. Again, how do they do it with the custom design? Can you ask them to do up a sample using a couple of different colors so you can see how it looks?
- How big or how small to get it? The ring is tiny - about 1/2" or so. I'm thinking you'd have to go a bit bigger, say 1-1/2" or so to get the detail, but how do you decide what size is going to look best? I want something small and tasteful. I've seen some really huge, dark tattoos on some of the girls at work and they're not really my cup of tea, but I love some of the more artistic ones I've seen.
- What do you do about the placement of the design? I know when I went to the Fair this summer, I got a spray on design and it was all crooked and didn't look that great. I think I'd need to bring a friend along to double check the design and make sure the design looks right. Is the artist going to get mad if you tell them it's not right the first time?
- What about the pain? Obviously it's going to hurt, but how much is it going to hurt? I've had allergy testing which involved hundreds of shots along my back. Is it going to be worse than that? Is it worse than dental work? I am a big wuss, so that part kind of scares me, but I'm more worried about ending up with something that's going to look bad.
- What about after-care? I've heard that you have to keep it really coated with ointment and stuff for like a week. That is going to be so hard for me because I'm so busy and I have a hard time remembering even to take antibiotics and stuff like that. Is it going to be terribly sensitive? Do you have to be careful to not let anything touch it or rub on it? That's why I didn't want to get it in the winter-time because I would probably have to wear sandals or something. How do you keep the ointment from coming off all over your clothes and all over the blankets at night?
- Anything else? Is there anything that you wish you'd done differently when you got yours? Is there anything scary that I should be worried about? Do you wish you hadn't done it, or are you really happy with it? I've noticed that it seems to be kind of addictive, so people must like it if they're getting 8 or 10 of them.
OK ladies, help a girl out here. Inquiring minds want to know....
4 comments:
your posts never cease to amaze me.
i'll try and answer some of your questions, but i'll probably miss some. email me if i do.
tattoo artists can make a custom design and size it to your liking. check on line for celtic designs like yours. print it out and take it with you. even if it is not exact they can probably adjust to match your ring. wear your ring as well.
you want to make sure that they use sterile instruments, which i'm pretty sure most of them do these days. (ask your local friends where they went. that's the best way to get a good artist)
the thinner the skin, the worse it is going to hurt (ie: foot). have you considered your shoulder? you can go sleeveless or with sleeves.
my daughter got one just above her jeans a few years ago and is actually going to get another one this weekend on her shoulder.
not sure about metalic colors. if i got another one i want a moon/star design and have wondered about silver. you'd have to ask.
you can usually just walk in to get one, but you may want to call to double check and find out their hours. i'm sure each place is different.
you just need to use an ointment like triple antibiotic (they'll give you care instructions) and keep it covered with gauze or bandaids. you can usually do it right out of the shower.
let me know if i missed anything and i'll be curious to see what others have to say.
xoxox
I hate to disagree but I have to disagree.
I have 5 tattoos and hubs has 14(or so) so I speak from experience.
When you are picking a tattoo place DO NOT just walk in and expect custom work. You can walk in and pick something off the wall, but that doesn't sound like what you want. If you want a real custom piece, take a picture or something similiar with you and then BE SPECIFIC.
My best advice in finding someone is to shop around. Not for prices but for quality work. Don't judge by what's on the walls - every place has the same stuff. You want to see portfolios...a reputable tattoo artist will have these.
If you are out and see a tattoo you like, because of shading, or detail, whatever - ask that person who did it. The proof is in the pudding, I say.
When you find someone you like they will draw it up for you. Again, if theres something you don't like then tell them. They are tattoo artists, not mind readers. Anybody worth going to wants to do good work because you will tell people where you got it.
Custom usually costs a little more, but IT'S WORTH IT. They should be able to give you an idea of what the final product will look like, but drawing on paper is a little different than putting it on skin, so allow for that.
Once they have a drawing that you both agree on, they are able to adjust the size. Even if they have put the ink outline on and you decide that it's too big/small SPEAK UP. Don't ever be embarrassed or shy about changing it.
Negotiate the price up front so there aren't any surprises.
The foot will hurt more than the ankle, and anything along a bone will hurt more than a "fatty" area BUT if you really want it there then get it. The pain is temporary and if you move it b/c someone else says it hurts you may end up regretting it.
Before they start actually tattooing they will put an ink outline where you want your tattoo and they should show it to you in a mirror to make sure you like it. If you don't SAY SO. Take a friend if you feel like you would need a second opinion.
Yes it does hurt. To me (on the two bigger ones) it felt sort of like a small burning where the needle was. But that's temporary, as if the soreness for the next couple of days.
Each tattoo artist recommends their own aftercare so be sure to ask yours. My guy (who I trust completely) recommends a little cocoa butter on it, and NO dressing. It has to heal, and it will do it a lot faster if it's not constantly covered. For the last three tattoos we've gotten we only applied the cocoa butter once a day, and if it was at night then we only covered it the first time or two to make sure ink didn't get on our sheets. After that it shouldn't matter b/c you shouldn't have on much cocoa butter anyway.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
This is D, TMVM's better half.... I'll try and answer your questions the best I can and if you need more info - hit up TMVM.
The best thing to do is go to the shop semi-prepared. I would bring in the ring and write down any ideas you have. i know from experience that alot of times I went in with an idea and the guy I use with have his 2 cents to add.Most of the places I know will charge you some appointment fee upfront. the dude that does all my work, charges 50 up front, then he will draw up what you want (sometimes it takes them a few days) and that $ is applied to the price of the piece. it is usually non refundable becuase some people bail out and never come back. they should be able to recommend the size for you. As for pain, that is not one of the most pleasant places to be tattooed, but not insane ( I have my entire kneecap done) behind my knee, underside of the arm, lower chest - all of which hurt 10x more). Most people i know actually find it relaxing once they get going and the coloring in process is even less painful. When they draw it up, they will make a stencil and place it on your skin, they will do it for alignment and to make sure that is where you want it. some guys are good enough to free hand it, but i would be skeptical until you are familiar with their work. the same guy has tattooed me about 15 different times so I am comfortable with his freehand work.
As for aftercare you will have to clean it several times a day with antibacterial soap then apply A+D ointment for the 1st few days. then you will continue to clean it and put fragrance free lotion lotion on it to keep it moist. after 5 days or so you will shed some of the color, it will flake off and leave little chunks in the shower, its normal. with the lower ankle the biggest annoyance is socks rubbing up on it for the 1st few days.
Some shops now adays even buy numbing spray to help with painful areas while getting inked. they will usually charge a little extra. You can ask each artist to see their portfolio of work (to make sure they do good work) and they should be happy to oblige, or else I would walk my happy ass somewhere else!
you can check out www.deshongdesigns.com (its the guy TMVM use) to get some ideas. Some of my pieces are on there. if you see some that looks like they are all red, its because that are is swollen and it goes away in a couple of days. he has a section on aftercare too.
Hope this helps. Oh tipping your tattoo artist is completely acceptable and appreciated . I usually drop $20-50 depending on how big a piece is.
D-
Adrian, I will make it easy for you! Don't get one :)
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