tattoos

anyone got tattoos?

Wrist tattoos, foot tattoos?

Im on bout gettin ma first tattoo next sat.....hmmmm lol  ;0))

any tips?

I have three - don't regret any of them.  Just don't get something that won't "age well"....or someone's name...

good luck..and send us a photo

What do you mean "won't age well"?

I have four. I'd say get something personal to you and don't just pick flash art off the wall.

I have one (so far); it's between my shoulder blades. It's my profile picture. Love it.

I have several tattoos, including one covering the top of my right foot.  I hope to get another on the outside of my left foot this summer.

As far as what you get and where, that is so totally personal.  I agree that you should pick something you know you'll love forever, but for some people that might be flash off the wall, so I won't judge.

Tips, though...I do have a few.  Most important:  BABY THAT TATTOO!!  While it is healing, nothing is more important than making sure you take care of the tattoo.  An f'd up tattoo costs a lot to fix or is there for life.  What does this mean?  It means think before you act.  Consider the time of year.  If you want to get a foot tattoo, don't get it at a time when you have to wear shoes (or big snow boots).  After getting mine, I wore only slippers for maybe a week or 2 (keep in mind your foot will swell AND you don't want stuff rubbing on it).  Similarly, don't get it at a time when you won't be able to take care of it properly, like right before a camping trip when you won't be able to keep it clean, or before some performance where you would have to wear a costume that would rub on it.  For at least 2 weeks after getting a tattoo, it should be the first thing you think of.  That means you might have to make some sacrifices.  Considering this website, I will warn you that tattoos should not get very sweaty while they are healing.  That means if you are going to get it in a place where you sweat, you should take it easy working out.  Trust me, it's more important that the tattoo heals right than it is to keep working out for two weeks.  You can always make up a workout, but you can't un-screw-up a tattoo.

Other tips: Go to a good artist.  Don't pick one out of the phone book.  Get references from people with awesome tattoos, talk to the artist, get a feeling for their style, accept that you might have to make an appointment far in the future, and accept that it is going to cost big bucks.  Then, when they tell you how to take care of the tattoo, do exactly what they say.

Last bit of "advice:"  It doesn't really hurt that badly. 

Original Post by pumpkin314:

 last bit of "advice:"  It doesn't really hurt that badly. 

 thats all depends on what part of your body you get it done......

I have 2 butterflies on my shoulder blade and my zodiac sign on my lower abs, the butterflies didn't hurt at all but the other one did (it's really low, only shows when i'm in a bikini)

Not to sound like a broken record but think long and hard about what to get and where, it's a lot more painful to have it removed after, oh and NO NAMES!!!! (only exception to this rule is your kids names)

I have 8 (or 10 depending on how you count). I have one around my wrist -vine of roses, words around one ankle with a blue rose at the end/beginning, and another tattoo on the other ankle, then a few in other  places like my back.

The ankle is the worst in my opinion. It kills! The wrist is fine but remember it will always be seen. I only got it there because it's a memorial tattoo and I wanted it to show to remind me of the person it's for. All the other ones can be hidden and usually are under clothing.

I would advise you to get your first one in a place that can easily be hidden, too, especially if you are young and will be looking to start a career in the future. I have been told the foot doesn't hurt. The lower down your back you go the more pain. The ribs are painful. Going over bone is what hurts. Don't worry though, it can be a good pain, tee hee.

Just be careful of what you get. Tattoos can be beautiful, but I have also seen stupid, pointless ones. Get something that has meaning to you so you will always love it. I don't regret any of mine because I waited a year after I thought of what I wanted each time to make sure I really wanted it.

Oh to add to what Pumpkin said about care:

You cannot/should not swim for 6 months after getting it. That includes no resting in water like a bath or hot tub. NO TANNING! Use A&D cream on it to make it heal faster. DO NOT SCRATCH IT!!!!!!!! It may itch as it heals and will peal but if you scratch or pick, you can cause infection or mess up the healing and it will hurt like hell, lol. Don't take too hot of a shower or this will hurt, too, but a warm shower will also speed up the healing process.

If you have any questions feel free to ask! I love tattoos! NO NAMES! It's bad luck.

i have three.  the first is the japanese character for "life," on the outside of my right ankle; the second is a salamander, outside of left ankle; the third is a starfish (i know, i know, it's seastar now) on the top of my left foot.

and keo, the ankle is a gentle massage compared to the top of the foot.

i don't regret any, but i wish i'd put a little more though into the first.  it was an impulse.

pain is very subjective; i know people who barely got through it, but for me it was just a matter of relaxing and not holding my breath.  the foot hurt more after the fact, because it bruised, and shoes hurt.

For people with ankle tattoos... how do you remain professional looking? Like a skirt+heels in a business setting?

I have a tattoo on my ankle (Zodiac symbol) but I don't feel it would be very professional to have it out in that sort of setting... but I don't know what those settings are truly like.

mine have never been a problem.  i'm sure there are work settings where it's an issue, but i haven't encountered them ;)

I was thinking about it the other day, I've never seen a teacher with a tattoo. And I would like to someday become one... and it'd be weird if I had a tattoo. I don't know. I think that I think too much. =P

Original Post by cptbunny:

I was thinking about it the other day, I've never seen a teacher with a tattoo. And I would like to someday become one... and it'd be weird if I had a tattoo. I don't know. I think that I think too much. =P

ah, it totally depends on where you live.  my little cousin's nursery school teacher has ink all over her arms, and all the kids and parents can't say enough great things about her.  but that's in seattle, and people seem to be more sane out west.

yeah, i know lots of teachers with ink, at all levels.

a friend of mine is about to graduate college to become a kindergarten teacher and she has tattoos on her wrists :]  

Original Post by cptbunny:

I was thinking about it the other day, I've never seen a teacher with a tattoo. And I would like to someday become one... and it'd be weird if I had a tattoo. I don't know. I think that I think too much. =P

My high school art teacher (in Austin) had tattoos on both her ankles, and she wore skirts all the time.

Make sure it's something personal that you will love for years to come.  I got a tattoo of a swan on my lower back when I was 18 & still love it almost 10 years later.  wow, I can't believe it's been about 10 years!  Most of the time I forget it's there.

Cptbunny-hmmm. I guess you could try to cover the ankle one with make-up, though, that is not very practical. Maybe wearing boots with heals? I would think nylons would cover it a bit.

pgeogian- I dk I have seen friends get them on their foot and they didnt blink an eye. The ankle killed me when it got to around the bone though. I guess it all depends on the person.

Well I want to be a 5th grade art teacher so these comments made me feel so much better. :D I love my tattoo, I just didn't want it to be trouble.

Oh! I had an art teacher with tattoos on her feet, ankle, arms, her nose was pierced and she had pink highlights in her hair. Tattoos are art!! You are expressing your artistic side, lol. I would just talk to your employer just in case.

Original Post by cptbunny:

Well I want to be a 5th grade art teacher so these comments made me feel so much better. :D I love my tattoo, I just didn't want it to be trouble.

i don't think you have anything to worry about!