tattoos.

I am assuming TONS of you have tattoos, and basically all my friends do, and I am also friends with a few artists in town.

I have been planning on getting a tattoo since i was 18 and now I am about to turn 20 and I need one! I have tons of ideas, and i get stoked when I think about it, and still I havent had the guts to go in and get something! Its frustrating.

I am not scared of the pain, I have had everything and anything pierced, I am just a scared perfectionist, If its not perfect I think I might have a heart attack. I am really picky about designs and I would feel bad telling an artist I did not like what they created, I would tell them, I am just all worried about it.

ideas?

comments?

 

thanks! -schnooder

It's going on your body, you're allowed to be a perfectionist about it :)  You don't have to be rude but if you don't like what the artist designs, then perhaps that's not the person to do your tattoo...

Good luck!

I agree with Sammi.  Get what you want.

I'm in the process of getting tattooed right now, meaning I've had two sittings and the third one should finish it.  I love getting tattooed.  It hurts, but it's tolerable, and the end product can be so awesome.

Original Post by purespark:

I agree with Sammi. Get what you want.

I'm in the process of getting tattooed right now, meaning I've had two sittings and the third one should finish it. I love getting tattooed. It hurts, but it's tolerable, and the end product can be so awesome.

 Yeah I mean I definately am going to get what I want, but what if I get it and I look down and I think I hate it?! then i will die.

i have three.  i love the third, but i totally missed the mark on the first one.  if you're not sure, don't do it.

Make sure you see the artists' other work.  That's the best indication that you'll like the style of their ink.  Yes, it is permanent, but if you think it out and have someone you trust do it, it should turn out the way you want it to.

Original Post by pgeorgian:

i have three. i love the third, but i totally missed the mark on the first one. if you're not sure, don't do it.

 well ****, I am sure I want one, one of the things holding me back is that I wanted to lose some weight before I got one, but i finally saved up the money and I am working on the weight, I am just sick of waiting for a tattoo before I get thin. I want to get something on my hips, where I can say there is no fat at all, would it affect my tattoo to lose weight? I am not horribly overweight, I just have a lil tummy to get rid of.

Hey schnooder,

figure out what you want and be as perfectionist as possible, especially if know some of the artists they would want to know what you want and they'd want you to be absolutely happy with the result.

I drew my own design and carried it around with me for 1.5 years in my diary to make sure I really really wanted it and in the end it got to the point where I felt it just had to go onto my forearm and it feels like a part of me now.

Mind you the artist wasn't the greatest but my design was pretty simple. So do your perfect research on all the artists you have to consider, figure out exactly what you want and take your time reaching a conclusion. And why not ask one of your artist friends if losing fat in the area wher you want the tattoo will affect the design. I know it may be an awkward question but totaly justified.

My tattoo artist used my hipbone a lot for stretching skin during the tattoo.  I can tell you, that was the most painful part of my tattoo; even more than the ribcage.  I think if I were thinner, and my hips jutted more, it would have changed the tattoo, yes.  I would make sure your body is the shape you want before the tattoo goes on.  Just my two cents.

definitely make sure you get it drawn EXACTLY as you want it. if it's going to be small and detailed, be extra careful. I just got my first tattoo about a month and a half ago. When the guy drew it, he drew it upside down at first, but when I explained that I wanted it the other way, he started over. They'll cater to you. If they don't, leave. Also, think about where you're getting it and any future plans you may have. I got mine on the inside of my wrist and it's TINY, so I can cover it up with a watch, makeup, jewelry or a piece of bandaid. I chose that spot because it will never stretch, and I didn't want anything on my legs. It's a very personal thing, getting a tattoo. Good luck!

you don't want to get it some place that is really fleshy if you are planning on losing weight.  i don't know about you, but my hips are very boney.  so for me it would be okay.  if your hips are boney too then you aren't going to lose any weight from that area, so the picture won't distort once you are thinner.

the artist will use a stencil so you can see what it looks like (pretty much) before the needle hits the skin or they will draw it on.  it doesn't really hurt it's just an annoying feeling to get a tattoo done.  it reminds me of someone drawning really hard on me with a ball point pen.

girls with tattoos are so sexy (seriously). especially if they do it right. Personally, I think the lower back is waaaay over done, but there's a reason for that. It's damn sexy!

Be creative and make whatever you have your own. I've been playing around with tattoo number 2 (waiting until I lose some more weight before any more ink is applied). The toughest part I have is placement and Symmetry. Our bodies are a canvas, and just like any other space matters.

Take your time, and if you want draw it on for a while to see if you like it. Because once it's on...it's on.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

 

ciao

I've got three tattoos, and my most recent was a 3.5 hour endurance trial on my hipbone.

People deal differently with the pain, so I won't even try to give you advice there.  However, I will give you advice on the rest of it.

1.  Make sure you absolutely the artist is absolutely trustworthy and that you love their work.  Try to find someone that your friends have gone to and had a good experience with.

2.  Be sure you love the design.  I strongly recommend against just picking out a piece of "flash" from off the walls.  Even if you see a design you like, find out if they'll customize it somewhat for you.  After all, you don't want to be walking along the beach someday in a bikini and pass a girl with the exact same ink as you.

3.  Make sure it's in a position you won't have to wear tight clothes over for a few days.  Trust me; it was hard going about my usual business in jeans with a fresh tat aching on my hip.

4.  Have someone go with you.  First tattoos are scary, and even a basic design can easily take an hour.

5.  Don't get addicted.  This is really the hardest one!

Good luck!  I hope it works out well for you, and post pics when you get it.

I understand about not having the guts.  I was in denial even up to the moment the artist said it would feel like a bee sting.  Guess I'd forgot what that felt like and it was each time the needle went int.

Granted locations a big factor and mines on my torso side because I wanted it private.  I know others say its not so bad but mine was excrutiating the entire time and Im not sure how I made it through.  Funny, Im fine with needles normally.

Seems to me if you are such a perfectionist (and why not with your body) I would definitely check out work of people you know who've had it done locally.  I figure all artists have done some good work which theyll have pics.  I'd get some repeated recommendations before choosing someone.

I got my tattoo when I weighed more and now it looks better. It's on my lower back, on the left side, up from my hip, so it was kind of a fat place. Like sabineyvr, I had my own design, and the artist wasn't great, but I'm not a perfectionist, and I love it just the way it is :)

 

I have many tattoos, at various places on my body. My first one was based on the logo that is my profile pic. When friends ask for tattoo advice I tell them this:

1. Consult the tattoo artist about pricing for 1. design 2. colors 3. number of appointments needed. Some of the more complicated tattoos need to be done in multiple sessions.

2. Ask if they will design/ draw out the tattoo for you before your main appointment (it will cost you, but it is worth it!)

3. See if the artist will do it in Henna first. It will only be in one color (brown) and it will fade in a few weeks. That way you can see if you can live with it - especially if it is in an exposed place. If the specific artist can't do it in henna, they might know someone who will. I have had a number of friends back out of tattoos because they couldn't live with them just in henna.

Finally, I agree with courtbarb: Don't get addicted! It's easy. They are sexy and empowering.

Good luck!!