Tattoos - Ink for Life

I will start this by stating that I am not trying to preach at people, so please do not take it that way. This is just to throw out some tips and ideas that I have thought of since getting a tattoo and binge watching Tattoo Fixers™ and hopefully this will help others who are thinking about getting one.

To throw some of my background into this, I am now 28 years old and finally got my first tattoo. I have wanted to get one for some years now but was constantly changing my mind as to what design I wanted. It wasn’t until I was at a music festival last year, looking at some of the awesome ink on display that I wondered, “what is it that has some great meaning to my life”. Then, as if a lightbulb switched on above my head I realised, music! So with that in mind I found a quote that summed up exactly how I felt and got in contact with a tattooist. She was more than happy to sketch some stuff up and kept in contact with me until we were both happy with the design and that was that. I now have a tattoo that I am super happy with and also have ideas for 3 more, yes I caught the bug!

This leads me onto my first point: Know what you want.
The tattoo will be on your skin forever, unless you get laser removal (which is apparently much worse than the pain of a tattoo). So make sure you have a design that you are happy with, even if you just saw it on the table at a convention and immediately wanted it. It is a personal thing that no one else can force you to get.
Plus, going to a tattooist, whether it’s a friend or the local shop, with an idea and some sketches/photos of the kind of thing you’re looking for will greatly help them to give you the design you want. Also, have a look around at different artists. Some can do portraits that look like a photo, others can colour so that it looks like Monet has used you as a canvas, check out their portfolios (which, in the world of Instagram, is a piece of cake!).

Now, this may sound a little preachy and I apologise. But try not to get drunk before your tattoo, alcohol thins the blood and guess what, a needle dragging across your skin is going to make you bleed! I’m not saying you have to be sober for a month beforehand but try not to walk in to your appointment after 3 bottles of vodka. This point also stems from watching a lot of Tattoo Fixers™ where a lot of the stories are “I was obliterated on holiday and…” and all of sudden they wake up and realise what a terrible mistake they have made. When you’re drunk you might not be of sound mind to make decisions about the picture you’re asking the tattooist to put onto your skin.
Anyway, enough soapboxing, let’s move on.

It hurts! The only way to describe the type of pain is that it feels like someone is dragging a needle through your skin…..oh wait. People react differently to pain, some can’t stand it, others enjoy it. There are numbing creams available which do work well I’m told. But, at the end of the day, pain is momentary, that tattoo that you will receive at the end is permanent.
Personally, I didn’t mind the line work, until it went near my armpit, definitely felt that! The shading grew more painful as time went on, as the tattooist went across the same patch of skin time & again, which was quite tender by then. But after a couple of hours it was done, no more pain and a beautiful design that I can wear forever.

Try to eat before your appointment, a good intake of sugar will help your body through what is effectively trauma to the skin. I took a couple of bottles of Lucozade and a small chocolate bar in with me to give a boost during the tattooing. 

And finally, take note of what your tattooist says about the aftercare of the piece. There are plenty of lotions and moisturisers that will help keep it clean and allow the skin to heal nicely. 

I hope that the points raised help you when thinking about and getting a tattoo done.
Once again, I never wanted to come across as a tattoo know-it-all, just to throw out some things that I have thought of since joining the inked world.

Thanks for reading.

Blog revamp and a splash of paint

Hello all!

So I have been rather neglecting this blog for a while.
It seems to be a couple of posts a year, depending on how many festivals I go to.

This has to change and it will!

I have played about with the layout, thought up some new topics to 'entertain' you with and linked a couple of friends blogs (just promise you'll come back!) - over there *points to right side of the screen* under 'External Blogs'.

And I will be posting more very soon.

If you have any suggestions for things you want me to write about, please let me know by jotting them in the comments below.

Thanks!