I want a tattoo but...?

Question

I am totally fascinated with tattoos and REALLY want one... but
1) I am a little afraid of needles. is there any ways to make it less painful?
2) is the foot a painful place? where else would be good place?
3) will it look bad when I'm 80? I expect it to change a little but I figured a foot tattoo shouldn't stretch like a belly or back one...

I am thinking of getting one on the top of my foot so I can see it and b/c I wear flip flops a lot (if I'm going to pay a lot for it and go through the pain I want to see it ;] ) and I want a plumeria and a hawaiin honu (turtle) b/c I lived in Hawaii for 7 yrs and it's what I condsider "home" and each petal will stand for: family/friends, God/religion, Health, Love/happiness, and dreams & i have 5 members of my family excluding me :)
does it sound like I have a good idea of want I want to take to a shop?
thanks for all the help :)

I just turned 20 a few month ago and I won't be getting a tattoo unitl I'm at least 21.... that way I have a year to REALLY think about this...

if there is anything I can use before the tattoo like numbing cream for example.... does anyone know appx how much it costs.... I am willing to pay it if it will decrease the pain :)

I have a slight needle phobia... someone asked is I was afiad of the pain or needles... I have a pretty good pain tolerance... but the needles scare me more than the pain...

alot of people are mentioning the age 80 but I really don't care about when I'm 80, I just meant what will it look like when I'm older...some tattoos stretch or distort depending on how old they are and where they are :)

Answer 1

I have 2 tattoos, so speaking from experience:

1. Its nothing like getting a needle in the arm. You would never know its a needle going into your skin as all you feel is a burning sensation. You can get numbing cream applied to the tattoo area 1/2 hr before its done - but it will cost extra.

2. I was with my sister when she got her tattoo on her foot. Unfortunately she said it was very painful coz it was so close to the bone. It took 30 mins to do the tatt and the whole time she had a pained look on her face. That was her 4th tatt, but she still thinks the one on her lower tummy area was the worst.

3. Who cares what it looks like when your 80!!

Be aware that foot tattoos will disfigure if they are on the side of the foot (eg. side of heal) as the skin sheds & regenerates more often than the top which will cause some difiguration after a while (my tattooist actually showed me an example of this on his foot). The top of the foot is fine.

I have one on the side of my hip (just about the hipbone) and looks cool when wearing swimming suit or low cut jeans. The only place it hurt to get done was the part of the tattoo that was on my hipbone (that killed) but it was so worth it.

Your tattoo idea sounds really good. I'm a big fan of tattooes with personal meaning. That way, when this tattoo fad is over, you will have no regrets!!

Goodluck with it!!

Answer 2

My first suggestion is that you think over getting this done for at least 6 months to a year before getting it done. If you still feel the same way then, I think you just might be ready.

As for your 3 concerns-
1) In all honesty, the needle is NOT the worst part. Before any ink was used, my artist did a "dry line" so I could see what it would feel like. It was about half an inch long and it stung, but when he pulled the gun away and asked if it was ok, I found myself looking at him and asking "Is that all?" I would suggest you get a dry line done as well, but make sure it is with the same size needle that your tattoo will be done in.
The worst part of the process is hearing the buzz of the gun. Check with your artist and see if it is ok for you to listen to a personal music player (like a walkman, discman, mp3 or iPod) with headphones while he does it. The buzzing can make you very uncomfortable and listening to something that drowns it out will make the experience much better.
2) Because of how thin the skin is and the fact that the foot is mostly comprised of bone, yes, it is very painful. If you want it to be in that general area, I would suggest just above the ankle. But any area that is fleshier and contains fewer nerves is a good place for some one who hates pain.
3) How the piece will look years from now is based on many things. Is the area somewhere that recieves alot of wear, like the hands and feet? Is the area protected from sunlight, which can also fade the ink, and if not, can you make a habit of wearing sunscreen over the area? If you were to gain or lose weight or muscle, will the area be changed?

Since you are a woman, and I don't think you sound like a muscle builder, I think a better place to get it would be on the upper arm, just below the shoulder or perhaps on one of your shoulder blades, or maybe even just below the back of your neck. But, that is personal opinion...

Answer 3

I am the same way with needles. I hate to get shots, BUT getting a shot and getting a tattoo is really different. I think tattoos are more annoying when they are doing them then painful. I know the needle isn't going under my skin like a syrenge needle does.

What you want to get as a tattoo sounds like it would be pretty cool. I think you have a good idea of what you want. If it isn't big, putting it on your foot would be nice. I ahve several female friends that have tattoos on their feet. I love tattoos but it takes a while to decide where to get a tattoo places on my body when i get them, I have 4.

When i find something I want to get or draw something, what i normally do is make a copy. I try to make it aobut how big i want it then i will print it out. Standing in front of a mirror or ask a friend if where i have it placed looks alright. Just before I get a tattoo i go through lots of paper just deciding how big to have it and if i want it in color or grey washed.

Answer 4

i have foot tattoos. the foot is one of THE most painful places on the body to get a tattoo. anything directly on top of bone is going to hurt. if you don't want pain i would suggest not getting a foot tattoo.

are you afraid of the pain or the needles? because that is two different things. some people on here say there is pain numbing stuff available but i don't think it is necessary. for the most part tattoo pain is not that bad and it is part of the experience of having a tattoo. i don't think my tattoos would be as special to me if i didn't have to go thru some pain to get them. everything worth having is painful.

as for how it will look when you are older depends on a lot of things. the less sunlight your tattoo gets the better it will look. the uv rays of the sun are very damaging to your skin in general and your ink especially. also the aging will depend on how well you take care of yourself in general and how well you will age regardless of the ink. your tattoos will fade atleast a little but there are a lot of people who still have great looking tattoos even at an advanced age. you just have to know that they'll age with you and embrace that. if you are ever planning on having children then a belly tattoo will definitely stretch out and will probably not go back to the way it looked before.

the most important thing to do is research artists and find one that is talented. don't shop around for price or go somewhere that is popular and commercialized. go for the talent, it's worth a little more money in the end.

Answer 5

1. There is a numbing cream, although it can be a dangerous product. There was a story of two girls passing away because they applied numbing cream and covered it with saran wrap for laser hair removal. And after a tattoo some artist put saran wrap over it. But the price for that is usually around $40.

2. I have a tattoo on my back spine and that hurt the least. The one on my inner thigh and side by ribs hurt the most. So I think fattier places hurt more than bonier.

Just remember fading. My tats that are exposed are lighter than the ones that are hidden. So if you plan to expose it a lot consider touch ups in the future.

Answer 6

that is so funny! i have a needle phobia as well but have four tattoos hahahaha and one is on my right foot(i also have a foot phobia) tattoos hurt some not as bad as you would think. i have a low tolerance for pain and my foot tattoo was the easiest one i have ever gotten. closest to your toes it get a little uncomfortable on the outer foot it is uncomfortable but tolerable. the pain is the best part of the tattoo besides the finished art. it makes you feel like a rebel or bad *** LOLso if you're too worried about the pain made tattoos aren't for you. just like child birth the pain only last for a little bit. but pain is beauty! when your 80? who cares that's 60 years from now no body looks good at that age anyway

Answer 7

I have a hibiscus on the top of my foot. I think the pain really depends on how much you want it. The more you want it the less it will hurt. I love having it on my foot. I've had it for 5 years now and people ask me all the time, how much it hurts on the foot. It does hurt but it hurt less than I thought it would and it's worth it if you really want it. On the foot, in my opinion, is the best place, pretty much the only place that won't change shape as you age. Also you can hide it or show it off. And it's a bit unusual so most people seem intrigued, which makes you feel good.

Answer 8

I think it is a good idea... but -
well, not actually having a tattoo I am going off what I've heard from friends.

1) Yes, it is kind of painful for the first few minutes. After that the pain subsides because the area goes kind of numb.
2) The foot is gonna hurt and may not go numb because of the bones and nerves in the top of the foot.

I have heard that tatoos hurt more in bony places (ribs, spine, shin). Go into the shop you are thinking of getting work done in and talk to them. A good artist will sit down and talk with you about the pain, the aging process, and even help smooth out your design ideas.

Answer 9

well, tattoos are painful to a degree everywhere. there is no getting around it. someplaces are more painful than others it all depends on if its on bone or muscle... and your personal thrshold for pain.thetop of the foot has nothing to cushion so its gonna hurt. probably alot. but tattoos are going to last forever and you should take the pain with pride. concintrate and meditate... make the pain positive. but, if you cant handle it, dont do it. get your first tattoo someplace soft like your arm or shoulder and see how it goes. for alot of people tattoos hardly hurt at all!! good luck

Answer 10

Honestly, as far as the "needle" aspect of it is considered, it isnt like going to the doctor and getting a shot. It feels more like a scraping I would say (I have 15 tattoos). The foot is one of the most painful places you can get them, since there is less tissue and more bone. I would suggest the arms, or possibly the stomach/back, even though they may stretch eventually with life in general. Of course you are free to get them wherever you feel, I hate to see people have a negative impact on them about how painful tattoo's are because they have chosen painful places every time they get them..