tattoos???

Question

i was thinking about getting a tattoo. what's it like? how do they do it? how do you care for it? past experiences would also be helpful.
Thank you!!

Answer 1

It feels like someone is using a razor to cut you, and then holding a lighter inches from your skin. After the first 10 minutes or so your endorphins kick in and it doesn't hurt as bad, but it sure don't tickle.
They take a needle with ink and pierce your skin, driving the ink into the layers of epidermis.
To take care of it, you keep it clean - use antibacterial soap four or five times a day to clean it, then use a fragerance and dye free lotion to keep it moist - the goal is to keep it from scabbing. If it scabs over, that's not a problem in and of itself, but if you pick at the scabs or they are ripped off, someof the color from your tattoo can come off as well. It takes 7-10 days to heal, and you shouldn't swim or take a soaking bath (showers are okay, just try not to let the water hit it too much - you don't want it to get waterlogged) and you should avoid exposure to the sun for the first two weeks or so.
As for what to get, I highly recommend grey-scale. That's where they use all blacks and greys instead of color - when the colors fade out, it can look pretty awful. Have something drawn up and hang onto it for three or four months. Then look at it again - critically - and see if you still like it. If you do, it's time to shop for an artist. If you don't, start all over again.
Now that you've got a design that you like, you need to think about where to put it. You should keep in mind that gravity will take over when you get older - and that a great deal of white collar employers require that tattoos not be visible - so the side of your neck is probably not a good decision. The 'tramp stamp' is pretty popular right now, the one at the small of the back - but you won't be able to see it very well, and really, what's the point of that? Try to decide on a location that can be concealed to keep from traumatizing your kids, but is easy to show off if you have a mind to.
If there is a bone close to the surface (spine, shin, ankle, elbow) or if it's a particulary sensitive area (the inside of your upper arm in the case of a tribal band) you probably want to avoid that for the first one.
If you are unsure if you can take the pain, ask the tattoo artist to draw on you with a dry needle first. That's a pretty good gauge.
Oh, last thing - NO NAMES - it's a curse for your relationship if they are living. Trust me.
In hindsight, I wish I'd done some kind of theme with mine, like all butterflies of different colors, shapes, and sizes - that could have been cool.
So, draw it out, think it over, and don't make any rash decisions. You have to live with this for the rest of your life.

Answer 2

I have them all over and I love them! The feeling is similiar to being scratched by a cat, but much more intense. A "gun" is used that moves a needle up and down through a metal tube. Every needle should be placed in the gun while you are watching. There are needles for outlining which have only one to three needles and some for shading which could have sometimes 10 or more tiny needles. It does hurt and depending on where you get it done the severity of the pain varies. As far as care goes I have always treated mine the same way 5 days of antiboitic ointment and an unscented lotion like lubriderm for as long as is needed after that. Keep it very clean and always wash hand before touching it. No long soaks in the tub or swimming for about 6 weeks or more. You will be able to tell when it is completely healed. I don't regret them at all. I know that when I am 75 I'll be a tattooed old granny and I love the idea!

Answer 3

Don't listen to them ...I have about 15 tattoos in various places on my body.When it is all over it feels like a really bad sunburn until it heals. The amount of pain you feel depends on a lot of things.
1. Your own sensitivity to pain
2. Where on your body it is going
3. As a general rule anything on a boney part(lower back, ankle) will hurt more than (upper arm, calf)
Tattoo care is pretty simple. Keep it Clean and dry for a few days and the rest will happen.Some suggest cremes it is up to you I never used them. If you get color I would say to use them.
You just need to consider what you put on there. It is permanent and when you are a mother, grandmother you will have to explain the reason behind it.You will also never be able to tell your kids that they can't have one. If after all that you still decide to get a tattoo then make sure to check out the shop. Don't be afraid to ask them how the clean the instruments.Some use a process called Ultra Sonic Sterilization? Sound waves to clean(that is not good enough, You will want a shop with an autocalve(it is what dentisits use to clean their stuff) Make sure to hang out and watch how they operate. Do they used ink cups for more than one customer?(that is a bad thing) Do they open up fresh needles for each customer?(that is a good thing) Check out their personal profile(not the stuff on the wall) they have their own photoalbums. And lastly check with the Better Business Bureau to make sure that there are no complaints against the shop.

Answer 4

I'm not going to lie... It hurts. But, to be perfectly honest, it's an addiction. Once you get one, you're bound to want more. Only get something that is totally meaningful to you that you are going to love for the rest of your life because that's how long they last. What it actually feels like (at least to me, everyone's different) is a short little needle piercing your skin in the same spot over and over about 1000 times. It's done by taking the tattoo gun to your skin which has ink on the point and they simply draw the design of your choice into the first couple of layers of skin. After that, the best way to care for it is to keep in moist with A&D Ointment which can be found in any drug store for about $6.00. That needs to be done until the top layer (the "scar") falls off and then you can use regular lotion. They prefer that you don't use anything with dyes or scents to it. Eucerine is pretty good. I use that when I get a new tattoo.

As for past experiences, mine were all positive. I'm planning on getting more of them (I have my whole person pretty much mapped out...) when I get the money to do so. But, consider it very carefully before you just rush into a tattoo parlor and get pink lips put on your wrist or something! Make sure, as I said above) that it is something that you will always treasure. I consider my tattoos to be a very big part of my life and they all mean something special to me. Oh, and never NEVER get anyone's name tattooed onto yourself unless it's either your parents, your kids, or your own! Otherwise, if things don't work out, it could be the worst decision ever! Good luck with your new tattoo!!!

Answer 5

Depending on where it is will determine the level of pain, and some people have a better tolerance to begin with. It does feel like a razor on your skin, or if you take your nails and pinch a small area of skin repeatedly and quickly :)
After getting a tattoo, I try to keep water off of the area as much as possible. When showering you can try to avoid getting that area directly wet or hold a wash cloth over it. Don't soak or scrub for a couple weeks! The skin peeling within a couple days is normal, don't pick at the pieces of skin as they come off. The tattoo artist will most likely give you A+D cream to put on the skin, only use it for a day or two because it clogs the pores. After using A+D, use non-scented lotion as MUCH AS POSSIBLE. If you continue to use lotion and sunscreen on the tattoo, it will stay looking nice for quite some time.

Answer 6

I would say find a reputable artist make sure you know what you want and where you want it and the whole experience can be quite fun except for the small amount of pain and discomfort also you do not want to keep your tattoo dry it must be well lubricated with an antibacterial cream such as A@D OINTMENT depending on the artist they will either put a stencil of the tat where you want it or it can also be freehanded onto the skin

Answer 7

I have 12 tattoos. I love them. Yes they do hurt and yes they are on you for life. I have none that I regret or wish I had not gotten.
The caring for them is simple. Keep it clean and dry and follow all your tattoo artists directions. Once its healed thats it, nothing else to do but admire it.
Just make sure that if you get one, you make sure that you are 100% positive that you want whatever you pick forever! so nothing that when your 50 you would be embarressed if your grand child saw it! You must be ready for the pain. It does hurt. I liken it to being burned by a curling iron over and over and over. or getting a shot. lots and lots of shots! You cant be flinching all over either, you have to just suck it up and hang in there until he/she is done with their work! You will bleed, a thousand needle pricks have stabbed into your skin, so expect that too.
Beware, most people say a tattoo is addictive. They are!
Enjoy!

Answer 8

Well it feels like your getting poked with abuot 20 needles over and over and over for a couple of hours...well depending on the size and detail of your tat. I was getting my last one for almost 4 hrs....You keep it clean by putting A & D ointment on it until it heals.....Its really not as bad as everyone says it is. The most painful spots are going to be places like your shoulder blades, stomach and any place that doesnt have much muscle on the skin

Answer 9

If you are over 18...
Go to a good Tattoo shop
ask questions till you are
blue in the face. They will
be glad to help you.

Answer 10

Basically all the answers above were good, except dont listen to whoever said it will look gross when you are old, because at that point your skin will look gross anyway, but you still have the cool memories that were accossiated with the tattoo.