Want to get my first Old School tattoo.

[Mohawkedleatherguy]

For a number of years now I have been wanting to get my first tattoo, and then really in the traditional way, what is known as 'Old School'. The heavy work, with those thick black lines and areas, very graphic. So not those trendy colors or vague shades that you often see now. But just like sailors once used to have it done. That’s the way I really want to look like myself. So also with those simple really traditional, straightforward plain motifs like eagles or anchors or ships. I think that is incredibly cool. Every time I see a tough guy with such a tough Old School tattoo on his biceps, I am really jealous. As no one in my family is tattooed, I however certainly have to overcome a social threshold.

But apart from that, there is the fear of that tattoo needle, of the moment it will touch my skin and stays on touching. And also of that buzzing sound, which reinforces that. I have been struggling with that for years. That fear has prevented me from getting my first tattoo so far. But now I really want to finally take the step to get my first tattoo.

Only: it really has to be Old School. Now I understand that, because of the extra thick needles and old-fashioned vibrating machines that are used for it, it is a lot more intense than modern tattoos. Can one of the forum members tell me something about that? Is it true that Old School is more painful, or is that not so bad? Because I would really like to get an Old School tattoo, but at the same time I really dread that thick tattoo needle.