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Yesterday was a good day. Got some sweet filler tattoos from Alex Wild

Got questions about your tattoo with regards to aftercare or possible issues? If so, this is the thread for you! Questions surrounding your new tattoo are common, and we have covered several questions you might have. Think of this thread as your one-stop-shop for all the questions you're dying to ask. In other words, before you start a thread, please read the following. These topics have come up several times in the past, and this will probably answer any questions you might have. FAQ Q: Is my tattoo infected? A: While tattoo infections are fairly rare, strangers on the internet are not the people to ask. If you're wondering if it is infected, it would be best to ask the tattooer who applied the tattoo. They have all types of knowledge about the various stages of a healing tattoo and would be glad to help you. You are their customer. If it looks really terrible or is very painful, consult a physician. Q: What is the best aftercare for my new tattoo? A: There are a variety of effective aftercare methods. There is no "one size fits all" approach, but there are some good guidelines that have been discussed in previous threads here on LST. The best person to get aftercare advice from is from the artist who did the tattoo. (Are you starting to see a pattern here?) Q: Can I go swimming (or engage in other activities) with my new tattoo? A: While everyone has their own opinion about this topic, the way to think about it is this: you have a large, fresh wound that you really, really want to take very good care of. (Hell, you paid for it!) It would be in your best interest to keep it free from water, sweat or contact with not-so-clean areas (like gym equipment). Q: Is my tattoo healed yet? How long does it take to heal? A: This comes back to what was said before: everyone's body reacts differently. There is no "one size fits all" description for what a healing tattoo looks like or how long it takes. Even on the same person, the area of the body can effect how long it takes to heal. For example, tattoos on the lower leg often take longer to heal than tattoos on the upper arm, but even this varies from person to person. That being said, there are some loose guidelines to follow to understand how the healing process is going. Generally, it goes like this: after leaving the shop, your tattoo might be swollen, red, and oozing plasma/lymph/ink. After this phase, you'll transition into the peeling/scabbing phase. The area can become very itchy and it might look like you have sunburn on your tattoo. After this, the tattoo can look faded or glazed over. It may even have a "waxy" look to it. This is normal. Eventually, the tattoo will settle and look pretty good. The length of time from "fresh" to "looking good" can take anywhere from two weeks to a few months. Again, this depends on several factors, including diet, lifestyle, area of application, and too many others to list here. Q: Can I and/or should I put sunscreen on my tattoo? A: After a few days, it should be OK to put sunscreen on your tattoo. During the healing period, you should really try your hardest to keep it covered and out of the sun. Afterward, try and apply high SPF sunscreen to your tattoo as sun can quickly fade the original image. Q: Am I having an allergic reaction to the ink? A: If you have any allergies, it would be in your interest before you get tattooed to tell your artist. Having said that, most people are not going to have a reaction. As I've seen here on LST and in my travels, people sometimes attribute a rough session/swelling on their first or second tattoo with an allergic reaction. Repeat: when in doubt, see your tattoo artist or your doctor. Helpful Links http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/558-tattoo-outline-raised.html http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/32-best-post-tattoo-care.html http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/2567-beach-pools.html http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/1022-itchy-tattoo.html http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/4262-does-your-skin-break-out-after-being-tattooed.html http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/2887-tattoo-scars.html http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-after-care/715-little-bumps-under-6month-old-tattoo.html If anyone has suggestions to be added to this thread please feel free to either PM me or tag me in a post and I will add it. Edited by @hogg

Just returned from Scotland. Here's what I got on Tuesday from Joe Ellis (his IG pic):

Awww! @Delicious and @Pugilist Thanks guys! It's incredibly difficult to get a good picture of my own legs though!! And... I've still got some big ol' spaces... When I look at them I see so much that's left to be filled LOL!! - - - Updated - - - By Paco Cendon at Electric 13 in Austin. Aside from the AMAZING snake he put on me he was so fun and easy to sit for, can't say enough nice things about him! The full snake is on his Instagram, the face is my favorite :)

To me, the difference between a collector and the average client is that the collector does their research... They have plans for what they want and where, and when they plan a vacation they probably visit a shop or two if funds allow. I like the term, personally; I'm actually surprised so many don't. I guess I just never considered that people might find it a snooty term. Someone mentioned an artist feeling pressured/nervous tattooing near existing top notch work... The other week I did a tattoo on a talented tattooer (already stressful!) about six inches above a full lower leg piece by Rubendall. I was simultaneously stoked and sweating like crazy. And damn, that Rubendall piece looked PERFECT... Absolutely stunning. I felt privileged just to get to see it!

I prefer to use the term "tatgallery" when describing myself, but maybe that's just me.

Birds and roses are pretty, sure, but why should we have to limit ourselves to stuff that's "pretty"??

It could be worse... ...people could be called a "Canvas" ;-)

I agree with this 100%, and just so you know, I just refer to y'all as nerds. Myself included.

I feel physical discomfort when I hear the word Aficionado...it gives me the douche chills.

I would like to add this very fresh skin decal by Greg Christian. My thigh never looked better, STOKED! The pic is from his instagram page.

2 awesome things! First, I managed to re-pack all my belongings right where they go, right where everything fits... see! Everything I've had with me for the past 3 months *still* fits into the containers it came with me in!! AND!! Nailing down the details for a contract in Klamath Falls Oregon to start in the late summer/fall!!! Hooray!! Back to the PNW!!

Beautiful. Don't forget to add the part about "setting" the new tattoo immediately after removing the plastic wrap. To set your new tattoo, simply have a friend or acquaintance open their hand, place it over the tattoo, raise the hand in line with their shoulder, and, rotating at the elbow, bring down hand with as much force as possible onto the new tattoo. This will ensure that your tattoo will be permanent. It may take as many as three times.

egads! Well, there always have to be extremes... Think I'll show this to my mom the next time she complains.

Those are super cool, @kalknis! That Higgs mummy is always a good choice.

Finished this tonight...at least for now. Will post more pics once it's all healed. Spencer Briggs at Memoir Tattoo. 6 sessions...great experience.

66 Triumph .

i prefer the term anti-plainskin. for almost everything. woop woop!

So I'm back from my trip to LA visiting Bryan Burk and Chris Conn :o I had the best holiday of my life in just three days! and here are the results! Panther is by Bryan Burk, Dark Horse Tattoo and The cat-lady is of course by Mr. Conn himself! Best tattoo experience I have had and probably will ever have, he is something special this guy :o

Just for the heck of it, I'll throw in my right arm 3/4 sleeve done a couple of years ago by Henning Jorgensen when he was guest tattooing at Kings Avenue Tattoo (both the Manhattan and Long Island shops). This picture was actually compiled by Henning and shared with me. Enjoy!

Adam Hays at Red Rocket Tattoo in NYC did my sleeve. There are multiple meanings in my ink. First off, it is not done. I have about 6 hours of detail work left to do. So on to the story! 2008 was a great year for me. My first daughter was born (I have twin daughters born a year later) and I took delivery of my 2008 Shelby Terlingua. #2 of 38 built. I took delivery at the Shelby American Terlingua 2008 event in Terlingua, TX. Come to find out, my wife went to college in the next down over. In 2009, Shelby American couldn't do the event. So myself and 3 of my friends did. In 2010 I took the Terlingua Preservation Society to 501c3 making it a non-profit business entity. We donate all of our proceeds to the local community (70% live below the poverty level down there) which includes Terlingua High School, Terlingua Fire & EMS and Activets. Among others. In 2012 we had our biggest year yet and raised over 24k in our one weekend. Terlingua has become a big part of my life. 2.5 years ago I started thinking about getting my first tattoo. Then it was on to the what theme, color, grayscale or what. I spent a year and a half figuring out what I wanted. During my Terlingua event I discovered the artwork of Adam Hays. At around the same time I started looking at the local artists by me and was found that none of them could capture the essence of what I was looking for. I race Mustangs and getting into desert racing. I decided I wanted something that imbued Terlingua, my daughters and my racing. Last summer I discovered that Adam did tattoo work, I hit his web page and the light bulb went off in my head. THIS IS THE GUY! I emailed the shop in August 2012, couple of phone conversations later I had an appointment for January 2013. Since I was flying in for the appointments, I wanted as much work done as humanly possible while I was there. I left it up to Adam to decide what could be done. What did I know? I had never had a tattoo. He was the expert and I left this up to him. I gave Adam the details of what I wanted in the design. He came up with the idea of horses racing through the desert and the skeletons (Terlingua thing) on the horses. It tied everything in and I loved the concept. Last Thursday and Friday I discovered what my pain threshold was, which was about what Adam could tattoo in a single sitting. We had two six hour days of tattooing. Below is the product as it is on my arm now. What is left is the mountains behind it (which will have my wife's name in it because without her, I would not have my daughters), some cactus and dust clouds coming up around the horses. All in all, I am extremely happy with my ink and the work that Adam has done. Now to get my race schedule this year and find out when I can get back to NYC to get my tat finished :) Added note: Shelby, Bella and Lexi are my daughters.

Do yourself a favor and call Spider Murphy's and see if you can get an appt with Matt Howse for the convention. (415) 460 6979

I think to some degree you have a point. At some point you probably would come across the "you don't love me more than tattoos" argument. I will try to say this without sounding like a chauvinist pig, but the problem I find is most of the girls I find that are truly are into tattoos are tattooers are tattoo collecters and they are so few of them, there are plenty of girls who have tons of tattoos, but they are either groupies who only date tattooers (Nothing like a STD from your competition) or part of a scene or they just have tattoos and maybe aren't that into hanging in shops or studying tattooing. I guess my point is I think if you find someone who can understand your passion and maybe has one of thier own, even if that passion isn't tattooing it could work out just as well.

I love the axe in the tree stump

Man, all of that texture freaks me out. Laser removal is no joke, makes you appreciate getting good tattoos to begin with. Cool video, I definitely enjoyed watching this!

I've wanted a tattoo for years, but never thought I had a good enough "reason". Well, I finally have that reason. All my life I have been extremely overweight. I'm talking 5ft 8in and weighed 330lbs. My wife and I had our first son, and when he was 1.5 years old we were talking about having a second baby. It finally sunk in that if I didn't do something I was going to have a heart attack/die and wouldn't be around to take care of my wife and kids. So with the support of my wife, I went on a diet. From July 31, 2011 to July 31, 2012 I went from 327.8 lbs to 206lbs. Over the last year I've kept the weight off, and I finally decided I had my "reason" to get a tattoo. After doing months of research, I decided Kore Flatmo was the person I wanted to tattoo me. I went through his consultation process and I have been put on the schedule Aug 16 and 17. I decided if I do this, I'm doing it right and doing it big. I'm jumping in with a full black/gray chest piece. I gave Kore a couple ideas I would like in the tattoo, but left the rest up to him. I haven't seen his completed study yet, but this is what he was thinking. One side of my chest will be a skull draped in linen. The other side will be two sparrows interacting with each other. Then right in the middle will be a portrait of my wife's eyes. He said he'd use the gray scale to show depth and make it appear like the eyes are in the background and the sparrows are the first thing your eyes see. Sorry for the long winded post, I'm just excited to get this going, and see what Kore comes up with. After talking to him, I know he's the right man for the job. I'll post pictures once I get started.

I don't have anything new to add because you've been given some great advice so far. I just want to say it's awesome that you're considering putting Pharaoh's Horses on your chest. That's an awesome move for a man or a woman, imo.

I think I've got it bad, because I haven't even begun with my first tattoo and am planning/dreaming for the next one. I've decided I want a Tibetan skull somewhere and thought a huge one on my back would be cool. I stumbled upon a thread where you mentioned Kore was doing one on you. Have you started it or have any pictures?

I sometimes say (half-jokingly) that I'm a "Tattoo Enthusiast". Sort of like some motorcycle gangs will say on the record that they're not a gang, they're motorcycle enthusiasts.

I had never heard the term before tattooers used it in regards to me. That's why I don't find it offensive.

When Grez told me I had a nice collection started, I was like "hell ya!" I never gave much thought to the term, but the fact that he liked the tattoos I was getting I figured I must be doing something right. It's nice to have great tattooers appreciate your involvement in the culture. I think being called a "collector" kind of brings us more into the fold.

I've met some very cool people and made some good friends of both artists and fellow collectors. I've developed a deep appreciation for not only other people's art but my own.

The aging skin issues are the same for men though too... on that note, even men get sagging tits when they're old enough ;)

You are turning into this guy... Seriously though, generally I have heard it used to signify someone who keeps getting tattooed, different than the regular Joe getting one or two. - - - Updated - - - I prefer the title Tattoo Hoarder.

@else, I think you're on the right track. I think "collector" has at times been deemed holier than thou. To get good tattoos from lots of different people, and therefore think we are better than the people who just walk in off the street or are content with their local artist. Semantically, that is a collector. Obviously, that's all a farce and untrue if we delve into the motivation behind it. While, sure, I believe those people exist who get up on their tat-soap-box, I think the majority (like y'all rad kids here on LST) just like getting good tattoos and enjoy meeting new people. I am not comfortable with the title either. Even though, it's true, I collect on a certain level. I ain't better than nobody else.

here's a hint... proper picture to come (as soon as I can poach it from IG ;) ) Love it!!!

One of my favorite pieces that I have. By Darl Gnau of Charmed Life Tattoo & Gallery in Baltimore.

I'm making another trip out to Electric to get a couple of little pieces from Robert Ryan in June. I think that will be it for new tattoos until I start my back.

I just wanted to quote this and thank David for posting it. It's a great example of what I love about LST: it's not preachy or condescending, but it is sound, thoughtful advice. Thanks for posting it.

But if you want something that's going to stay perfect forever, get a print or a painting, not a tattoo.

It's a big step no doubt, I would say getting a chest piece is almost like getting a neck tattoo for a girl, in the sense that it's going to be visible the majority of time. I don't know if drawing stuff on you will give you the full effect of what it will be like. I would say if you do do it. (Yes I know I said do do) push it out a little bit, maybe make it a next year goal to get started. I know I don't really know you that well, but I can tell you have been on a terror to get tattooed because of personal things in your life, and you have been getting some really nice ones. I am not one to talk about getting tattoos on a whim, but visible spots deserve some consideration. If time passes and it still seems like a good idea, then it was probably a good idea all along. Regardless you seem to do good picking tattoos and tattooers so I think the piece will look good. I have been struggling similarly with getting my hands done. I toy with the idea of doing my knuckles and then I was convinced I should do the spots above my thumbs and then I was like well I might as well just dive in and not half ass it, but as of right now I am not doing anything cause I am not 100 convinced. Plus most of the people who tattoo me, either have no hand tattoos or have had them lasered off, maybe I lack balls to ask them to tattoo my hands.

when I got together with my current wife in 2005(we are both 53),I have sleeves and a good part of my legs done & a neck piece,my wife liked mine but did not have any tattoos at all,but ! since being with me & our son & daughter in law were getting tattoos too, my wife,miss "I like yours honey but I will never get one",in 2009 when our first grandchild was born,she surprised me with "I want a tattoo honey" ! so now she has a descent size ankle tattoo with both our grandchildren's names and worked on twice now. to answer one of the questions,it never did effect our relationship in any way because she had none and I had many. IMO if two people REALLY love each other,each has to accept the other one and respect them to make it work. I think tattoos on women are very sexy,but I thought my wife was sexy with or without tattoos ! :D she's a hottie !

I've watched that show and when they show the completed coverup my first thought is "okay now show me how you are going to coverup the coverup"

I'm finally able to post my contest entry. Just finished up my back piece by Rodney Raines, Ace Custom Tattoo, Charlotte, NC. Sorry for the blurry pic, it's all I have. ETA: found a few more in progress shots on Instagram

Might aswell throw this in here, crossing my fingers! This month has stiff competition :)

Hey-all Women should know how to defend themselves. She is getting ready for her blackbelt test, as is her 16 y.o. sister. Gotta be strong!

@rich dude c'mon man you know the drill by now .

Maybe, I havent got one since December.

Sure. My oldest got one not too long ago, and I watched another guy getting one while I was being worked on the other week...hard to beat the old reliables!