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So only women's bodies decline after the age of 35ish? Hmmm. Guess I should stop getting tattooed, worry about what my body looks like, and leave it to the men to get all the sweet tats. Sorry, had to go there.

If you want to be able to hide a tattoo putting it on your head is one of the worst places you can choose.

You can't learn to swim by reading a book. To expand on that again, tattooing is best experienced first-hand. Many times, here on this forum, in the shop I work at and conventions etc, someone has mentioned that they wish there was a book that had all the information they were looking for about a particular subject at that moment. It usually doesn't exist. You have to find it yourself. With regards to tattooing and "tattoo culture" We're living in a folk art culture. We should embrace the folk art tradition of oral storytelling and first hand knowledge and be relieved that we not (yet) shackled by the literary bounds of other art movements, cultures and historical societies. But to be more on topic, in a general sort of way... I'd stick my neck out and say that any style of tattooing (until maybe around 2000-2010) is influenced by the popular culture surrounding the people who get those styles. Sailor Jerry cribbed movie posters and other advertisements for many of his designs between the 40's - 70s. Mike Malone used objects and paintings he found in Chinatown as reference for many of his popular designs. It stands to reason that Charlie Wagner would have used Edwardian style filigree ornamentation (from a variety of sources, jewellery included) in his designs. The dotwork thing is slightly separate. During the first decade of the 21st century tattooing entered a more post-modern, referential phase where most styles of tattooing referenced or were influenced by earlier styles of tattooing. Except dotwork. I consider the work of Thomas Hooper, Xed Le Head, Jondix (I'd extend that to Duncan X) to be the only "new" style of tattooing since biomech in the 90's - but that didn't seem to catch on outside of tattoo culture the way their work did. That's why I still bother to get involved when someone refers to dotwork as a "fad". While it is imitated ad nauseam, we've alive to witness the birth of a new tattoo style that was influenced by disparate artforms outside of tattooing to the point where it works and it's possible to have a coherent bodysuit of that style. Pretty exciting stuff.

There was a thread about "dotwork" a while ago and I got fairly involved and possibly upset a few people. Check it out, I think I already answered the question posed by your thread title. Also, the word "fad" is inherently insulting in modern usage - but you knew that already. While researching tattoos, tattooing, tattoo styles, tattoo history and tattooers is interesting and probably fun. It's still kinda like researching swimming. Most of it's value comes from being involved, taking part, doing it, getting it done and having it be part of your life. Then again... On a long enough time scale, ALL tattooing since Ed Hardy opened the first appointment-only studio is a fad. Sailors going to war, getting tattooed in Honolulu was a fad. High-Society Europeans shipping esteemed Japanese irezumi artists over to tattoo dragons on them in the 1800's was a fad. Internet forums will be seen to be a fad. Finally, tattoo customers stressing about being period-correct like vintage clothing aficionados will be seen to be a fad of the early 21st century.

Mike Rubendall and Ichibay at the London Convention in the end of the month. Next autumn: Timothy Hoyer and Chris O´donnell in New York, and hopefully Brian Bruno

Thanks every one (@HettyKet @Graeme @Pugilist @taaarro) for the likes and support. I was worried I was being too much of a bitch, but that shit hit a nerve.

Got this fun little crybaby from Ben Fraser at Good Luck a few hours ago.

Don't worry about it. We work on people's skin every single day. We're used to it. Yes, even people who've never been tattooed before. Even people who "respect" tattooing and want something special. We tattoo 'em all. To use my swimming/water analogy: You're not even dipping your toe in the water. You're asking for swimmers to let you know where the front crawl came from. Stop reading, start getting tattooed. Until then, you don't get to be part of tattooing. You're a tourist and don't get to demand squat from any of us. A conversation based on first-hand experience is always more rewarding than one with a curious onlooker.

Getting good tattoos is a current fad, but I'm buying into it for the long haul.

I don't usually post in the contest threads but I thought it would be fun to have a Henning vs. Rubendall showdown. Done at the Montreal tattoo convention last week:

perfect sentence.

Here's mine, done by Chad Koeplinger at the 2013 Montreal tattoo convention.

here's some balance:

Not getting something because it is a trend is just as bad as getting something because it is a trend.

Seconded

Booked in with Henning on the Saturday. Namakubi back of the leg. I'm really looking forward to this one.

This topic has been a great morning read. Many of you are responsible for my shrieks of laughter in an otherwise quiet office! Having recently got my first tattoo, stupid questions have been kept to a minimum (as it’s not on show often and I don’t go shouting at people that I just got tattooed). My mom however is continuously disapproving and I often get ‘what will you do when you’re older?’ to which I answer ‘Don’t know, probably just wash it off’ to which I get a rather quizzical frown or puzzled look. I just like messing with her! Will

My newest tattoo is just visible in short sleeves, this guy at work came up yesterday and went "ah *nod at tattoo* I was thinking of one for myself a few years ago, I went THE OTHER way though - abseiling". He said it so conclusively I'm wondering how fine a line I walk betwix getting tattoos on my skin and abseiling down walls. Other than that, nothing but curious peeping and lovely comments! It's interesting to see how many parents take a negative view - in my case, my mum seems to take them in and appreciate that they've added to her creation.

@BrianH Thanks brother for stepping up and filling in for my oversight! Exactly the reason why I like this site so much and the people on it! Let's stick to my original plan where I will send out a print to @hogg @Iwar @slayer9019 @gougetheeyes . @BrianH can send his print to @steve1461686340 Folks, PM us your info and for the locals if you want to meet up, let's set things up for a hand off. Again, cheers to the LST crew and keep up the good work.

@BrianH @ironchef Aww, you guys.... :) Like @hogg said, this is totally unnecessary, but damnit, if you guys insist we're not going to try to talk you out of it either ;) On behalf of all of us THANK YOU!!!

This might be my new favorite drinking game. In Oklahoma there are elaborate drinking games centered around weather reports - tornado season results in frequent intoxication ;)

I love dotwork when it's done well. I have some on me. Get what you like! If it looks good to you and you find the right artist who does it well, get it. It will look great and you will love it forever.

My pal is covered in really shite little tattoos but they look really good on him . pure punk rawk.

Guess I will see you there then. Henning normally shares a booth with Mike Rubendall. Can't fricking wait!!

I'm so jealous! Plus, Henning is a wonderful person. You'll have a blast.

Peter Lagergren:

I'm going for the whole "symmetry" thing. Thought about getting my knees done during the same session. Sounds like the stupidest idea ever. But I'm down. To take a week off from work. Because I won't be able to walk.

This is from Henning Jorgensen. done at Royal Tattoo. enjoy!

Not to mention, some of us work out and stop partying and find ourselves in better shape in our forties than we were in our twenties...imagine that?!

Alrighty gang - I just confirmed our reservation as follows: Next Thursday, 9/19/13 @ 7:30pm OTD (Out The Door) 2232 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94115 Tel: 415-923-9575 Here's who's on the guest list - let me know if one of you can't make it so we can adjust the reservation: @hogg @a1steaks @cltattooing @ian @dcostello @Reyeslv @MadeIndelible +1 @chrisnoluck @tammy @steve1461686340 @Iwar @dari @Scott Sylvia Looking forward to seeing some old friends and meeting some new faces!

Stoked for you!

I'm getting tattooed by Seth Ciferri and Greg Christian on the upcoming London Convention. I'm getting the Cross and Crown symbol by Seth and a design based on Bert Grimm's Sundander by Greg. Pretty stoked!!!

maybe rephrase the question as "Would you get a tattoo next to your face?"

A old friend of mine got a bass clef and a greek letter on either side of his head behind his ear. While not in your face it is very very noticeable and has hindered job opportunities (engineer). If you want to be able to hide your tattoos, stick to anything below the collar and above the hands.

But they are important and influential Yelp reviewers so they'd better get a good tattoo!

I think it's kind of a learned behavior and attitude. You can't just go into a place and use a service, you have to complain, haggle, and bust balls so people know you are important. The idea that someone has been operating a business for years doing the same procedure you are asked to be done, and you treat them like you are the first and only person they have tattooed, just tells me you are either a self important asshole or just kind of socially inept. I once stumbled upon a corner of the internet where a know nothing with two tattoos was encouraging people to demand to tour their clean room, before they got a tattoo everywhere. I kindly had to give her my insight that the room stays clean because we try to allow the least amount of people back there to minimize any risk of contamination. Think of walking into a restaurant and instead of ordering food, just demanding proof that all the dishes were washed and all employees washed their hands (treating people like idiots). A generation of people told daily how special they are, which incidentally has become a big part of society and tattoo clients. So you want to the see the package opened up in front of you, cool no problem. But do you know you sterilized those tools? The same asshole you didn't trust in the first place! They are not taking out your appendix, it's just a tattoo. Learning to sterilize equipment and work area is simple and can be taught in ten minutes, and just remember that most of the sterilization process and preventative measures are done so YOU don't spread disease to the tattooer, not the other way around. Most tattoo infections are caused by people using inadequate aftercare (being filthy slobs).

"So if you run into someone who asks to see packages opened, it isn't because they don't trust you" it's exactly because they don't trust us. As i said in my previous statement I have absolutely no issue with opening packages in front of folks, its not a big deal and while i dont get butthurt i do feel a tad insulted by the request ONLY because i know almost undoubtedly that that person asking me has never asked a doctor or nurse or dentist or even acupucturist to do the same because they view those individuals as professionals they can trust while we're just a bunch of filthy bikers. you make a good point about the stricter certs for those folks but really that isnt whats going through most peoples minds when the ask to watch a setup.the exception to that being people who work in the medical field. what is going through the average non medical field persons mind is based purely on our looks and on preconceived notions that we're mostly a bunch of dirty bikers. I worked in 2 of the busiest ERs in the country for 6 years and in that time i've seen plenty of nurses, doctors, phlebotomist etc., etc cross contaminate and break the sterile chain regardless of all that certification. sometimes out of laziness but mostly out of just plain ole absent mindedness i think folks SHOULD be asking to see packages opened. my problem isnt that they ask me, its that they ask ONLY me. i cant speak for every state but the last three states ive worked in including NY where i am now have all required me/all tattooers to be individually licensed as well as pass a test demonstrating basic knowledge of universal precautions/bloodborne pathogens. side note : a large part of why i personally prefer clients not see me setup is that i worked hard to learn this craft and get every little nugget of info that i could. setting up a tattoo machine for optimal performance and efficiency is not common knowledge and so i don want to give trade secrets out to every aspiring tattoo artist that comes in the door any more that KFC wants us to know what their 11 herbs and spices are. with that being said i do get where youre coming from and respect your side of the debate.

They shared a booth las year at the State of Grace convention.... Must be their thing!

I can't wait to see the pictures, all of you are going to get exceptional tattoos.

@HettyKet If you look at tattoos on a long enough scale, everything is going to look dated eventually. Good tattoos are still good tattoos though.

@Iwar. homie!!! 7 days until we'll be pulling into SF!!!! Your cell phone is on the way, you're all dialed in! -The Wolf

Stipple-shaded traditional is, in my opinion, absolutely a fad. I feel like they're the kind of tattoos you'll be able to look at and pinpoint a two-year window in which they were made. I don't think there's anything wrong with it as a technique as such (a large part of my forearm is dot shaded) but I don't trust anything where the technique is put before other considerations. In other words, a tattoo isn't cool just because it's dot-shaded. It still needs the characteristics of a good tattoo concerning the strength if the drawing, silhouette, placement, composition, etc.

Some dickhead from this season now lives in Portland, a burger joint is trying to drum up business by showing the show on a big screen and having him attend weekly. The funny thing is they thought the tattoo shop a couple doors down would be stoked to come in and watch the show, they got an invitation to bring the whole crew. The subsequent amount of f bombs that followed, oh dear. I think the best line out of the tirade, was "why don't you stick to making Milkshakes or better yet actually stop by our shop sometime and you can see how a real shop runs, we make money, not drama.

Bit more done on my back by Diego Azaldegui in Leeds, UK. This is after two sessions.

Managed to get an appointment with Grez to do a traditional Gorilla head on my right foot on Sept 25. Stoked to say the least. Now my right foot won't look naked in comparison to the left.

All healed; done by Chris O'Donnell. I couldn't be any happier with it and can't wait to start on my back in 2015.

Here comes another of my "Out of the Norm" submissions. This tattoo was done on the 1st September and is still driving me crazy. (My legs heal terribly). As usual, something different to the norm around these parts. Based on the Constructivism propaganda posters designed mainly in the early 20th Century and done by Gray Silva of Rampant Ink Nottingham @ Teesside Charity Tattoo Show, in about 5 hours, at a guess.

got this from Todd Noble in Montreal yesterday:

It's made from heavy metal and unicorn blood.

What if tattooers flipped the script? What if you had to provide proof that you didn't have a disease to get tattooed, or they were able to critique your personal hygiene? A tattooer has a routine that ensures the procedure will be safe and sanitary, regardless of the situation, so they don't have to bring up those subjects and make clients feel like filthy diseased ridden slobs.