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Rei at Inkrat Tokyo finished up my old school Japanese-American-Japanese backpiece last week. It took around eight sessions - roughly one a month - and I couldn't be happier. In a weird way, I'm going to miss my montly sessions under the needle. It was prickly at times but it taught me a lot about myself... j

And here's what Mike made for me on Saturday. Next level chrysanthemum. I am so thrilled!

So, tattoos hurt. Some more than others and the pain experience varies from person to person on the same spot. @Donelly1991 I've had my wrist tattooed twice and didn't even feel it. Other people say that the wrist really hurts. You won't know until you do it!

what @Gingerninja said, and I have all my fingers tattooed and that was a very easy spot for me,many people say knees and elbows are really bad and my knees and elbows were also easy for me, and @Donnelly1991 ,no offense but it sounds like your sister really doesn't have too much to compare pain levels to with only 2 small tattoos, don't let the pain discourage you,it's not as bad as you think,and if you are that worried,then maybe don't get tattooed.

Meh you'll be fine dry healing, especially if you're used to the short-term discomfort of it. I've never had the desire to use the 'derm' products healing tattoos, maybe I'm just old and lazy haha. For an area as large as the back I'm not even sure how you would apply it on your own. Take an muscle relaxant (like Aleve) right before a session. It will help you stay relaxed and prevent you from getting worn out too quickly. Hot drink like tea or hot water helps too. Tattooing the back is hard on the body since it is such a large area. So maintain your health, keep in good physical shape leading up to the sessions and during, it will go a long way in helping you take the tattoo and heal afterwards. Wear an old shirt to bed. I slept on my back the whole time. I would just wear my shirt right in the shower and soak myself to unstick the shirt off the back tattoo. You'll be fine, good luck !

Oh, thanks Dan and Gengerninja for all of your advice. I was worried because I had sensitive skin. Will check with my doctor before do it, but I think this is my chance to change myself :D and hope to receive useful advice from you two

Looks over moisturized. I'd let it dry for a three to five days and see how it looks.

I was going to have my back worked on last night, but it was still tender from the shading of last week. She knew I wanted an old demon head covered up on my bicep, so we went with that. Took like 3 hours with all the BSing back and forth, cutting a stencil from something already drawn up.

Tattoos are definitely more popular and mainstream than they have ever been, but remember that people have been getting tattooed since the dawn of homo sapien. My parents used to say similar things, but then you realize that when people pass judgement or ridicule upon your appearance, it's usually because you are making them confront their conditioned opinions and they don't know how to deal with that internally so they project it into you instead because you have become a symbol for that. Also when you understand that, it makes that sort of bullshit a lot easier to deal with because it's not actually about you. If it really does bother you that he's saying that stuff, hopefully you can ask him to be more respectful about it because even if he is right it still sucks to hear and doesn't contribute anything positive to your relationship, especially when it is a parent! Good luck :)