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I'm newbie so my words might count as nothing. I got, as you know, my first tattoo a week ago. I waited for it atleast a year. My mom always told me "Don't you dare getting tattoed, I will cut your arm if I see you", then I found a job, I've earned money, and I become independent. Then I started reading stuff about tattoes, watched many guides/videos about tattoo care, performances etc. I litterally found a wonderful world, which means a lot to me. After a year of studying, research and interest I thought "now I'm ready", so I booked a session, choosing the tattoo studio based on: reviews, instagram post etc. I went in and I said "I would like to have a wolf printed in my left forearm". Two weeks have passed and in 4hrs I got my forearm tattooed. Since this session every morning I watch my forearm and I think about every single minute passed watching videos, reading guides, choosing the subject etc. And I say "I have to be proud about it, that's my personal goal that I have been aiming for a year". In the end, for me, you can't get a tattoo if you are not ready for it. That is why people have anxiety after the session. They aren't ready yet

Honestly, as far as I know it looks pretty solid. I could not imagine it without any black around. I mean, it is a cool piece, without this background the white wolf could not be so cool to watch. A week ago I got my forearm tattoed too with a wolf, and the artist just did an absolute masterpiece. He hasn't told me that he wanted to use that much black, but he just went straight. The result is simply amazing, now that it is healing the wolf is like a pencil draw, and the black around gives prominence to the wolf face. Anyway, as the others said, just deal with it, I guess you will like it way much more once it will be healed! (sorry for my bad english)

https://www.worldtattooevents.com/germany-tattoo-conventions-calendar/

there are tons of good tattooers that do amazing traditional, maybe you could find some tattooers that you like and see if they do conventions near you,follow as many tattooers that do the style you want on instagram , IG is a great place to do research and contact tattooers. and this tattooer in Argentina, does he travel to conventions ?

Thanks man, I’m slowly growing more and more into it. I take it more as brutal honesty which is sometimes needed.

I would not recommend trying to use another artist's design. There's about a 90% chance that a quality artist won't want to do it, and a tattooist who would wouldn't be up to the task. Meantime with respect to traditional in your immediate area here is a very short list: https://www.instagram.com/stefanpauli/ https://www.instagram.com/christianhensen/ https://www.instagram.com/flashtilldeath/ https://www.instagram.com/tobias_tietchen/ https://www.instagram.com/alex_sances_one/

Because that's what it is. Glad you get that, @Wolves.

You would think so! I only signed up a couple days ago! I have read only a few threads but find it clear to see the same 2-3 hostile people on every single one. A real shame really as some threads do contain so solid info but, some newer members like myself get instant attitude and avoidance to actually answer questions asked.

that and that the original purpose of this forum was to celebrate tattoos, the process of getting them and to educate the public on how to get the best possible experience and result.

Seems to me that you should be here a little longer before you begin laying down judgement on others that have literally spent hundreds if not thousands of hours responding to people's questions and trying to help them through their experiences.

Mate, that tattoo looks cool as! It is a little shocking at the start as it appears so much darker while healing up, I’m sure you will love it once it’s settled as it is a nice looking tat mate. Also definitely don’t worry about what others think, it’s a tattoo for YOU nobody else. Don't listen to the “vets” on here, they are proper bell ends who just bitch rather than offering help, advice or kind worlds of reassurance.

Thanks for the kind words. That’s really what I came on here to hear. I’m calming down more, but I still freak out here and there. Guess I just gotta wait for the end result and trust that I’ll get used to it. I also have to learn to be confident in it and not worry what others think.

I reckon the instant gratification mindset of the younger generation probably plays a part. They see something, they want something, they get something. After that, they probably realise it wasn't how they envisioned it to turn out. And, lo and behold, it ain't like the latest fashion statement or fad where you can just purchase the latest model, use it once and relegate it to the back of your storeroom until the next spring cleaning either lands it in the rubbish dump, the salvation army donation box, or a garage sale. Imo, that mindset does not go with tattoos unless we are referring to the the temporary kind. Plus, let's not forget all the "role models" who make it cool to have tattoos on their face, neck, hands, knuckles just for the sake of being a cool kid. Wasn't that the argument given for all the young guns taking up smoking (decades ago)? Then again, there are also those for whom the above does not apply wherein it is more about adaptation than anything else.

As everyone mentioned, all that dark black that's freaking you out right now will get lighter in time. If it is any consolation, that's the absolute darkest it will ever get. Furthermore, it's early days yet and you won't really know what the end product is like until all the healing is done and dusted. Plus, it takes our minds some time to get used to any major changes to our bodies, including large tattoos (especially on highly visible areas). If you look around the forums, you will find that this is quite common. A little advice: don't make any hasty decisions, don't panic, and breathe. There will always be haters and everyone has their own opinion. With or without tattoos, you will be judged. It is inevitable. End of the day, it's your body, it's your tattoo and the only one who gets any say at all would be you. A tattoo, visible or otherwise, does not change who you are. And honestly, if someone is gonna judge you differently due to a kick-ass tattoo has some, imo, serious issues and biases. But that's on them, not you. Cheers!

I don't get it either. If anything, it gave me a sense of accomplishment and overcoming of anxiety, not creating it. I think too many people today is the simplest things as the end of the world instead of just getting over it and going on with life. Not to sound like an old fart, but I think too many people today don't know what real hardship really is.

As you might remember my story about almost 2 years ago and I want to thank you guys again for how much you've been uplifting me with your honesty and your words. This post tattoo anxiety seems a very common thing. It hit me as well even though I was planning on getting a big one for many years. Many people have contacted me and having those feelings seems to be a very common thing, there seems to be the same pattern that people are going through. It looks to me that nowadays people want to have a solution for everything immediately if they don't feel comfortable with something. People don't know how to be patient anymore and get rid of something if they don't like it. People compare themselves way too much with others as it's what social media does with many people's minds. There are quite a few reasons that I could write about regarding post tattoo anxiety and I was thinking about posting my experience here as so many people have been reaching out to me and I can see there seems to be a common psychological process (I just don't really have the time to write things down in detail) Anyway: I can assure to everyone with this anxiety: YOU WILL GET OVER IT and live will go on. It might take some time but you will get there. Don't be hard on yourself and even if right now you're having panic attacks (which is a horrible feeling), it'll get less and you'll come to love your tattoo. It's a change you've done to your body and now your mind needs some time to adjust. Don't forget that you love tattoos and why you love them because this is hopefully the reason why you decided to get them.

I am always surprised when I see people with hand and knuckle tattoos, and they have very few others. What is up with that? So strange.

this is a thing for me,I believe face, neck, and hand tattoos are earned after being heavily tattooed on other parts of the body.

They spend too much time thinking about how cool they’ll be and too little time thinking about this artist, the design, the aftercare, the stigma, and the fact that unlike on TV, having one removed isn’t a painless 10 minute process that leaves the skin looking like new. in short, they don’t think the whole thing through.

I reckon it goes a bit like this.... Being tattooed has become more socially acceptable (at least in the UK). This has removed one barrier to being tattooed (at least in the view of some who care about that sort of thing). Tattooing is more accessible. There are more tattoo studios - and it's easier to get an understanding of the process and book an appointment. This has removed another barrier (at least in some who wouldn't have made the effort). Tattooing is now seen as desirable in some social milieu. This has encouraged some who are influenced by that kind of thing to have a tattoo - when maybe that shouldn't be a primary reason. The "being tattooed progression" also appears to have changed with the above. Shoulder to upper arm to (maybe) lower arm to hands (unusual) to face (very unusual) has migrated to lower arm, hands etc as potentially a first tattoo. But then again - "I used to be with it, but then they changed what "it" was, and now what I'm with isn't "it""..... 😕

As someone middle-aged but new to the tattoo scene (just started the work on my first a couple weeks ago, going in for the second session tomorrow) I'm theorizing maybe it's the "social media + Instagram" popularity/bandwagon thing? People see all these awesome tattoos online, usually a zoomed in, well lit/cropped image that looks amazing. The hype starts, they rush out to get in on the awesomeness, then suddenly reality hits "wait, this isn't a nice cropped imagine online, this is on me forever and it does have some affect/impact on my daily life". Probably mostly an overblown impression that fades over time, but that first realization hits hard. Dunno, that's my worthless $0.02 on it. That feeling isn't something I share: I'm pretty sure my first one I'm getting is perceived as "dumb" by the general public (my wife gave me the 'hmmmm' response so far lol), but I'm cool with that, it makes me happy to get anyways.

It really is shocking, concerning and, sadly, I feel like I don't I have much to add. 😞

I have no idea. I feel like maybe people who never would have gotten tattoos are getting them now because they are more mainstream, but then they appear to suddenly realize it is permanent? I don't know, but it feels like 90% of newbies come here to talk about their anxiety over a new tattoo. Sigh.

Finished with Mike and finally got to posting it. Super stoked on how it came out and how easy it was to get lines and shading in one session and color the next.

Newest addition! [emoji7][emoji257] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk