21stNow

The experience of getting a small script tattoo is worlds apart from the experience of getting a tattoo with a large design, filling and shading. The mindset going into the two would have to be different, as well. I have one small tattoo that was my third one that I got. I saw why some people said that getting tattoos didn't hurt that much (something like a bee sting); they must all have small tattoos! Even going from one artist to another can throw me off as far as my ability to sit and pain tolerance because of the different ways that artists execute their appointments.

I noticed that you removed the picture of the tattoo. The comments in this thread weren't hateful toward the tattoo, but were making suggestions for different outcomes in the future. The purpose of the forum overall is to be educational. I'm interested in thoughts on this tattoo that can be informative to us. The design that you posted in another thread looks a bit different from the final result. I'm curious as to what happened between the original design (which didn't include the coloration at the bottom) and the final tattoo. I agree with picking a different artist for future tattoos.

Talk to your artist about the colors you are considering. Even if you are fair-skinned, some colors will not show up as well on people with yellow undertones versus red undertones. Yellow could either be bright and pretty on you, or look like it is not there. If you have other tattoos with those colors, that can guide your decision making further.

I can't compare thighs to the places that you have been tattooed. I have my shoulders tattooed, but don't remember how they felt specifically because they were part of a larger tattoo that included the sternum. I have all four "sides" of both thighs tattooed at least partially. The front of the thighs have been the easiest tattoos that I have gotten so far. Mine are probably a bit higher up than you plan for yours to be. Not that it didn't hurt, but the front of my thighs almost didn't rate on the tattoo pain scale for me. Inner thighs were ridiculously painful for me, outer thighs just plain painful and for some reason, I don't remember the pain level for the back of my thighs at all. I disagree about falling asleep during pain, though. My back hurt the worst of anything that I have gotten and the artist said that he heard me snoring a couple of times while he was working.

You can also check out Jinx Proof in DC. The style that you are looking for may be more in line with Fatty's Tattoo, though.

My first and current roadblock is deciding what to do about a tattoo that I started, but didn't finish. I had a disagreement with the artist and the shop owner and won't be returning to them. I'm wavering between getting laser removal or letting another artist finish it. I'm trying to give myself some time to make the decision, but I hate having an unfinished tattoo.

My other concern with what you want would be placement. You mentioned left arm or left chest, but your idea incorporates a lot of things and wouldn't look as good if done as a small/medium tattoo. I would consider full back or full chest for a design to incorporate that many elements.

I have some tattoos that I would not want children to see. I made sure to get them in hidden places but if something were remotely questionable on my arm and I was going to a kid-heavy environment, I would cover it. Even though someone can figure out that it's a tattoo, the person still wouldn't be exposed to the actual image. It's similar to covers blocking the adult magazines in stores; you know what it is but aren't exposed to the image.

I've already addressed most of the other items in your post, but don't remember if I hit on the pain on the sternum in this thread. It hurts, but back tattoos were worse for me than the sternum tattoos. The thing that sets sternum tattoos apart is not just the pain, but the fact that the artist is working right above your lungs, so this impacts your breathing during the tattoo process. It's distracting when you can't breathe normally, and makes it a little more difficult to deal with the pain of the tattoo process.

I use numbing gel if it is going to be a short tattoo. I won't say that it "hurts" more in the healing, though I do think that using lotion during aftercare stung more on the tattoos that I used numbing gel with than the ones where I didn't. My thoughts are that I only use the numbing gel when I am getting smaller work done because the numbing effect only lasts 41-42 minutes for me. I won't say that it hurts more than times that I don't use numbing gel after that first ~45 minutes, but there is a stinging sensation that comes from using the gel. I can only take that for around two hours. If you go the lidocaine route, I would try to find a cream over the gel, as I expect that there would be less stinging involved.

I know that Eucerin is fragrance free. I think that Lubriderm and Aquaphor are fragrance free, as well, but I'm not sure.

The thing that bothers me with Tattoo Goo is the added color (green #6). Other than After Inked and Hustle Butter, most moisturizers are going to have some ingredient that isn't recommended for tattoo after-care.

I prefer a liquid soap on a tattoo for the first two washes (even though I haven't found an anti-bacterial fragrance free liquid soap), but lathering up a bar soap in your hand works just as well. The White Dove Bar soap still has fragrance in it, so I would get the fragrance free version of Dove, if that's the brand that you prefer. I usually (before I switched to -derm products) clean my new tattoo twice the first day, then once or twice or day for the next two days. Your artist will make a recommendation on this for you. I use Bacitracin after cleaning the tattoo about four times a day for the first three days. After that, I normally switch to Hustle Butter. I have used Eucerin, but strongly prefer the Hustle Butter on a new tattoo. Many people use Lubriderm or Aquaphor with no problems. I would suggest Eucerin or Lubriderm over Aquaphor because (my opinion only) I'd rather risk some mineral oil than some petrolatum, though they are probably equally as bad. If you get and finish your tattoo early in the day, you may not have a problem sticking to the sheets. Just wash the excess plasma off after you get home and before bed (or however your artist tells you to do this).

I've never used it because Tattoo Goo has added color in the balm.

Before: 1. Hydrate well and don't drink alcohol for 24 hours before the tattoo. Alcohol thins the blood which could cause more bleeding during the tattoo. 2. Avoid painkillers and other medicines that thin the blood, if possible, for 24 hours before the tattoo. 3. Get an adequate amount of sleep for your body's needs. After: 1. People recommend an anti-bacterial or anti-microbial soap. However, it is hard to find these that are free of added colors and fragrances. I have sensitive skin and use Basis as my bar soap (found at Amazon, Ulta and Bed Bath and Beyond). If you use Dove, I would suggest making sure that it's the Fragrance Free version; the unscented version still has masking fragrance in it. 2. Some normal first aid products aren't recommended for tattoo healing as they may contain alcohol or other agents that will irritate the tattoo. I've used Bacitracin with no problems. 3. Lotions should be fragrance and color free. You also want to avoid lotions with petrolatum and mineral oil. Many of the common ones that are mentioned (Eucerin, Lubriderm, Aquaphor) contain at least one of these things. There are other lotions that are marketed for tattoos such as After Inked which should be fine for most people with sensitive skin. However, it gave me a burning sensation so I stopped using it. I ended up using Hustle Butter (found on Amazon and at tattoo conventions). 4. I'm not familiar with Burt's Bees products enough to have an opinion on them. 5. Unless you are using a product like Tegaderm or Saniderm, I wouldn't rewrap the tattoo just to protect the sheets. I would use old sheets if staining your sheets is the concern. If I misread your concern, let us know. Your artist will tell you about after-care for your tattoo. Let your artist know of your concerns with allergies, as well.