Devious6

Welcome! I got my first about a month ago. What are you thinking about getting?

Looking for some ides and suggestions on my next tattoo. This will be on my right shoulder/upper arm. I want to do a traditional eagle with an American flag - color. I'm looking for something fairly large. I really love the look of the eagles flying with upswept wings...but could also go with a perched eagle. I found the thread on traditional eagles here - and have found a bunch of images through Google search...not sure I can upload them here because of the copyright issues. Ideas? Examples? I have an appointment to have some shading added to my first tattoo in a few weeks and I plan on talking with my artist then about doing this one. I may just give him some examples and let him run with it. He specializes in traditional work.

It looks like you are healing very nicely now! Your Zombie Girl is really looking great!

Welcome! Your back piece looks great so far! And don't worry about your English - it is fine. :) - - - Updated - - -

I think you are making progress. It looks more refined than the original version. Ultimately, though, you have to be satisfied with it. It has such meaning to you so make sure it's perfect for you.

Thanks for sharing your story. Completing the piece in a month is amazing - and to say you have a high pain tolerance is an understatement. I hope you'll post a picture when you are all finished and healed.

It's funny - something I'd not noticed with other people who work with me who are inked and perhaps I'm probably one of the last people they expected to get a tattoo (probably not too many college presidents sporting ink :cool:) - that people keep asking me to see my work and want to touch it. I think they truly believe it is fake and are waiting for the late April Fools joke.

What awesome work!!

I am new to collecting - just got my first done two weeks ago a month short of my 61st birthday.

So, I have a question on aftercare related to washing using antibacterial soap. First, my tattoo will be two weeks old tomorrow. Second, it is healing perfectly and has stopped peeling - still just a light glaze over the black tribal lines which I know will take some more time until the covering layers of skin are shed. I started out washing the area using antibacterial soap two hours after completion per directions. Then I applied a light coat of Aquaphor. I repeated that 3 times per day for the first 3 days. At that point, I had started to peel so I stopped using the Aquaphor and switched to Aveeno, applying a light coat, rubbing it in and blotting off any excess. I've continued to repeat that process pretty much up to today - at night I'll wash and, again, apply a light coat of Aveeno. this has worked for me - and I've been religious about ensuring I wasn't overdoing the Aquaphor or Aveeno. So, my question is this. When do I stop using the antibacterial soap and switch to our normal soap? Everything I've read says when to start...not when to stop. I don't want to screw this thing up!! I've read that continuing to use lotion will help keep the tattoo vibrant - and, of course, using sunblock is a must.

Welcome to the forum!

Welcome from another newbie!! How long have you had this one? I've found that I am anxious to get another now having had my first - only thing holding me back is that I love to swim and don't want to miss any of our pool season.

Welcome from another newbiw..in all respects. I just began my journey about two weeks ago with my first tattoo - just a month short of my 61st birthday. I came from a professional background..and remain in a different one now,,,that is not tolerant of tattoos. I look forward to following your journey!!!

The Army uses what are called "fixed call signs" for radio communication. Each unit had a designator - many times most units of a larger unit will have designators that start with the same letter. For example, the fixed call sign for 1st Infantry Division is Danger. I commanded a battalion within that Division, the 101st Military Intelligence Battalion and our fixed call sign was Devious. They then use numerical designators to identify specific individuals within each unit - the commander of a unit is identified by the number 6. So, when I made a radio call, I identified myself as Devious 6. Simple, right? :cool:

What a tremendous story - and honor for you! The work looks amazing - can't wait to see it once it is all healed up!!

I chose to do my first tattoo on my left upper arm/shoulder. I had researched a lot about the healing process and was prepared for the worst...and had a super easy time of it. It will be 2 weeks on Friday and I have had no issues. No plasma or ink leak. No scabs. It peeled twice but only one day where it itched enough to make me slap and add more lotion. Way too easy - I'm spoiled. I used Aquaphor for the first 3 days, then switched to Lubriderm when it started to peel. I've been washing and using the Lubriderm 3 times a day - just a very light coat of lotion each time - and it seems to be working well. I know I've still got several weeks until I get the full black and gray back..but I am really pleased with how my healing has gone...this time. We'll see what happens on the next one.

My wife and I started crewing for a Hot Air Balloon company about a year and a half ago. Great exercise - set up and inflate the balloon, chase it, pack it back up and then have champagne and crackers - and, best of all, sometimes we get to fly. You can see the shadow of the balloon to my right in this picture.

I absolutely love the dagger and rose! It does fit perfectly. Nice.

I live in the Scranton area - just got my first tattoo a little more than a week ago. I think I need to stop by the convention to get some ideas!!

I retired from the Army after 26 years of active duty - thank you and your husband for your service! I am on the distant end of the age timeline here I think. My wife and I have been married for over 41 years - and I just got my first tattoo 10 days ago. Although I'd thought about it for years, I didn't for many reasons. Several weeks ago, after watching the rash of deaths in musicians in my generation, I decided I wanted to make it happen. My wife and I were talking one day and she mentioned what she wanted for her birthday (coming up in a few days). As I always have done, I agreed and she asked me what I wanted. Her initial reaction was shock...but within seconds she said OK. She asked me if I had any idea what I wanted and, since I'd already researched it, I showed her. She said to go for it. Today, when I got home from work she mentioned she'd been talking with a group of people from our church, and the topic of my tattoo came up. No one was upset and when they asked Lynn why she said yes, she told them that for our entire marriage every time she wanted to change her hair style or do something different I always told her to do it - that what was important was what made her happy. Married life isn't always fun and games - when people ask us how long we've been married I will normally respond with "24 happy years.....out of 41 total. That's a pretty good batting average." We were married at age 19 and oyr son was born 2 weeks after my wife turned 20 and 1 day after I did. The odds of making it were not in our favor. Supporting each other, letting each other have their own personality and interests isn't always easy but I think it is what helped keep us together and in love. So, I now have one tattoo...will be getting more. My wife has talked about it sometimes, but I don't think she will ever do it. But, that's OK - it's her decision and it's about her body and I am OK with that.

I spent 26 years on active duty in the Army, retired in 2004, as an officer. During the majority of my career, officers did not have tattoos...at least any that showed unless they had come up through the ranks (there were some Vietnam vets who had done that during the first third or so of my career). Then I entered the civilian workforce in private higher education. Over the past 12 years I've been with the college, we've had more employees get inked and have hired some who showed their tattoos during interviews. For me, even before I got my first...10 days ago...that wasn't an issue. We expect people to be clean and neat - at least as much as their job allows - and showing their artwork is not an issue. I wish I could say that is the case at all colleges and universities.

Thank you. It was my honor to serve. I spent 26 years on active duty, we lived in 21 houses in those 26 years and I visited many, many countries along the way. Still miss it every day - working with tremendous men and women under tough conditions is tremendously rewarding..and addicting.

Hi Everyone! I thought I'd introduce myself - probably a little different than your normal newbie. I just got my first tattoo about 10 days ago so I'm still in the healing process. I guess you could say it took me a long time to decide..I will turn 61 at the end of this month. :) My initial inspiration was my father, a WWII and Korean Conflict Marine who sported a killer skull with a snake intertwined in the eyes and mouth. I never did anything about it and later, as an officer in the U.S. Army, tattoos were not generally accepted in the officer corps. After retiring from the Army, I began to consider doing it but, again, time and life just got in the way. Recently, as I watched the rash of famous musicians and others of my generation pass on, I decided it was time to knock this item off my bucket list. The design I picked is probably not what others might have chosen. But, in the end, I went with something that speaks to me and has personal meaning - I'm far to old to worry if others don't like what I do. :) The symbol of the wolf as a warrior, as fierce, cunning, intelligent and loyal to the pack harkens back to my military career. The fact that my last name is Russian for wolf helped, too. The tribal designs just added to the relationship to the warrior spirit and loyalty. I found an example on-line and took it to my artist and asked him to create something like it for me. Personally, I'm thrilled with how it came out - it is healing really well. I plan on going back in a few months to add some shading around the lines. Here it is - this picture was taken 7 days after getting it done. So, now that I've lost my virginity, I am already thinking of what to do on my right shoulder. I want to do something that relates to my military career - perhaps an eagle, a US flag, some combination.... I'm also unsure if I should stick with black/gray, go to color or some combination. I have lots of time to figure it out since I won't do anything until after the summer - don't want to miss chances to hit the pool!! I look forward to getting to know people and gaining knowledge and insights as I move down this new path for me. Mark