Devious6

Try getting some Dial Gold - fragrance free antibacterial. That is all I use for the first 10 days to 2 weeks. It is mild, doesn't make me itch.

Welcome to the forum!! There are lots of great people here who can offer a wealth of wisdom. By all means, take your ideas of what you want/like and talk with some local artists. Look at their work and see how they respond to your ideas - and you are not looking for someone who will give you whatever you want. You need to find the one who understands your ideas and desires and then will create the right tattoo for you - the one that not only represents your ideas but that also fits, flows, is properly placed and sized and that is technically and artistically correct. Notice that I didn't say "perfect." You will always be disappointed if you expect perfection. This is art, it is done in real time and it is one of a kind. Great? Yes. Awesome? Oh yeah!!! Find the right artist and awesome is guaranteed.

I'll be watching tonight - still rooting for the hometown favorite, Ryan Ashley Malarkey.

If tattooing just worked by placing a pool of ink under the skin, then the force of impacts could force it to move like squashing a blood-filled tick. But it doesn't. The ink placed in the epidermis during the process is mostly consumed by macrophages which are sent by the body's immune system to deal with the intruding ink or absorbed by skin cells - fibroblasts. The majority of the macrophages and fibroblasts remain in the epidermis and retain the ink which is why the tattoo remains visible. Over time, some ink does break down and gets carried away which is why they fade over time. But, the cells don't get moved about when you get hit. You may have bruising as the body reacts to the trauma...much like when you got tattooed, but the cells don't get rearranged and pushed out into other areas on the epidermis. I learned this by watching a TED video.

What Dan said!!

If you don't have a smile on your face most days when you go to work you're either in the wrong job or at the wrong place! Congratulations on taking charge of your life and your happiness!!

Just areas of healing skin that have a more milky look - had the same effect with my first tattoo. It seems to go away quickly as the skin heals.

Yup, I understand. There are lost of areas where the colors are muted by "onion skin" and I know those will settle out as the healing process continues. But, there are some places where the ink just isn't there - mostly in areas on the red flag stripes and the sun rays. It could just be that it was hard for the artist to see well since I know the skin got irritated and red. My first one needed just a little touch up as well. I fully expected it. And, I agree....it is an awesome tattoo!

Now into the second week of healing. At this point the peeling is done and just a few small scabs remain. For some reason, the red in the sun rays and the flag seem to have been absorbed more or pushed out - seems to me I've read about others having problems with certain ink colors. Traded messages with my artist this morning - I'll drop by the shop on Friday to have him look it over and set me up for a quick touch up. Otherwise, all is good with the process and I am totally happy with this tattoo.

What Dan said!!! Thanks for taking this sweet girl into your home and heart!!

Welcome! There are lots of resources here for you to get some ideas. Have you thought about where on your body you plan on putting your first tattoo?

Welcome to the forum!!! As a retired Army officer, I approve of your picture!!

Welcome to the forum!!!

Welcome to the forum!! It's hard to recommend anything specific without knowing what you like in terms of style, color, black/grey, etc. But, I bet at least one member here will recommend a Panther.

I got my first about six months ago...a month shy of my 61st birthday. Got my second last Saturday. After many years of finding excuses not to do it, I finally decided it was time to make it happen. Where do I go from here? I have no clue...but you never know.

Welcome to the forum. I'll let the experts offer the advice other than to say that if there is one thing I've learned here...go large or go home.

One more validation that you should hide both the car keys and the computer keyboard when drinking!!

I've now lost 33 pounds and stabilized around my goal weight. I may try for another 5 pounds but, who knows? All of the college social functions make eating healthy difficult...but I'm determined to hold the line. I've learned that I can have a splurge from time to time, and then just get back to my routine. I am feeling so much better - but now need to buy some new clothes including 34" waist pants....which I have not worn since high school. The weight loss and tattoos have made me much more confident to wear sleeveless shirts and tank shirts..something I've never done before. Why did I wait until I was 61 to do this? Ugh. By the way, did I tell you how much I love this new tattoo?

Welcome to the forum! But, pics are required.

Welcome to the forum and ask away. Your responses here will build your post count and get you to where you can post on the rest of the forum.

Well, wait......everyone knows getting tattooed feels like being kissed by a baby Unicorn or like being kissed by butterfly wings. How can that be scary?

I think I am just too anxious for it to be healed, too. I really love it and want to show it off...but the cold weather is approaching here in the northeast so sleeveless shirts will soon go away for the late fall and winter. And, I don't want to use any sunscreen on it for at least another week, anyway. Oh well. I'll just need to deal with it.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!! Of course, I am totally biased but who cares?

@marley mission Thanks! I'm not sweating it at all. My first - on the left upper arm didn't scab at all. But, I also had no plasma or ink leak on that one. This one did for some reason. It's all good. I'll just keep up the routine that seems to work. That very light application of lotion from time to time seems to keep the itching down, too.

This forum is mild compared to others, I've seen. In the end, we are only providing an opinion, granted many of you can provide a much more experienced opinion. Don't want the truth - or someone's version of the truth ? Don't ask the question. Don't agree with the opinion, ignore it. In the end, it's all about how you feel about your work.