iowagirl

My lead teacher at work has her nose and belly button pierced, and no tattoos. She's talked about getting one but wants to do something w/meaning. I've got one in my right lobe, three in my left, but haven't worn earrings in many years so they're closed. Where i go for tattoos also does piercings, so we've talked about going down together..I'd like to redo my lobes, and I'd like to do something else too in my ear. She's got a picture w/all the different spots labeled b/c I have no clue about them. One of my cousins has that part between her nostrils done and it made me want to cry when I saw it just b/c I can't imagine how painful that had to've been, tho she said it wasn't bad.

@otisc, thank you! I posted the pics on FB and nobody commented on his tiger, they all made remarks about my hairy leg..so he's like what the hell? But, we don't really know many people into tattoos that can "see" what it's going to look like finished. I'm kinda jealous of how cool it's going to look as it progresses, and he's got sessions to look forward too..and I'm scrambling b/c I want more!

I did a search but didn't see anything more than "getting/just got my first tattoo" type threads. Wondered about everyone's first ever tattoos. Do you still have it? Do you still like it? Do you feel attached to it? Etc. I got my first two days after I turned 18, on Halloween, 1992. My best friend and I got matching tattoos-a rose off the wall. Hers is teal, mine is purple. We were the only tattooed students in high school, and were considered huge bad asses. People remarked about how large it was and I thought, really? It didn't seem large to me, but, yanno, then party dots became like the "cool thing" to do, so if you put my rose next to a party dot it looked like I had a full bodysuit to those people I guess. As I've gone along in my tattoo adventures, I had one of mine covered, which ended up turning into this big Japanese wind/water deal, and now I'm looking at my first few from my 18-21 year old self and wondering if I want to keep them like they are, rework them, incorporating them into something new either way..or remove/cover them w/something else that fits me now.

Sorry, I wasn't sure what all info would be needed, how many different types of lasers there are or what they were called. I had a nano laser peel. Two treatments at 8 microns and one at 20. It struck me to ask b/c I was looking at a brochure for removal and it said they use a system that has two picosecond lasers and two nanosecond lasers, and I thought nanosecond, I think that's what I had, I wonder if they're the same/similar just w/different settings for different uses.

I'm glad they hurt. But jeezalou I think I've put in enough pain credits, there should be a pain free reward.

I'm to the point I'd rather just fast forward to the tattoos and skip the crap between. I get tired of the "game", the alliances, purposely trying to submarine the other contestants w/the skull picks. If you can't win by doing what you're there to do, and let your work speak for itself, then you shouldn't be there. A couple years ago, I happened upon another tattoo show..Tattoo Titans or something. It had Ami James on it and a pretty tattoo model. But it was just three artists, they tattooed and they either went home or stayed. I set it to record on the dvr but there was only one season--I'm guessing b/c there wasn't all the gawd awful drama.

@Gingerninja aww thank you! I'm pretty thrilled too!

I have a question, and hopefully it's not too dumb..the lasers that are used, are they the same type of lasers used on faces? I ask b/c last year I had a series of laser "peels" to try and clear up my skin. Two that were on the high end of shit this hurts but I can deal w/it and one that was on the fuck you level of I've been set on fire and my face is melting. Both the same type of laser. I just wondered if they were the same kind-I was reading a couple other removal threads and the names sounded familiar, so I wasn't sure if it was b/c that's what I had used on me, or I just remembered reading about them in my research about different types of lasers. There's different settings/levels etc I know.

got my brown belt in Taekwondo a couple weeks ago. performed my second wedding ceremony.

We eat at Spaghetti Works first, get some protein and carbs in haha. I bring a bag w/a book that I end up never reading, water, my lip stuff, cough drops/vit c drops just in case b/c I get a tickle or dry coughing sometimes. A jacket and fuzzy socks if it's nice outside and I have a tank and flip flops on b/c my arms and feet get cold. A couple times in the beginning of a session when I get into my zone, I have started to nod off, so I make myself concentrate b/c I worry I will have one of those omg I'm falling things and jerk myself awake..and then later in the session when it's really starting to suck and I wish I could go deeper into a doze, I can't. I couldn't even get into a Norman Reedus daydream during my last one...I was so ready to be done.

Mine too. Mine was done Wednesday night (a bird in the same spot as yours but other arm) and Thursday I walked around all day at work w/my hand on my hip or held the arm out from my body like a bodybuilder. Stupidly went to Taekwondo class and yeah that was tender.

Do you know people w/tattoos? Can get some recommendations from them and you can look the shops up online. Do lots of research. Those here can give great recommendations based on your location, ideas etc. I found the shop we go to now by asking an artist who had done some work on me and then moved farther away than I was able to go. He recommended a place, I contacted them and they were not willing to work w/us on doing a deposit since we are so far away-we couldn't take an entire day off work to drive 2.5 hours to stand in line at the door on the day they opened up the artists schedule books b/c they book up so fast to hopefully not be so far in the line that we couldn't get an appointment. So, I asked for another recommendation, we checked them out online, and called them. Super crazy easy to work with, and now we've been visiting them as we can for two or three years. If anyone asks me about them, I tell them where we go, and why, and I give them a card.

just for reference, pics off the whole thing

My big piece was finished last night. Sooo now becomes the deliberation of what I want to do next, where I want to do it. I'm stumped. Was going to talk to my artist last night but I was so focused on pretending it didn't hurt.. Husband has put his leather armor on hold and went w/a new artist, starting this tiger. He loves the new artist so that's great. A dragon is going on the back of the calf there and everything will be in color.

Starting to work on our landscaping projects--we're pretty "yard proud". And this Saturday, testing for my low blue belt in Taekwondo!

Got some new work on my big piece a couple weeks ago-couldn't post from my phone, not sure why--kept saying the files were too big. Brought my work laptop home so hopefully it will let me this way. He said one more session will finish it out, and it will be the underarm part..he's going to do a bird! After that I will need to figure out what I'm moving on to next..

When I first started getting tattoos, 1992, the artist put a&d on...heck I don't even remember what it was, those gauze bandage things. The kind that are smooth.nthen he put it on the tattoo and used masking tape to tape it down. Kept on overnight and cleaned the next day, continuing with the a&d. My first five tattoos were like that then I had lonnstretch where I didn't get any. 2013 when I started back up again it was Saran Wrap, unwrap when I get home, wash it off with warm water and a free liquid soap like ivory. Air dry and rewrap for three nights. Now I pretty much just wrap that first night and am good to go.

Bring your ideas in and talk with your artist. He can come up with something from the images and what you tell him. I love owls!

How did it end up going for you? A couple few sessions ago I had a weird time where I thought I was going to pass out and it scared the shit out of me. We always eat beforehand (spaghetti works mmmmm) and I take water every where I go. He was working on the back of my shoulder, drawing, and I was making myself hold really still. My tank top strap and sports bra strap were pulled to the side. When I stood up everything started to spin. He and my husband were really concerned. I went into the bathroom and did some breathing and pulled my arm out of the straps, taking my sports bra off completely so there was no restriction on my ribcage. Was fine after that but I think it was just my not paying attention to the fact that I wasn't moving and keeping the blood flowing, and the strap against my neck too tight. Now I make sure to be more conscious of what I'm doing...or not doing as the case may be. This last session on Wednesday (says my pics are too big and I don't know how to resize them argh!) I got a little yucky after but I was sick so I think that's why.

We tip. Where we go the artists charge 120/hour but when they walk you up front to pay the guy up front always asks what they want to do. Sometimes it's 100/hr. We can't tip much but we do 40. I adore my artist and if I could tip him what I pay for the tattoo I would. We are bringing treats next time we go as well.

Goh I know, I keep forgetting to put him in the gallery!

A coworker made me think of this thread this morning. She was at a friends house last night and their daughter is in college. The friends were talking to my coworker about their daughter wanting a very small tattoo, and they told her if she did, they would stop paying for her college immediately. They asked my coworker to find out if she'd gotten one and was hiding it from them. She said no, she doesn't have one. They went on and on about how they don't approve of tattoos etc etc..my coworker got on FB and showed them my pictures from the work I'd had done last night. That stopped them dead in their tracks hahahahaha-"Oh. Well. I guess what she wanted isn't such a big deal in the grand scheme of things" My coworker said "THIS is a tattoo" hahaha

ahahahahahaha sorry, for a minute there I coulda swore you were my husband. - - - Updated - - - My Tigger is the only thing that I could say has any sort of "meaning". He reminds me of being a kid, and he is happy, so he has always made me happy. But really...I just love Tigger. And I love Snoopy and Kermit so hopefully will one day have them tattooed. I would like to get the Doll from The Island of Misfit Toys..b/c I have always been a misfit and that's not always so bad. But no super insightful deep meanings..nothing soul shattering. I feel like people who want to know the meanings, or assume that you only get tattoos b/c they mean something, want or need to have some sort of meaning attached to things in their lives. They would be the ones that would buy a piece of artwork b/c of some "deep meaning", they found some random painting on their honeymoon and it will remind them of it forever, rather than they happened to see a painting that made their hands sweat or their chest constrict and they had a reaction to it that they can't explain, they just enjoy it so they had to have it. I just like flowers and color. And frogs. I love water..and I wish I could fly..just things I like, and they make me feel pretty. So...all that to say, when people ask me I reply "I just like them"

Was supposed to have my next session on Christmas Eve-we got halfway down there and had to turn back around, the snow and ice were just too much. I'd felt like such a wuss, but they ended up w/a bad storm so I guess I was glad we went back home. But on the way home I called and called and the line was busy--so when I finally got thru to cancel, I said I understood how hard it is to get in to see my artist, and I would just take whatever I could. The guy says "Well, I actually just got off the phone w/someone cancelling for next Sunday-you want it?" Uh-YES! So, we trekked back down yesterday. He ended up adding some stuff to the right side top and bottom, where I thought we were done, more waves and such, added some wind to that side too, and whatever, I'll deal w/it if it means it will be an even better piece. Hurt like a bitch this time. Not sure if it's b/c it was such a big area this time, or b/c of what time of the month it is..guys you don't care but girls you understand.

Just a note, it's been good! I think when I go back for the next couple sessions, I will have to cover it and possibly skip that first class after, but w/just the outline, it was hardly a blip on my radar the next day, so class went well, no issues w/rubbing or being uncomfortable. When I had the other side done tho, I was really swollen and red/bruised, so if it is like that on this side w/the shading/color sessions, I'll have to either slow down or skip.