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I have never had swelling or bad redness like a lot of people seem to get after their tattoos. All my pics are taken RIGHT after the tattoo was finished at the shop and the artists were surprised themselves as to how much my skin was not showing irritation

Well Aaron Coleman told me that the shower directly on the tattoo is OK He told me to wash it 3-4x a day then apply a thin layer of A & D in the beginning (scabbing) then to switch to a lotion when it starts peeling. Also he said stay away from the gym for a good 3 days I am on day 3 now and I notice some peeling, I will continue the 4x a day washing with A & D and then switch to Lubriderm on Monday probably. Then I would just wash it maybe 2x a day? With Lubriderm being applied 2-3 a day or just as needed for dry, peeling and itchiness

@Zillah LOL nice I have a snake/ankh combo and people so far have always associated with evil, which is far from what it means, at least to me but it's art so to each his own, it's up to their interpretation. I like to hear what they think it means before telling them

I know this a tattoo forum but a while back I asked my hairstylist, who has several tattoos, if he would ever get a piercing and he said NO WAY!!! I just thought it was funny how he went through all that and it's permanent on his skin but he won't get any type of piercing, which is not permanent. I guess he just doesn't like em or he feels he wouldn't look good with them. I have my eyebrow, left lobe and an industrial. I usually see tattoo artists with at least some ear piercings, maybe gauges So are you pierced and tattooed? Or strictly a tattoo person??

Here in AZ in seems a lot more laid back then where I grew up (New England) in terms of dress and tattoos at work and really in general It gets hot and everyone knows it so unless you are in sales or a executive, then you don't have to wear a suit, tie or even a long sleeve dress shirt. Business casual with collared shirts for men is pretty standard I work at Wells Fargo and leads/mangers all have visible tattoos and there's even an underwriter with many visible tattoos on her arm. She also has some piercings-ear and face. I was surprised to see this but then again, we are in an office and never have visitors/customers so it makes sense to me

Finally got the horse done!!

Aaron Coleman at Immaculate Tattoo in Mesa, AZ Today March 19th 2014 Black horse with flames rearing on my left upper sleeve

My artist told me not to let the strong force of my shower to directly hit the tattoo Rather I should let it trickle down somehow or use my hand or xup or something I have read this as well on various sites and other tattoo places

For my three tattoos, I did the same thing Leave wrap on until going bed and shower before bed using dial soap on the tattoo area without letting the shower spray directly on the tattoo, add light layer of lubriderm Wrap again if possible (didn't cover my middle back one the first night) Wake up and apply lubriderm and cover if it may be exposed to sun For the first week I did morning, afternoon, and before bed for adding lubriderm 2nd week I did 2x a day moisture then to only once a day before bed (which I do now) I live in AZ so it's dry and you should be putting lotion on yourself anyway all the time

Stare could be good or bad, depends on the person's facial expressions Now I have received compliments on my tattoos after someone looks at it and that's a good thing :D I haven't really noticed anyone "staring" at my tattoo, I guess when you look at them they look away quick or something lol

One of my artists has a sleeve and it's really cool They look good on men and women, I don't see why the gender would matter :P

So the visit went well They only know about the one arm tattoo, thought it was too much to show the other 2 and mention another on the way. I think I got my dad into the "it could be worse" mentality which is good. They are dead set against it and the whole culture in general so I guess we both will just move forward and move on

Since Saturday, my parents haven't really sat me down and had this big conversation about it. I showed them my snake tatto and that is the only one they know about, for now. I don't wanna throw the other 2 back ones at them. There is nothing to say or that I can do to change anything. They are stuck in their ways and I have repeatedly told them that I understand where they are coming from. I did say I wouldn't get one back a few years ago when I got my industrial piercing. I guess I have changed since then, a lot. Maybe they have not come to terms with that yet. Once I am more on my feet and completely free of any of their gift money and I have a full time job with benefits, etc (as opposed to the contract position I am in now) I think I will reveal more to them or whatever is new :p

Yeah I know what you mean, I think they are just tired of all that I have done and now a tattoo Can't even imagine when they find out I have 3 and one more coming which is with Aaron Coleman next month!! I don't seek their approval I just don't like having too much awkwardness Cuz they will probably sot me down and give this talk snd thefe isn't really anything more I can say. I guess there is more to it as well

Well of course I agree with you I have been out of school since 2011 and have been paying my own things for a while now. I don't get any allowance or anything so these tattoos have been funded by my job

I am over it and I hope they can be too I have worse things to worry about now than their opinion on tattoos

Yah I like the idea of some black hair showing then the fire I guess I will see what he comes up with in the drawing I meet with Aaron the week before the 19th of March

So I called and spoke to my dad and told him I only mentioned 1 tattoo-I didn't say what it was or where, he didn't seem to care about that He was devastated and so was my mother. I guess her argument is that they have supported me and I used "their" money for tattoos, piercings and a name change-all untrue My dad is more concerned about health, which is understandable I guess I'll show them the arm one when they come out since it would be the easiest to show and hardest to hide. I don't think it's a good time yet to mention the back tattoos or the one coming up in March, which I am not going to cancel

Gonna do it this week I'll let you guys know how it goes

I am 24 years old and yes I could be addicted to drugs or something but I am not. I have a job and pay my bills and don't party or anything like that so there ARE FAR WORSE things I could be doing with my time and money. I guess my arm tattoo would be the most obvious one. Someone told me to just tell them about my arm tattoo. I guess it makes sense to just introduce them to one at a time and not 3 at once, may be too much. It's not like I am gonna be naked or shirtless around them while they are here. Although the one on my shoulder blade is pretty symbolic of family but I think one for now is best to reveal to them.

I don't know I read a lot of those stories in the drop the bomb thread (btw I am NOT going through 184 pages :p) and a lot of parents seemed to be quite OK after and everything. I just have a feeling it won't be like that with my parents. It may be bad at first but then they might never really talk about it again, like with my piercings That phone convo I had with my mom really scared me though. I might call and tell my dad first or something. He is less judgmental and not a guilt tripper

So I have three tattoos and my parents don't know about any of them. I obviously didn't need my parents' permission to get them but I recently asked my mother if she'd be mad if I got a tattoo. She went through this whole this about damaging myself and how I did it with my piercings, etc. I know she has the right to worry about infection, disease that COULD happen, etc but I went to clean, relaible and talented artists. Not some random place in an alley way I guess I am just worried about it. They are coming out here to AZ from CT at the end of the month and I suppose I should tell them now over the phone as opposed to a surprise in person and possibly ruining their vacation right? I just don't want my mom's guilt trip to get to me but I really do respect and love my parents. I hate making them upset and disappointed in me but I do what I like and I am happy and don't regret it. I don't think they will DISOWN me but maybe cut me off from some things they are still kinda helping me out with. BTW I paid for all these tattoos with my money that I earned at my current job

I used some numbing gel on my first tattoo on my back and I guess it worked but definitely wore out after about an 1hr or 1hr 1/2