clemsonscj

So I'm kinda worried about my tattoo because my guy didn't really give me much aftercare instructions other than wash it at least twice a day with anti-bacterial soap. He said any would do. Well after getting it filled in, it stabbed over quite thick. I'm not sure if that's normal or if it's because of the soap I used because it did not seen to want to wash off. Anyways, I'm bad about picking scabs but somehow I've managed to not touch this one. However, I work in law enforcement so there's a lot of movement and what not so a few times I could feel my shirt picking at some of the places. Some of those spots look a lot lighter than the others. Will the color come back or will it have to get touched up?

Filled in the upper arm portion Friday afternoon. Still hurts like a mother! This being my first one, all I had to go on was what people told me it would be like. And everyone always said the outline hurts the worst. Horse shit!

My artist told me to use anti-bacterial soap on it but the kind i use doesn't seem to want to wash off. When I rinse off in the shower, the black areas stay all oily and slippery. Then it just dries and crusts over.

I went and talked to him yesterday. He said we'd start filling it in Friday and he'd go as long as I could stand it.

Well it's not peeling anymore, but the skin still being raised? This is my first tattoo ever so I have no idea what the after effects usually are. But if you run your finger over it, you can still feel some of the lines a bit. Does that mean it needs to continue healing or am I good to go now? (And here's a fee pics of the outline so you can see what it's gonna look like)

I wish I could. By the time I pay to have this thing filled in, there won't be a next piece. Not for a LONG while at least.

It's been about 2 weeks since I got my outline and there's still a little bit of dry/peeling skin. My artist says you can't fill in until that's all gone cause it will get infected. I can tell it's pretty much done peeling, it's just the layer of skin that's there is taking forever to peel off. Is there any recommended way to "exfoliate" that area to remove that skin or is it best to just let it go on its own?

Ok. My guy told me it would take about a week to peel and everything and be ready to start filling in. Does that sound about right?

The theme reminds me of the Samael song "On Earth".

At what point are you less likely to get an infection? Mine is scabby feeling and you can see the white dead skin starting to peel up.

You've heard of good ideas that were poorly executed...well to me this is the other way around. I found this when I was looking for Samoan/Polynesian arm/shoulder/chest ideas. Looks like he got a bra tattooed on. I don't think it would have been nearly as bad if he had've let a little more skin show through. Just too much black.

I did. Just figured it wouldn't hurt to ask.

So I'm kinda curious about something. I just got my first tattoo yesterday and I went to a very reputable shop here in town. I just did the outline since it's so big. He did not put anything on it when I left, and as far as aftercare instruction, the only thing he told me was to wash it at least twice a day with anti-bacterial soap. But I did a google search on aftercare and everyone says you should be putting some type of ointment or lotion on it, and that "dry healing" is old school. What say you?

Here's the outline. As soon as it heels I'm going back to get the rest done.

Tomorrow's the big day for me. He's just doing the outline tomorrow since it's gonna be a big 'n. Gonna start at the base of my right bicep just above he elbow and it's gonna cover my upper arm, shoulder, shoulder blade, and chest, and also creep up my neck just enough to where a button-up shirt will cover it up.

Just booked Jimbo @ Blvd Tattoo Co. for Saturday to do my outline. First tattoo ever...

Ok thanks that's what I was wanting to hear.

I don't know what that means. I guess my question is, if you get a black tattoo, is it going to be naturally glossy or is that from them putting a lot of lotion or whatever on it? Like in these 2 examples, one is very glossy and shiny and the other looks more normal.

Hey don't mean to hijack the thread but I don't have enough posts to start my own thread so I have a quick question about color. I am wanting to get a half sleeve/shoulder/chest tattoo in black but a lot of the ones I've seen are super shiny on google images and I hate a shiny looking tattoo. What do I need to do to make sure it's not all shiny when I get it? Might be a stupid question but I just like flat looking tattoos.

Well that was actually something else I was gonna ask about. I have no idea how to distinguish between a good quality tattoo that I may think is bad simply because I don't like it and a bad tattoo artist who may have done an easy tattoo that I like very well. Put simply, I don't know what makes a good tattoo a good tattoo and a bad tattoo a bad tattoo. The two guys in my town that seem to have a good reputation are Debo of Blvd Tattoo Co., and Todd Wilson of Artistic Ink, Anderson. But Greenville, SC is only 20-30 minutes away and a much larger town, so if I had a way of researching the artists in that area I'd be more than willing to make the drive. I just don't know how to go about finding out who's the most reputable and talented artists. I've tried looking on here but I can't even find any mention of shops in my state.

Ok cool. My friend said that tiger paw took him 2 1/2 hours.

Good to hear. Any opinions on that tattoo I just posted of his?

Another thing I'm curious about is kinda an etiquette question. There's this artist in town who is, from what I'm told, one of the best in our corner of the state. Now granted I've only heard this from people who live in the same town where this guy works, but I've seen a few of his tattoos and they are quite good. My wife got one from him before we met, I think about 6 years ago and it looks really good but it's not the most complicated tattoo. Anyways, there's several artists in the shop where he works so is it frowned upon to ask for a specific person even if that person is busy and others aren't? Here's an example of one he did for one of my friends about 5 or 6 years ago as well...tell me what you guys think about his work and if you would recommend going to him based on this:

This is what I'm going for. The Rocks is more what I'm going for since it cuts off just above the elbow. Our Sheriff's Office makes us cover up anything beyond the elbow. I also want it to go up my neck slightly to where it can be seen in a regular t-shirt but not a button up or suit.