Tattoo Advice

TrueHereticX

Hello H/A, here is I think my fourth thread, about Tattoo's this time!

My friends and I are planning on getting 'inked' together as a group, and each one of us wants to get something important to us.

For example: My friend the Doc (as we'll call him) wants to get the Southern Cross

The AJ (Meaning Army Jock) wants to get a traditional Australian Army tattoo

The Car Dude wants to get steering wheel

Kind of stereotypical I guess, but these guys love their stuff.

So I'm thinking of getting one about my heritage (I'm of Scottish descent) and my religion (I'm a Druidic Pagan)

Mainly along the lines of these, as they mix one of the most important symbols of Druidic Paganism (A Tree) with Celtic designs.

Either the modernised Tree of Life design



This would probably go on the back of my neck, or mixed with a knot design on my wrist

The traditional Druidic Tree of Life



The placing of this would be pretty much the same as above

Or possibly the border design for (you guessed it) the Tree of Life from the Book of Kells



This would definately be in a wrap around my wrist, most probably left wrist

Basically what I want help with is how would the placings go and how painful would it be? And any advice you may give as well of course

Thanks for the help H/A people

Fantasma

it is going to hurt, and it is going to take more than one session to have the drawings completed in your skin.

Make sure the place is clean and safe and that they use new needles, I guess you don't want to catch HIV, right?

TrueHereticX

That would not be fun, no

Cryogen

Ensure that you consider how visible the tattoo will be if you intend to work in a business/professional capacity. You do not want visible tattoos in most white collar industries. I do not want to start a debate about whether this should or should not be the case, but the fact remains it can impact on your job prospects to have visible tattoos. Body, legs, and upper arms would be fine.

If you arent going into a field where this might be a concern, then obviously dont worry about it

(i like the modernised Tree of Life out of the pics you've posted)

LoveIsUnity

Fantasma wrote: »

it is going to hurt, and it is going to take more than one session to have the drawings completed in your skin.

Make sure the place is clean and safe and that they use new needles, I guess you don't want to catch HIV, right?

The likelihood of contracting HIV from dirty tattoo needles is so low as to be obsolete. HIV is incredibly fragile outside of the human body and dies in about 15 minutes. Hep C, however, is a realistic concern. Basically, you want to make sure that the housing and the needles all come out of sterile autoclaved bags. Reputable tattoo shops will also show you results from the spore tests they do on their autoclaves to ensure that the autoclave is working properly.

Also, you should check out the portfolios of several artists in the area before choosing someone to get work from. Find out who's reputable and does good work and check them all out. Make sure the artists include pictures of healed tattoos (which should also look good). Also, remember that it's never too late to walk away if you get a "bad vibe" from a studio. If you walk back to the work area and something feels off, trust your instinct as it's probably correct.

Edit: It may not hurt as much as you expect it to. I was ready for intense pain before I got my first tattoo, but I ended up laughing when the moment of truth came. My first cutting, on the other hand, hurt every bit as much as I expected it to.

Kakodaimonos

Definitely get those sized to the locations you're looking at getting them. They may be a little too detailed to shrink down too much on the wrist or back of the neck, depending on how much area you have. There's a limit to how fine a line you can get drawn.

The first one looks good at that size, but take it down to about 2 inches across and see what it looks like, cause that would be what you have for size on the wrist. Likewise, you probably don't want a 4 inch tattoo on the back of your neck. (If you do, aweseom!@).

The odds of getting blood borne diseases are low. But do what the other people said, ask to see the portfolios of the artist and see the autoclave. The shop should also not be re-using needles, but getting fresh needles for your work. The artists should be using good glove hygeine, replacing the gloves if they move out of the work area.

Finally, relax when you go in to get it done and don't drink before you go or take aspirin. That can make you bleed more. It's not really painful, feels more like a burn.

mts

i personally think the second one would look good if redrawn. don't do a band.

many tattoo artists won't tattoo you in a highly visible area unless you already have tattoos and are committed to being visib;y inked

that being said. all those place will likely hurt. lots of nerves and bones in each of those area.

Fantasma

LoveIsUnity wrote: »

Fantasma wrote: »

it is going to hurt, and it is going to take more than one session to have the drawings completed in your skin.

Make sure the place is clean and safe and that they use new needles, I guess you don't want to catch HIV, right?

The likelihood of contracting HIV from dirty tattoo needles is so low as to be obsolete. HIV is incredibly fragile outside of the human body and dies in about 15 minutes. Hep C, however, is a realistic concern. Basically, you want to make sure that the housing and the needles all come out of sterile autoclaved bags..

I am aware of at least one confirmed case of HIV transmission due to tattoo needdles, and yes, Hepatitis C
is more easily contracted:

http://www.thebody.com/content/art32378.html

http://tattoo.about.com/cs/articles/a/panderson_hepc.htm

ceres

The traditional one is beautiful.. About quarter-sized on your wrist would look really nice. I know someone who has a quarter-sized tattoo on her wrist and it has never presented her with problems professionally. Not that it couldn't, I suppose, but it hasn't.

The first is nice but not as nice, and I think that band is a bit overambitious for a first tattoo.

SnakeCity

The best advice I can give is to shop around for your artist.

My first two tattoos were simple enough, but I went all over town to find someone that was both talented and lacked nu-metal douchedom for my third.

Turns out, the guy was excellent - we talked about '2 girls 1 cup' and I've never felt more comfortable.

ihmmy

I like the first one best, it's the most aesthetically pleasing to me. Just make sure you don't get it too small... celtic knotwork looks like shit when done too small, just because all the details end up bleeding together. Personally I think it would look great right in the middle of your shoulder blades, about 3-4 inches across - but that's just personal opinion.

Like others have said, make sure you find a good shop. Despite already having a tattoo shop I use, I still ask people about their tattoos that I like, where they got them done, etc. More often than not the ones I like are done at the shop I use, but anyway... ask around, ask people you know who got tattoo's that you think look good, etc

Werewolf Gamer

I have some celtic knotwork on my left arm in the shape of Angel wings with my daughters name above it in Irish lettering. It turned out beautiful and the pain wasn't bad. The arm tattoo's seem easiest for me. I have one on my ankle and from middle of my back down. The back was the most painful and is still only half done. So far I am 7 hours into and probably have about 3 hours to go. (we left off in Feb because I got pregnant but after baby will pick back up and complete the design).
I have another one on my right arm of some wolves. Again it wasn't bad getting done. The ankle hurt but still not that bad. The part that hurts the most is after.
Imagine a nasty sunburn for a couple of weeks. Listen to your artist and make sure you follow the aftercare instructions and you'll do great.

For the design i'd bring your ideas in and chat with him/her. They will help advise on sizing, color, as well as location. Most artists will be honest and want to make sure the piece is done well. Afterall if you have some rocking ink people will ask who did it and where you got it done.