Living with a tattoo

Superdude · 13 Apr 2006 at 00:47

Seeing as I'm in my uni years and doing thing I'd never thought I'd do anyway I've decided to get a tattoo.

Not quite sure of the design yet (something retro) but it will most likely be placed on my wrist/forearm

Now I just wanted to know, whats everyones experiences with tattoos and have they ever caused you major problems over the years?

tiggy · 13 Apr 2006 at 00:55

I have 3, 2 of them were planned over quite a long period of time. The one I had done on the spur of the moment I now totally regret. So If I were you, I'd find the tattoo you think you'd like and then wait at least a few months before getting it done

I've not had any problems with them as they are in places that are easy to cover up. Only problem I've had is one of them hasnt healed properly

PardonTheWait · 13 Apr 2006 at 01:02

I've got four tattoos right now, one is on my left forearm. It's never caused me any problems. I've got another booked up to be started on the other forearm near the end of the month, too

And er.. retro? eh? What do you mean?

Superdude · 13 Apr 2006 at 01:03

Well I've been thinking about getting a space invader for a while now. If not, then something along the same lines. I want it to be original and make people smile when they see it.

PardonTheWait · 13 Apr 2006 at 01:05

ahhh.. I was really struggling to imagine a 'retro' tattoo!

Especially with a small piece like that, I highly doubt you'll ever run into real problems with it.

Superdude · 13 Apr 2006 at 01:07

Well it will be fairly big and I might expand it by putting more up the arm.

Edit: Actually it might be just the outline to start with then maybe filling it in later on

chris_r · 13 Apr 2006 at 01:07

I sound like a real muppet but i would like 'Reilly' in old english on my forearm, only thing is i HATE needles with a pashion and they are my only fear, but i really want a tatoo.

What do you think? Hurts? How long do they take to heal?

+1 for your retro idea, must be something you like

Thanks

PardonTheWait · 13 Apr 2006 at 01:09

chris_r said:
I sound like a real muppet but i would like 'Reilly' in old english on my forearm, only thing is i HATE needles with a pashion and they are my only fear, but i really want a tatoo.

What do you think? Hurts? How long do they take to heal?

+1 for your retro idea, must be something you like

Thanks

Old English down forearms is very overdone, but if you like it you like it. I've got Nautical Stars up my arm and they're bloody everywhere at the moment!

Pain's subjective.

Not long to heal, much quicker than most piercings. They're a pain in the bum to heal but it doesn't take too long.

Scuzi · 13 Apr 2006 at 01:10

IMO deciding to get a tattoo then looking for an idea is not the best way to go about it. Chances are that you may regret it a year or two down the line. I prefer waiting until I see something or come up with something I love so much that I want it tattooed on me.

Don't just get something for the sake of it, wait until you see something you can live with the rest of your life. There's no rush

I got this on my arm almost 3 years ago: (pardon the crap picture)

It's not to everyones tastes but I spent ages perfecting the design. Every part of it has some signifigance in relation to my life, specifically my motorbike years. I'm working on my next design for the other arm which will represent another stage in my life.

What I'm trying to say is don't just jump in and get the first thing you see in the tattooists flash book. Get something which means something to you. Do your own design from scratch or change a design so it means something to you. That last thing you want to do is have something that half the country also has tattooed onto you.

chris_r · 13 Apr 2006 at 01:11

Yeah old English is really played out you are right, Graffiti style is more 'me' but will it be when im older.

I would want a hip-hop feel, but nothing extreme that will just look daft once older.

As for the pain, maybe i would just have to accept it when it comes down to actually getting it done.

PardonTheWait · 13 Apr 2006 at 01:12

Scuzi said:
That last thing you want to do is have something that half the country also has tattooed onto you.

:/

Scuzi · 13 Apr 2006 at 01:14

Mohinder said:
[imghttp://server2.uploadit.org/files/mohimx-armtat.jpg[/img]

:/

I'm assuming everyone has that one then?

chris_r · 13 Apr 2006 at 01:15

Hi Scuzi,

After reading your post and life it did spring a few ideas. If i could have something in a hanging (suicide) style with a gun or something that would be cool.

Cut a long story short (and thankfully my rope), tried it myself so it would mean something to me and be apart of my 'life' its something i will never forget too and maybe the number '79' as thats the number of the house i grew up in, and very proud.

Superdude · 13 Apr 2006 at 01:16

Scuzi said:
That last thing you want to do is have something that half the country also has tattooed onto you.

Yea, I've been thinking about this for nearly a year now, unlike many of my mates who either have some stupid tribal logo, some sort of phrase written up thier forearm or a tiny tattoo on thier bum.

One guy I once knew had a gecko on his shoulder. He was so proud of it but IMO it looked a pile of ****

PardonTheWait · 13 Apr 2006 at 01:16

Scuzi said:
I'm assuming everyone has that one then?

It's pretty scene, a lot of alternative types have them. I got mine when they were fairly popular but not nearly as everywhere as they've become. I don't mind though, I like the design and placement, and they're nice traditional artwork, which is what half of my 'theme' I'm working at is. That arm will be a sleeve sooner or later anyway so they won't be quite so glaring

reflex · 13 Apr 2006 at 01:16

Scuzi said:
I'm assuming everyone has that one then?

Yes that tattoo is very common even a few of my friends in my ICT Class have them stars, its apparently an "Emo" star, which i have no clue what that means

PardonTheWait · 13 Apr 2006 at 01:18

reflex said:
Yes that tattoo is very common even a few of my friends in my ICT Class have them stars, its apparently an "Emo" star, which i have no clue what that means

It's a nautical star, it's quite common (and has been for ages) in traditional tattoo artwork.

Emo kids and scenesters have taken a big liking to it though and it's got very popular over the last two or three years. I got mine about three years ago, it's just that half the other people in the country got them too

I'm not an emo kid or a scenester though! honest

Superdude · 13 Apr 2006 at 01:20

reflex said:
Yes that tattoo is very common even a few of my friends in my ICT Class have them stars, its apparently an "Emo" star, which i have no clue what that means

See with a space invader everyone knows what it means. If they don't then they obviously have no taste

reflex · 13 Apr 2006 at 01:21

Hehe exactly. I always thought super-mario would go down nicely aswell.

Scuzi · 13 Apr 2006 at 01:22

chris_r said:
Hi Scuzi,

After reading your post and life it did spring a few ideas. If i could have something in a hanging (suicide) style with a gun or something that would be cool.

Cut a long story short (and thankfully my rope), tried it myself so it would mean something to me and be apart of my 'life' its something i will never forget too and maybe the number '79' as thats the number of the house i grew up in, and very proud.

People might frown at your idea but a tattoo is a very personal thing. If the design means something to you, chances are that you will cherish it for the rest of your life. People tell me that my tattoo is 'distasteful', but screw them, I love it. When I tell them about the deeper meaning and explain the various personalisations they begin to understand. The same will probably go for you too. Either do your own design or mix and match other designs in photoshop until you get something you're happy with.

Here's a basic idea of a part of my next tattoo. It's only the centre of the design, there will be other various personally symbolic designs surrounding it.

I've been planning and designing it for a few months now. I don't think it will be ready for another few months yet. Might get it done on my 21st