Do Tattoos Hurt?

[socialistjustin]

Never got a tattoo before so I wanna know how much it hurts before I decide to get one. Was thinking about getting something on my forearm if that location makes any difference.

Also how much would a generic hammer and sickle cost and will some places deny doing shit like that? Yeah, I'm a fucking noob when it comes to shit like this.

[graymouser]

Does it hurt? Yeah. It's strangely warm, and it feels a bit like a lot of bee stings - you're getting poked with a needle in the skin, repeatedly.

I have a red star that cost me under $100 - you want to be sure to include a decent tip. Dunno how they would feel about a hammer & sickle.

[Book O'Dead]

Only when I laugh.

[Rooster]

They don't really hurt all that much. It depends where really. Feels like someone running a razor blade or a pin over your skin, more like a pin. The worst part is when it starts scabbing up and it itches like fuck. You just wanna scratch at it and peel off the fucking scabs. Don't though. That ruins the tattoo. Obviously. My friend would put preparation H on his tattoos when he got some done. They turned out okay as far as I can tell. Anyway, there's like a lower price limit to tattoos where the people have to pay for, I guess, new needles or to get them cleaned.

[graymouser]

They don't really hurt all that much. It depends where really. Feels like someone running a razor blade or a pin over your skin, more like a pin. The worst part is when it starts scabbing up and it itches like fuck. You just wanna scratch at it and peel off the fucking scabs. Don't though. That ruins the tattoo. Obviously. My friend would put preparation H on his tattoos when he got some done. They turned out okay as far as I can tell. Anyway, there's like a lower price limit to tattoos where the people have to pay for, I guess, new needles or to get them cleaned.
My wife and I have both used Aquaphor for the afterward part, it helps quite a lot. Follow all instructions of course.

As far as the expense - the inks are expensive, the machines aren't exactly cheap, and everything that is used on you is either new or has been through an autoclave. Plus there's rent on the place, the artist's time and so forth. It's not cheap, but then do you really want to cheap out on something that will be on your skin for the rest of your life?

[PC LOAD LETTER]

I find the feeling is less pain and more .... aggravation.

Imagine if someone kept scratching your skin constantly for 30 minutes in the same area.

[The Douche]

If the pain on your forearm is unbearable then you have an unimaginably low pain tolerance. Painful spots are head/neck, hands, ribs etc.

Depending on the size of the tattoo you want I would say you're in the $100 price range (but prices a different in different areas).

Most shops probably won't have a problem with a hammer and sickle.


My friend would put preparation H on his tattoos when he got some done. They turned out okay as far as I can tell.

This is not a good idea. The old timers (like, up til the 70s) used to give this as advice, but there are things now which are so, so, sooooo much better for you. Preparation H is very likely to dull the color and cause other complications.

Your artist will advise you on how to care for your tattoo but we advise 3 days of antibiotic ointment, and then a few weeks of unscented hand lotion until the skin returns to normal.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask, I work at a professional tattoo shop thats been in business for 20 years.


Edit to add:

http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo109/chrisbrochill/1318430384.jpg

Thats my hammer and sickle.

[socialistjustin]

Thanks guys. My pain tolerance is extremely high, but I figured I would ask before getting one. Bee stings don't sound so bad.

This might sound like a noob question and make me look like an idiot, but I have watched a few episodes of LA Ink and the common theme is artistic freedom. Is this normal and what happens if I hate what the person drew up? I don't want to sound like an asshole.

[Sasha]

Thanks guys. My pain tolerance is extremely high, but I figured I would ask before getting one. Bee stings don't sound so bad.

i would say that its way better than bee-stings, i heard it compared more to light dental work...



This might sound like a noob question and make me look like an idiot, but I have watched a few episodes of LA Ink and the common theme is artistic freedom. Is this normal and what happens if I hate what the person drew up? I don't want to sound like an asshole.


nah, very valid question...
you are a customer, you pay, you get what you want.
esp with a simple design like you want there is no need not to get exactly what you bring in as a design.
on the other hand; they are the experts, if they say it will be to dark, or wont work on the spot or size you want etc it might be wise to listen.
also, when you build up a bond of trust with your tattooist it is nice to involve them in the design of future, more intricate, tattoos, if only because giving them more artistic freedom gives you both better and cheaper tattoo's

about oinment, i use always only bepanthen (a panthenol oinment), it works wonders

[Искра]

What is the best place for first tattoo? Shoulder?

[Sasha]

Forehead :D

[xub3rn00dlex]

Forehead :D

LOL. If only employers didn't care so much... :(

I have a question. Do tattoos stretch out if you bulk up? I'm under the impression they do because your skin would be stretching, but what about a lean bulk? Also, since the color dulls over time, is it possible to get the tattoo redone/touched up to make it all spiffy and new?

[Искра]

My friend has 'skinhead for life' and cross on his forehead. He works in office with clients:D

[The Douche]

This might sound like a noob question and make me look like an idiot, but I have watched a few episodes of LA Ink and the common theme is artistic freedom. Is this normal and what happens if I hate what the person drew up? I don't want to sound like an asshole.

Psycho covered this pretty well.


What is the best place for first tattoo? Shoulder?

My opinion is that if you really want the tattoo, how bad it hurts won't be a factor, you'll sit it because you want it.


That's why my stomach has been unfinished for like 2 years.

[Sasha]

I have a question. Do tattoos stretch out if you bulk up? I'm under the impression they do because your skin would be stretching, but what about a lean bulk? in my experience it is insignificant, the only time i ever saw a really noticeably stretched tattoo was on the stomach of a really skinny female friend after her pregnancy and we are talking some serious stretching here during her pregnancy and even then most of it popped back pretty good, i have friends who went from 80 to a 120 kilo's in bulk and their tattoo's look alright. i myself went from about 60 to 80+ kilo's and grown maybe still a good 20 centimeters since i got my first tattoo and its all fine


Also, since the color dulls over time, is it possible to get the tattoo redone/touched up to make it all spiffy and new?yes, but personally i'm not a big fan of it and myself would not do it unless it originally was just done really badly. you age, your tattoo's age and a well done tattoo ages just as good as you will.
if your 40 and all your tattoo's look spanking new you will just look like a poseur who just got into it while some bit faded shit makes you look like a guy with a past, someone who has walked the walk .

[The Douche]

in my experience it is insignificant, the only time i ever saw a really noticeably stretched tattoo was on the stomach of a really skinny female friend after her pregnancy and we are talking some serious stretching here during her pregnancy and even then most of it popped back pretty good, i have friends who went from 80 to a 120 kilo's in bulk and their tattoo's look alright. i myself went from about 60 to 80+ kilo's and grown maybe still a good 20 centimeters since i got my first tattoo and its all fine

This. Generally, if you gain weight naturally your tattoos will not distort in any noticeable way. If you put on a whole lot of weight really quickly (like through steroids) then they will probably end up a little crooked.

I got my first tattoo when I weighed about 110-120 pounds, now I weigh 150-160 and mine have held up perfectly fine.

[xub3rn00dlex]

Thank you for your responses psycho and cmoney. So natural weight gain is fine and won't really affect it, but getting massive quickly will. I am considering starting cycling come january, so would you recommend I wait until I reach not only a weight but also a physique close to where I want to remain? I weigh 231 lbs now, but minimally want to hit 265 lbs and ideally somewhere around 315 lbs off season.

[The Douche]

Thank you for your responses psycho and cmoney. So natural weight gain is fine and won't really affect it, but getting massive quickly will. I am considering starting cycling come january, so would you recommend I wait until I reach not only a weight but also a physique close to where I want to remain? I weigh 231 lbs now, but minimally want to hit 265 lbs and ideally somewhere around 315 lbs off season.

Gaining/loosing weight through regular exercise should be fine cause its not a shock to your body/skin.

[xub3rn00dlex]

Gaining/loosing weight through regular exercise should be fine cause its not a shock to your body/skin.

But I won't be gaining/losing it naturally come january. ( Have hopes of ranking in amateur bodybuilding in 2-3 years, and then going pro further down the line ) So you advise being patient and not getting the tattoos now but rather later?

[anarcho-communist4]

I've always heard. "Good tattoos aren't cheap, and cheap tattoos aren't good"
Which from what i seen applies a good chunk of the time.

[Princess Luna]

Only when your political views change

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

They hurt your chances of getting a job or avoiding identification.

[citizen of industry]

I got a star tattoo on my elbow polynesian style, with the bamboo stick. That hurt, but I got another star on the other elbow the regular way and the bamboo one is much better quality. The other tats didn't hurt. It just feels a little irritating.

They really don't hurt your chances of getting a job unless you get them on your hands or neck/head, though you might have to wear long sleeves sometimes.