How many of you have tattoos? Can you share your tattoo story & experience?

[LisaVandercunt]

After years and years of thinking about it I finally decided to go ahead and get a tattoo. I've been putting it off for at least 4 years. I wanted to get it done this past April for my 25th birthday but I will probably get it done next month or the month after.

I know exactly what I want, I want an owl. I found a design online that I really really love and its exactly what I've been looking for. I know where I want it; either on the inner bicep ( if stretch marks aren't gonna be a problem ) or on the outer upper arm. I have $1,000 saved up for it, but I doubt it will cost me that much.

 

Anyways I haven't picked the studio where I want to get tattooed, I've been looking at different studios in my neighborhood as well as on the instagram profiles of the tattoo artists that work near here. I also have been reading their reviews on social media, yelp etc.... 

 

This might sound very very stupid but I'm not sure how to approach this, should I call up the shop and ask for a consultation appointment? Or just print out the design I want and walk it and hope that they'll have an opening for a consultation? 

 

Any tips and advice? 

 

[Rapmon's Ahjussi Husband]

Oh I have no idea, you are brave, I always wanted an snake on my wrist, but i'm a puss puss when it comes to my body; I would recommend you take your own needle because STD's

[hella]

First of all, do plenty of research online! I have 2 large tattoos, I found my artist by looking through a TON of artist's online portfolios til I found someone whose style matched my tastes. I emailed her and sent her a description of what I wanted, I paid her a fee for the consultation: basically the time spent sketching a design and refining it based on the tweaks I requested. This was the process of about a week or so. I then made an appointment with her and came in to do it... they're both fairly large, the one on my thigh goes from my knee to almost my crotch lol. It took about 3 hours and cost me $125/hr which is standard for an established artist. The second one goes from my shoulder to just past my bicep and took 2 hours at the same rate. It hurts but after the first 30 minutes or so your body gets used to it. I ended up falling asleep the second time even. EDIT: my tattoos are both blackwork so no color. Expect full color tattoos to take much longer and cost you more!

 

In my experience, tattoo artists would rather work with you to design something completely unique and special for you than copy an existing design.

 

EDIT part 2: ALSO please factor in tip to the cost of your tattoo. 15-20% is standard.

[ancor288]

I have two and I am getting three more this year. I don't know your pain tolerance, but it didn't hurt. It was more of a tickling experience for me. But you definitely want to make sure that if you are getting one done, try not to do it where there is more bone than fat/mass. You feel it more when it's closer to the bone. 

[Chae Bae]

Hi glad to hear You finally got You courage up!   

I have always called to make an appointment (because tattooers were often busy) and then I went to consult my ideas in the studio, bringing the printed draft in person and talking face to face. Then, taking into consideration the size and colour of my tattoos the artists were able to estimate the price. 

 

And I have to admit I got many different aproaches to my ideas...  Once the tattooer said the design I brought was too infantile for their artistic spirit... yes. Literally, the artist did not want to take my money (!!!), because they obviously thought they too good for my poor ideas...      Another time the artist even thanked me for saving their time, as I came shaved already and with printed designs. Some are more into 3D tattoos, some other like making it delicate... A lot  advises against certain places (like hands).
It is really a good idea to go yourself and ask about their opinion and approach.  Don't be afraid!

 

YOU GO GIRL! 

[peachtea]

From personal experience, you should go into your chosen tattoo parlor first, meet the tattoo artist(s), how clean the shop is, ask to see their needles etc. Always check first if you are comfortable in the shop and with the tattoo artist you'll be getting. You can take the design in with you then and they will take a look at it, from there they will book you in.

 

I have two tattoos, a large one on my calf and a small one just above my shoulder blade. The one on my shoulder blade killed me. I was almost sick during it. If you feel sick, you can ask them to stop, they usually will give you some water, a lollipop and a cold wet cloth to cool you down. But I would suggest taking in a sugary drink to sip on during.

 

My leg tattoo was a breeze, except towards the end where my leg kinda went into shock and I almost involuntarily kicked my tattoo artist in the face.

[YooJeong]

I got one illegally...I'm 17 and needed parental consent but there's a sketchy shop that gives tattoos for really cheap for kids my age//16/15 years old. It's pretty small, I got it on my ankle. It's tiny birds. There is one bird on a small cherry blossom-type branch and then two other little birds flying around it.

 

So since I did it at a sketchy place I'm not sure if I'm the best person to give advice, but my tips is, visit the shop/place before you get the tattoo, and make sure it's pretty clean (my place was sketchy but it was actually clean and taken care of parlor so I trusted it), also look at the tattoo artist's portfolio, make sure their work is pretty good and reliable. I recommend an original design, have the artist draw it out for you or something to make sure you like it. 

 

Mine was really painful tbh. Even though it was so small....on the ankle, it hurt pretty bad. Uh....the arm is supposed to hurt a lot less though. I recommend personalizing the design you found online a little, if possible.