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Tell me about getting a tattoo

J

JoeyP

Senior member
I want to get a tattoo on my shoulder this winter, but I have no idea what to do and what to expect. At first, I couldn't think of a good image, but my family put their heads together and drew a really nice picture, and I approved it.

I imagine I'd want to look for a place with good ratings and very clean stations. As far as finding a place...word of mouth?

If I walk into a tattoo place and give them the pic, do they draft it up and then call me for the job? I also have no idea what the actual tattoo process is.
 
Don't know about the particulars, but if you have to think about what tattoo to get, you probably shouldn't get it.
 
JoeyP said:
I want to get a tattoo on my shoulder this winter, but I have no idea what to do and what to expect. At first, I couldn't think of a good image, but my family put their heads together and drew a really nice picture, and I approved it.

I imagine I'd want to look for a place with good ratings and very clean stations. As far as finding a place...word of mouth?

If I walk into a tattoo place and give them the pic, do they draft it up and then call me for the job? I also have no idea what the actual tattoo process is.
Click to expand...

1. Know what you want. What the pic is, where it's going, and generally how big you want it to be. Discuss this with the artist you choose.

2. Word of mouth works. Each parlor will have more than 1 artist typically. Ask to see examples of their work. The artists will have a portfolio for sure.

3. Process? see steps 1 and 2. I'm sure they'll even let you watch an actual tattoo being done before you get one.

4. Don't fear the pain, it feels like a really bad sunburn. If it's large or intricate, multiple sessions may be a good idea.
 
lxskllr said:
Don't know about the particulars, but if you have to think about what tattoo to get, you probably shouldn't get it.
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To be honest, I struggled a long time thinking of something I'd want to be on me forever, and came up empty a bunch of times. Some friends even said, "Let's go to a tattoo place and you'll find something you'll like," but that didn't sit too well with me.

This pic is a tan/brown cross with a shaded dark red heart in front. The heart has 3 bands: center is my name and wife's name with wedding date, top band is kid #1's name with dob, bottom is kid #2's name with dob. The bands would be like ribbons, with slight waves. It symbolizes everything I care to put on my body this way.
 
Dont... I have 5 of them.. regret every single one of em.

**EDIT**

I didn't regret them immediately. I loved em. But almost 10 years later I really regret that decision.
 
JoeyP said:
This pic is a tan/brown cross with a shaded dark red heart in front. The heart has 3 bands: center is my name and wife's name with wedding date, top band is kid #1's name with dob, bottom is kid #2's name with dob. The bands would be like ribbons, with slight waves. It symbolizes everything I care to put on my body this way.
Click to expand...

I don't like it. Marriage is forever, until it isn't. It's your body, but I can't endorse putting a mate's name on my body permanently.

I've considered two tattoos, but haven't gotten them because I didn't want to spend the money. One was the Tamika avatar from UT2k4. I met a lot of cool people playing that game, and I played under my daughter's name, so it would be a stand in for my daughter without the potential disaster of having her actual picture used. The other is a Guy Fawkes mask, because it's the modern symbol of freedom. Can't use the USA flag anymore...
 
Tattoos are a fad.

EDIT: Also, I could totally see putting your kids' names and birth dates, but not your wife. You never know what will happen in the future.

Unless you find something that is extremely meaningful to you, it's not worth it. I have a friend who got a very small tattoo of a polar bear after doing a 40-day canoeing and hiking trip in Nunavut (along with all the people she went with). That seemed pretty special. Outside of something like that, I don't think there's anything that's actually worth it.
 
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lxskllr said:
I don't like it. Marriage is forever, until it isn't. It's your body, but I can't endorse putting a mate's name on my body permanently.

I've considered two tattoos, but haven't gotten them because I didn't want to spend the money. One was the Tamika avatar from UT2k4. I met a lot of cool people playing that game, and I played under my daughter's name, so it would be a stand in for my daughter without the potential disaster of having her actual picture used. The other is a Guy Fawkes mask, because it's the modern symbol of freedom. Can't use the USA flag anymore...
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Why?
 
highland145 said:
Why?
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I don't find America especially free anymore. Citizens get assassinated with drones, Constitutional protections are suspended, communications are intercepted and stored along with profiles of all the citizens(subjects). We're dying from 1,000 paper cuts.

Edit:
Of course tattoos make you easier to track :^D
 
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We have a strong marriage, so I have no doubts adding my wife's name and our wedding date. Our faith is strong and we love each other very much. I appreciate the warnings, though.

Cross: symbol of our faith
Heart: love, and I am a valentine baby
Banners: key dates in my life
 
lxskllr said:
I don't find America especially free anymore. Citizens get assassinated with drones, Constitutional protections are suspended, communications are intercepted and stored along with profiles of all the citizens(subjects). We're dying from 1,000 paper cuts.

Edit:
Of course tattoos make you easier to track :^D
Click to expand...
Got it, sadly.
 
When I was younger and stupider I considered getting the AMD logo on one of my calves. That was back when I was a hardware fanboy, and stupid.

I've finally found a tat I really want, and I have an idea for another one that I need to flesh out a little more. The only other tattoo I'd ever get is probably my parent's names and their DOB/DOD when they pass, and my kid's names if I ever have any.
 
Yeah, think of what you thought was cool 10 years ago. Now imagine having a daily reminder of that thing forever until the day you die.
 
I noticed you said you were near Rochester in another post, I'll talk to some people I know and see who they recommend.
 
Have you ever seen a picture/image that you didn't get sick of and wanted to see it for the rest of your life?

I haven't and no I don't have any tattoos
 
lxskllr said:
Don't know about the particulars, but if you have to think about what tattoo to get, you probably shouldn't get it.
Click to expand...

^ This. But sadly, the majority of people these days getting tattoos are doing it because it's apparently a cool way to fit in. Whereas, a long time ago tattoos were a way for someone to stand out from the crowd rather than fitting in.
 
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