Been thinking of getting myself a tattoo on the arm/shoulder or back.  

 

Would need to be covered by a short sleeve shirt (I could wear long sleeves though 30+ years of having to wear a long sleeve shirt to cover a tattoo is unviable).  Work doesn't care about tattoo's; I care. To me getting inked is a personal and somewhat private affair - the tattoo is for my own selfish pleasure, no one else gets to see it unless they get to see me stripping for bed.  So thinking of getting it on the upper arm +/- across the shoulder or a full on tattoo across my back.

 

It would be a dragon or a bull; I have my reasons

 

Any tattooed amongst us that can give any tips/advice?  

Have several.

 

Before: have them sketch a rough drawing of it or print it from online. DO NOT NOT NOT GO CHEAP! I tell people that all the time, they dont listen and bitch when their tattoo 'chaps' or they get an infection and it fucks their tattoo up. You really do pay for quality with this. If its big, break into sections. Your artist, body, and wallet will thank you.

 

Also scan the parlor. If it looks run down, walk out. Ask what ink the artist uses. Google it to check for recalls. Not all artists catch recalls. Check the artist previous work. He/she should have a book of their work. If not, walk out.

 

If it is a 3-D tattoo (if you dont know what that is, it probably isnt one.) Get the best damn artist you can find. Even talented artist can fuck those up (my 3-d that is the size of my shoulder ran $4000 because they are hard. At the same time, my 3d on my forearm only ran 600.)

 

During: do not take pain relievers, drink, or anything to avoid the pain. I have a high pain threshold so it has never been a problem for me, but if it hurts, inform your artist. They can ho slower or gentler. Do not try your own way to avoid it. You will hurt yourself, bad. Your tattoo will be bloody. It will be hard to see. Ask your artist to stop every once and a while, clean the blood and check how it is coming. This is your chance to fix any errors.

 

After: aquaphor for babies. Best after cream I've ever used. My tattoos still look brand new after 2 years from that miracle cream. Avoid the sun for a month and avoid pools. You will ruin the color. Color fades and black turns grey if you do either of those.

 

If you want to hide it. Back. Get your back done. Shoulders appear in tank tops. Back will barely show. Or chest so your lady can see it when yall do the nasty and it is still hidden.

 

If you have any questions, PM me. I dont mind.

 

 

have them sketch a rough drawing of it or print it from online

 

 

 

Check the artist previous work.

 

These were the only two pieces of advice I would have given from my one tat.

 

Also, to expand a little on King H's coments about pain, it depends on where it is exactly on your body. Some areas will hurt more than other places.  I found this one out when I got mine on the back of my shoulder.  Any place there was some level of fat, not a big problem.  Not much fat, directly on top of bone, that starts to hurt.

 

Listen to your body while getting the tat.  I found out what adrenaline does to your system while getting mine.  I essentially went into a fight or flight mode (first tat, didn't know what I was getting into), artist is going along, and the room got really hot (I mean, I was sweating, it was so hot).  Made a comment about turning the heat down, the artist goes something like "I wondered when you were going to say something."  Looked at my then girlfriend, now wife, said "his blood sugar is dropping from all of the adrenaline he's got in his system, if you go get him a coke, he'll be fine and we can keep going."  She grabbed a pop for me, artist stopped long enough for me to drink it, and everything was fine.  Finished up with no more problems.