Okay, I'm gonna do it - I'm gonna get a tattoo

[Jo March]

I have made up my mind. I've wanted one for years but haven't had the nerve to get one. A friend of mine here is going with me. We're getting them for our birthdays in October.

Am I an idiot? Will it hurt?

It should be interesting anyway. I have never done anything remotely wild in my life so this will be a first.

[UpsideDownFlag]

1. i wanna sublime logo on my right shoulder.

their little frowny sun pic is pretty sweet.

[mr_hat]

2. Take a walk on the whatever side, babe.

[Placebo]

3. Can You Get Me One Too?

I am 18 but the stupid laws here in Illinois forbid me from getting one until I am 21! I mean WTF?!?! I have wanted one since I was 13 and now I find out I have 2 more years of waiting left...

I hate my life...

[Jo March]

10. You can die for your country but you can't have a tattoo??

WTF?

What do you want? If it's too outrageous, I won't be able to help. I do have kids, you know!! ;)

[Placebo]

16. I Have Had The Design Picked Out For 4 YEARS!

custom design i made myself, crab for cancer baby :)

[Jo March]

21. Ooh, sorry. I'm a Libra

Balanced scales and all.

Maybe next time! ;)

[Q3JR4]

33. Hmmm....

Go to a different state (one with more liberal tattoo laws) and get it there.

[Placebo]

46. I 'COULD' Go to Indiana...

but where's the fun in that? :shrug:

plus, i want to get mine done at a place here in chicago that does EXCELLENT work and a lot of athletes and actors go there to get theirs so you KNOW they are damn great at what they do.

[jukes]

69. go to st. louis

pretty sure you'll be able to get what you want.

[Reverend_Smitty]

86. wow, 21, thats old!

I've never heard of anything like that. I always assumed that it was 18 everywhere, some states even let you do it underage if you have a parent with you. Did they just change the law?

[Richardo]

4. "Starland Vocal Band? They SUCK!!"

Visual: Homer Simpson viewing the tattoo he got as a youth.

[Jo March]

6. Loves me some Simpsons!

I saw that episode. It was hysterical!!

[Dastard Stepchild]

5. where ya putting it?

some spots are more sensitive than others.

This is my tat. My arm was REALLY swollen after he finished, but the swelling went down within 48 hours. I didn't get this all done in one sitting - I broke it up over 5 sittings.



edited to include pic. sjbech

[Jo March]

7. Right above my

um, butt crack. You know, the very lower back area. (blushes)

[DS1]

11. I have two tattoos

will likey get a third in between my shoulders. That being said, have you considered getting one you can see without the aid of a mirror first?

and ya know, while I recognize this is unsolicited opinion, doesn't every other girl in the United States between 14 and 22 have one there?

[matcom]

14. lol Martin

actually, i have recommended to friends that they DO get their first in an area like mine, where you DO need a mirror.

saves for embarassment later if they don't like them and makes it easier for job interviews

think Johnny :D

[Jo March]

24. Well, I had originally thought about getting one around

my belly button but fifteen years, two kids and three "belly button" surgeries later, that area is out of the question.

I am far from 14 and 22 but chose that area because only Mr. Arnheim will be able to see and enjoy it. :)

[Beaverhausen]

18. That area will hurt

but it really only hurts while they are doing the tattoo. It will be a little sore afterwards.

I advise maybe taking some ibuprofin beforehand.

I have one (a crescent moon right "above" my breast like Janis Joplins little heart) and don't regret it. I'm getting another soon...on my ankle!

[Dastard Stepchild]

27. I would advise against taking a painkiller

Anecdotally, I have heard that it can increase bleeding at the tattoo site, which wouldn't be a good thing. Best to take the pain meds a few hours after the procedure.

[Beaverhausen]

32. Oh- I didn't think of that. You're right.

But mine didn't bleed at all. I anesthetized beforehand with a couple of margueritas anyway...

[Dastard Stepchild]

55. Margueritas have always been effective painkillers :) n/t

[Jo March]

64. But I don't drink

so that leaves those out of the picture!

[Dastard Stepchild]

82. yeah - I don't drink much myself

I think you'll be ok. The pain doesn't really linger long after the tattoo is placed on you. You may feel soreness the next day, and it would be totally fine to take a painkiller then. It's kind of like lifting weights for the first time - a bit tough while you're doing it, but the soreness doesn't hit until the next day. I think you'll be just fine, but you could certainly take a painkiller if you feel discomfort.

[MichaelHarris]

22. sexiest place ever for a tattoo on a woman IMO

[Jo March]

45. Well, I'm hoping that it looks sexy anyway

Don't know how it looks now but hopefully it will add some, um, interest. :)

[MichaelHarris]

79. and

will pictures be forthcoming? :)

[Dastard Stepchild]

23. can't personally speak to this region...

but I have heard that it's a manageable discomfort. It's nothing that will kill ya ;)

Tats aren't like getting a massage, and they aren't like being tickled with feather, but the pain is not unbearable, IMHO.

[jukes]

74. that might hurt a bit,

more nerve endings there than elswhere. will be pretty, though.

got my 1st a week ago, kabuki mask on my left deltoid. didn't hurt, but was a little tender for 3 days.

much smaller than foto above. that's a nice tat!

[Jo March]

26. Wow! That's beautiful!

A bit much for me but it's really impressive.

[Dastard Stepchild]

28. thanks :)

I'm a real tat kinda gal, so for me, bigger was better :)

[matcom]

8. it will hurt - it will bleed

it will heal

NO REGRETS here.

thinking about my second one

[Jo March]

19. I was going to get one when I graduated Basic Training

but my mom talked me out of it. I held off for a long time because I gave blood but now I can't give blood anyway so...

What is your tattoo?

[matcom]

30. peace sign

right shoulder blade

[Jo March]

53. I was thinking maybe a sword or a skull or something

Don't know why I was thinking that.

[DS1]

57. hmmm, pointy sharp things or a skull

ya sure you want your hubby looking at that when you're, err, ya know

[Jo March]

60. No! Not me! I meant matcom!

I am getting dolphins encircling a peace sign!

I thought that matcom had a sword or skull tattoo!

[texastoast]

9. Raining on your parade

Increased chances of HIV and hepatitis C.

Yes, it will hurt. The jury has no right to decide if you are an idiot. It's your skin.

And when you age, how good will it look on a 65-year-old body? Kindly just keep it where it is optional for viewing, at least for my sake.

:D

[Jo March]

13. Nice, texastoast

I will keep it where it's "optional for viewing." Wouldn't want to offend your sensibilities.

Good grief.

[texastoast]

76. Well, it's not like you can

just wash it off really easily when the fashion changes.

And it is just not sexy (to me, at least) to see an old blue-green and red tatoo that has aged about forty years on a crinkled old, sun-damaged flabby upper arm. The colors change, the skin texture changes, muscle tone changes. Let's not even talk about tatooed stretch marks.

Oooo, yes, keep it optional.

[Dastard Stepchild]

17. actually, not entirely true...

But, you bring up a VERY good reminder that you must ask about the tattooer's precautions for disease control.
The CDC has not verified that tats increase risk for Hep C or HIV. They state that the risk of bloodborne infection is increased if tatto artist does not use new equipment for each person - this includes using a new ink well for each person. Make sure your tat parlor uses new, disposable ink pots for each person, new needles for each person, and that all equipment is sterilized for use with each person.

Good point to bring up though, texastoast :)

[Jo March]

29. Definately

I have checked around because of stuff like Hep C and HIV. I will only go to reputable tattoo artists.

[MercutioATC]

75. Don't worry about the "pain"...

It's on the left side of my chest. It felt like I was being scratched with a toothpick for the first couple of minutes and then the endorphins kicked in. After that, it actually kinda felt good.

www.bmezine.com

Good site for general tat and piercing info.

[texastoast]

80. Bonded?

Are tatoo artists bonded so that a client has some recourse if a disease is contracted? Is there an American Society of Tatoo Artists whose members adhere to strict sterilization guidelines or are we just placing our trust in the artist to prevent infectious disease?

[Dastard Stepchild]

83. It might be difficult to "prove" that the tat artist...

was the source of infection, especially with Hep C, which has such a long latency period. I'm not sure how one would proceed in court. The best an individual can do is find an artist that adheres to very strict guidelines. All states and municipalities have some laws regulating the practice of tat artists, but they vary by state, by county, by city. There is a code of ethics among reputable tattoo artists - finding such an artist would be well worth the time investment. As with any individual performing a service, we do place our trust in them to adhere to standards and a code of ethics. Some artists have proven themselves to be quite awful in this respect - others are quite responsible and work diligently to ensure personal safety for themselves and their customer.
There's been a general batting about of an "American Society of Tat Artists" - well something of the sort - but it has yet to fully materialize. I suspect that it is just around the bend, however.

[LiberalManiacfromOC]

12. tatooes are awesome!

n/t

[MichaelHarris]

15. as long as you don't get it in "the soft meat"

I did that and I was hoppin' and twitchin' like a 5 year old in the cereal section of a grocery store.

[Jo March]

20. The "soft meat"?

I'm almost afraid to ask...

[MichaelHarris]

25. LOL

places like the inside of your forearm, around Mr Happy or ummmm errr well that region right below your panty line.

[Jo March]

37. Oh, ow!

My ex dated a woman who had a big black panther down around her panty area. She had a guys's name above it - like "Don's kitty" or something like that. She broke up with the guy and had to have that lettering covered over with a bunch of leaves.

I can't imagine having a whole jungle scene down there.

I don't think that I could have sex with a man who had his stuff covered with a tattoo, either. That would freak me out a bit. Of course, I'm easily startled.

My ex had his own name tattooed on his chest. I thought that was odd.

[MichaelHarris]

41. that would be weird to have

a jungle scene next to the "bush-like" area. Not to start a sex thread but that would make me wanna wear a pith helmet and big game hunting gear whenever I well you know.

[Jo March]

43. LOL! Oh, my!

I am blushing furiously! You are too funny.

I just think that her particularly large tattoo shouts, "I am a big tramp!" but that's just me.

[MichaelHarris]

48. or a cover model for

Biker Chick. Small sexy tattoos in places like the small of the back or the hip, maybe between the shoulder blades are the way to go. MMMMMM, well thanks, now I have to take a cold shower.

[Jo March]

54. ;) n/t

[comradebillyboy]

31. i just got mu first tat

its the "fundamental theorem of calculus" on my left bicep.

[Mr.Green93]

34. if things get bad a tattoo makes you easier to track down

[Jo March]

47. I have scars that will aid in the gubment's tracking of me

The tattoo will only add to the pile.

[TrogL]

35. I'm trying to talk Ahknaten out of getting a tatoo

I even showed him a guy with old tattoos and how they were all faded and smeared.

[Jo March]

42. That's how my mom talked me out of it the first time I wanted one

It worked for 15 years.

[proud patriot]

36. Keep in mind that you can't submerge it water for a week afterward

1)it does hurt or just really uncomfortable .
2) I hear the area in the small of your back
is even more painfull than other areas .
3) don't just go to any tatoo parlor , ask to
see the sterylization equipment ask if there
have been any health violations . Go to Highly
reputable artist , even if you have to make an
appointment and wait . Hepatitis is the most
common thing going around parlors .

I'm thinking of getting another tatoo too
my first one took about 7 minutes to completion
it was just starting to get painful about the
time it was done . It is on my ankle, a blue rose
peace sign.

[Jo March]

39. I'm thinking about two dolphins

swimming in a circle with a peace sign in the middle.

I know - it's very 1970s, flower child, groovy - but I'm kinda that way myself.

[MichaelHarris]

44. mines like 2 dolphins but

it can also be seen as one, kind of a unity thing. Its tribal.

[Jo March]

49. Mine won't be tribal or anything, I guess

Just two things that I care about - the environment (represented by dolphins) and peace.

[MichaelHarris]

52. did you see mine in the above post?

also big tattoos on women freak me out kinda. Its like when you go into a place and see um you don't know whether to buy um a drink or fight um. I coulda worded that much cruder.

[Jo March]

56. Yes, you could have but I don't know how!

I'll go back up and look.

I think that certain women can carry them off and certain other women (like me) can't. It's like when I say, "You go, girl." It just isn't right.

[Jo March]

58. Where's it at?

I didn't see it. :(

[MichaelHarris]

63. here ya go

[Jo March]

66. Sorry! Duh.

That's nice. I like that.

Nice fish. Catch and release?

[MichaelHarris]

68. always

catch and release :)

[Jo March]

71. I used to fish a lot

Catfish, bream and blue gill. I can clean a fish in no time flat, even a catfish. I can also cook them up and make some pretty mean hushpuppies.

Haven't fished in a long time.

[MichaelHarris]

77. For me

flyfishing on the rivers on Montana, Idaho, and Washington is like a religion. You can't get closer to your God than in the high country. And by high country I don't mean a Grateful Dead concert. I'm sure some of them have seen God though.

[proud patriot]

78. I had to argue with the artist about my peace sign

he said "that is so 60s you don't want that"

I just had to prove I really wanted it there
he did a beautiful job with it whether he liked it
or not LOL :D

[Jo March]

87. Isn't that ridiculous?

I wanted a ankh and a friend of mine said, "That is so 70s!" I wanted to smack her right in her smug little face.

[cmf]

38. Here's a tip

If you are going to include words or numbers - write it down, and have at least two friends proofread it - don't even tell them what it says - have them read it to you. Give that piece of paper to the artist.

I have known a couple people who made "typos" in their tattoos because they didn't have someone double check it before they gave it to the tattoo artist. A typo really sucks when it's permanently attached to your body.

[Jo March]

40. Good idea.

I'd hate to have something misspelled that is going to be there permanently!

[bratcatinok]

50. I got my first and only tat in celebration of my fiftieth birthday.

Actually, I'm not sure I was celebrating as much as I was rebelling against turning half a century.

Mine is on my ankle, is about 3 inches long and is a vine with a small heart as the flower. I've now had it for 2 years and I don't regret it.

I had to drive to Texas to have it done since tattooing is illegal here in Oklahoma. Sometimes it hurt while he was doing it and sometimes it was more of an annoyance thing.

They gave me a special creme to keep on it for the first 2 weeks to keep it from drying out. I applied that religously. Also, they instructed me not to wash it with anything for a couple of weeks, again to keep it from drying out. Even with all of this, it did get somewhat dry and did scab in places. However, my tat wasn't affected by the drying or scabbing.

Mine is still as colorful and clear as the day it was done.

[Jo March]

51. Well, that makes me feel better

I don't drink or smoke or do drugs or have any kind of interesting wild stuff in my past. The tattoo is something that I've wanted for a while but haven't had the nerve to get. It has always seemed too "wild" a thing for me to do. Now it's a bit more mainstream but I still want it hidden so no one can see it. Well, no one except for the people I show it to!!

[MichaelHarris]

61. I don't drink or smoke either

now drugs, I really didn't experiment with drugs, I did full scale research. Wild stuff? Lets say I've shown up on a few milk container cartons in my lifetime.

[Jo March]

70. Drugs always scared me

I'd have this specter of prison looming up and that pretty well kept me out of trouble.

I've always been pretty conservative with my life, which baffles my friends. Since I'm a liberal and was in the military, they think that I should be a boozing, druggie slut.

[elehhhhna]

59. so your taste will never change between now and your 100th birthday?

if hubs & I had gotten tats when we were teens, we'd have footprints, keep-on-truckkin', and he'd maybe have an STP sticker somewhere. euuuuwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

[Jo March]

62. Well, I'm sure my tastes will change

but I've been a flower child all of my life. I've always loved dolphins and I am all about peace. So, I'm thinking that maybe this is a good choice.

I had thought about getting the mascot for the University of Alabama (an elephant) or a lizard, but those were fleeting thoughts.

Remember, I've been thinking about this for 15 years.

[bratcatinok]

65. I'm 52 and as I said, got this done when I turned 50.

Being 50 when I chose the design for my tat, I think I pretty well knew what my style and tastes were, are and will be for the next 48 years. If I do ever get tired of it, I'll have it incorporated into a new design...maybe when I turn 75.

How's that?

[Jo March]

67. I think that's a great idea

and you can come to NC and we'll have ours changed together. I'll get a new one - maybe a little handicapped accessable sign!

(Sorry. I know that was dirty and wrong. Couldn't help it.)

[bratcatinok]

73. Snicker!

If I get a little handicapped accessable sign, will I be able to hold my leg up long enough where the parking police don't tow my car away?

Or will I need to rely on you to semi-moon all of the parking police?

Either way, we shouldn't have to pull out our walkers since we'll be parked so close to the front.

[Jo March]

92. I will semi-moon the parking police

but only for you! :eyes:

[PittPoliSci]

72. use my icon!

it's so sweet. that is exactly what you should have on your body for the rest of your life, you'll never regret it, trust me!

[Jo March]

88. Um, well, uh -

I would love to use your icon but, um, well, um....er...

[Lefty48197]

81. Dear God, please don't get the lower back tattoo. It's hideous.

So is the tattoo around the navel that makes it look like a dirty anus. Get a small cute tattoo, and everything will be just fine. The lower back tattoo should be a crime. It really does an injustice to the female body.

[Dastard Stepchild]

84. I have a navel tattoo...

This is the first time I have every heard someone liken it to a dirty anus. That is really amusing :)

[Jo March]

89. Gracious - do you really think so?

Two of the women I work with showed me theirs on their lower back and I thought they both looked quite sexy.

Never heard the tattoo around the navel described so vividly! ;)

[vron57]

85. hurt ? depends

the hurt depends on the tat artist and where it is being put. 
try to go with an open mind and that it is really not going to
hurt. I have several, one rather large.  The large one was
painful till I realized I had pent up frustrations, other junk
on my mind.  Got my mind in the right frame and no pain from
there on out.

what are you getting and where are you getting it ?

[Jo March]

91. Two dolphins encircling a peace sign

On the lower back area. Should be fun!

[onebigbadwulf]

90. It's weird, the pain varies A LOT depending on where you get it

Don't get something cliche- try to be original!

[Jo March]

93. Well, I can't be too "original"

I don't want to scare anyone. I want something modest - no skulls, no flames, no swords or anything like that. Just something to reflect me, you know?