Tatoos

[Chappers]

Been thinking about getting one/two.. for a number of years now [mauri/tribal] but can never make a final design that Im happy with [don't want something picked out of a book/off the wall]..

How many of you have them.. and what?

[Moffmo]

I voted OK, becuase even though they look wickid, i know they wont look like that in ten years time, also fashions change.

However i once met a guy with a full body tatto, all down his arm and up to his nceck and it looked awesome... :D

[Demonic Angel]

They're ok - I dont have any - they are a personal choice really.

Plus I can never think of anything I'd want permanently stuck to my bod! :P

My best mate has four, including a bumblebee and her boyfriends name in Chinese writing.....

My ex had 8 - all down both his arms!

[earpl]

yes but not tribal or chinese or out like that as there crap. design your own ;)

my mate has "i have a small wiener" in gothic text dripping with blood, along with a good few others.

[Robie]

I would never have one in an area like the hand always on show. I like small ones in certain places

[~Rach~]

Depends on the person. Skinny men and fat women should not have tattoos as it just looks daft

I love Baz's tattoos as they really suit him, but put the design onto a small guy then it would look naff

[opelfruit]

got 2, one in between my shoulder blades and one on my right deltoid.

Both are tribal and were designed my a friend of mine.

if you're gonna get one theres a few simple rules you should follow to reduce the "what a knob" factor;

*stick with black - colours fade a hell of a lot quicker than black (red is the worst for it, sunlight breaks it up quickly)

*design it urself (or get someone you know to do it for you) that way its unique (i know that thats what you said your gonna do so thumbs up).

*don't get something that is in fashion, it will inevitable go out of fashion and u'll end up like these fools with chinese symbols on their arms.....ie almost everyone.

*don't get something that can be translatedin different ways/mean several different things such as chinese symbols.

*check the reputation of the tattooist - make sure he/she is good and respectable, you dont want ur tattoo going blotchy or anything.

I personallly love them, but it is personal preference.

Granted, when im 80 they'll be saggy and faded, but at that point in my life i dont plan on walking around without a top on :P

[Chappers]

Opelfruit - agree and have double checked all of those points..

[Caz SR]

Hey,

I have a tattoo that I designed myself. I only got it done last Summer, a few years after I actually came up with the idea. One simple rule, if you still love the design after a year or so then you know you'll never regret it. I designed quite a few, but the one I finally got done shone out from the rest. A thumbsup for wanting your own design :)

Take your time and try the old cut-out trick. Print / draw the tattoo to the exact size you want on some paper and cut it out. Place it where you'll get inked and see if it suits you.

I had mine done at a very reputable place near me. They've won lots of health & hygiene awards and awards for their artwork. They also specialise in inking people's own designs, which is worth looking into. Pay a few places some visits. Any good Tattooist will not mind you dropping by to look at examples of their work. If they're not busy, they'll normally take a look at your designs and give you some advice.

Once you've bitten the bullet and taken your own design in, remember to bring the stencil back with you. A reputable tattooist will give it back, so there is no risk of it being reproduced.

Do *you* really want a tattoo? Doesn't matter what other people's opinions are. If you're worried about that then maybe you shouldn't really get one done, least not for a while yet.

[jane-b]

and if you don't like them you can have them removed with laser. I have had mine removed (for personal reasons) and you wouldn't know that I had one there previous.

The down side is that it is expensive (£100 per session approx) and more painful than the actual tattoo. Each session will last about 3 months as the pigment is broken down and the immune system clears the ink, so really it could work out £33 per month. Depending on the size and colour will depend on the amount of treatment. I've had 3 and it has almost vanised. One more will do the trick.

luckily I had just black which is easy to erase, greens can't be lasered and other colours will require more treatment.

So there is always a get out clause

[silvasurfa]

Got two,

One on the top of my arm. Granted, it was from a book, but 5 years on I still love it!

Hope to be getting it extended to cover my shoulder soon (my own design)

The second is my own design, a big band round my ankle, it really really hurt on the acheles tendon (really) To the point where the tattooist nearly stopped as he thought I was gonna pass out!!!

Ive always fancied a small one on the inside of my wrist but for obvious reasons never had the bottle.

If I won the lottery id probably be a patch work quilt!!!

[System~G]

I have 6 and am happy with every one of them. The largest one is still "A work in progress" and will eventually cover 75% of my back (Currently covers about 35%), All work is currently Tribal/Celtic but will also involve Biomechanical at some point. All designed or maniplutated by myself as I didn't want anything anyone else had although the two manipulted do look similar to other peoples, but it's the small differences that count ;)

If you're going to get some, think very long and hard about the design you want. Follow what Opel said. Each one of my Tattoos took about 6 months worth of thought and design/re-design.

Make sure you also follow the aftercare proceedures properly and to the "T". If you don't look after the tattooo whilst it's healing, it will look crap once it's healed and fade a lot quicker too.

[Chappers]

Make sure you also follow the aftercare proceedures properly and to the "T". If you don't look after the tattooo whilst it's healing, it will look crap once it's healed and fade a lot quicker too.

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I've heard 'pile cream' is good?

[silvasurfa]

Make sure you also follow the aftercare proceedures properly and to the "T". If you don't look after the tattooo whilst it's healing, it will look crap once it's healed and fade a lot quicker too.

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really important, i know someone who did everything wrong, drank heavily the night before didnt treat it afterwards, needless to say his tattoo looks sheite!

[Chappers]

I've heard 'pile cream' is good? 

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For tatoos..

[silvasurfa]

not heard that about piles cream, isnt that for anti wrinklin?!!

think i used savlon both times, (was a blue and white tube)

[Chappers]

How long are you supposed to avoid 'direct sunlight'?

[silvasurfa]

thing is with tattoos, the sun is always gonna damage them, it turns mine blue from black with a tan.

ideally wouldnt expose it for at least a month but to be honest i cant remember, got mine done in the winter for this exact reason, main thing is dont soak it! showers are okish but still avoid the wet!

[Boro Sera]

How long are you supposed to avoid 'direct sunlight'?

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I don't see that's a concern though, living in the UK.

July 23rd, sometime in the afternoon. I think there's some scheduled for then. I'd just stay in and watch the telly till it's gone !

[jaxx]

personally i think they are foul and just concider them as 'glorified scars' but thats my opinion :)

[kimi]

I've got two,had the one 5years ago and the other in january this year.

mine are not for fashion they mean something.

The first is on my ankle, its a little heart with wings with the name snoopy underneath-he was my dog my little angel hence the wings.

The other is on my shoulder blade, its a little red rose with a scroll through it with the name patch on it -he was my other dog. he took to sitting in the rose bed on his last few days of life, hence the rose.

i used savalon to help with the healing of the second one,it did not scab like the first one did,but they both itched like crazy but NEVER scratch them.

[Desmond22]

"Tattoos are one step away from self-mutilation by those who are insecure with their own bodies"

Discuss!

:) ;)

This was said to me in an earlier life by a psychologist whose job was dealing with troublesome teenagers.

[silvasurfa]

"Tattoos are one step away from self-mutilation by those who are insecure with their own bodies"

Discuss!

:)  ;)

This was said to me in an earlier life by a psychologist whose job was dealing with troublesome teenagers.

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...bovd... :P

[clarky]

Get one - that way I might just get my act together and get the one I've been thinking of for years.

Its a kind of modern spin on a celtic design ... it actually appears on a cd cover ... and no I wont tell you which one.

Carewise - a few of my mates have had them - keep them clean and moisturised... thats all thats required...

Got me thinking again

[Blue84]

I chose no, well I wouldnt get one done...

It is personal choice tho, and if someone wants to get one done then fair do's..but they would never talk me into it. One of my Friends keeps mentioning it too..I want to tell her to shut up about it lol