Yeah I’m not trying to sit for more than 2 hours. Not that I can’t do longer, I just don’t want to. 1.5 hours is the ideal time length.
I’m sure there are videos on YouTube or elsewhere of artists talking about what it’s like to tattoo asses or other awkward/personal areas but I just cannot ever picture myself starting that conversation or “preparing the area” to get tattooed. Besides imagining it’s mighty painful for most of those bits and pieces, I feel like I would just be mumbling apologies under my breath the entire time, even if my body resembled a Greek God and obviously the artist knowing what they were going to be tattooing before you begin. Wouldn’t make it any less awkward for me lol
You must have smaller tattoos and/or maybe all my artists are slow. I don't consider anything I have too large or intricate, but each one was between 2.5 & 4 hours. I don't think I have gotten anywhere painful yet though to really know how bad it can be. The bicep towards the arm pit was rough, but my inner lower leg, outer lower leg, outside thigh and outer arm were all manageable (it's always been more annoying AF then painful, like after a while the buzzing, and the sitting in an awkward position, and the constant poking just becomes grating to sit through). I'm also team color is worse than outlining, especially any kind of highlighting at the end, where it's just prodding the shit out of every part of the tattoo that's already sore.
I suppose big tattoos are subjective, but generally speaking, I am getting a little bigger than palm size pieces or palm size from people. Pretty standard traditional tattoo sizes. I have a few that are bigger. I am not covered enough to have much in the way of jammers or what I would consider smaller pieces. At least the traditional tattoo world that I come from, it can be hard to break into and find your place, but if you get in a good shop with good artists and owner, you would be expected to rep stuff out and get quick. Obviously, quality comes first, but there is an expectation that certain things at a certain size should be done in a reasonable timeframe.
My first tattoo was my inner bicep. Most of it wasn’t bad, a few moments with brief searing sharp pain across my arm and chest but for the most part I didn’t have any issue with it and I’m built like Gumby so it’s not like I had a bunch of muscle or skin to make it easier to get through (although tattooing on muscle I have learned is very painful, thanks season 2 of Ink Masters). The biggest “issue” I had with that spot was that the artist had me at an angle and the tattoo took about 75 minutes or so, so all the blood rushed to my head and when I stood up to pay, as I was standing at the register, the lights started going out and I literally stumbled backwards 20 feet to the bench against the wall and almost put my head through the window. A couple sips of a Coke brought me back around but I’ll never forget that moment. Was exactly like cliche of having lights at the end of a hallway go out and get closer and closer to you.
Yeah my first was my inner bicep as well. It wasn’t bad. Worst was easily my feet, actually on my elbow and near my collar bone. The ditch doesn’t hurt but I almost passed out both times I got mine tattooed. My artist walked down the street and bought me a candy bar to help lol.
Weird, I didn’t think much of the ditch, but elbow was brutal — upper inner thigh too. Always interesting to me which spots are really spicy for someone compared to me/others.
Just got my first yesterday. Just been doing the antibacterial soap and some Aquaphor application, but wondering if folks had any good aftercare tips?
From my experience, people over complicate it. Wash it, aquaphor for a bit till it 'dries out', and then switch to a high quality unscented lotion, and youll be golden. Just avoid clothes rubbing it, sun, and swimming for like a month. All the 2nd skin and fancy products seem overkill, for how nice mine and other people i know have had theirs heal by just doing the basics.
Most recent. Raven with a moth covering its eyes. Almost looks Phoenix-ish.. I love how it came out. Getting tattooed in your 30’s sucks. One spot left.. I also used tegaderm patches for the first time. They were awesome. Especially at night during bedtime.