I’m just back from holiday were almost everyone had a tattoo of some sort – it was warm (Ibiza) so more noticeable as there wasn’t a lot of clothing being worn. A couple were cool, most were cliched and some were dreadful. Subjective of course but i’m right 😛 Genuine Q to the tatted…How long does it take for the newly done piece take to turn into a blurry blob or is that a thing of the past with better inks equipment? Some of the older tats on display were very hard to make out and they were fairly basic designs (3 lions/loaves or deformed animals of some description 😆 )

Got my first one when my daughter was born , a sunrise over a mountain to represent dawn of a new life, at the top of my back. I then waited 15 years before my second of a Polynesian Tiki mask on my left shoulder. I then got my right calf done with a compass 2 years later at the age of 47. I never rushed in and knew exactly what I wanted. My compass came from an idea when I saw a basic design at the bottom of an old north west map of Scotland, I took that and added my own ideas around it. Now want my right shoulder done with something Inuit, after seeing them in Canada. F@&k stereotypes! Also, I had researched Glasgow artist who specialised in the particular genre, and went to them.

P-Jay – get at least a couple of laser sessions on the old one 6 months apart. It’ll open up a ton of options for new work.

OP – go to an experienced artist whose been doing it a long time (or younger talent being mentored). A tattoo can look great leaving the shop and look shit 5-10 years later If not done right.

Euro – combination of ink, how it’s applied and whether the canvas is looked after. Wear sunscreen

[video]https://youtu.be/sTJ7AzBIJoI[/video]

Listen to metalheart, he knows what he’s talking about.
There again, I didn’t put anywhere near as much consideration into my unit stamp or shit tat (done when I was 15) and I have no regrets. Far from getting the shit one removed, I’d sooner it be covered by a larger one.

+1 on checking out artists work and seeing who’s work you like and think would compliment the style u have in mind. Quite a few good artists in Mcr, tho many more shit ones. Also worth meeting them if its likely to be a multi session piece, lots of objectionable egos in that world and you might not want to spend hours and hours being hurt by them!

I’m having a full leg piece done by Hannah Mosley at Middleton tattoo studio, really love the design she drew for me.

on holiday at the bar I spied a tattoo on the bar girl’s arm, a circle within a triangle. Thinking it was the symbol for the illumanti I asked her if she was a conspiracy theorist? No she replied, Harry Potter, that’s the deathly hallows.

Only tattoos I’ve ever considered were getting my entire lower leg as a settling pint of Guinness (wrap-around), or a tattoo of Roberto, the crazy robot from Futurama that is obsessed with stabbing.
Both of these have great meaning to me as I am a mental Guinness swilling alcoholic that has an obsession with stabbing.

I’m sure either would be a bad idea, but I work in a pub opposite a tattoo parlour so it’s probably only a matter of time.

Ha haaaa!!!

Wanted a tattoo for ages, but I have a rule.
Whenever I come up with an image I like, I give it a year to see if I still fancy it before committing.

Nothing’s stuck yet.

Currently, something stained glass and Art Deco-ish is favourite, along the lines of:

If anyone knows an artist who’s good at that type of stuff, I’d be very grateful for any details.

Like this too:

I’ve taken a good look through all of the suggested artists and have sent messages to a couple with my design ideas. There are these guys who are local to me Underwood Tattoos would anyone in the know mind looking at some of their work please? They look good to me but obviously I don’t know much!

Not going to rush into this and quite happy to wait if the person I want is booked up for a few months.

5thElefant – Member
Your point is? Other than judging others

If you don’t like being judged by others… don’t get a tattoo.

Sound advice

As everyone has said dont rush in and find an artist you can trust and who’s style you like. If you like a design look at it everyday for a few months. Or set it as a background on your phone or laptop. You might think its the dogs danglys for a week or so but tattoos dont last for just a week.
Ive got 2 Japanese style sleeves and people do sometimes stare at your tattoo, some people compliment them, some people hate them. Makes no real odds to me at work as i don’t deal with the public at all and wear overalls all day.
Also think about if something is super detailed now it wont look as detailed when all the lines start to blur.
Its also very addictive and you wont just get one.

Why not draw on some designs with felt tips and wear them for a couple of weeks. See if you really like them and gauge others reactions?!

Why not draw on some designs with felt tips and wear them for a couple of weeks. See if you really like them and gauge others reactions?!

The problem with this method is that the anti tattoo brigade are more likely to vocalise their narrowminded lack of understanding and ignorance while the pro tattoo brigade will nod in a quiet sage like manner at the style, but not the execution.
Know what I mean?

Tattoos?
Not for me, but mainly because with my skin / freckles / moles it’d look like join-the-dots.

On other people, I’ve seen some fantastic arty stuff that I suspect gets boring after a year or two, I’ve seen some what were they thinking stuff, and I’ve seen some timeless stuff that just looks like part of who the person is.

If I could have the last sort and it didn’t look like join-the-dots then maybe, just maybe.

I haven’t got a clue on a design

I’ve not read the whole thread. Getting my first one took years. The design came first, and spent a long time getting drawn and redrawn (I draw – not brilliantly, but well enough to show someone else what I want). I’ve had two more since, including a full back. Those have taken less time, but even so I am not letting anyone draw just something into my skin unless I definitely like what they’re actually drawing.

The lad who did my back will take a deposit and will draw a design for me which he won’t be bothered at all if I don’t go through with (as long as I don’t take it to someone else local). I’m busy working up a design at the moment. If I decide I want it, I’ll pay him to make it perfect, and then we’ll see about getting it inked in.

I’m not judging anyone else’s process for this stuff, but that’s how I go about it. And I’m completely free of regret about any of mine.

🙂

If you don’t like being judged by others… don’t get a tattoo.

+1

I shudder to think what I’d have chosen 20+ years ago, probably the Whitesnake logo or RUSH….

Luckily I was brought up in an era when only criminals and sailors had tattoos, so never bothered…

Does a tattoo really have to have any special personal meaning? If its something you like the look of then surely that’s a good enough reason to get one?

Why not go for the full hipster look 🙄

For followers of fashion, who for some reason don’t think they are following the norm.

If you don’t like being judged by others… don’t get a tattoo.

Or have a haircut, not have a haircut.
Wear clothes, not wear clothes.
Wear makeup, not wear makeup.
Be judgemental, not be judgemental.
Why should tattoos get special treament by the judgemental losers? 😉

FWIW I never thought about a tattoo until 2 years ago, aged 53, when we were talking images in the pub. I had a very strong image appear and thought it would make a great tatt. It now adorns my right calf, clichéd I know, but I like it and everyone else can take a running jump.

Never thought about it until the image came though, I agree with the take your time approach and be sure about the artist.

I shudder to think what I’d have chosen 20+ years ago, probably the Whitesnake logo or RUSH….

I wonder how many people have Lostprophets tattoos. 🙁

Does a tattoo really have to have any special personal meaning? If its something you like the look of then surely that’s a good enough reason to get one?

Well it is slightly more permanent than a sew on patch on your denim jacket…

Luckily I was brought up in an era when only criminals and sailors had tattoos, so never bothered…

+1

Does a tattoo really have to have any special personal meaning?

Not on your back. Then it’s obviously for other people.

If you don’t like being judged by others… don’t get a tattoo.

Or have a haircut, not have a haircut.
Wear clothes, not wear clothes.
Wear makeup, not wear makeup.
Be judgemental, not be judgemental.
Why should tattoos get special treament by the judgemental losers?

Your hair grows, you can change your hairs style.
You can wear different clothes every day….some people do!
Make up..see hairstyle.

I think the reason tattoos get special treatment is because they are permanent and people struggle to cope with the idea of putting a picture on yourself when you are 20, that you will still like when you’re 60. Plus….(and don’t judge me here :wink:) a lot of people with tats are definitely short of a few brain cells!

Does a tattoo really have to have any special personal meaning?

Not on your back. Then it’s obviously for other people

Why don’t you get your full arse done like ooor Cheryl?

Has she still got that?

Her arse?

I presume so.

Difficult to imagine her going to the Tattoo Fixers, as all they do is turn shite little tattoos into shite big tattoos. And she’s pushing the boundaries there already

Difficult to imagine her going to the Tattoo Fixers, as all they do is turn shite little tattoos into shite big tattoos.

There’s a chap in the gym I go to who has a whole sleeve just tattooed solid in that unique tattoo colour which is somewhere between blank and dark blue…..

Either that or he dunked his arm into a vat of denim dye, whilst wearing a glove….

Just get My First Tattoo inked on your shoulder…saves explaining what it meant to you at the time and sounding all deep and meaningful when really you just wanted a tat…

How about a dolphin? Or a bicycle?

Or a dolphin riding a bicycle?

That would be nice.

Your hair grows, you can change your hairs style.
You can wear different clothes every day….some people do!
Make up..see hairstyle.

Won’t stop people being judgemental though. It’s a point of being judgemental not longevity of a particular look.
There was a fella on here who would go apoplectic in his hatred of tattoos. 😆
I felt for the guy.

There was a fella on here who would go apoplectic in his hatred of tattoos.
I felt for the guy.

He’s living in the wrong century then, I must be the only person without one at my gym (CF box).

If you regularly cycle around London, you’ll probably have seen this cycle courier

Warning: Sweary word content!

Not my pic

we’re all cyclists so get the tattoo somewhere you won’t scratch it when crashing. I got a tattoo just above my ankle/sock line and nothing has touched it yet. The shoulder is known to take the hit you don’t reach out with your hands first

Got my first one done over the winter. Over 50 now and dgas what people think.

I wanted something that looked ‘traditional’ (like I remembered from growing up in the 1970’s) and always liked dragons so I now have:

3 months since it was finished and I still like it.

Does show under a shirt cuff ofe I extend my arm but I do think attitudes to tattoos agent what they were.

You realise this is a thread bumped by spam?

Either that or it’s been dug up from 9 months ago by someone who really thinks the OP should get a girlie flower.

Holy thread Resurrection Batman!

Don’t have any myself, but must admit I like the look of that wwaswas.

I didn’t look at the dates, sorry!