Going in for an all day session tomorrow.

Any hints or tips to make it more enjoyable would be much appreciated 😆

10 beers beforehand.

Take snacks and something to read.

Eat well before the start. Keep grazing during the day. Drink full fat coke.

I found watching what they were doing was easier – you could see when a line was going to finish so how long it was going to be uncomfortable for.

I’ve done a 6 hour session in one go. Fell asleep. In fact I’ve fallen asleep every time I’ve had a tattoo. Tremendously relaxing and not painful in the slightest for me.

not painful in the slightest for me.

😯

I felt like they were doing the outline with a Stanley knife!

I find it really depends on the area, an inch either way can make the difference between not feeling much or it feeling like a hot blade being dragged through your skin.

For all day session, as above, plenty of snacks and water. Don’t worry about asking to get up to stretch your legs, the artist would much rather you were comfy and therefore still when they need you to be. Oh, and stay relaxed!
I’ve had a few all day sessions including ribs / chest. Most important thing I found was to stay really relaxed. The last couple of hours was always the worst. Oh and the wiping. God please stop the wiping…

polar opposite for me. I can feel it a wee bit more around the wrist and elbow but never what I’d describe as sore

I listen to music, make sure you have full fat coke or sugary tea, I was white as a ghost after 3 hours on my ribs!

Start an STW tattoo thread then sit back, they’re sometimes quite fun for the neutral spectator. (I don’t post on them because I don’t have any tattoos, so I don’t have anything relevant to contribute, but I do enjoy reading them and seeing the pictures).

Watch a dvd, tv, etc.
Guy I use does this – his or one you feel like at the time.

Take something to read/watch/listen to: those who’re into tattoos are often quite vacuous/hard of thinking, I doubt you’ll get any good conversation.

Ametop definitely won’t last that long.

Take something to read/watch/listen to: those who’re into tattoos are often quite vacuous/hard of thinking, I doubt you’ll get any good conversation.

Utter tosh

Utter tosh

IME they tend to talk about two things:

The gym
Cars, or more recently, modified vans.

I’m surprised that took two posts 😆

I’ve never had one take more than a couple of hours but I’m in the find it relaxing camp.

The first ten minutes tend to be a bit sore but I tend to relax after that.

I went for mine (ended up at 9 hours) armed with books and music, but ended up chatting to the interesting and entertaining tattooist the whole time.

So I’d disagree with the above.

Start an STW tattoo thread then sit back, they’re sometimes quite fun for the neutral spectator. (I don’t post on them because I don’t have any tattoos, so I don’t have anything relevant to contribute, but I do enjoy reading them and seeing the pictures).

+1 brings out the worst of both ‘sides’ really

a friend had a 6.5 hr session the other week and went armed with kindle etc but in the end she just sat and watched.

dtf with yet another scintillating answer as always to a subject he has little or no knowledge of….

if that is what you believe to be the truth about a skilled artist then I hope the one you may have visited was in a back alley somewhere rather than the intelligent, published and sought after guys and gals I know and have used.
FYI – one is an internationally renowned illustrator of both adult and children’s books, another has an IQ over 145, another has been paid to visit over 35 countries to show and discuss her art, techniques, etc so stick that in your pipe and choke on it.

dtf with yet another scintillating answer

although it’s pretty clear these days when he’s just trolling to get a response 😉

4 hours is my max to date and that was enough, I thought, but I’ve got a full day lined up in March.

My tattooist us an ace bloke so we talk about space, music, physics, bikes etc. Don’t drink the day before, plenty of water and food to keep you going. A lift home could be a good idea, the pain usually catches up with me on the hour long drive home.

Luckily I broke my arm, so the last one I took a preemptive codeinehat I had left which helped. Other painkillers like paracetamol can thin the blood so aren’t recommended.

Pics when it’s done.

Sorry, someone had to start it. Tattoo threads just aren’t the same without Shibboleth…

I actually love tattoos; they make people you’d normally consider “middle of the road” loads more interesting/appealing.

I regularly travel to Denmark to get tattooed. I usually do 7 hours at a time (on my ribs/back) to make the most of the trip. It hurts. A lot.

I find sugary food and drinks consumed throughout the session really help, as does a combo of co codamol and ibuprofen during the later stages.

they make people you’d normally consider “middle of the road” loads more interesting/appealing.

Just done a 4h session before Christmas (was getting a bit hurty by the end!) I just spent it listening to the music in the studio & chatting to the artist (really nice lady – qualified probate & will solicitor, gave it up to follow her dreams I guess and has her own studio attached to her house!) 😀 Good luck OP, pics after! Don’t tap out!! Plus one for a tatt thread.

I always seem to manage to get a bit of a cat-nap in somewhere along the way.

I certainly like a good quality, long nights sleep before hand, and very definitely for a few nights afterwards. Avoid alcohol before having it done, and keep topped up with water / simple good quality food during the session.

Ask for a bit of a break if you need one rather than fidget / get stiff – I always ask my tattooist if he’d like a quick bit of a break too if he looks like he needs one, or has been going a while.

Going over my collar bone was the only place that caused me to jump a bit, my ribs / elbows seemed to be ok?

I could be making this up, but I don’t know that caffeinated drinks are a good idea immediately before / during either (are they?).

although it’s pretty clear these days when he’s just trolling to get a response

Apparently not to the hard of thinking 😉

OCB – Member

Going over my collar bone was the only place that caused me to jump a bit, my ribs / elbows seemed to be ok?

YES!!! Makes your brain rattle! 😆

😀

In all honesty, people with tattoos are often more open minded and friendly.

dmck16 tomorrow:

Collar bone was cheeky, armpit was a bit grim, Nipple was a laugh (in a kind of “oh my bloody giddy aunt” kind if way) and Strangely just had a bit over 2 ribs that really knackered.

I’ve always just chatted, watched, whimpered quietly depending. Hours and hours of black….it was like a sketch from the fast show

tazzymtb – Member
Collar bone was cheeky, armpit was a bit grim, Nipple was a laugh (in a kind of “oh my bloody giddy aunt” kind if way) and Strangely just had a bit over 2 ribs that really knackered.

I’ve always just chatted, watched, whimpered quietly depending. Hours and hours of black…

I find the block colour the worst! 😯

This is bloody agony…

that’s the price for art.

Still no pictures.

honourablegeorge – Member
Still no pictures

Still in the chair, no messing around 😆

EDIT: Sorry, should’ve mentioned it’s a back piece.

davidtaylforth – Member
Take something to read/watch/listen to: those who’re into tattoos are often quite vacuous/hard of thinking, I doubt you’ll get any good conversation.

Well, while I’m perfectly happy to talk to just about anyone on a whole range of subjects, in your case I’d rather sit and watch paint drying, it’ll be a more scintillating conversationalist.

Still no pics from OP??

The longer he takes the more awkward it is to say it looks shit…..

P.S. Loving that folk are still getting upset 🙂 good work DTF

I spent very happy 4-hour stretches talking to the lad who did my back, but as other have said, I find it pretty relaxing for the most part.

🙂