knucklehead211

Pics after first wash!

At the end of the day, all your tattoos will look like they belong there. It sort of takes care of itself, coverage wise!
Re back piece - really gonna depend on what kind you want (and you already know you wanna go to the thighs!) and the artist you work with. definitely don't stop considering how it will all look in the long run - your thoughts will matter when it comes down to it! - but it will also work itself out in general. IMHO w my own tattoos at least!
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@knucklehead211 re acne - sometimes i have bad back breakouts too. None of my pieces have been ruined. Actually seems like I have fewer pimples in the areas of coverage.

I had no clue mandalas and shit like that was a trend nor had a "deep" meaning.
I actually started a geometry piece because it expresses the logic of my thinking as a IT/IS/Coder.

I'll also point out that legs, at least for me, heal slower than my arms becuase they have worse circulation. It took about three weeks for mine to go through the peel-flake cycle, compared to a few days to a week for my arm. I extended my aftercare expectations, let it dry heal with twice daily washings for most of the first week, very light a&d at the end of that week, and lotion around the middle of the second week on. Just what's worked for me personally.

Unless mama is Ronald McDonald this one ranks right up there!

Finally got my elbow done. Was worth waiting, I'm stoked about it.

hey folks - lets remember that this thread is about throwing down your latest and greatest
lets get back to that huh

my girlfriend and i flew out to LA on friday and got tattooed by bob roberts. i really only have these weird spots left and i told him he could do whatever he wants and he just grabbed my arm and pointed to my ditch and was like "right there". walked over to the wall and he goes "what about this one?"

Pics after first wash!

So gross. But the outline is complete and most of the shading is done. Now to heal up and get the ninth off!

That's awful. My gf and I were in a situation like that. She wanted someone who didn't smoke, didn't have an attitude, no tattoos, super nerdy - and I was like that when we met! Now I'm an inked up, half pack a day flannel wearing gamer who's nerdiness doesn't go much further than what games out next and thankfully she still loves me. We grew together since high school, and neither of us are the same, but we love each other more than ever (she's even given me the ok on full sleeves when I'm ready). If this person can be your bff for four years and not accept you for you, then that says a lot about THEM - not you.

Pics after first wash!

Pics after first wash!

So gross. But the outline is complete and most of the shading is done. Now to heal up and get the ninth off!

I'll answer your questions, I think they're important questions and not outside the realm of reasonable inquiry. While I do think that a veil of secrecy is important to the artistic and technical aspects of tattooing, this is stuff that the customer should know about especially if you are concerned about your health and safety. In my opinion, the quality and transparency of your sanitation practices should be comparable to that of a physician. The information I am about to give anyone reading this right now IS NOT LICENSE TO GO INTO YOUR TATTOO SHOP AND SARCASTICALLY GRILL THE TATTOOERS ABOUT SANITATION PRACTICES IN A KNOW IT ALL MANNER. BE POLITE AND RESPECTFUL OR SHUT THE FUCK UP. Also don't take my word or anything you read on the internet in blind faith.
This is how I keep my customers safe:
Saran wrap, drape sheets, and dental bibs covering every surface of my workplace including station, armrests, and massage tables.
Anything that I touch during the tattoo will have saran wrap, barrier film, or tape covering the surface.
I use stainless steel tubes which are scrubbed with a detergent and then autoclaved for 60 minutes inside of sterile pouches which have steam indicators on them to let you know that they have reached the appropriate sterility temperature.
I use single-use stainless steel needles which have been ethelyne oxide gas sterilized by my supply company, also with an indicator strip.
Every part of my setup is single-use and disposable except the tubes which are autoclaved, the soap bottle which is autoclaved, and my machines which are wiped down with a hospital-grade antimicrobial chemical.
We perform weekly spore tests on the autoclave to ensure that it is sufficiently killing all of the nasties.
Once my supplies are disposed of, I also spray and wipe down my entire workspace with hospital grade antimicrobial chemicals according to cross contamination practices I have learned and am tested on according to my Blood Borne Pathogens certification that I am required to update yearly.
I have been vaccinated for Hepatitis A and B, although no vaccine for C exists as of yet.
I am also licensed to tattoo by the Alameda County Department of Environmental Health and will gladly show you my paperwork for both my license and BBP certification.
I have been asked by customers in the past to explain and demonstrate all of this information and to me it is never a hassle because I am doing my part to keep myself and my clients safe, and I do not want to tattoo someone if they are uncomfortable getting tattooed by me.

Sick bro!

So gross. But the outline is complete and most of the shading is done. Now to heal up and get the ninth off!

Pics after first wash!

So gross. But the outline is complete and most of the shading is done. Now to heal up and get the ninth off!

So gross. But the outline is complete and most of the shading is done. Now to heal up and get the ninth off!

I'll throw my WIP out there. Nautical Disaster Calf Sleeve
Done by Nathan Blankenship of Exile 2, KCMO
Can't figure out how to turn those sideways, so enjoy the neck pain!

You could have it be a black and white pair of koi. Or any other animal

But he is banned...
Btw, I know this forum is pretty liberal and you've been here way longer than me, but the language is a bit much...especially the "g" word. Not anything I personally take offense to, it just looks like a middle schooler who hasn't learned how to curse properly, and you might offend others on this forum...

But he is banned...
Btw, I know this forum is pretty liberal and you've been here way longer than me, but the language is a bit much...especially the "g" word. Not anything I personally take offense to, it just looks like a middle schooler who hasn't learned how to curse properly, and you might offend others on this forum...

Healing an entire back is no joke. Being itchy from your shoulders to your arse is likely to make anyone go crazy. My coworkers can see how uncomfortable I am, so they volunteer their nails and scratch my back without my consent, which causes me to run away yelling "fresh tattoo, fresh tattoo!"
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