LizBee

I have 3 daughters (22 yrs old and 14-yr-old twins) and for Mother's Day today they gave me money towards my floral shoulder piece planned for August. One of the twins is an artist herself and drew this bee for me, since bees are significant in my life, and she knew I was thinking about another bee tattoo (separate from the shoulder piece). She knew I wanted something bold, simple and stylized, and though this is pretty dang tribal, I'm impressed and like the design. She drew it up while killing time after a history test last week. I'll talk to my tattoo artist and decide the best place for it to go.

Always wanted to stand out, rebel, or buck the system. As a youngster I tried to be a hippie in the 70's but my older cousin had to explain that the movement was "over." I was sorely disappointed. Teen years I discovered the punk scene (80s) and found my groove. There was a lot of dysfunction, sadness, misery, anger, substance abuse, etc. in that scene, which I didn't really have myself, but the music and lifestyle transformed me. So, so exciting and a wonderful outlet for frustration. Now, my kids see the old pics and there are documentaries and discussion about some of the bands and the culture in general, and my kids think it is SOOOO cool that I was a part of that (East Coast, DC scene) but I have to remind them of what brought most people into that life, and that was feeling alienated by their parents, school, the world, and that we lost a lot of friends to substance abuse, suicide and careless accidents due to the extreme marginal lifestyle. I consider myself lucky. (RIP D. Brockie)

I find these experiences fascinating! I'm a medical professional (I run a clinic and also assist in surgery) and we do a lot of reconstructive surgeries, and remove moles, cancers, tumors, etc. We had one lady come in for a somewhat extensive procedure on her breast involving relocation of the nipple and, unfortunately or fortunately, the tiger tattoo on her chest was oriented in such a way that her nipple wound up right in the middle of the tiger's face. The surgeon tried any way possible to avoid this, but he just couldn't, and the patient found the whole thing HILARIOUS, and was kind of tickled. She knew before surgery that the tiger would be ruined in some way, so it wasn't a total surprise. We always try to work around tattoos when we can, but most people recognize that the procedure is necessary and sometimes you can't avoid messing up a tattoo. I've been thinking about this recently because I'm a fair-skinned woman in my 40s and am getting work done on my shoulder/upper arm, where freckles and other charming sun damage is beginning to show up. I definitely wonder about being able to monitor moles and pigmented skin lesions after being tattooed in this location. My other tattoos are on my lower legs, which is not a very common place for skin cancers so this is the first time I've considered this issue.

The tattoo is lovely, and reminds me of some folk art floral work I'll be getting this summer on my upper arm. Welcome to the forum!

I am really relating to this right now - am scheduled in August for my first upper extremity tattoo, on my shoulder cap. There is no question the tattoo must go exactly there, strong inclination about the location of this, but I'm in the medical management field, and though tattoos and piercings are not exactly shunned, it isn't the thing that will rocket me to the top of my field! Sometimes I wonder if my tiny nose stud has kept me back a bit. I've been thinking about the times recently I've worn sleeveless tops, as the weather has warmed dramatically, and wonder how this will affect my wardrobe in the future after my work is done. Cap sleeves and 3/4 length lightweight sweater type shrugs for me!

Depending on what formula of Dayquil you use (the one with real sudafed or the one on the shelf with a sudafed imposter) you may find yourself jumpy or a little hyper, depending on how decongestants affect you. It won't affect the tattoo itself, though. It doesn't have a blood thinner in it, in other words, since Tylenol does not have the same thinning effect that aspirin or ibuprofen can have. If it has an antihistamine in it, that might actually help a little.

@Rad Kelham, these are the pics I love to see - tattoos with some age on them. It is difficult to find pics like this on the 'net, or it is for me. Most of the pics you find when researching are of brand new tats on very young, good-looking people. No offense to young, good-looking people, of course!

I love this! I feel the same way. As I get more tattoos I realize that it is almost like getting something BACK that I lost rather than getting something new.

For a while I was very interested in the above myself, just because it looks so good in pictures and in person, when the tattoos are young. Who wouldn't want a Rembrandt on their back?! Pretty! However, I have now come to prefer the traditional style for the suitability and longevity on the human skin. As I have seen my own tattoos age over a decade and more I can see why traditional techniques/styles stand the test of time. My next tattoos are not going to be necessarily traditional subject matter, but done in a traditional style.

Yes, it is like any other feature of a person. Some are attracted to a particular hair color or style, eye color, manner of dressing, sound of voice, anything. "I love a man in uniform..." etc. Tattoos say something about a person. I'm sure the opposite is true as well - someone might meet a tattooed person and immediately decide they do NOT like them because of that, but after they get to know them they stop seeing the tattoos and see the person, and the tattoos no longer factor into their impression.

@UglyButProud, I have to agree with the above comments, though I don't like to pass judgment on your wife. It is based on her fears of losing her credibility at work, I suppose, which is not a small thing these days, and sometimes it is easier to make adjustments to the comfortable and secure world we know (you, her husband) than attempt to buck the system and prove that the image possibly portrayed by her husband does not have a bearing on her own work as a professional woman. I hope she will be brave and proud and show the world a thing or two. It may be easier than she thinks - tattooed people do not bear the stigma they once did, and she may find that many of her colleagues have quite elaborate but hidden tattoos themselves.

I'm with you! My 14-year-old drew an arrow in the inside of her ring finger the other day. Questioning her only results in heavy sighs and eye rolls, lol. Your buddy's point is valid. You can't shock your parents with tattoos or piercings anymore, and kids today aren't angry at their parents anymore, so that's the reason (my theory, anyway) modern "rock" sounds like folk music today.

I got my latest lower leg in Feb, and I realized, too late, how often I wear fitted boots and high top shoes in cold weather. Ix-nay on the oots-bay for a good month.

My husband has zero piercings or tattoos, and I have both. He's into Jimmy Buffett and I'm into the Dead Kennedys. He accompanies me to punk shows (what's left of them these days) and to the tattoo parlor, and supports whatever I'm into. Our next anniversary will be 25 years! Opposites attract sometimes... P.S. I took him to a Buffett concert last year for his birthday and had to walk out to the parking lot. Could. Not. Take. It. He's a much better spouse than I!

I'm in Richmond, and will actually be having some work done by Katie Davis (Salvation) in August. There are so many great artists in this town!

@s3rndpt Amy Black is one of my fave's. She does wonderful work and is on my short list for future art. Love floral pieces! Are you in Richmond?

I'll chime in here and echo other comments that I wished I had read this thread before my latest ankle work. It was a coverup and more painful than other ankle tattoos, but I was prepared for that, I just wasn't prepared for my lower leg to be so swollen and take so long to heal. The first day after when I showered and stood up, I had to clean the splashes off the floor! Dew WHUUUUT?? Weeping seems like an understatement. I didn't want to put an absorbent dressing on it because of sticking and I wanted it to get air, but I couldn't go to work with that kind of mess draining everywhere. It took about a month for my leg to get its act back together, but now I realize it probably wasn't that unusual. My artist didn't have concerns, and it turned out very well.

Welcome! Keep us posted with your sleeve progress. :)

I think you do great talking about yourself! You have an engaging way of writing. :) I'd go for shoulder/upper arm, but that's me. I've always had a very clear notion of where my next tattoo would go, without any rationale but also without any doubt, so you're the best one to decide placement, but also your artist will undoubtedly have the best concept of where each piece would flow properly with your body. Best of luck and keep us posted. (I didn't get tattooed until 35, so there's nothing wrong with that!)

This is a great discussion! A tattoo could be considered "trendy," but you LIKE it and enjoy it for years and years, and don't regret it, then there's nothing wrong with it whatsoever. Some trendy tattoos are actually very attractive. You just have to ignore the comments of others (we all judge each other based on appearance, it can't be helped). Think about how trends start - someone starts it, somewhere, others see it, and independently, they do the same thing, because they LIKED it. There is something to be said for an idea that has such strikingly wide appeal. That doesn't happen by accident. Is there really anything wrong with that? The only issue I have is people who tend to jump on board just to be doing it because others are doing it, to feel like they belong, and to fit in, and that's the WRONG reason to get a tattoo, for sure. A haircut, a style of clothing or shoes, no problem - you just move on and hope the pictures never surface. Tattoos are a different story. Has anyone had an original idea/concept for a tattoo that they'd never seen before, had it done, been happy with it, and years down the road hear people talk about it as if it was just a "trend?" Isn't there always the first one to come up with it, the proverbial trend setter? Like the OP describes, it can be demeaning and a pejorative label to write something off as being trendy.

I too would recommend a breather until you have a solid idea of what you want, rather than just trying to get space filled in a certain time period. You have plenty of time to come up with something that is meaningful to you and will work with what you already have, maybe after Bahrain. Being in a hurry can often result in work that you might not always be thrilled with, but I 100% understand how hard it is to be patient. It is also good advice to work with your artist, since you already have a good relationship going. He could probably come up with something that will work well in the spaces you want to fill. What you have now is great work!

Is there a tattoo trend now that will be the equivalent of the tribals of the 90s? Is it possible to predict?

This happened to me in some areas of overworked skin from a coverup. I don't really blame the artist - it was inevitable in a way in certain spots. As above, I had to use ointment longer and those scabs took 3 WEEKS to finally stop forming, but I didn't loose any color. I was very, very careful not to help the scabs on their way, but applied ointment then lotion and let them fall off naturally. Very hard to resist picking at them, but I'm glad I didn't.

@Suiren I think using a cool font that is attractive just by the pattern it makes when spelling out names in a certain way is a great way to go, and something I'd definitely consider if I would do it again. I don't regret my tattoos, because it was what made sense to me at the time, and that time is documented permanently, which is totally fine, but now I'd like to make the simple script more visually attractive without covering it up. If I were to do it again I'd have taken more time to consider how to write out their names.

I think people without tattoos might assume getting tattooed these days is simply a trend, as a way to explain its popularity, but I definitely am not a follower of trends and have simply come to a point in my life (middle age) where tattoos are more meaningful to me and I love the art of them, and the way I can express myself through them, plus I'm less concerned about public perception (getting employed, looking "professional", etc). Also it is easier now to find amazing artists than it used to be because of social media and the internet. As for parenting, I'm realizing now, after having my own kids, what kinds of things affected my parents and how I was raised, and I'm cutting them a bit more slack! I can see how hard it is to relax and allow kids to become who they are, and how anxious you can get over your kids not making the same mistakes you did, etc. My mother and I will never be on the same page, but now I realize she can't help it, lol, and she's learned to just accept me for me.