ThaliaCamille

^Yessssssssssssssss.

(Probably doesn't qualify as "WTF", but it is a new story)

Health News - Twenty something women most tattooed

"According to a study by La Trobe University’s Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS) a greater proportion of women aged 20 to 29 are the most tattooed Australians, with almost one in three sporting a tattoo, whereas in the older age groups tattoos were more common among men."

I realised the number was growing, but I wouldn't have guessed 1 in 3.

Apparently the number for all adults is 1 in 7, and like other studies this one finds that "tattoos still appear to be associated with risk-taking behaviour in adults."

"Having been tattooed also correlated with certain risk-taking behaviours, most notably smoking, cannabis use, and greater numbers of lifetime sexual partners... Tattooing was popular among men who had not finished secondary school, tradesmen, and women who did not live with their partners, whereas men and women who had completed postsecondary education were less likely to have a tattoo."

Most tattooed people I know don't fit that description - my friends are university educated, non smokers (and many non drinkers) etc.

I would be interested to know how many people would describe themselves as "risk-takers" in general - I wouldn't, yet here I am (seemingly defying the statistics).

Haahaha dude YES, shit WHAT is "suck a fuck" from?!

Donnie Darko. "Oh, please, tell me Elizabeth, how exactly does one suck a fuck?"

For every 1 client that spends time online looking at portfolios and reviews and researching info, there are easily 30 other clients that walk into a shop looking for a tattoo, no prior online research involved. To exclude those people because they can only find you online is a big mistake. To rule out normal people like that will involve even more sitting-on-hands. IMO.

Yeah, I didn't mean the internet should be used instead of foot traffic, it should be used as well as foot traffic. I also don't think the "underground" model described above is suitable for all (or even most) shops.

If it's used in the same context it used to be (eg. you see a lot of old religious statues with swastikas on them), and it's on a person who is from a faith where that symbol is important, I can see how it might be acceptable.

However, I would guess most people who get swastika tattoos are not part of that religion(s?), and are just doing it to be "controversial". It would be very hard not to form an immediate judgement of a person with a swastika tattoo (either "white supremacist", "hippie swastika-reclaimer with no right to use that symbol" or "shit-stirrer").

1. Take tattooing underground.. (private studios..no signs and make customers find us)

I know of a few shops like this, don't publish their address anywhere and don't have street frontage. Not sure I'd call it underground, but it does attract a certain kind of customer - people who have looked you up, and are willing to go on waiting lists, pay a decent rate etc.

This kind of setup really benefits from:

Bottom line is we have to use the thing that has put us In this position. Take advantage of the Internet and stay united.

You make a really good point here, for 2 reasons:

1) There's the education part of it. There are blogs, forums etc. dedicated to "good" tattoos. With those resources at hand (and with more experienced people encouraged to get involved, like here), the taste and discernment of people wanting tattoos can grow. If you spend any time on one of the numerous forums or blogs, you quickly learn that fly-by-night operations are not worth it.

2) As a relatively "young person", every single time that I have been tattooed it's been at a studio I found online. Looked through their work before even going near the place. Word of mouth is one thing (and very valuable), but it makes sense to be able to be found online. There are some people who deliberately stay away from the internet, and if they can survive on name alone that's great. Everyone else should be considering that if their work is visible, people will travel. I have, and would again. Makes a lot more sense than relying on foot traffic.

(all from a customer perspective, so take it with a grain of salt if you like)

Haha, clever. Pretty decent SFX makeup, if a bit basic.

How about this person? Is it the location or the tattoo design/phrase one gets in these locations?

That person clearly does what they like, and they like what they do ;)

The other day, a guy at work walked past me and said (and I quote): "Cool tattoo, is it a sleeve?"

I'm still trying to figure out exactly what his thought process was.

portfolio

Only in a certain context, or all the time? What's wrong with portfolio?

Set a new personal best last session. 4 and a half hours, and I could've kept going (stopped because I ran out of money). Lidocaine is a hell of a drug.

I had amazing vegan lasagne today. First time ever visiting Loving Hut, mind = blown.

Currently waiting impatiently on a bastard stew I whipped up out of leftovers and canned goods. Been freezing fresh herbs lately, makes a hell of a difference compared to dried.

RE: creams, I used some Dr. Numb during my last session being tattooed. Might be a different case for laser, but it worked. Well. Very well.

Keep us all posted, interested to see how this turns out.

Thanks all. The only reason I ask is that I don't know anyone with something similar, and don't have much colour myself. Figured yellow might be more reliant on skin tone or other factors, given it *has* to be so bright to be effective. The outline thing is definitely the way I was leaning, I've seen some real nice potion-bottle type tattoos that are similar.

Ursula, you sound a bit like myself - I have olive skin (Greek), but don't see much sun so I'm pretty pale. I am officially reassured!

Forgive me if this is something that's been covered in other threads (did a quick search, didn't yield anything quite so specific).

I'm interested in getting this somewhere (just the bottle, it's a Resurrection Phial from the game Fable, thinking of putting it on the sternum where you press for CPR ;) )

Now, I can see this being stylised pretty easily, I've even had a couple of goes drawing it myself. Main thing I'm curious about is how well yellow/gold will heal and age, and what sort of changes would need to be made to the design in order to use this colour scheme.

I've done a heap of Googling for pieces with a lot of yellow, but of course most of what you find is photos of fresh work. Just looking for anyone with tattoos of a similar colour scheme, who can provide some insight into how it looks after it's healed, or any advice on what would make this possible (or if it's a stupid idea altogether!).

I think I know of a couple of local artists who would be able to do it, just thought I'd get informed before going ahead.

Not sure if this has been posted already.

Images are pretty small, but these look better than expected. Wish I knew how old the guy was in the last photo.

I'll never tattoo my left elbow ditch.

I have blood taken frequently, usually from my right arm (I'm left handed), but since getting tattooed in the ditch they've refused to draw from my right arm. So I'm gonna leave a nice little space.

Everything else is fair game (if I'm in the right position to get hands etc. in regards to work). Although I don't see much point in tattooing my snatch... it's just not as comical as cock tattoos.

Haha yes, I've just been using "What's New" for a while now, seems to work just fine. Thanks guys :)

Hipster Hybrid.

The longest time between tattoos for me was about a year and a half (not including the 18 years when I was underage).

The last time was 4 days ago. Session 4 of a sleeve that still isn't finished. The itch for me right now is literal.

^That thigh piece.

Lord.

If it's already done, I stick to "If you don't have anything nice to say...".

If they're asking my opinion on something that is clearly a terrible idea, I say so.

I dig. When you see a Peter Aurisch piece, you know, the style is that distinctive. No idea what some of these pieces will look like in the future, though.

'Scuse the pictures, they were taken by a friend who wasn't real comfortable using my camera. And then attaching them here ate the colour (not that it matters at this stage).

Also excuse my arm-cleavage :P

Anywho, after 3x3hour sessions, lines: I haz them.

Favourite parts are the crowns (Cypress and Ivy) and the hair. And the eyelashes ^.^

There should be more Greek Mythology tattoos.

Got another session with Rachi in about a week and a half.

I use a product called After Ink, which I believe is also from NZ. It's mostly essential oils, in a sort of paste form. I've tried other stuff that worked too, but I do note that the scabbing stage is on the whole much less dramatic - I get some tiny black flakey (haven't tried on colour yet) stuff falling off during application, and that's it. Never goes dry, never peels etc. and everything comes out looking nice.

Plus it smells good :D