scottyg

Another way to look at it: shit happens.

best to attach pictures

absolutely just let your artist shave you

sorry, I don't, but please let us know if/when you find out!

ah I see; yeah, then the arm or calf could work well: the upper calf muscle would work for the circular portion.

back of calf is a good place for a circular image, though. I can see that working.

I usually cover mine, but while people look they've never said anything.

I could see this working with the right artist.

*Red* white blue, and then for the ducks green brown blue (depending on the type).

I'd be less worried about the colors than the amount of imagery/number of images. Generally less is more. But I could totally see a flag rip on the upper arm, and a duck/water OR baseball scene on the lower. All three on one arm (if I've read you correctly) seems really difficult.

Everything's down to finding the right artist though.

I don't know about driving, depends on your wherewithall, but you can definitely go back to work if you want. Just be aware there will probably be significant swelling on extremities like that (I got a lot of swelling in my ankles and feet) and so you'll want to elevate your leg if possible. Also, don't wear jeans as they'll rub against the tattoo, which is an open wound at that point. Try to wear slacks/etc if possible.

looks great; totally normal, it won't really be healed for a while.

If you're new to healing tattoos best to do exactly what your artist told you. Once you've had a few you'll get a routine down that works best for you.

But yeah, generally they say aquaphor for the first 2/3 days, VERY light coating, then switch to a fragrant free moisturizer.

But again, best to go by your artist's directions.

on the other hand my artist doesn't wrap my back piece, I just schlepp home and shower when I get there.

definitely go with what your artist says. 2-4 hours tops. never overnight.

yeah, man, you really need to relax your body, find your zen, and breathe. being tense will not be good for getting tattooed.

glad it came out well though.

@Dan is absolutely right: you'll only make matters worse if you try to make "in" into" "&". I just can't see it working.

Small mistakes like in instead of and are livable. Especially considering it's how they sing it?

I would definitely leave well enough alone.

2 minutes ago, McKenna said:

Ok, I wasn’t sure on it. And if I leave it be with the moisturizer, do I keep washing it with soap once a day like I normally do?

yup

it's def the case that less is more with moisturizing

1 hour ago, Oiocha said:

I survived. I’m glad I only have to get one back tattoo. Every spot below the waistline was pretty rough. I have about 1 more visit to finish the background shading: inner thighs and inner booty area. Pics will follow. 

pics or it didn;t happen!

looks like it's healing normally to me; I wouldn't worry about it, it looks nice

40 minutes ago, Princess Sparkle Mittens said:

I hear this too, but tattoos really aren't that painful. Sure, they hurt, and some spots hurt more than others, but it's not unbearable. Especially since you can break larger pieces up into shorter sessions. 

Tattoo pain is way overhyped. 

I'm no bitch but at times my backpiece using tebori has been absolutely excruciating. You power through it, you find ways, but at times it does feel unbearable....

what blowout?

it really looks like it's healing fine to me.

you have to exercise patience with new tattoos.

hopefully you'll learn to love it.

idk I really wouldn't add to it; traditional Japanese can look kind of cartoonish to modern viewers but that's the style.

it looks perfectly cool to me!

aren't hedgehogs kind of derpy animals anyway?

I've got no love for the pain: it's just three hours of pain. No adrenaline kicks in, I'm just getting stabbed repeatedly in my back while lying on my stomach naked, trying to talk as much as possible and to breathe through the pain. 

It's all about gaman: perseverance. I only ever do 3 hour sessions with breaks.

It's about the rhythm of life and integrating sessions into that rhythm.

The pain makes me discover my body in ways I'd no idea. haha.

It's about doing something for me, only me; reconnecting with my body and focusing my mind in ways I've not done otherwise or previously.

I do enjoy the me time. The ritual. The worst is having to take a shower when I get home. I just want to drink a pint and go to bed. But I've got to clean and coat my back. ugh.

My tattooer rules; so much fun to shoot the shit with him, such a great artist with his own style and yet traditional. So part of it is being connected with him and with a certain tradition which I've chosen to be connected to.

So like most long term things we go through in life, it's not so much about enjoying it. But I guess I'm heavily tattooed individual now. haha

nah, it'll be fine