littlefox1970

I much prefer a drier heal - blotting dry with paper towels after a morning shower, making sure nothing dirty touches it and hardly any ointments or oils etc unless it feels overly raw or like it's gonna crack, even then, just a one-off microscopic amount of Bepanthen to take the edge off. The guys at my shop firmly believe the skin needs to breathe as much as possible to heal quickly... a layer of ointment, a layer of oil and a layer of sweaty plastic doesn't exactly sound breathable. Keeping the original wrap on until the next morning seems like a very long time too - I take mine off after a couple of hours or whenever I get home after a victory beer or two!  Then again I don't have any large scale work and I'm hardly a tattoo veteran (going in for my 5th hand-ish sized piece on Sat).
You should just fully trust your artist and follow his/her aftercare instructions. Maybe if sleep is a big concern you could discuss Saniderm/Tegaderm type products with your artist too. 

@littlefox1970 that looks like it was painful as hell... you must've been in quite the meditative state!
i'm interested to see how it heals.

I personally don't know a lot about tattooing and tattooists in China. I don't remember much discussion here about it, but if you're not familiar with tattooing yourself I'd encourage you to to use the history on this forum to learn as much as you can about how to spot good work, competent tattooing and talented artistry. From there you'd be able to see what's available in your area and who is doing progressive work. 

@littlefox1970 Sorry for the misunderstanding - but my quote of the word professional was for the OP. I don't have any problem with white on black. Often is the best course of action and it can look great, obviously. 

Got this little guy friday. This is my favorite "person" Hurley. Done by Greg Ross.http://

Hummm...I always thought that you should never re-wrap a tattoo? I've also never known anyone to use Dove. I've always used a gentle antibacterial soap like Dial Gold. Me, I stick to unscented lotions like Lubriderm and Aveeno until I'm healed then go for the coconut oil.

My biggest concern for you is the re-wrapping part. I'll let others chime in but that doesn't seem like it would allow your tattoo to breathe to heal.

My two cents.

Good luck!

Mmmhmm, that sounds awesome, Sesa!  I'm not familiar with Gaiman, but Burton has a wonderfully eccentric artistic style - love it!

I agree, much to be said about taking our time before committing ...  Our bodies are prime real estate deserving nothing less than the best ... and there is, at the end of the day, only so much of it. :)

Thanks!  Well, everyone has their different reasons for getting tattooed ... I am really excited by the idea of having my own drawings in my own style by my own hand impressed on my own body. Gee, I sound like an egomaniac! lol.  Generally I like the character styles from Johnny Depp's Alice in Wonderland, and though I am indeed using those characters they are being rendered by my own hand (no tracing) in my own style. Thick, crisp outlines, bold color contrasting bold black, illustrative with realistic depth, no canvas showing ... I'm just hoping that with no tattoo experience I will be able to pull it off in a way that will make me happy - and be true to my style.  

I look forward to seeing the ideas you come up with for your next piece. :)  Here's a kitty tattoo I found recently that I have fallen in love with...might just be a springboard for my leg ... love super chill bling bling kitty and the steampunk style combination ... and love steampunk airships too.  My real estate is going quickly! :)     

I think most tattoos get the most attention from their owners.  Generally speaking, we are the only ones that unmercifully scour the details ... so if what you notice makes you happy, then I think that's what really matters! :)

The stunning blue eyes suggestion actually comes from my own project at present.  I'm working on my Alice in Wonderland sleeve right now and am particularly focused on the Cheshire cat (he's next). Still not quite sure how I will approach the color for it, to be honest, since I'm facing the same dilemma as you - a gray blue tabby with prominent eyes. Luckily, exercising the imagination in the planning stages is half the fun ... :)

You spoke of a new tattoo ... have you gotten the idea ironed out yet?

I understand the importance of researching an artist, but since I'm completely new to getting tattooed I have no idea how to evaluate whether an artist is quality or not.  For example, there's a woman whose work I really like aesthetically, but I have no idea if she's actually a good artist with technical skill, and if she produces quality work, etc.  I understand that just because something looks pretty, it doesn't mean that it's a quality tattoo, and I don't know how to evaluate technical skill.  What's the best way to research an artist when you don't know what you're looking at?   Thanks!

:(

I would be very disappointed also ... oh my ... and to add insult to injury, that tattoo that was covered up will show clearly through once healed.

To dwell on a solution rather than an irreversable deed ... you might consider seeking out a white on black professional rather than lasering out.  Just a thought.  Here are a couple examples for you.

 

You know those nasty orange slice jellies? Yeah, those. I power munch those. I only eat them when getting tattooed. They are delicious and when they stick in your teeth, it gives you something else to think about.

my appointment essentials are this:
1)sleep good the night before
2)pre-hydrate the day & night before
3)eat good full healthy meal before tattoo (day of)
*bring with to shop*
1)small ice chest with at least 3 cold water bottles
2)ziplock baggie with skittles & M&M mix(keep sugars up)
3)nice ripe banana(instant potassium*keeps those electrolytes up*)
4) turn off ringer on phone
5)relax and enjoy the experience 
6)*and most important*have close bar or at least cold beers waiting for me when finished  ( I always get tattooed 100% sober),(but after tattoo,3 or 4 cold ones takes the edge off) LOL

I thought it went without saying that I was in no way advocating irresponsibility to the trade/craft or disregarding tradition. So I will go ahead and say it, though it is now redundant. "I am not advocating irresponsibility to tattooing or disregarding tattooing tradition."
And if one can't express an opinion in a discussion forum then where?
My point is people will find a way to be who they are. No lack of formal tutelage nor apprenticeship is going to keep them from it. So many great tattooists come about having never had an 'apprenticeship'. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. A college degree wasnt required to start Microsoft nor Facebook. You think the world really cares about Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg's academic credentials? Let each individual deal with (or not) the guilt and bear the burden of how he got there. If you need an apprenticeship -- get one. If you learn better from youtube and the web -- go for it. If you think you need a PhD in tattooing -- seek it out. If you learn better through exposure to the world -- get out in it! There is no one way. Not for tattooing, not for anything.

One of the worlds best tattoo artists is Shige from Yokohama, Japan"....."and has never done an apprenticeship, Shige is simply self-taught. In 2000 Shige and his wife Chisato opened their first studio in Yokahama, Yellow Blaze Tattoo, also called ”Ouen” in Japanese, where Shige still works today"
This man is one of the best tattoo artist of the traditional neo japanese era. If he listened to people like you, we wouldnt have him. Most people should get apprenticeships because that is what this kind of artform/culture makes it interesting. Others will make it on their own because it means more than some words to not do it from an anonymous poster/person on a forum.
If you are serious, if you live to tattoo, if you have talent why not? He did.
Tatto artists and others like to protect themselves like magicians, but people are very capable, complex and amazing. With time and dedication you can make it so.
I dont like 80% of tatto art i see, does that mean they should not Tattoo? Does that mean the people who have been tattooed feel that way, i dont know and it doesnt matter. If someone is treated professionally, free from hazard and comes away with what they thought or better. Opinions on how good someone is are meaningless.
I dont like your stuff, you might not like mine. guess what as everyone else puts it we are both still plugging away.
I hope this helps people who care to do what they love, its not a lifestyle you start or stop, its culture and something you live for.
smarter people get on with it and dont ask forums.

I was as nervous on my first tattoo as i was when i lost my virginity, once i penetrated i was no longer nervous. And it was a short session.......

To each is own, I say.

*raises hand*
I heal great and can afford awesome tattoos. Life is good!

As a 60 year old male, I can tell you that some of mine heal slower, especially in the bendy areas.
Is the pain worse than it used to be? Probably, but I can put up with it better.
I can say that I am a slave t the lotion because I am prone to dry skin and nothing looks worse than a scaly tattoo.
And since everything I own is paid off, I am accelerating the program.
They say that you can't take it with you, but I damn sure am going out very decorated! :cool:

Obviously it's down to what you prefer, but personally I'm not into shading "around" a tattoo in general. I think it ends up looking like a blob on the skin. A crisp, clean line is attractive and looks better from far away. So I'd get it touched up darker but leave the edges alone. My 2¢

Personally I prefer to dry-heal everything if I can.  However, since moving to Washington from California I've found that there's something with the air that keeps me from dry-healing well.  Or maybe I'm just getting old.

Nice cover up Dan, and thanks for sharing your experience. :)  

Yes ... I certainly do feel 'em more now, lol.  The problem with that theory though, is that I did one in my palm friday night, and another one on my forearm just below the cover up on saturday night, and they are both healing beautifully ... neither one burned like this one does.

I don't think it's infected perse ... because the burning comes and goes, there's no major swelling or lumps or bumps etc.

Have you ever heard of incompatibility of inks?  Is it possible this present ink is reacting with the old ink somehow?  Has anyone ever heard of such a thing?

... Maybe it was just too much trauma for this old girl, lol.

Well, good news... The crazy worrisome burn is finally gone.  You may have been right about infection ...I got worried enough myself that I went to the pharmacy earlier and bought some purell antibacterial gel with staph killer and aloe...a few liberal dousings with that this evening fixed the problem right away.  The sting, the swelling and redness are all gone... it was miraculous. :)

I dry healed all my other tattoos before this one, and never had a problem before ... never even really got that sunburned feel before.  I'm definitely curious to see if I get the same reaction in a couple weeks when I start shading that area.  Unusual reaction for me ... still curious to know if inks can be incompatible.   

Here is Alien's Ripley, all healed up :) Done by Zaed at Radical Ink Tattoo, Bucharest.
This is Ripley, last survivor of the Nostromo, signing off.

Twas my pleasure. Bad experiences with tattoos can be very disheartening, for sure, but as you say there are artists out there who are very talented and do take pride in their work ... I pray that her next experience will be fulfilling! :) 
 

Thankyou little fox for your reply ..i have suggested this to her and after 2 different people have let her down its trying to reassure her there are artist out there who take pride in what they produce..white on black is getting more popular and I think it looks amazing..thankyou again

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