AtomicMagpye

I reckon it goes a bit like this....
Being tattooed has become more socially acceptable (at least in the UK).  This has removed one barrier to being tattooed (at least in the view of some who care about that sort of thing).
Tattooing is more accessible.  There are more tattoo studios - and it's easier to get an understanding of the process and book an appointment.  This has removed another barrier (at least in some who wouldn't have made the effort).
Tattooing is now seen as desirable in some social milieu.  This has encouraged some who are influenced by that kind of thing to have a tattoo - when maybe that shouldn't be a primary reason.
The "being tattooed progression" also appears to have changed with the above.  Shoulder to upper arm to (maybe) lower arm to hands (unusual) to face (very unusual) has migrated to lower arm, hands etc as potentially a first tattoo.
But then again  - "I used to be with it, but then they changed what "it" was, and now what I'm with isn't "it"".....  😕

They spend too much time thinking about how cool they’ll be and too little time thinking about this artist, the design, the aftercare, the stigma, and the fact that unlike on TV, having one removed isn’t a painless 10 minute process that leaves the skin looking like new.
in short, they don’t think the whole thing through.

this is a thing for me,I believe face, neck, and hand tattoos are earned after being heavily tattooed on other parts of the body.
 

I am always surprised when I see people with hand and knuckle tattoos,  and they have very few others. What is up with that? So strange.

As you might remember my story about almost 2 years ago and I want to thank you guys again for how much you've been uplifting me with your honesty and your words. 
This post tattoo anxiety seems a very common thing. It hit me as well even though I was planning on getting a big one for many years. 
Many people have contacted me and having those feelings seems to be a very common thing, there seems to be the same pattern that people are going through. It looks to me that nowadays people want to have a solution for everything immediately if they don't feel comfortable with something. People don't know how to be patient anymore and get rid of something if they don't like it. People compare themselves way too much with others as it's what social media does with many people's minds.
There are quite a few reasons that I could write about regarding post tattoo anxiety and I was thinking about posting my experience here as so many people have been reaching out to me and I can see there seems to be a common psychological process (I just don't really have the time to write things down in detail)
Anyway:  I can assure to everyone with this anxiety: YOU WILL GET OVER  IT  and live will go on. It might take some time but you will get there. Don't be hard on yourself and even if right now you're having panic attacks (which is a horrible feeling), it'll get less and you'll come to love your tattoo. It's a change you've done to your body and now your mind needs some time to adjust. Don't forget that you love tattoos and why you love them because this is hopefully the reason why you decided to get them.
 

 

I don't get it either.  If anything, it gave me a sense of accomplishment and overcoming of anxiety, not creating it.  I think too many people today is the simplest things as the end of the world instead of just getting over it and going on with life.  Not to sound like an old fart, but I think too many people today don't know what real hardship really is.

I reckon it goes a bit like this....
Being tattooed has become more socially acceptable (at least in the UK).  This has removed one barrier to being tattooed (at least in the view of some who care about that sort of thing).
Tattooing is more accessible.  There are more tattoo studios - and it's easier to get an understanding of the process and book an appointment.  This has removed another barrier (at least in some who wouldn't have made the effort).
Tattooing is now seen as desirable in some social milieu.  This has encouraged some who are influenced by that kind of thing to have a tattoo - when maybe that shouldn't be a primary reason.
The "being tattooed progression" also appears to have changed with the above.  Shoulder to upper arm to (maybe) lower arm to hands (unusual) to face (very unusual) has migrated to lower arm, hands etc as potentially a first tattoo.
But then again  - "I used to be with it, but then they changed what "it" was, and now what I'm with isn't "it"".....  😕

I reckon it goes a bit like this....
Being tattooed has become more socially acceptable (at least in the UK).  This has removed one barrier to being tattooed (at least in the view of some who care about that sort of thing).
Tattooing is more accessible.  There are more tattoo studios - and it's easier to get an understanding of the process and book an appointment.  This has removed another barrier (at least in some who wouldn't have made the effort).
Tattooing is now seen as desirable in some social milieu.  This has encouraged some who are influenced by that kind of thing to have a tattoo - when maybe that shouldn't be a primary reason.
The "being tattooed progression" also appears to have changed with the above.  Shoulder to upper arm to (maybe) lower arm to hands (unusual) to face (very unusual) has migrated to lower arm, hands etc as potentially a first tattoo.
But then again  - "I used to be with it, but then they changed what "it" was, and now what I'm with isn't "it"".....  😕

I reckon it goes a bit like this....
Being tattooed has become more socially acceptable (at least in the UK).  This has removed one barrier to being tattooed (at least in the view of some who care about that sort of thing).
Tattooing is more accessible.  There are more tattoo studios - and it's easier to get an understanding of the process and book an appointment.  This has removed another barrier (at least in some who wouldn't have made the effort).
Tattooing is now seen as desirable in some social milieu.  This has encouraged some who are influenced by that kind of thing to have a tattoo - when maybe that shouldn't be a primary reason.
The "being tattooed progression" also appears to have changed with the above.  Shoulder to upper arm to (maybe) lower arm to hands (unusual) to face (very unusual) has migrated to lower arm, hands etc as potentially a first tattoo.
But then again  - "I used to be with it, but then they changed what "it" was, and now what I'm with isn't "it"".....  😕

See a doctor.  
It is rare but there have been cases of inflammatory myopathy as a complication post tattoo - it's been found in cases where people are immuno-suppressed - which could be for a number of reasons.
I say "have been cases" - a quick google only brings up one - so it seems very rare - or under-reported.
Not saying that's your issue of course - as above - you should see a medical professional (internet forums are not the best place to get any kind of diagnosis).
"https://www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/beware-of-getting-a-tattoo-if-your-immune-system-isnt-up-to-scratch-doctors-warn/"

latest jammer


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Haven’t posted in awhile. I only had two tattoos the last time I posted, I’m up to 5, about to get two fillers and going to japan in February and getting one there as well Here’s one of my more recent ones. Done by Nhat Be in Vietnam, it’s been healed around 7-8 months now?

Put the 3rd GoldWing on the road today. A '79 that I plan to use as my daily driver in hot weather as it is neked. Still need to upgrade the shocks and put a lower set of handlebars on it, but it is running great!

Back from London. It was good. ❤️ Mike finished the background on my leg and Valerie did a rad geisha for me. 
 

Very proud of myself and the family today. Our daughter and I both donated blood for first time. My wife and sister-in-law also donated for 4 units from the family. Glad my needle phobia is subsiding enough to let me help those in need.

Scythe action from today...
please also note the nineties tribal from a bygone age when things were different...
I like it and I've heard it's coming back into vogue at some point or other.
... 
 

It's been a good while since I posted on here so here are a few bits I've had over the last year or two, there are more but these are the only ones that I have pics to hand. 
A couple from Steve Byrne 
 
 
 
My leg as been in progress for about two years now, one session to go, by Damien Rodriguez 
 
 
Oliver Macintosh 
 
 

this is what I came up with being a marley fan,and some traditional designs too

@AtomicMagpyeAtomicMagpye I was reading about this recently too and found it fascinating.

Latest research would seem to suggest It's also going to depend on the initial macrophage response for the particular individual - which is going to vary person to person....and even be contingent on the health of the individual at the time of the tattoo - interesting stuff.  The constant replacement of dead macrophages (and ink re-uptake) during the life of the tattoo also seems to me to possibly account for some of the weird "fully healed tattoo doing odd things every now and again" that some of us have experienced - I would love to see more proper research on this.
Here's a bit of info:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180306101708.htm

Right. Good application will provide lasting results. 
Many feel that over long periods of time that the style (even when done well) has a higher potential for becoming less discernible just because there is no outline to "hold it together". 

I've gone down the dry healing route for the latest after the crap with the last one - 4 days in and do you know what, I think I'm going to stop with the lotions and potions for aftercare - seems to be healing just fine by itself without me poking at it with salve.  Also my clothes aren't covered in crap, which is nice.  Anyone else just letting stuff heal by itself these days? - 

Same. Just keep it clean and let it heal. Works a treat. 

I don't dry heal, but I've reduced the amount of aftercare exponentially from what I did when I started getting tattoos. I don't notice any difference in healing. The only think I do that has really helped from a comfort level is that I take a really hot bath as soon as I get home and again the next morning. My artist got this from Filip Leu's shop when he was being tattooed by him. Apparently it's also very common in Japan, although for some reason it's frowned on in the US. My tattoos haven't healed any differently since I started doing this, but there is a huge difference in the amount of discomfort. 

I've gone down the dry healing route for the latest after the crap with the last one - 4 days in and do you know what, I think I'm going to stop with the lotions and potions for aftercare - seems to be healing just fine by itself without me poking at it with salve.  Also my clothes aren't covered in crap, which is nice.  Anyone else just letting stuff heal by itself these days? -