ughanxiousppl

Agree 100%. Also, be prepared for almost constant questions about the meaning. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Like Dan said you want it to be correct when your arm hangs at your side. Also just going to reiterate make sure the symbols are correct to what you think they mean. You can find a lot of Chinese symbol tattoos from people online that are not what they think they mean. talk to a reputable artist about size and placement. You don’t want to go too small on text as it will blur and be illegible over time. Sorry to hear about your wife. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

All my awkward gaps I let the artist decide what he thought would work best to fill the spot and blend in with the rest of the arm. Turned out far better than anything I would have probably come up with. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Updated pics of my American Traditional sleeve. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I use my regular moisturizer in the winter. During the warmer months, if my tattoos will be exposed I slap on some SPF 50 over my regular stuff before heading outdoors. Usually I try to avoid prolonged sun exposure anyways but I keep sunblock by the entry doors at my house and at the office. I also have a SPF rated shirt I keep in my car for emergencies. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You should look out for a real shop with actual artists that have good portfolios and then go there.

I got the Kiehls today and used it after my shower. I absolutely love it! It keeps my skin moisturized much longer than any lotion I’ve used and really brings out the color of my tattoos! Great product worth the money. Thanks everyone for all the recommendations. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’m excited should be here soon! Just in time for the cold dry weather here. I’ll let you know how I like it! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was actually talking to my wife about this stuff. She used to work at Sephora while going to grad school and she thinks I’ll like it. She ordered me some last night I’m pretty excited to try it. Do you apply it right after a shower when your skin is still damp? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’ll have to give it a whirl myself. Hate Lubriderm. Looking for a body butter or something too. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Posting this in after care but I’m talking lifetime of the tattoo not during healing. In Minnesota, my skin gets very dry and can make my healed tattoos seem dull. Normal lotion seems to absorb too fast and doesn’t last. Wondering if anyone has any lotions or body butters that they swear by? I just want to keep my tattoos bright when it’s dry. Nothing too fragrant as I’m a guy and I don’t want to smell too overwhelming. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Only you can decide if the artist is worth the unprofessional behavior. I would expect some kind of next level tattoo to warrant treating a client with such disregard. Even then, I don’t think I’d want someone so rude putting some permanent artwork on me. I’m from Minnesota though, we take our niceness seriously. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The OP was not asking about Japanese culture. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well now that you found a time that will work I’m guessing your chances of getting the deposit back just dropped to zero. Your choice, if it was me I’d be looking somewhere else. The whole thing seems a bit unprofessional to me. If you had a good relationship with the artist I could see it but since you said you’ve never been there before and all this has been happening I’d be nervous. Does the artist have a good portfolio? Do you otherwise trust him? That’s what is really going to matter. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You could try to get it back. Usually the deposit is to hold your appointment or to pay for some of the work designing the tattoo. If they cancelled on you and you no longer have an appointment in the books and your tattoo wasn’t designed, it seems to me that you should get it back. It would depend on how big of a stink you want to put up. Usually they state it’s non refundable. If it were me, based on what you have said, I would be looking elsewhere now. At the end of the day if you have a bad feeling about the shop now, it’s better to forget the deposit and search for a better artist.

Hello and welcome! Is this the same artist that did your other tattoos? In my experience I wouldn't say this is a "common" thing in tattooing. However, tattoo artists are humans too and sometimes things come up such as sickness and family emergencies. My wife had that happen to her once when the artist got sick with the flu. He had to push all of his appointments back a few weeks. Things happen. I would probably call the shop back and try to find out the specific circumstances as to why your artist is not ready. If there is a legitimate reason then so be it. If not and the artist just failed to properly prepare, I would ask for my deposit back (good luck getting it) and try to find a new artist, unless, I had already been tattooed by said artist and trusted them.

Thanks everyone! Here are a few of the more recent tattoos I've gotten.

Going forward I would seriously consider steering clear of watercolor tattoos or any tattoo without an outline. They will never age as well as other tattoos. I know a few artists that won’t do watercolor tattoos for that reason.

Hello! I've been getting tattoos for about 11 years now but really started getting into it heavily in the last 2 years. I've found a love for traditional tattoos and have been dedicating most of my free canvas to that style. I look forward to sharing photos and getting to know you all!