SStu

My whole left leg is music inspired. 

If it’s not hot, oozing, very painful, and smelly, it’s almost certainly not an infection. I’m not a doctor, but I don’t see anything that looks infected.
Tattoos take 4-8 weeks to heal. Enjoy your tattoo.

yea im talking about stuff a year plus old but with color on hands too 

Round 2 on my fudo backpiece. Getting into shading soon!

Tattoos take anywhere from 4-8 weeks to heal, in general, so don’t do anything until then.  It’s unlikely that you hurt it, but only time will tell.

@Hogrider Here’s the end result! 
I absolutely love it and love what my artist did to “spice” it up a bit 
 

Thanks! These are some older examples. The non-pinup girl pieces were made when I was starting out and are my versions of other artists work. Like I said, I unsuccessfully pursued tattooing, so I don’t have much understanding whether or not any of these designs would be practical as tattoos - they’re more or less just pieces created with Jerry’s style in mind. They are attempts though.

Yeah, I wouldn't have noticed it if you hadn't pointed it out. 

Yeah, I wouldn't have noticed it if you hadn't pointed it out. 

That piece doesn't really fit into any particular style aside from neo-traditional, which is a broad term used when any artist's personal style is varied off of one or more other styles. There is a lot of Japanese in there, but the artist has taken it off into a new direction. 
You're going to have to find an artist whose style you like and let them do their own interpretation. 

Not good with introductions, but I am a tattoo enthusiast who once attempted to pursue a career in tattooing. it didn’t really work out but I still enjoy creating flash though, in the traditional style. I prefer creating pinup girls, but, and I hope it’s not a big deal, I create digitally. Norman ‘Sailor Jerry’ Collins is my main influence, and I started by buying his books to study and emulate his style. I’ve come to the point where I’m bringing in more of my aesthetics to aspects of the classic style, hoping to stay true to the spirit of it, while working toward achieving something that’s also original.

 
 
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As long as we're not talking about a new tattoo (healed at least 4-6 weeks), sunscreen is how I go. 

so the first and best advice I can offer is to not go back to that tattooer,I think a better tattooer could rework that into a good tattoo, and sometimes there is scar tissue, from a bad application of the tattoo.

Finally finished my ribs. 3 hour session last week, I kept looking at the bottle of numbing crème, but held out. My artist offered it a couple of times, but I said I wanted to “earn” it.
I’ll post a pic when it heals.
I have two sessions left and my body suit will be complete. I’ve been chipping away at it for 12 years. I can’t believe it’s almost done.

Maybe you’d have better luck finding an artist that would like to turn that into a sleeve rather than just rework it.
It’s not terrible and I think you’re right, that could be brought to life by a good artist. Where are you located?

and I was just the opposite, lol. 

My latest rescue (actually, took almost a year and a half.) 1972 Triumph Trident T150V.

Hey, new poster here. After years of planning (and saving!) I finally started my back piece this week, with Nick Mayes at North Sea Tattoo in Scarborough, UK. I asked for 'the Kraken thrashing around in the sea while a flying saucer tries to beam it up'. The design did not disappoint! 
As for the session itself, even at a relatively short 2 1/2 hours of actual tattooing, it was pretty tough. As others have said, your body doesn't get used to the pain like it does on a smaller piece. The needle is always on the move to somewhere fresh and so every line feels like the first. I'd say most of the back was an 8/10 pain, with one or two areas only a 7, but a couple were a good 9.5, namely the love handles, lower back and butt crack (that one is like some whole new type of pain!) We will be doing 2-3 hour sessions every month or so, which should keep progress moving well. As for now, I'll leave you with what we've done so far, and will keep you updated. It's an honour to join this legendary thread! 

Yes, that's not abnormal for work that's less than 4-6 weeks. 

Yes, that's not abnormal for work that's less than 4-6 weeks. 

Yep, healing is 4-6 weeks and it'll be months before the ink fully settles in and the blacks aren't quite so dark and bold. Everything will tone down a bit. 

No - I'm just talking about how the ink will tone down from bright black to flat, dark grey. 

No - I'm just talking about how the ink will tone down from bright black to flat, dark grey. 

Pleased to report I was able to retire this past fall . . and that meant feeling comfortable about FINALLY getting my forearms done. Fully healed now so here they are:

Artist: Randy Muller, Eye Candy - New Orleans

Congrats on completing one thing (the arms) and starting a new adventure (loving rrtirement, myself).