TigerBlue77

Who has used what, and what has worked? They all hurt. Some hurt good! Some hurt bad. I personally love the tattoo process. Good pain and bad pain. Sometimes you don't need it, but when your traveling and need to squeeze in a long session why not enjoy it rather than suffer!

Ya not a how too thread, just curious if others have experienced what I have. I can't put my finger on it but there is a significant difference in feeling for me. Like the needle is being dipped in flaming hot taco sauce than being licked on by baby unicorns!

Hahaha, this forum rocks. Thanks everyone. I needed some outside input if it look out of place or not. I personally like it and it does have sentimental value to me as well as being a bit superstitious!

So like I said in my intro thread, at 14 I got a four leaf clover tattoo that took up my whole shoulder. Now it's the size of a quarter. My tattoo artist and I thought since it was my first and it was for good luck we should keep it. A year later my chick is giving me crap that it looks lame. Is it bad mojo or bad luck to get your first tattoo that is supposed to symbolize good luck covered?

So my very first REAL tattoo, my dragon. Was a very pleasurable experience. Very minimal pain, very tolerable with no pain killer or numbing medication. The healing process was clean with very little stiffness, pain or scarring. I was easily sitting 4-5 hours each session. Five years later when I started my next piece it was a whole different story. I was sitting 3 hours tops in excruciating pain. I was bleeding and bruising badly. Healing was still strong but with lots of scabbing with some stiffness. I just chalked it up to my body changing, getting older, being in a different mind set, and having a different artist. Deal with it I told myself. Then I started seeing that same artist again and they now had a new rotary. It was like I was having flash backs. The tattoo process was again enjoyable. No pain, no hurry the f up thoughts! Two solid sessions of pure bliss, for me anyway. Justifying my thought I previously had that I wasn't mentally prepared or my body wasn't rested etc Then I went back again this past Saturday, I learned the rotary he was "experimenting" with was a cheap $45 eBay buy and it had broken. So we were back with his old stand by. And don't you know it, just like that back to hellsville. I barely made it 3 hours with out freaking out. I literally felt like I was going to go into shock. Next morning my arm was swollen as hell, stiff as can be and just plain painful. Where as before with the rotary the next morning was very minimal discomfort. What gives? Is that the difference in machines? Is it the artist? Is it how he sets up his shader? I'm completely lost here. I in vision myself with full sleeves and full neck to knee back piece. I already have plans to be tattooed by other artist. Is this what I have to endure, do I need to stock up on some HUSH and vicodine or what?????

14 post when I posted this!

Dragon was done by Jeff Zuck in Ann Arbor. Tiger and sleeve was done by Garth Hixon of Village Tattoo in Romeo, Michigan. Thank you!

Delete, I don't know what month I'm livin in!

Jeff Zuck Name Brand Tattoo Ann Arbor, Michigan.

I too prefer the tradition valentine heart shape designs over the anatomically correct ones with veins and valves etc. I figure when the kid gets old enough you can show your dedication without creeping them out. The. again if do e correctly it can also be used as an informational/educational piece for the child.

Very cool idea.

I can't start a thread......?

Past few months I found IG and it opened my eyes to another world of artist. Particularly Khuong Nguyen in San Jose. In my eyes there is nobody better.

Left sleeve Koi just got colored this past Saturday. What do you guys think?

Left side Tiger Right side Dragon

Isn't one of the most popular tattoo after care programs saltwater based? H2O Ocean. Just sayin'.... Personally I consider myself a fish and no where near a tattoo expert but I don't see that harm there is in a quick dip to cool off. As long as your not soaking and getting wrinkle finger. Personally I think it would be a bigger issue if it was a chlorine swimming pool.

Actually I've been talking to Paul Dhuey for the past week. Seems like a super chill guy. Still looking at a 7 hour drive one way. I've also been talking with Rodrigo Melo in NY. But I don't think that's gonna happen due to logistics. Thanks for the input.

Trying to upload some pictures....using talk tap app and it says I need to change my privacy setting? Can't find any? Little help?

Hey thanks. Jeff actually did my right side dragon. I asked him if he would extend it down to the wrist, but apparently is no longer doing large Japanese work? He's now more into eyeballs and laser beams? I'll look into the other guys there though!

My goals for the end of '13 is to finally figure out a commemorative piece for my mother who passed when I was just 12. Probably on my left side ribs. Second, finish the lower half of my left sleeve ( just one sesh left!) as well as start an finish my lower right sleeve. Lastly, to break skin on a full on back piece!..........well I guess I do have another now that I think about it. To get my chick to get more ink too.

What's up LST?! After a few weeks of being urged to join from a forum friend Ian, I finally got on. I currently reside in the suburbs of the dirty D, Detroit Michigan. At 14 years old, I took my fake ID, skipped swim practice and went and got my first tattoo at a flea market. I purchased a piece of flash from the $40 board that at the time took up my entire shoulder. Now 20 years later its a four leaf clover the size of a quarter! I tell people the guy gave me a magical shrinking tattoo and deny gaining 90lbs. But hay, that was freshman year of high school! Anyway, I've been hooked on tattoos ever since. Being indecisive and picky as hell it took me another 15 years until that needle pierced my skin again! Five years ago I got a half sleeve with my pec done. One year ago I did the other side. Currently working on extending the one sleeve down from half to full, with just one more session to go. I then plan to extend the other side to the wrist as well. My only regret so far is that I didn't do it from the start. Anyway, that's me.....short story mode. Currently hunting for a new Japanese style artist. Spending nearly every night for the past 6 months wide awake in bed searching the net. Looking for an artist to help bring my visions to life. Looking to do a full back piece next neck to cheeks. Anyone have any recommendations near Detroit? Maybe in Chicago etc. Thanks for having me.

Testing, testing, is this thing on!