Suiren

If you are annoyed by the these articles, avoid reposting them etc.

Spreading them around/clicking the links etc is what gives them power.

I don't share them on social media. Or do you mean you don't wish to see them on the forums? I posted here because I felt it is worth talking about some of the nonsense in it. Just like others like to discuss "dumb hipster tattoos" etc. ;)

i heard tattoo inks contain gluten also. no more tats for me

I am Gluten sensitive :p

"Natural News" "We polled 300 people in central park." Yeah....what Graeme said.

Spurious Correlations

Looks like a legit study on a legit website.

The Central Park thing sounds really funny...like to imagine them stopping random people and asking "do you have any health issues? Yes? Well that's why!" *points at tattoos :confused:

What really annoys me is how dramatic these type of articles always are though...

My friend sent me this. I am sceptical...but I'm interested to hear what you think about the supposed studies and ingredients.

I haven't suffered any adverse health issues. In fact I am healthier than 8 years ago without much ink.

Tattoos linked to chronic health problems; dyes, chemicals can cause long-term allergies and infections, warn scientists

I was recently asked if my tattoos are real tattoos...by someone who sees me once a week. Was she thinking I draw them on every friday? ;)

I guess it says something about my style of tattoos though :p

I really only watch TV shows/ films when I am knitting, sewing or embroidering but I just finished outlander, once upon a time and I have watched a lot of BBC period dramas ^^...

My friend recommended Penny Dreadful to me and I might give Salem a try.

I love the way she talks about being able to get the tattoo lazered like it's nothing. "Oh yea, I'll just go in and get this tattoo lazered off while I drink my Latte. One easy session and no one will know I every had one.

I have encountered this attitude about lasering. My friends asked what I will do if I don't want my tattoos anymore and before I could answer they said "Oh I forgot they can can be lasered off much better these days."...To which I responded I would never ever let a laser near my tattoos...(OR take out piercings). Is it so weird wanting to look this way as a senior too? People think that with (more) age I must automatically not want it anymore :P.

I think this woman definitely did not need to rant in public about being turned down. She could have went to another shop.

While I understand the idea behind the code, I am glad I still got my hand and wrist tattoos without a full sleeve. And I wonder what about the people that may never want a sleeve or lots of coverage, but would still love a hand or neck tattoo and remain dedicated to their tattoos? How would artists handle that? How would they decide I wonder?

I assume he was simply observing the map and trying to locate places? ^^ Some people don't know how obvious they are.

As far as the topic: I have noticed too that people stare at my tattoos. They aren't big so I assume they just feel the very obvious placement and designs are weird. I get asked what "it means" a lot.

I'm used to stares from dressing unconventional (not always but I like an enormous variety of styles, so some days I freak out my neighbors)...I ignore and if people keep staring I stare back and sometimes just ask "what?" with a smile.

Suiren,

You have to keep in mind that there is certain things that ether wont look good on the skin or just cant be tattooed for many magical tattoo world reasons...

But for the most part when an artist improves a piece they have their reasons... For example body flow, geometry, detail, and the list can go on, and on, and on...

So you have to be open-minded and flexible when you walk in with your own drawings.

My 2 centavos.

@Isotope, Good luck, Have fun, and keep us posted if you get this!!! :)

Oh yeah I definitely keep an open mind and ask if it is realizable combined with the placement and make changes if needed or listen to advice. My artist felt my sketches are suitable so we went ahead and he only improved the lines some as he went.

Not saying to just get whatever but I think comprimises are good so the customer can get their sketch made possible if that is really important.

I also say compromise because even if a customer wants something less than ideal, like in my case thin lines or small symbols on the hand, it should not mean one has to "completely" dismiss their original idea. But I spoke to the artist about it and we said if I keep it fairly simple, with enough space etc. it will age "okay". Not as perfect as bold, clear black lines but I just can't see myself with anything too heavy...so it would be no tattoo or second best option :)

I hope that is understandable.

As far as the OP goes, I think it is realistic to expect it won't need too much adjustments. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Idk what most artists think about home sketched tattoo designs, but I got 4 of my hand drawn designs tattooed and the artist improved it a bit while tattooing.

I am continuing to draw my own stuff because the ancient tattoo designs I like can't be found online to be printed.

I like what you drew up, it looks great imo. I think a good artists should also understand that sometimes customers just want exactly what they want and no improvements to the design. It is most important that it is perfect to you isn't it?

I have never even thought of armpit tattoos! :eek: That really does sound difficult.

Oh wow! I imagine toes must be uncomfortable!

yea man, if you want the nice detailed thin line artwork you've been posting, go for it, and dont worry if every line will be perfect? itll look cool if its what you and the artist want.

have faith in thee artiste.

Yeah I'm considering that. I don't need the lines super perfect if that means I have to go for much thicker lines. My personal taste happens to be rather thin lines, not much I can do.

What an interesting read this thread is. Another issue if you travel internationally for tattoos is exchange rates and different local costs of things. I had a relatively young, but very popular European tattooer visiting Japan quote me a price that was twice the cost of equivalently sized tattoos I'd gotten from older, 'legendary' tattooers in the US. I felt sort of offended and decided I didn't really want a tattoo from the person, but it did occur to me that it has to do with the cost of living in Europe.

Wow...I was under the impression tattoos are more affordable in Europe. The price quotations I have gotten in New York and San Diego were double or more of what I pay here (Frankfurt Germany). Must vary a lot by Country and US State.

Ankle and foot is something I am planning for next summer. I'm also thinking about the side of the foot. Wondering what that will be like.

MisterJ

It will be more than one line.

@Suiren - you need to stop controlling the tattoo process down to every last detail. Knowing or not knowing what type of needle you need to make the tattoo you want will make no difference in the end - except to piss off your tattooer for being an overly controlling customer who has no idea what they are talking about.

Either go to a tattoo artist you feel comfortable working with, and trusting said artist, or don't get the tattoo.

This boils down to 1. going to a good tattoo artist, and 2. trusting that your good tattoo artist will give you a tattoo. Without either of those things in place, the last piece (your tattoo) will fail.

I was just personally curious, trying to learn more about the tattoos and process. I wasn't planning to go in and ask can you do it with this needle.

I was simply wondering about line thickness and if it must be 3 mm or if a thinner line like the ones I have would work.

@LizBee Yeah it was still sort of a big deal to have anything visible in high school when I was coming up, but myspace got these kids going crazy. Maybe the hand and wrist tattoos came from people being comfortable with piercing and stretching.

I do think that someone committed to visible piercings would be likely to get visible tattoos! I had my 6 facial piercings before visible tattoos.

So far artists have really worked with me when it comes to money. Over ten years ago I paid only 80 Euros for a 4x4 inch tattoo. Now that would cost me more than twice as much.

What I usually do is I print or draw everything I want on a piece of paper and ask before making the appointment. So when my appointment comes around I have the same paper with me and ask if X Eur ist still okay. Last time the artist wanted more but when I said then I will have to do only this many symbols he agreed to do all for what I had saved up.

I can't afford to be shy about prices because I'm just not a wealthy person. I don't buy anything for myself when saving for tattoos.

I see what you mean. I don't know much about tattoo needles but what type would be used for slightly thicker lines then what I have?

The lines on my existing wrist band aren't perfect, but I'm thinking maybe I would rather have somewhat imperfect lines than too thick. Though I would not mind going a tad thicker...like around 2mm. 3mmm and more however...that seems very thick. It would really change the style...

I drew a 3 and 2mm line on my wrist to show what I mean. The ornament would be a black blob with both and my wrist is too small for it to be much bigger. :)

Agreed @six times seven

I think the tattoo artist was trying to tell you that the smaller and thinner the work, the more quickly unreadable it becomes, and thus the longevity of the tattoo is lost - so she was trying to readjust your expectations re: your tattoo. That's my take on it at least. Most of the successful lettering and linework tattoos I've seen are not teensy tiny like your desired size, but much larger. See: Thomas Hooper, Roxx, Nazareno Tubaro, and any of the other fabulous line, dotwork, and neo-tribal tattooers out there. Robert Ryan does a lot of occult imagery, check him out to see what kinds of lines he's making. Jondix does lovely fine black and grey work, as does Rich Cahill (he does ridiculously small single needle "micro" tattoos, I would not get one because in a few years' time I'd think those micro tattoos to be blurry blobs), and many, many, many others.

Just because YOU want your tattoo to be executed a certain way, doesn't mean it is feasible to do as a successful tattoo... At this point, I suggest running a search on the forum for a list of recommended tattooers in Germany.

For the letters I do understand that. But when she spoke about the lines she meant for the tattoo that wraps around my wrist. For the lines to be 3mm thick and that is the first time I heard this. Basically I was hoping for it to match the line on my existing wrist tattoo which is about 1 1/2 mm thick.

I know bigger is always better with tattoos but since I don't like certain tattoos to be as big I was hoping that with simple lines I could go fairly small.

I will have a look at the artists, thanks!

I had a talk with a tattoo artist that I got a recommendation for at a German Forum and what dhe said puzzled me a bit...

All of my tattoos are done with fairly thin lines. I wanted to continue the same way but she said the lines have to be at least 3mm thick, which would make my plans twice as big. Not what I want.

She said thin lines always look frazzled and not neat? But I have seen decent thin lines...hm. (that was for the line tattoo)

I was hoping the lettering could be done fairly small too but I guess not.

I attached my plans. Very badly drawn but just to give you an idea what I want. (The stuff on the hands and pointy bangle are existing tattoos)

I'm always surprised by the "how much will it hurt?" questions or "I'm too scared of the pain to get tattooed/ pierced" comments. My friends say this all the time.

I always told myself I'd rather go through the pain than not have the body mod.

I gotta remember that for the future!! :D

It's probably not the worst thing but when healing my first tattoo on my lower back, I somehow managed to sleep on my back the first night, and when I woke the bed sheet was stuck to it. I ripped off a lot of thick scab when I sat up that morning, it hurt like hell. This was a solid black tattoo and it forever imprinted on my bed sheet.

Ever since I have been healing my tattoos moist btw.

The image that pops into my mind is a dark landscape with lots of nothingness or a dark forest and a lonely person, maybe a shadow figure staring into the dark. But I've probably listened to too much Black Metal.