tattooremoval

Good thread.
Here's my mutant viking. This is years old, never been reworked. I remember this one well, Dino (RIP) belted the fucker in.

ok here's mine. was easier than i thought to photo my elbow with the help of a mirror and my iPhone.
done by Chris David, then of TCB tattoo toronto, now he works in BC i think in victoria somewheres.
People are always shocked he did the heart red and that i haven't had it touched up. It looks a little darker in the photo because I used lotion right before it was taken. It could use another pass on the red, it's a little blotchy when I bend my elbow all the way, but it's in there pretty good.

looking at these pics makes me realize i need to get some more shit around that thing!

Never tried a bath, but I always either soak a towel in really hot water and press it to a fresh tattoo, or stand under a very hot shower for a bit. This usually hurts worse than the tattoo itself, but the heat pulls out the excess plasma and gunk that leads to heavy scabbing. The stuff that usually seeps out for the first day or so. Im sure it's the same concept with a hot bath.

A hot shower definitely. Do this every time, have done for years.
When working my back, I too was in the ocean a couple days after a solid sitting. Just made sure I washed under the fresh showers to rid myself of excess salt, and happy days. No dramas. Again, not a practice I would undertake, it was just one of them things at the time.

I believe it is a Japanese tradition to soak for a short time in a hot bath after a tattoo session. And many LSTers have shared that their post tattoo routine includes a hot bath.
"excessive" is the key bad word. Light application of lotion works for most and is usually part of the recommended aftercare instructions from most shops.

many will disagree with #2 and #3

Sept 14th will be the 2nd session on my arm tiger...Spencer will be adding some mandalas to the background and layering on more shading and a darker outline. First session was 5 hrs...next one will probably be a little longer. I am psyched!

Heres mine. Tattooed by Stefano C, Frith Street Tattoo, London on Christmas Eve.

Eagles to me are like Rock of Ages, classic/timeless tattoos! The mental association with the word "tattoo" within the top five images that will pop into my head are eagles. Something about them always catches my eye in tattooers portfolios and flash at tattoo shops. I'm often drawn to the older flash at shops and will look for long periods of time at each eagle. I love seeing old tattoo pictures as well with people who have large eagle chestpieces (I couldn't find any online so pls share if you have some). I have seen some amazing ones pop up on this tattoo forum as well and hope the users will post theirs here that they have collected, tattooed, and drawn.
I have quickly gathered some eagle pictures from tattooers who I think do great eagles: Lindsey Carmichael, Nick Colella, Thomas Hooper, Chad Koeplinger, Stefan Johnsson, and Tim Lehi.
Share your favorite eagle tattoos and tattooers who do the eagles you like.....have at it!

I walked in there and got tattooed right away, but that was almost three years ago. If it isn't working out you could head over to Bert's shop, Top Shelf, in Queens.

We needed a new thread to get back to talking about what matters. I would say this is pretty dang close to "Latest Tattoo Lowdown" so mods, feel free to adjust accordingly. Bubble-berries need not apply.
What is your next planned tattoo? When? And what?
I'll go first (even though most of you all know):
Working on my Fenris-Wolf by Chris O'Donnell. Next appointment is at the end of September.

Haha! takes me back to when I got my first. All of 17 and was living with my GF at the time. Told my mum over the phone. She said never show her, ever!
2 hours later she's dropping over "kitchen stuff", so I was wearing a shirt. Just before she left she said "fuck it!, show me" so I did. She cried, I laughed.
It's funny ya know, I'm now 45, still dropping in ink and suited up. My mum now lives with me & my family...and she still hates them, still says "don't you think enough is enough"? I still laugh, at least she doesn't cry anymore.
I don't have to explain to anyone why I get tattooed. I love me mum too, but either people get it, or they don't, and if they don't I don't try too hard in convincing them otherwise. She'll just learn to live with them.
Yeah, tell her over the phone and don't make a big thing out of it. The more comfortable you are in your own skin, the more others are too if that makes sense.
Good luck.

Claudia,Lauren,& Tracy,do beautiful work..A few more artist to check out.What are you thinking of getting done.
Instagram
Instagram

my vote is for Claudia de Sabe

I have a major dislike for anything sun, sea & sand. Thats probably a good thing.
I hate the beach. Mind you, a front bar overlooking the beach on the other hand.

I have a little "new ink test pad" on my ankle consisting of random little triangles/squiggles. Think I am going to experiment with the peroxide theory. I will post the results, before/after healing.

Some stupid lady went and soaked her feet in hot ass salt water four like three hours after getting a tattoo.
"Why does this look so awful?"

Looks fine, the top pic looks like a little much on the aquaphor, I use that stuff as well and less is more usually, but that's definitely not a big deal.
Like graeme said, tons of variation. My first arm tattoo was all peeled in 4-5 days, the one right under/next to it took almost two weeks. Same artist, some just take longer.
I've noticed in general it can depend a lot on the climate. Seems when it's colder, my skin is drier and takes longer to heal.