jade1955

Tattooed yesterday by Chad Koeplinger.
It's on the back of my leg

Haha you're not wrong.

One of the few times a staph infection would improve a tattoo.

The last 2 tattoos I've had have gone pretty close to the knee ditch. Whoopee that feels like fun.

Doug Hardy was here the other day and told us about being in a bar talking to a guy who struck up a conversation with him about his tattoos. At one point the guy said, completely seriously. "Y'know I always wanted to get a tattoo, but I never knew anyone that died."
Thanks TV.

Is this kind of comment really necessary? LST should be a welcoming place for everybody who is genuinely interested in getting good tattoos, and I don't see any purpose in being a complete dickhead to somebody who comes here asking for a little bit of advice.

this is my girlfriend's newest from ashley love at ny adorned in nyc, I am way too jealous

I tend to stick to the regime that works for me over the years. Keep the wrapping on overnight then wash in hot water and Dr Bronners soap. Wash twice a day and then after the dead skin has started to peel a little bit of moisturiser. The least fuss the better.
However I was tattooed a couple of weeks ago by Lal Hardy. The tattoo was in a place that might be a bit problematic, healing wise. He gave me a 7 day supply of pads (these are ones used in meat industry) and some A&D. Lal advised using the pads and A&D on the part of the tattoo that might be problematic. I followed Lals instructions and the tattoo healed amazingly.
Its not a regime that I would normally use but for awkward spots (knee ditch) it hits the spot.

The last 2 tattoos I've had have gone pretty close to the knee ditch. Whoopee that feels like fun.

While I was at Frith Street my beautiful squeeze had her second session. A really stunning Day of the Dead Girl, tattooed by Stewart Robson.

Here's mine tattooed by Jondix last year.
Painful is an understatement. I broke out into a sweat the moment the needle first came into contact with my palm.
Jondix is such a nice guy though and has a really calming persona.
The healing and aftercare is a bit different as well. I was told it was important to keep the fresh tattoo well moisturised, to stop it cracking. As it heals the dead skin, which is quite thick starts to peel and you've got to be careful not to catch the edges.
Planning to get the other done in the new year.

My first one done when I was 15 years old

Not bad for a 40 year old tattoo
My latest two weeks ago

Here's mine tattooed by Jondix last year.
Painful is an understatement. I broke out into a sweat the moment the needle first came into contact with my palm.
Jondix is such a nice guy though and has a really calming persona.
The healing and aftercare is a bit different as well. I was told it was important to keep the fresh tattoo well moisturised, to stop it cracking. As it heals the dead skin, which is quite thick starts to peel and you've got to be careful not to catch the edges.
Planning to get the other done in the new year.

Here's mine tattooed by Jondix last year.
Painful is an understatement. I broke out into a sweat the moment the needle first came into contact with my palm.
Jondix is such a nice guy though and has a really calming persona.
The healing and aftercare is a bit different as well. I was told it was important to keep the fresh tattoo well moisturised, to stop it cracking. As it heals the dead skin, which is quite thick starts to peel and you've got to be careful not to catch the edges.
Planning to get the other done in the new year.

Here's mine tattooed by Jondix last year.
Painful is an understatement. I broke out into a sweat the moment the needle first came into contact with my palm.
Jondix is such a nice guy though and has a really calming persona.
The healing and aftercare is a bit different as well. I was told it was important to keep the fresh tattoo well moisturised, to stop it cracking. As it heals the dead skin, which is quite thick starts to peel and you've got to be careful not to catch the edges.
Planning to get the other done in the new year.

Here's mine tattooed by Jondix last year.
Painful is an understatement. I broke out into a sweat the moment the needle first came into contact with my palm.
Jondix is such a nice guy though and has a really calming persona.
The healing and aftercare is a bit different as well. I was told it was important to keep the fresh tattoo well moisturised, to stop it cracking. As it heals the dead skin, which is quite thick starts to peel and you've got to be careful not to catch the edges.
Planning to get the other done in the new year.

Here's mine tattooed by Jondix last year.
Painful is an understatement. I broke out into a sweat the moment the needle first came into contact with my palm.
Jondix is such a nice guy though and has a really calming persona.
The healing and aftercare is a bit different as well. I was told it was important to keep the fresh tattoo well moisturised, to stop it cracking. As it heals the dead skin, which is quite thick starts to peel and you've got to be careful not to catch the edges.
Planning to get the other done in the new year.

Here's mine tattooed by Jondix last year.
Painful is an understatement. I broke out into a sweat the moment the needle first came into contact with my palm.
Jondix is such a nice guy though and has a really calming persona.
The healing and aftercare is a bit different as well. I was told it was important to keep the fresh tattoo well moisturised, to stop it cracking. As it heals the dead skin, which is quite thick starts to peel and you've got to be careful not to catch the edges.
Planning to get the other done in the new year.

Here's mine tattooed by Jondix last year.
Painful is an understatement. I broke out into a sweat the moment the needle first came into contact with my palm.
Jondix is such a nice guy though and has a really calming persona.
The healing and aftercare is a bit different as well. I was told it was important to keep the fresh tattoo well moisturised, to stop it cracking. As it heals the dead skin, which is quite thick starts to peel and you've got to be careful not to catch the edges.
Planning to get the other done in the new year.

Here's mine tattooed by Jondix last year.
Painful is an understatement. I broke out into a sweat the moment the needle first came into contact with my palm.
Jondix is such a nice guy though and has a really calming persona.
The healing and aftercare is a bit different as well. I was told it was important to keep the fresh tattoo well moisturised, to stop it cracking. As it heals the dead skin, which is quite thick starts to peel and you've got to be careful not to catch the edges.
Planning to get the other done in the new year.

When I had my one lower leg shaded it swelled quite a bit. I would feel a ton of pressure when it needed to be moisturized during the healing process. It was almost crippling! It was shaded the whole way around in one go, so that may be why I experienced the pressure sensation.
Pics from the session (2008):

Robert Ryan:

So this is what happened yesterday, last tattoo of the year and until scottish convention in march (if I got extra cash by then)

Tattoo by Iain Mullen, original design by myself. It is super strange, but it makes me super happy, that some tattooers that I REALLY like pressed "like" on this tattoo. When I checked yesterday it also had Thomas Hooper and Greg Christian on the list. I mean, who am I?

@Avery Taylor here is my ladyhead added to the arm ditch by Jack Rudy.

Got this dagger from Lal Hardy at New Wave Tattoo in Muswell Hill, London. Lal has been tattooing for over 30 years and is as absolute diamond.
Had such a great morning there as well.
The dagger goes through a tattoo from Alex Binnie, which is his version of the first tattoo I had done over 40 years ago.