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summerraen

All righty, so I just got my back tattoo!!! I'm so excited! My tattooist, Bill, was such a sweetheart, and he told me about the vegan, non-animal-tested tattoo goo to use, and he was just really really nice. It didn't hurt as much as I expected, since everyone I saw get back tattoos cried; I cringed a couple times but that was it.
I got it on the left side of my lower back, and I'll post pics tomorrow. It's so beautiful Smile

Aaanywho, he said I can take off the bandage after a coule hours if I want, but I really should leave it on overnight, which makes lots of sense- if you're laying on the tattoo all night it makes sense to have it covered and protected from my sheets and such. Sounds good. But! The tape he used to stick it on with is sort of painful (it's on tight) and really uncomfortable, plus of course I'm unbeliveably anxious to get it off and see my tattoo! But it's mostly just the discomfort. Now, I just washed my sheets and blanket a couple days ago (my sheet's red so I don't care about the tattoo bleeding or anything), and I have clean pjs to wear, should I really take the bandage off?

Ugh I know it's annoying to have to answer this, but I don't want to fuck up my tattoo but I also don't want to keep this stupid thing on all night :S Thanks a lot!

chic · Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 4:15 am Post subject:

i allways take it off when i get home, and give it a good wash using clean flannel and towel. Razz

then aply more cream/ what ever youve been told to use.
then im afraid when i go to bed, i dont wear anything, and i find the more air i get to the tattoo the quicker it heals..but everyone is different.
As for blood, it shouldnt be bleeding.... it will be the tattoo ink that comes out onto the bed sheets...but thats the price you have to pay when having works of art done...
sllep on a towel if it bothers you.. Razz

cant wai tto see it...pics soon please....

chaos · Tattoo lover Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 19

I was told to take mine off between 3-4 hours after it was complete but not to leave it on any longer than 6 hours. Also had to give it a good was to remove and excess ink etc and apply some tattoo goo for at least 2-3 weeks or until it healded/

Hana_Koi · Tattoo lover Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Posts: 17 Location: Oahu

It only needs to be on for a maximum of 4 hours or so. You want it to breathe so it can heal. I have a large back tattoo and I sleep on my stomach for the first week (yes it's hard but my investment is worth it) You say your tattoo didn't hurt--and you didn't cry. How long were you in the chair? I garauntee after 3-4 hours of constant blasting on your spine, you'll start to see why people can cry. Endorphins that ease pain last for about 2 hours so I often tell people who were only in the chair under that time that they should watch how confident they sound. So far I've had a little over 5 hours of work done on my tattoo and the first time I cringed but it was ok, the second time doing the coloring around 3 1/2 hours my whole back was raw, the endorphins were long spent, and my artist was finishing up part of it that was directly on my upper spine. Yeah I lost it a bit. Grown men will lose it a bit at that point. Haha!

chaos · Tattoo lover Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 19

mine bloody hurt lol, think mainly cause im skinny and it was between my shoulder blades... so i definatly felt it.

Next one is going to be on my ribs on either side, im cringing at the thought of it now. See my tattoo guy tomorrow to show him a few designs and so we can work on getting it right.

DragonLover · Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:19 am Post subject:

Any time I have ever got a tatt I have either gone shopping or gone home....My artist always says take it off after an hour and wash it with soap and water and get some cream on it to keep it moist, but don't overdo the cream...applying the cream about three times a day or maybe even two times always keeps it from drying out to bad......even after a week when it looks all healed and great I keep applying the cream just to make sure it's gonna be ok... I now have twelve tattoos and not one of them looks tired or haggard, I love them all. I am even known to put the cream on well after they are healed just to give the skin moisture, specially if you don't use skin care products which a lot of people don't.....

The cream I use is 'Bepanthen'...it's babies nappy rash cream, but it really does work a treat. swear by it.....

DocJ · Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 2:42 pm Post subject:

One should take off the bandage ASAP or no longer than 1 hour. You want it to air out as much as possible, as long as it's not going to be exposed to anything unclean.

Do not place a new bandaid on it, unless you are going out into public and clean cotton clothing will not cover it, and you feel it will be exposed to an unclean surface. Like a bar table.... eeee

Do not coat it with globs of creams or ointments. Use a TINY amount of bacitracin for about 3 days. We want it to breathe. Tatwax is good too, but VERY thinly.

Do not let anyone touch it at all.... it's a new wound. We have no idea if they washed their hands after using the bathroom. It's your health on the line. Treat it like a wound.

It's ok to take a nice hot shower, but do not SOAK and don't take a long shower. Pat dry only. Never rub a towel or cloth on top... but if your hands are washed with anti-bacterial dial soap, it's ok for you to massage the area to promote healing, blood circulation and scar tissue breakdown.

Others may differ in opinion.... that is just my own personal preference with good results)