Tattoo Forum with Gallery: ask your tattoo questions, upload your own tattoo pictures or rate and comment other member’s tattoos!

peaches76 · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 10:27 am Post subject: First tattoo questions

Hi everyone.

I do not have any tattoos yet. I am thinking of getting one sometime soon hopefully, preferably on my birthday.

Does the first tattoo always hurt?
How do you determine a good tattoo shop?

Very Happy

chic · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 3:32 pm Post subject:

the first tattoo, is allways aprehensive. but it goes numb anyway.
every one has a different pain thresh hold, so its down to the individual..
i convinced myself that it was a nice pain, so got through like that, now i dont even bother thinking about it.

peaches76 · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 4:05 pm Post subject:

Thank you for the tip. Very Happy

Need as much positive feedback as possible.

oh_bugger · Tattoo addict Joined: 13 Sep 2006 Posts: 516

[quote:5181882ede="peaches76"]
Does the first tattoo always hurt?

How do you determine a good tattoo shop?

Very Happy

[/quote:5181882ede]

The first tattoo will hurt as much as the second third etc. It really isnt that bad if it really hurt that much would so many of us keep going back for more ? If you are really worried about pain take some paracetomol before apperantly that helps ?

Dont go drunk or loaded on drugs that makes the pain ten times worse (so im told your honour).

Determining a good artist is tricky ask people with art that you like where they got it most people with quality tats like to taslk about them. Ask to see the portfolio of the shop does it look good are the lines clear (and straight) is the shading done well are the colours bright and strong ?

Then look round the shop a reputable artist is quite happy to show you anything you ask to see maybe the autoclave or the sharps box, if the tattoo room is not as clean as your dentist then leave, if the artist gets shirty with your questions about anything from the design to sterility then leave.

Lastly dont shop by price cheap art is normally crap art there are execptions but not many.

macka_n_kitty · Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 2:53 am Post subject:

you should be fine. some spots bite a bit more then others but they all seem to be about the same. people take it different too spots i found sweet the tattooist was expecting it to bite abit.

good luck with it.

macka Twisted Evil

peaches76 · Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 10:31 am Post subject:

Thanks for all the great responses. Very Happy

SHADOW E G T · Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 10:03 pm Post subject: Did it hurt?

[img:fc31ac471e

I got the initials done first at Hart and Huntington in Vegas. I don't know if it is possible for an artist to go light on color but my artist in NYC had to recolor the EGT when he did the rest of the cradle, wings, and cross. The only parts that were mildly uncomfortable was the recoloring of the G. I agree that after a while you don't even feel the needle once the endorphins kick in. It's a total rush and probably why tattooing can be considered addictive. The pain is similar to brushing your teeth really hard or rubbing your eyes real hard during allergy season. Think of it as a good pain. Try to get personal references for an artist, look at their collection of work and ask their specialty. Most of all make sure you feel comfortable talking with them. I consider my artist in NYC a buddy. The guy in Vegas was a TV gimmick. My tattoo is a dedication to my dad who passed away and to a tapestry my he and my mother gave me one Christmas with the quote,
"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots; the other, wings." -Hodding Carter

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

I just got my very first tatoo last week and it was a rather large one on my upper back. Now even though I never wanted to admit it, not only am I not a fan of needle pain but on top of it, my back's skin and nerves are much more sensitive than I'd thought.

That being said, it is totally doable. I found the pain hurt a little worse than I'd expected at first, but the pain only lasted for a few seconds at a time since my artist had to dip for more ink. It varies from person to person. I was always a girl who if she had a single loose hair on her back could feel it even if others I elicited help from couldn't see it and swore it wasn't there (until they eventually found it and brushed it off) Just remember that people out there have to endure far WORSE pain than the annoyance of a little stinging sensation no matter how acute and they don't GET a beautiful piece of artwork. Also, my artist had custom made this back piece and once he started, there was no going back.

Bottom line, you'll get through it. It isn't a pain that'll make you cry, just maybe grit your teeth in certain areas. ABOVE ALL!!! Eat before you go to keep blood sugar levels even AND make sure to breath when the artist is tattooing you....belive me they can tell when you aren't anyway. Smile

GOOD LUCK!

SHADOW E G T · Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 6:10 pm Post subject: Ouch!

OK. The back was one thing as far as pain goes. Very bearable. This new tattoo on my inner bicep was a little different. First of all I was laying down and by the end of it my shoulder felt like it was going to fall off. Second, the pain was much more intense on the inner arm especially by the elbow and armpit. It was still worth it though. I'm getting a phoenix on my back in a couple weeks. Looking forward to a little less pain on that one.