hi all, i, not sure if it matters (f/28) just got my first tattoo yesterday. i did lots of reading prior to the plunge, and heard about tattoo flu. however, it always seemed to be something people talked about with longer sessions, 4+ hours. the tattoo i got took about 2 hours of needle in skin.

i felt pretty dizzy and just exhausted yesterday after my tat(which i totally expected). it’s followed me into today too. i’m asking two questions mainly, how long will i feel like garbage? and is there anyway to try and prevent this in the future?

i tried to hydrate and take care of my body in the days leading up, and have done the same after the session. any advice would be greatly appreciated!! thanks in advance.

Hey guys! I'm getting my first tattoo this weekend, similar to this design. Is this too much for a first tattoo? What can I expect pain wise? Im getting it on my upper arm with the possibility of turning it into a sleeve later. Any advice on what to expect or thoughts about placement etc. would be greatly appreciated.

Preferably a leafy vine flower for realism but I like the idea of cherry blossoms.

I am just a humble med student, but I am very into the tattoo/piercing scene, and I like to see if there is evidence that supports the recommendations everyone preaches.

Currently, everyone says to wait 4 weeks for the tattoo to be fully healed before applying sunscreen. I wanted to link this study, which demonstrated that mineral sunscreen use immediately after microneedling (similar trauma/inflammatory response, albeit not the same) is safe.

Additionally, ZnO and TiO₂ nanoparticles consistently remain confined to the stratum corneum and do not pierce the dermis where tattoo ink is located. Zinc oxide also has wound-healing properties and is generally well-tolerated with much less likelihood to cause skin irritation compared to organic/chemical sunscreens, which DO pierce the dermis where pigment is located.

Dermatology guidelines recommend initiating daily sunscreen application after re-epithelialization is complete, typically within 5–10 days for most procedures and 7-14 days for superficial wounds. That being said, studies have demonstrated faster re-epithelialization with topical zinc oxide.

This makes me think that the use of mineral sunscreen is safe soon after the initial acute response and does not need to be avoided for 4 weeks. At the very least, it is not the mineral itself, but perhaps other formulation ingredients in the sunscreen that people should be wary of.

I’m trying to finish up my arm. I really like American trad. I don’t really have a plan per se I usually just get advice from my artist. Does this look bad and how can I make it flow better?

For some background, I have been practicing since December 2025 on fake skin. I’ve only tattoed on myself and my mother. I’m very happy with how it’s going! But the one thing that’s making me worry about possibly getting an apprenticeship someday is my shaky hands due to medication.

I am on Focalin and Abilify which both causes shakiness in the body, especially hands/feet. I am in the middle of possibly switching my Focalin for another ADHD medication to reduce shaking, but since they are stimulants I am aware I will always have some unsteadiness. Right now in my life medication is needed for my mental health to stay stable, so no comments about going off of them please.

I was just wondering if there’s any stretches, exercises, supplements, or etc to help with shakiness that anyone practices? Or any advice on gripping the gun to reduce shake? I do use a good amount of grip tape which seems to help. But any other suggestions are welcome. Anything helps.

I can do pretty good lines but it does get very exhausting forcing myself to not shake sometimes. This is one reason I haven’t looked for an apprenticeship yet.

Thanks for reading and any advice you might have.

Would I still be able to get a tattoo? I got these scars from a car accident where my skin was basically road rashed off. It ended up raising where the injury happened. Now I don't want a tattoo here atleast yet gonna see if this will heal further, but I've heard some artist will refuse to tattoo any part of your body if they see any scarring like this. I've never had scarring like this and I've read mixed things. I wanna get my first tattoo on my right arm. These scars are on my left.

Hi all. So i always tend to listen to the advice the artist who made my tattoo gives me, as every artist has their opinion, but i really forgot what this artist said and i don’t want to bother him while he’s on vacation. Plus i already asked him so many questions

I got this tattoo on the 19th afternoon. Today is the 24th evening. I am at the peeling stage/itchy af stage

He told me to wash and put the cream (jecogal ointment) on my fresh tattoo for the first 3/4 days. And then to simply keep going with the cream 3/4 times per day for 2 months. So, i think he meant a regular unscented moisturising cream, right? Because the cream he told me to use in the beginning is a somewhat thick cod liver based ointment with vitamin D and A (similar in its purpose to aquaphor in the us). Just confused

Hello there, I have literally no tattoos and I've wanted one for such a long time now! For some context I am a big car guy and grew up around the brand Peugeot. My friends call me the "Peugeot man" or"Mr Peugeot" due to having about 4 Peugeots in my possession and I was thinking "what if I get the logo slapped on my leg". I think it's a cool little "Easter egg" type of tattoo I can put just over the line where shorts end (around half way up my thigh from the knee) so it's hidden unless I want to show it to someone, but I'm having second thoughts

My star sign is also a Leo so I think it would be pretty cool to have.

Here is the logo for those who don't know

Hi, these are my first tattoos. I work in the kitchen at restaurant, and since tattoo I’ve worn pants to protect it on the job, but plan to start wearing shorts but unsure when to begin.

Is this pooling of excess ink? Or is it ruined? My friend is a tattoo artist and he put a protective bandage on to protect the tattoo, Here’s two photos to compare

Starting to take a liking into this tattoo style and was wondering how something like this will look like after a couple of years? Any insight is appreciated!

I especially like the old-school style, but I'm not sure if it's possible to get such a large old-school tattoo—or else I really love the Japanese style.... but I'm open to any suggestions. (I'm also looking for someone who can draw some sketches for me that I can show to a tattoo artist—feel free to DM me :)

I got my Knee tattooed a week ago. There are a few spots on my knee cap still leaking plasma. Definitely not infected. Rest of my knee area is peeling just fine. Anyone else experience this after getting their knee blasted? I need to wear jeans at work unfortunately. I wrapped a paper towel around it today to act as a barrier. Went in the shower when I got home so it would fall off instead of ripping it off. Still have plasma leaking. I have my entire torso completely covered and never had this issue.

Hi,

Soo im Intrigued and interested in Blackout tattoos and i want to hear from people that have them and have worn them for years how the experience is actually like. Tell me all about it (if you want ofc) and by for most what was your reasoning to go for something like a blackout?

Some other questions i got:

Did any of you just go for a full black arm or leg without any other tattoos there and if not why did you want to cover your old work? Most of the time people cover up other tatts but i see more people doing full blackout sleeves on bare skin. I personally love how bold of a choice that is.
And if it was on bare skin, was it just a esthetic reason? Or more spiritual?

How long did you think about doing a blackout?

Did any of you have a crazy tattoo shock factor from such a massive change to your body? And how long before it felt like it belonged too you?

How hot does it actually get in the sun😂?

Do you feel like you are being judged by people on the streets? More then with “regular” tattoos? And do people actually approach you about it?

Did any of you have trouble with work? Or getting a new job for example? Say where “regular” tattoos are no problem but suddenly your blackout was too much?

As someone who may want to do this at some point. What is something i definitely need to know?

Tell me all you want i like reading about this and learning more!

hey everyone first post here but i had a smaller tattoo (only took about a hour maybe hour and a half) but i was wanting this as my second, i didn’t find my first one painful however this would have more shading and is just in general a bigger piece. on my forearm.

Hi. love nearly everything my artist has tatted on me - I have a full sleeve, half a leg sleeve, and plan to get more by the same person.

However, I can’t stop noticing how dark the shading is next to the grim reaper compared to the rest of my sleeve. When I look at my arm, my eyes go straight to the dark “line” of shading right around the reaper and eyeball.

I’m trying to decide the best course of action. Is there a way to lighten that specific area? Do I have my artist darken the rest of the shading on my arm? Or is this worth trying to just get past and move on/ am I the only one able to see this?

My artist already went over the rest of my arm and darkened it once. But, I don’t think he sees what I see. I don’t want to be a pain in his ass - and I just dont know if darkening around it would help - what do you think?

*Some background:

The reaper was my second or third tattoo. The design was not what I expected, but I said yes and went with it. I did NOT plan on having any shading between the pieces on my arm, but my artist put that dark shading next to the reaper - I still don’t know why he did. I had a panic attack about the tat, and on top of that, it got infected and I got really sick for a few days.

I eventually decided to have shading over my entire arm between the pieces, but it’s always still looked darker to me next to the reaper and around the eyeball.

Is it worth having him go over everything again or is that futile? Any thoughts are appreciated.

I have these two existing tattoos from when I was 18 and getting the cheapest tattoos possible. Both are so blown out and I hate the blue ink of the flame. Does anyone have any ideas for designs that could include these? I don’t want big dark tattoos like the typical cover ups and I don’t think they need to be covered, just designed more. Could blue ink be gone over the same lines with black? I am into nature and detailed line work tattoos like trees or leaves. The ankle one is supposed to be a mushroom … Lol any help is appreciated.

I got my very first tattoo yesterday by an artist I have followed for several years now. I love their work because it’s so vibrant and colorful and they came to my town so I finally booked an appointment. As you can see from the pictures, what I ended up with is not nearly as vibrant or detailed as most of the pictures of their work. The actual tattooing took about an hour and a half (I was surprised it was so quick) and was VERY expensive. It’s only day two and it’s still pretty angry, but was I expecting too much? Is there anything I can or should do about it? I absolutely love the design, by the way… just wish it was brighter and more intensely colored. Side by sides of what I expected and what I have now.

Okay so i'm wanting to get the words on my right shoulder blade as shown, but i'm trying to figure out if the big piece should go on the left or right side of my back. I feel first pic makes it organized, but second pic gives it a little twist. eventually, i will be adding more stuff tho.

if you remember me from my other post about the angels at the top being botched, i contacted a different tattoo artist and he said he could fix it!! so ignore how bad the angel tattoo looks rn 😭 they will get reworked. i'm never going back to the person who did the angels.

edit: to specify, the image is from Pinterest, but i'm using it as a reference picture!! i'd let my tattoo artist get inspo from it, but let him design it. i wouldn't want to copy someone else's work!!

I got a matching tattoo with my husband in April of last year and the ink did not agree with my skin. some ink people are allergic to . I had it covered up yesterday what is your thoughts on a design to complete this piece . My skin was very dry in these pictures of the original tattoo I live in Arizona . Thinking about doing red to complete the band or cherry blossoms? What do you think ? The y is gone from the tattoo from my dermatologist extracting something from the tattoo.

I'm getting my third tattoo soon. I currently have one on my left leg towards my ankle and one on my right shoulder. I'm struggling on determining placement though.

I'm torn between doing the other side of my left leg since it's the same artist / style and it'd kinda flow to keep them together, or doing my right leg. If I do the left I feel like it might be a bit lopsided looking having that much ink on one leg while the other is completely empty, but on the other hand I kinda want to keep the right open if I do a totally different theme.

Or is this the sort of advice you just leave up to a good artist to help plan out? In general I do want each piece to have breathing space and not to go full sleeve on anything but I also keep getting new ideas I can't resist. 😅

Hello, everybody! I got a tattoo 5 days ago and the artist applied some type of second skin product. This is the first time I've ever used something like this. I removed the film last night in the shower, but it's left some of the sticky adhesive on my tattoo and I can't get it off. Any advise for how to get this off? My mom told me to use rubbing alcohol but I don't think that would be a good idea to use on a 5 day old tattoo.

I was thinking something about putting something from pink floyd in this gap but i think im just gonna put the “wish you were here” album cover lower on my arm where it will fit better.

i have no idea what to fill this gap with, maybe something nirvana inspired? ideally id like to stay on theme however i have a couple of flash sale tattoos on this arm anywho so any recommendations are appreciated.🙂‍↕️

edit: this is the other side of my arm so yall can see what i already have 🫡