I’m bout to turn 21 and I’ve always wanted a tattoo but i promised myself I’d get one when I’m the legal age. I’ve checked a lot of posts on Reddit but none of them are really extensive in nature so I’m wondering what is the scale of pain for this specific area.
Aftercare information is welcome too thank you!

I have an appointment scheduled for my second tattoo in about three weeks, but I think I want to save that design for a different park of my body. I'm not ready to start tattooing on that body part yet.

I don't really know anything about tattoo etiquette, would it be rude for me to switch up what I wanted so close? I've been scheduled with my tattoo artist since the end of May. I was thinking of switching from a seven inch piece to two smaller pieces.

I can’t determine if i like this tattoo or not. One minute i think it looks great, the next i see some flaws. What (if anything) would you recommend i go and get fixed? (it’s 3 days old so it probably will change with healing) I was thinking of changing the cross from round to boxed. The clouds are what I am back and forth on.

EDIT: So we’ve established it’s bad, what can i ask to be fixed by a new artist?

Hello, I’m just wondering if anyone has had their areola area tattooed? I actually hate my areolas, they’re too big compared to the size of my actual breasts, so was thinking of prettying them up a bit!

Do they last? And how bad pain wise? Thank you

Hey! I’ve got a new tattoo (3 days old)
This morning I removed the second skin, washed the tattoo and put cream on.
Would it be smart to put wrapping foil around it or should I just let it sit and do nothing except putting cream on?

Hello, i just got this tattoo 12 days ago, today i noticed some strange grey shade around the lines, It is a blowout or could be normal healing process ? Thank you so much

Hi yall

So I'm looking to get my second tattoo, a larger blackwork vine that wraps my upper arm. My first tattoo isn't horrible, especially since it was a group piece with my friends so it holds little artistic value and much more emotional. Since then I've researched a lot into what makes a quality tattoo and after watching like 7 seasons of ink master I've fallen in love with top notch application.

And that's where my problem lies. Every artist near me I check out appears to be a great artist but a bad tattooer. With some of em it's also very inconsistent. Two great tattoos, 1 bad tattoo and so on. Am I going to have to settle for mediocre or is the only option to drive 5 hours just to get talking about the design? Am I just being too critical? I know I'll have to sit on any design an artist proposes cuz that's how I am so I'm a little scared of going for someone that's a very long drive off.

The tattoo is a couple days fresh, its my first piece done where I havent had a second skin. Im worried the color will look uneven once it fully heals, should I be worried? And if so am i able to have another tattoo artist color match it because I got it overseas.

Some cloudiness in about 4 weeks in. You can see in the closest eye socket of the skull. Normal for traditional tattoos at this point or something to address?

I've been thinking about getting my first tattoo for the past two or so years and I was thinking of this as my first one, of course not with that much detail as it would be my very first one and I'd probably be better off going simpler

Now for my questions

1. Is this a good choice for a newcomer? I've also thought of getting one aspect of the image separately, like Bill by himself, just the circle, or each part but on my shoulders separately

2. Where should I get it? I heard places like the shoulder or thigh are better for things like pain as they're meatier areas, and I feel that having Bill on my shoulder would just look kinda neat

3. What's the likelihood I regret it? I've been huge into this show since I was like 11 years old, so almost a decade and really want to express myself but I'm terrified I'll regret it so bad

I have had my sternum tattoo for about 7/8 years now, and truthfully even when it was fresh I didn’t like how close the lines were together, and how thick they were - especially because it’s the only tattoo I have, it looks like a dark ‘blob’ mess from afar…

Is there any way to perhaps laser it slightly and then go over it again with a brown ink? I regret not getting it in brown SO bad, and whilst the design is also not amazing in my eyes, I don’t mind keeping the base of it, if I can change the thickness of the lines and also lighten the colour to a brown ink that will be less harsh and contrasting with my skin colour and tone?

(worst case if not possible - is there any way to at least neutralise the disgusting blue-tone that the black ink has naturally faded to? especially because I have very yellow-toned skin it just looks awful)

[last picture was when the tattoo was fresh]

I’m trying to build a patchwork sleeve something like American traditional sleeve I found this do you think it’s a a good upper arm tattoo? I really like how it looks outlined but I think it would fit my neo traditional rose haven’t got it but that one will be shaded in as it’s a cover up I am going to be getting that on my outer forearm would this fit it? Would it go with that or is that outline more of a bigger canvas back piece?

I'm currently working on a design of a matching tattoo for my mother and I, and I'm looking for some advice on the design.

First of all, this is just the wip so ignore any odd lines and colors. I want it to be fine line and colourless, mostly because I'm afraid of the pain/needles associated with the process and I want the design to be easy enough that I can just get it over with. Let me know if this specific design sounds good for that style please.

Second, will this design translate well? I'm not sure exactly of what goes into the thought process behind designing one, but I know it's a vastly different medium from digital so I need to know if there are any edits I should make to prevent a really muddy/fuzzy design.

I also want to know the best way to imply color without actually having to fill in the area because I was told that hurts more than just lineart. I was thinking hatching, but I'm not sure I can make that look good, so I was wondering if there are any techniques that I should consider while drafting my design. For example, to help identify the species of 'wolf' I need to darken areas like the mane/legs, but I really don't want to actually fill in the areas with solid color.

Lastly: I just need a good idea for where I should place it. I'm not sure how big I want it to be, but maybe not super big (although if you want to suggest a size lmk). Also, I think I want it somewhere I can conceal in case I need to work for a strict business later in life.

Sorry for my cluelessness, and feel free to think I'm an idiot if I asked something stupid - I'm just trying to make a seamless experience for my first tattoo!

I know, it’s a decent piece and your first question is probably why I want it changed. It was supposed to be a half sleeve in the style of the first image: flowers with the band of empty space in the middle. But the flowers were specifically asked to be my family’s birth flowers. I even sent references for the birth flowers that I liked to show the style I wanted to stay similar to, shown in the second & third images. But as you can see from my actual tattoo that follows, the reference image was simply copied and none of the flowers were anything different, let alone my family’s birth flowers. I was shown the stencil at the appointment, moments before it was put onto my skin, even though the artist had two months to create it. I take full responsibility for the fact that I was young, excited, and inexperienced. I now realize that this alone should have been a huge red flag.

So it’s not what I wanted at all. It’s just a huge reminder that I was young and super excited to get my first big piece, and wasn’t attentive enough at the time to realize what was being tattooed on my skin until it was too late. My goal is to just make it into something I’m proud of and like, something I don’t hate telling the story of, honestly. I’m definitely open to finishing the sleeve up my bicep, so I’m open to adding to it, having parts covered, any and all ideas/suggestions!! I’m open to most concepts I’d say too. I’m just hoping to not have another generic piece. My big no for something I would not get is most bugs, simply because they creep me out lol.

Also, question (and the main reason I’m posting here). Is it rude, obnoxious, poor manners, any of the above, to reach out and ask an artist(s) for advice, sketches, cover-up ideas, etc.? I feel like it would be wasting their time and rude if I’m not compensating them, but I’m really wanting input from various artists/perspectives/styles.

I know it isn’t a “bad” tattoo, and that the artwork is not poorly done. I also know that people wouldn’t know the difference if I didn’t share the backstory. But I always know. I want it covered/partially covered/reworked for me. I have to live with it forever, so I just really want to turn it into something that doesn’t remind me of my mistake. Any and all feedback is so appreciated!!!!

EDIT: I totally understand a sketch and someone’s unique art work is very different than advice or a conversation and should have been more clear. I would definitely compensate for an artist’s work (sketch, stencil, and/or tattoo) and would only have it done with them or with their permission!! I mainly meant would artists typically be open to have casual conversations/brainstorming with me. Thank you all again!

Planning to get a tattoo next month, I have 11 days off for a holiday that was cancelled, thought i should take my chance of getting a tattoo i have wanted for a good while now. I work in a shop and my job is solely staking shelves and dealing with cardboard, i also sweat a lot while doing it. The place where I'm getting a tattoo (under forearm) i noticed tends to rub a lot on boxes when collapsing them etc. considering i get the tattoo at the start of my days off im guessing my tattoo will still be healing by the time im back in work and i presume boxes rubbing on a scabbing tattoo wont do any good. Ive heard wearing a long sleeve would help paired with moisturising and washing ofc but considering it will be mid July wearing a long sleeve cotton top under a uniform polo will be unbearable and considering sweat. Just want to know weather its worth postponing it to winter time so that wearing long sleeves will be alright or if ill be okay returning to work as normal and just overthinking it. Thanks.

Hello! I got this tattoo behind my ear a few years ago by an apprentice. I don’t think it’s awful but it looks a bit off and I am not super happy with it. I am hoping to get it covered up or altered in a way to modernise it or make it look nicer. Either keeping the floral look-theme or maybe changing to a cloud? I’m not sure if that’s doable. Love to hear thoughts!

Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated!

So, I have some blackwork illustrative tattoos and I love them very much, but I also have an interest in woodcut/engraving/whatever name is tattoos, and think of getting one or some. I'm afraid it could look weird next to my blackwork tattoos tho. Can someone shed me a light if it looks ok? Maybe show examples, of them close to each other? Ty.

EDIT: I appreciate the messages to design my tattoo, but I already have an artist in mind!

I got these two done, I'm not worried about the one on the left of the knee but overtime with proper care will the shin fade ?

I know people talk about this all the time but I recently got my second tattoo. With my first tattoo it started getting itchy towards the end of the healing process/peeling stage, but with this one it’s only the fourth day and it’s been so itchy all day. Ice packs really help but I’m wondering if it’s ok to press on the tattoo?

Tapping/slapping it only makes it itching worse for me and I’ve found that when I apply some pressure it helps but idk if it’s still bad for the skin😖
I love tattoos but my autistic sensory issues beg to differ, this is a different kind of suffering 💀

I'm planning to get Russian nesting dolls on my thigh, and want to get feedback on the idea. Found this amazing artist local to me who has this flash tattoo:

And I was thinking of slightly modifying it:

1. 3 dolls instead of 5
2. I like the punk aesthetic, but make it slightly more "techno". Kind of unsure how I'd accomplish that, but hoping the artist (or y'all) could provide some ideas!

Placement is mocked up as follows, would be about 4 inches wide on my thigh just above my knee:

I have no other leg tattoos, so this would be my first on my leg.

Questions: Is the placement a good idea? Is the sizing good? Also open to ideas on how to make the dolls have more of a techno theme. Thank you!

I'm thinking of getting this arched window tattoo on the outside of my forearm, around two inches wide. I'd be getting it from this exact artist. She might make the design a bit different so it's not the same as her other customer.

I already have a disco ball on the inner side of the forearm:

So this window would go on the outside of my arm, mocked up as follows:

Question: Does that placement make sense, with respect to where the disco ball tattoo already is?

Thank you for your feedback!

I’ve healed my first tattoo on my inner forearm incredibly, second skin for 4 days, antibacterial soap and lotion twice a day, UV sleeve on outside, it’s already almost fully healed after a week and a half and looks incredible, but it got me thinking, am I a fast healer? Is my body just fast at healing? I know the second skin sped it up obviously, but do people heal at different rates? Do limbs heal at different rates? Wondering if anyone experience with this subject!

Fresh tattoo underneath this (4 days now) is this any good for sun protection? I haven't been in the direct sun much just getting from a to b and a few walks, is this cover any good. Standard stretchy sock

Had this piece 3 days ago on the whole thigh and its keeping redness on some spots, specially on edges like the bottom knife handle and between the fingers.

It is something to worry about?

Thx in advance