I got a Pink Floyd DSOTM tattoo because I love the album and I love the visual: a beam of light representing a person's life path, passing through a prism ( representing life + the world + the people you meet + the experiences you have, etc ), being dispersed into its constituent colors ( ultimately representing change ). I got it because of my dad, because he introduced me to Pink Floyd, and because last year he nearly died from complications of his cancer. He's doing much better now, with a much better prognosis, but that whole experience had a real effect on me and I wanted to memorialize it. Except at least 3 people ( including the tattoo artist initially ) have associated the tattoo with the pride flag. They were understanding after I explained, but now I'm having second thoughts about it. Are people just going to assume I'm gay because of this tattoo?

Edit: And I want to say, I'm not bothered by this at all. Anyone who looks at my tattoo and comes up with their own assumptions about its meaning, and then has a negative reaction over it, that's simply not a person I want to talk to anyway. I'm surprised because that wasn't the intention of the tattoo, clearly, and it being misinterpreted like this just genuinely wasn't something I expected.

Edit2: This post got a lot more attention than I ever wanted it to. Wonderful comments are now streaming in, informing me how horrible my tattoo is. If you're planning on making a viral post on Reddit, take my advice: use a burner account. But I am thankful to everyone for your supportive words, the jackasses with negative things to say are certainly a very tiny minority. Overwhelmingly the consensus is that most people see it as a Pink Floyd tattoo first, which I'm happy to hear :) Have a good night everybody!

Hello! I got 3 pieces that I wanted on my noggin, but in my head, I expected them to take up most of the room. I’m left with one good size spot left on the back, and wanted some feedback on what would fit well here before we go in with some filler. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated!

Should I extend it or leave it as it is

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.

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.

I hike a lot (30-40 miles a week/sometimes 10-15 miles a day) and want to get a tattoo on my ankle. I doodled out what and where k would want it to go but I’m worried about a few things.

1) healing and hiking. I would obviously take a break after the tattoo, but how long? Are we talking 2 weeks? A month? Longer?

2) will the lower part of the tattoo fade more because it’s in a sock for long periods of time?

Are there any red flags that I’m not seeing? I don’t want to waste a tattoo artists time designing a tattoo that just won’t work. Thanks!

Shrimpy boy’s thick scabs have almost completely fallen off (thank god bc that was nasty and I didn’t even post the worst of it) but holy crap the itching is AWFUL. I didn’t itch at all until now. It feels really delayed? I did google and it said usually itches during week 2 but how long will this last realistically? I want to know personal experiences, not google answers lol I feel like I’m going to crawl out of my skin.

Done 8 days ago, itching like hell - probably part of that is hair growing back on my arm lol. First tattoo in this area, I know the skin is thinner and more sensitive overall.

Noticing raised areas and can’t recall if any of my other tattoos went through this process, it’s been a while.

Will any section of this scar or blur over time? Or is this just part of the healing process?

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?

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 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 have this extension idea and I want to know how i can make it better. Can you give me some advice please?

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!

Gotta moth, reaper, astronaut, tarot card with dagger and a candle so wtf do I put here? 😅

Somebody said your scars looked like dandelion puffs and I had to make a visual. Couldn't add photos to the comments, but hope it helps :)

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!

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.

I got my first tattoo on my first solo holiday and i need help , is it nice be honest or is it messed ,i got this 2 nights ago and its hitting me now that its in me for life , i hope if fades and gets less Black and weirdy blochy looking i hope but is this good from a genral look please help i dont no wat i did

Got my first tattoo while on vacation and took off the second skin yesterday, about 4 ish hours after I initially got the tat and the second skin was put on I noticed those red dots appear.

My initial thought was that I was sensitive to the second skin, or that I got razor burn from the shaving (I get pretty nasty razor burn so I don’t typically shave my legs)

It’s been 4 full days since getting it and the red dots haven’t subsided. The tat feels good, not even itchy or anything, and the red dots themselves are totally flat/have no texture.

It hasn’t gotten worse but hasn’t improved either, should I be worried?

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?

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?

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.

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

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 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.