#81

I just let the hair grow, although have seen people with shaved patches to show them off properly.

Those people are narcissists.

#82

IMG_0975.JPG972Ɨ1440 116 KB

FAO @anon5266188

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#83

In love with that, friend. Thanks!

#84

Hey tattooed people of DiS! Iā€™m getting my first one done Saturday morning, just wanted to ask if anyone had any tips? Iā€™ve read so much now Iā€™m paranoid about aftercare and shit, but not sure how seriously I should take it allā€¦ Iā€™m planning not to drink on Friday night. Am I meant to tip the artists as well? The internet seems divided on itā€¦

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#85

Keep your blood sugar up.
Tip your tattooist if you are happy with the service.

#86

Oh, as for aftercare - Simple soap to keep it clean, then Bepanthen or E45 to keep it moist during the healing process.

#87

Are you having the hop design done? Where are you going to have it?

Yes, tip your artist. Eat beforehand and stay hydrated. Youā€™ve presumably already got nappy cream so youā€™re reet for aftercareā€¦

#88

We only have Sudacrem, shall I get this other stuff? Itā€™ll be on the inside of my forearm, close to the elbow.

#89

I used Bepanthen on mine which worked well. Also works on cyclearsechaffing.

You going to a SE artist :fist:

#90

Shoreditch Iā€™m afraid.

#91

Youā€™re absolutely fine to drink afterwards if you want to. I knew absolutely zero about aftercare when I got my first one done (started freaking out completely when the dead skin/ink started coming off, as even the tattooer didnā€™t tell me that that would happen) so I bet youā€™ll be more than fine. Just ask your tattooer what they recommend. (I also recommend Bepanthen as @83746725 mentions).

My top tip is to just sit as still as possible. Most of the people who have tattooed me think I sit almost too still but Iā€™m just so afraid Iā€™ll suddenly move my arm/leg whatever if the needle hits a nerve or whatever, and Iā€™ll ruin the whole thing. The actual tattoo artists seem less concerned with this than I do though, so what do I know.

In summary: Youā€™ll be fine, donā€™t worry.

#92

Boooooo :-1:

In that case, Iā€™m going to imagine that youā€™re getting an anchor or some other shit sailor type tattoo :expressionless:

#93

any moisturiser will be fine, itā€™s just to stop big scabs forming and blurring the lines.

#94

Winking girl riding a bluebird (itā€™s the hop).

#95

I just bathed but kept the area dry for a week after. rubbed a bit of cream into it a few times a day for about a week too, and that was it. donā€™t think its particularly necessary mind.

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#96

The tattoist I use (Fleur Tufnell in Exeter, should any SW types want a recommendation) says to use Bepanthen as well (I actually used A&D, which is basically the same thing under a different brand name, a thick cream for nappy rash). I used that for four or five days, and then switched to a normal moisturiser once it healed over a bit. The most important thing is to keep it clean (use the most neutral soap you can find), and to avoid itching or picking at any scabs that may form (not all tattoos scab up - the big one on my upper arm barely scabbed at all). Itā€™ll start to peel after a few days like sunburned skin does, but donā€™t freak out, itā€™s normal, and all the important ink will still be locked in under the skin.

#98

Every time I go to the local swimming pool the proportion of people I see with tattoos is 60% and of that number 95% of the tattoos they have on display make me wince. Every time I go my resolve to never get a tattoo increases by 1%. Mathematically speaking itā€™s not happening

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#99

Donā€™t drink the night before coz youā€™ll bleed loads. Drink after coz it will hurt. I know a lot of tattoo artists have stopped recommending bepanthen coz the recipe has changed recently so it contains lanolin? now i think. Gfā€™s got loads of tattoos, one of her recent ones she used bepanthen on and it scabbed loads, but it used a lot of red ink which a lot of people have problems with. The two after that she let dry out on their own the first day, then used a specialist tattoo cream on and they were fine. Tldr: depends

#100

Been reading very mixed things about Bepanthen, though Iā€™m probably worrying too much. Might splash out for something called Hustle Butter the placeā€™s website recommends.

#101

ALso this is mostly based on her experiences coz Iā€™ve only got one tattoo