Tattoos

If yoga and pole dancing has taught her anything in life it’s pain management and how to disassociate with the world around you 😅😅

I generally try to time my breathing with the rhythm of the artist refilling the needle etc. only really managed it with Malice as we know eachother well enough that she knows what I can handle and I know how long it takes before she needs to dip for more ink.
No way I’d let an artist I didn’t already know near my other armpit for example lol.

Breathing with the needle has got me through quite a few rough spots over the years. For my very worst bits (up around the groin, and over the hips) I have used Ametop, which the artist spreads on then wraps for a bit while working on an easier area and then unwraps to work on. Honestly works a charm, although it does make my skin go red for a few days afterwards.

In the worst bits I close my eyes and visualise the pain like a ball of white light, swelling as the pain grows, and shrinking as it subsides. Oh, and I habitually chew gum throughout a session.

So… hands… who’s got them done?

I’ve got a finger/knuckle but not done them properly yet. Soon.
I have to wear gloves at work so would need to time it with being able to take a week or so off.

Really want my palms as well lol

Looking forward to see this finished!

I have backs of my hands and bits of knuckles. One day session, one half day of touch ups. Truly grim.

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I just got two tattoos today, it’s been over 10 years since my last one. Have complete forgotten how I use to heal my tattoos.

What moisturiser/lotion are people using for healing?

Bepanthen was always my go to when I still lived in the UK. Absolutely no Vaseline under any circumstance.

Probably still coconut oil, palmers is the usually recommended brand, just make sure it's unscented.

+1 for bepanthen
Although when I got a tattoo from Tim Taylor he gave me a pot of 'hustle butter' which worked very well.

think they changed the formula for bepanthen making it not really suitable any more. if memory serves they have a specific product for tattoos now. hustle butter is v good and smells amazing but is spenny for the amount you get. Palmers is def the way to go.

Would also go with Palmers's. Very easy to use compared to Bepanthen (which I think is not really recommended anymore).

Another vote for Palmers here. Has given me no issues over lots of large scale blackwork.

Thanks for the replies. Just bought some Palmers. Should I start using it straight away?
The artists did give me aftercare advice, which I promptly forgot on the train home.

Yeah presumably you've taken any covering off and given it a good wash by now so I'd start applying it now as and when.

you'll get different advice from different people but basically give it a gentle wash and moisturise a few times a day. I like to keep them covered by cling film for a few days and others prefer to let them air out, I've also seen people say they like to let them scab over as soon as possible rather than keeping moist. It's hard to fuck it up, just don't scratch it or wash too vigorously.

Like what sumo says, it's fairly hard to fuck them up other than picking scabs or getting infected. I have used all sorts of stuff that apparently I shouldn't have and every tattoo I have healed well, colour and B+G. I have one I got when I was 16 that I healed with nothing whatsoever. Left the tattoo studio with tissue paper taped over the tattoo and ditched it 20 mins later. Didn't moisturise or clean once.

Best advice I got is “whatever works best for your skin” I suffer with psoriasis so healing tattoos is a slow process for me with plenty of potential for flare ups.
I use bepanthen on day1 then usually just Palmers or straight coconut oil from there onwards.

As others have said- don’t fuck around with it and you’ll probably be fine.

Dang, shame to hear about Bepanthen changing. This side of the pond, I use something called Aquaphor which is not available in the UK I don't think and its really great. However I recently started using 'Tattoo Goo' and its been really great. There's an anti bac wash, an immediate care thing and then a lotion to start putting on after a few days. The lotion really helps with itching, which nothing else has ever soothed or really helped with. Was great for my stomach.

I used to use bepanthen after a few days of washing and cling film. One of my artists gave me some hustle butter and I’ve switched to using that now.

Thanks again for all the replies. Now for my next question…

Is it a bad idea to go ride my bike in the sun with a tattoo that is a week old? It’s on my thigh and my bib shorts don’t fully cover it up.

YMMV but my tattoos are still incredibly sensitive to the sun until fully healed - as in it hurts if they are in direct sun - so I personally wouldn’t do that.

Is it a bad idea to go ride my bike in the sun with a tattoo that is a week old

Yes

I may have semi-impulsively had some work done (been thinking about it for years, decided a week ago, had it done today). I also forgot/muddled all the aftercare talk once I left the place.

I have EZ Tattoo film to keep on for 4 days (unless it leaks in which case remove pronto), have to remove it by pulling downwards on day 4 then wash & pat dry and start to use cream, he showed me hustle butter as his preferred choice but also mentioned the bepanthen too.

Have I missed owt?

Reassuring to read above that it is hard to get wrong, although if anyone can disprove that, then rhb can.

All sounds fine, but when removing any kind of second skin, please do so under warm water in the shower. Taking it off without warm water is IMO crazy and there's no need.