Tattoos

Its really not that bad but if you tell yourself its gonna hurt like hell then it probably will. People recommend sugary stuff to keep your energy levels up, when you start to flag and get tired is when it starts to hurt more but 2 hours isn't a big a deal.
As for headphones, it really depends on the artist.

^ +1. I find it helps to have a bite to eat beforehand.

Also, last time I was in there, Stuart was touching up a guy's palm tattoo. If it starts to hurt I'm just going to be thankful I wasn't that guy.

A friend of mine swears by 3 valiums...

I've got a friend who is literally covered in tattoos, for all his particularly painful ones (ribs, neck, hands etc) he drank an entire bottle of red wine beforehand. Not sure that's a great idea though.

Good point on headphones being a bit rude. Will take them just in case, and a magazine. The artist seems really cool, so I guess she'll be good to chat to.

Not too concerned about the pain at the moment, nerves are more about the actual fact I'm getting inked! Dead excited though

Had two, three hour sessions and just watching other artists working and what's going on in the shop is good enough. Then again not all shops will be like The Family Business, but still - surely you won't be that bored?! Its only three hours....

Watching the tattoo being done is pretty interesting tbh.
I liked being done at Prick on Old Street, loads of vintage action figures to play with, and Henry Hate happens to be fucking hilarious which helps.

I sometimes nap. If it's more than an hour or so.

I read a book for my last one. Being on the back of leg meant I was staring at a wall and couldn't really talk to the artist.

I had a rose tattooed up in my armpit today, was a bit stingy but not so bad. I also put a deposit down to get a mandala in my elbow ditch in a few weeks time. It'll be the first time I'll actually be able to watch the tattooing properly. I am excited/nervous about getting the crappiest part of my arm tattooed.

Caz, can I borrow some of your HTFU?

Elbows are fine.

^ that's good news, I'm sure it'll be better than I fear, it normally is.

TM, you've got a massive tattoo on your arm, I reckon your reserves of HTFU are fine haha!

I just can't bring myself to pop headphones in. Feels rude somehow. I like chatting tbh.

Yeah I was thinking, from the artists point of view, it could be taken as rudeness / ignorance...

Lots of people do this, it's not a problem.

I've got a friend who is literally covered in tattoos, for all his particularly painful ones (ribs, neck, hands etc) he drank an entire bottle of red wine beforehand. Not sure that's a great idea though.

Really? If he's covered he should know better. I turned up hung over to an appointment once and got a bollocking. Would have been sent away if I'd been drunk. Alcohol thinning the blood isn't proven, but even so, why run the risk? If you bleed more it makes it harder for the artist to work, you might need touch ups and you run a greater risk of infection. Plus, who in their right mind would get a permanent tattoo whilst pissed? Stupid idea, don't do it.

Elbows are fine.

Really? Right on the bone in the middle....it kills!

^^ To be clear, I'm speaking purely for myself here. I'm in no way saying people who do it are actually being rude or anything.

^ I got my elbow done for the first time in my last appt. and actually found over the bone in the middle hurt less than I expected but the vibration/buzzing going through your whole arm is really weird. The area immediately around the bone was pretty uncomfortable though.

It was worse than my 9hrs on the ribs

Just saying

Jeez. Really? I've got quite a bit more to go in that area so I guess we'll see if I revise my opinion.

Might have had something to do with the different needle sizes

Funny bone is the worst, but elbone, inner elbow, outside edge, all fine.
Vibrations are weird, and unpleasant.
Pain wise, you think it's worse than it really will be.
Take an ibuprofen or 2 for swelling, drink cherry cokes during the tat, profit.

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Take an ibuprofen or 2 for swelling, drink cherry cokes during the tat, profit.

Pussies

wow... first tatt ever done today - 2 1/2 hours of pain ranging from the very tolerable to the teeth-clenchingly, toe-curlingly nasty.

had a bottle of coke and a banana through the process to keep the energy levels up, was so ridiculously tired when it finished! have had to drink some rum this evening to kill off the buzz / pain.

pics to follow.

^ congratulations, bro. the pain is good, you learn to appreciate it.*

thanks man. was certainly not something i'll forget! am thinking about the next one already.... my bank balance is cringing with as much pain as i felt earlier.

was on the back of my calf which is relatively meaty (for a scrawny chap) - so fuck knows how peaple manage face / ribs / shins etc