Tattoos... advice from those so adorned

[Alan D P]

Got this last spring from my guy in Anchorage. Two sessions about 5 hours total. View attachment 658174View attachment 658175

Terrific artwork (cape buff)!

 

[BigKev15]

Spoken like just about every person that’s ever been into tattoos. So much for individualism

You obviously misunderstood my post which is not uncommon for most !!!

 

[WyoBull]

Totally agree.

Post a picture of that necklace, @Tundra Tiger. It sounds really cool.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Post a picture of that necklace, @Tundra Tiger. It sounds really cool.

It is truly nothing special. A piece of a tusk. I cut it and sanded it smooth, drilled a hole, and put a 15 dollar braided leather necklace through it that I found on Amazon.

I didn't plan to hunt warthogs when I went over my first time. I had time left after I filled my package, so we decided to hunt warthog. We put on a looooong stalk on a group on a hillside, hiking to get the wind in our favor, and it was really warm out - at least to this fat Alaskan. When it happened, it happened fast. They spotted us and started clearing out quickly. Mine paused for just a millisecond, and I dropped him where he stood at a distance of 110 yards. I realized how much fun I had hunting them, and on my second trip I shot two more. Warthogs will likely be a part of every hunt going forward. Plus, they look cool.

In addition to the piece of tusk that is around my neck, I also found a fossilized tusk on the ground. It sits on my desk at work and also takes my mind back to that first trip.

Again, the necklace - unlike future tattoos, which will be covered - is worn outside where people can see it, and it's truly not about me, at all. It's for me, to remind me, and it opens up opportunities to talk about Africa, when people ask.

I get that some of you have been over there oodles of times, and you've hit the photo album stage. I hope to get there myself someday. As of now, I have only been over twice, and I still very much like the tangible reminders I have of seeing my lifelong dreams come true.

 

[WyoBull]

It is truly nothing special. A piece of a tusk. I cut it and sanded it smooth, drilled a hole, and put a 15 dollar braided leather necklace through it that I found on Amazon.

I didn't plan to hunt warthogs when I went over my first time. I had time left after I filled my package, so we decided to hunt warthog. We put on a looooong stalk on a group on a hillside, hiking to get the wind in our favor, and it was really warm out - at least to this fat Alaskan. When it happened, it happened fast. They spotted us and started clearing out quickly. Mine paused for just a millisecond, and I dropped him where he stood at a distances of 110 yards. I realized how much fun I had, and on my second trip I shot two more. Warthogs will likely be a part of every hunt going forward.

In addition to the piece of tusk that is my necklace, I also found a fossilized tusk on the ground. It sits on my desk at work and also takes my mind back to that first trip.

Again, the necklace - unlike future tattoos - is worn outside where people can see it, and it's not about me, at all. It's for me, to remind me, and it opens up opportunities to talk about Africa, when people ask.

I get that some of you have been over there oodles of times, and you've hit the photo album stage. I hope to get there myself someday. I have only been over twice, and I still very much like the tangible reminders I have of seeing a childhood dream come true.

View attachment 658699

That is very cool! Great memory from your trip. Thanks for sharing it.

 

[cls]

Being an old guy with tattoos that started 50 years ago at 17 to celebrate my first year of university and one each consecutive year up to graduation with my first degree. At 55, I had a tattoo done in memory of my best buddy when he passed on 12 years ago from a glioblastoma. Two years ago, I had another tattoo designed and executed to celebrate our survival and to cover the scars left behind from a highway speed head-on collision that my wife and I were in. Last year, I had my 50 year old tattoo refreshed. So here is my answer to the OP.
I) Go for it, and don't pay any attention to the Nancy naysayers on here.
2) Spend time looking for an artist who does the style you want done. Look at their work.
3) I interviewed the artist before committing. They should be open to consultation. If they are not open and honest, walk away.
4) Does the artist do custom work? I brought in sketches that my artist designed my last 2 tattoos from.
5) If you are not happy with the design, let them know. You are going to wear it the rest of your life.
6)If you are concerned about people's opinions, look at the location you want for the tattoo.
7)Also, the location will determine pain level. Ask the Tattooist about pain level for the location you want.
8)Aftercare is really important, follow the artist's direction. Stay out of the sun and away from dirt and sweat. It is an open wound, and things can go sideways.
9)Make sure the artist does free touch-ups after the healing process.
10)A good tattoo artist is not cheap... Spend the money now, not after you get a shitty result.
I hope this helps with your original question.
Good luck.

 

[Tanks]

FWIW, and I guess actually unrelated to decisions I will make about tattoos I will put on my own body, I think women with tattoos are HOT! A few have commented that they don't care for tattoos on women, so I thought I'd toss out my two cents on that tattoo related topic.

I have no issues with tattoos on women except for location. Face, neck, legs, past wrists, and chest are a turn-off. Other areas are fine and if tasteful could be pleasing to look at.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I have no issues with tattoos on women except for location. Face, neck, legs, past wrists, and chest are a turn-off. Other areas are fine and if tasteful could be pleasing to look at.

Roger that good sir: location is critical - I agree, though we have some small differences of opinion on listed locations.

 

[BigKev15]

Being an old guy with tattoos that started 50 years ago at 17 to celebrate my first year of university and one each consecutive year up to graduation with my first degree. At 55, I had a tattoo done in memory of my best buddy when he passed on 12 years ago from a glioblastoma. Two years ago, I had another tattoo designed and executed to celebrate our survival and to cover the scars left behind from a highway speed head-on collision that my wife and I were in. Last year, I had my 50 year old tattoo refreshed. So here is my answer to the OP.
I) Go for it, and don't pay any attention to the Nancy naysayers on here.
2) Spend time looking for an artist who does the style you want done. Look at their work.
3) I interviewed the artist before committing. They should be open to consultation. If they are not open and honest, walk away.
4) Does the artist do custom work? I brought in sketches that my artist designed my last 2 tattoos from.
5) If you are not happy with the design, let them know. You are going to wear it the rest of your life.
6)If you are concerned about people's opinions, look at the location you want for the tattoo.
7)Also, the location will determine pain level. Ask the Tattooist about pain level for the location you want.
8)Aftercare is really important, follow the artist's direction. Stay out of the sun and away from dirt and sweat. It is an open wound, and things can go sideways.
9)Make sure the artist does free touch-ups after the healing process.
10)A good tattoo artist is not cheap... Spend the money now, not after you get a shitty result.
I hope this helps with your original question.
Good luck.

I agree with you 100%, a good tattoo artist is not cheap and damn sure a cheap tattoo artist is not good !!! One usually gets what they paid for provided they did thier due diligence researching their artist !!!!!!!!!

 

[Sideshow]

Had to laugh when I was last in Germany and heard a lady referring to another lady that had bent over in the supermarket about the tattoo that showed across the top of her hips. Arschgeweih rough translation Ass antlers…..that made me laugh……

 

[Rafiki]

How about a nose ring.

 

[Boyd Brooks]

This is what frightens me about tattoos, illiterate tattoo artists!

 

[CBH Australia]

How about a nose ring.

Occasionally, yeah some can pull it off.

A pretty lady with an inconspicuous nose ring is still pretty.

Worst case they can be taken out or changed out.

 

[V.Veritas]

 

[CBH Australia]

 

[Inline6]

First off damn it man! Sorry to read about your divorce. My condolences, even when it needs to happen it's never fun.

Like others have said.

1. Artist have perfolios, look them over. Make sure their work will meet your standards. If you don't know a lot about ink. Study a lot of different work, you will start to see the difference in line work. Line work tells the story for myself. If it's blown out, that's not your person.

2. Find the people that specialize in what you want. That's a must, the artist doing what they are great at will thrive doing your work.

3. Build a relationship with them, most of the artists I know like to collect trinkets /collectibles of some type. Bring them a little something for their collection, it goes a long ways. If someone feels you get them, they are more likely to give it their best go.

4. Your tolerance for pain and your wallet. Most artist won't work more than 3-5 hours at a time. A good one is going to run between 180-250 an hour in bigger cities. ( some highly sought after artist bring in more. Not sure what that looks like in AK). Remember it is a life time investment! Then your body comes into play, what you can tolerate. Have watched people pass-out, it's not often. With that said your body will feel it depending on location on body and amount of time spent. My longest time span was 8 hours, the artist stop not I.

5. They can be very addicting, you have been warned!

 

[Boxlock]

Each to their own ,come close as a younger bloke to getting a tatt but real reason is I am too tight with money! but will spend on guns, I would get a rifle engraved before getting myself tattooed, a few mates have them but not for me, but if you want one go for it!

 

[Altitude sickness]

Military Officers don’t get tattoos
They do now.
I think the GWOT changed a lot of norms.

Since you have an affinity for Warthogs. Look for an artist that can do Polynesian or Samoan
“Tatau “ work.
They use a tool called an Au. It’s made from boars tusks.

 

[mdwest]

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Military Officers don’t get tattoos
They do now.
I think the GWOT changed a lot of norms.

Since you have an affinity for Warthogs. Look for an artist that can do Polynesian or Samoan
“Tatau “ work.
They use a tool called an Au. It’s made from boars tusks.

The tattoo I got in French Polynesian was traditionally applied… the artist used a sliver of a whale bone..

Pretty neat experience…