Hellloooooo tattoo! (Nette; IRC)

[bubosquared]

Running commentary on my day will resume in a moment. I simply didn't feel like doing this the long way. So, tattoo. Woohoo.

It was a bit of a hassle to get the design I had for the tatt to the right size, which I hadn't realised I was supposed to do. So it was half past ten by the time I got back to the tattoo shop, and then i had to wait almost an hour for the customer before me to finish. For all my hyperactive nervousness during the afternoon, I was rather calm while waiting. I read in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone [for research purposes, of course], I looked around if maybe I could find the cat design I'm still looking for [no luck], I got msgs from Steve.

Then I got into the chair. The guy applied the design, I checked in the mirror, and it looked fine. He prepared the needle. I stuffed my [right] hand in my mouth and concentrated on my breathing, which is the only thing I know always works when I'm in pain.

The first few minutes, the pain was ... bad, but not unbearable. I'd say about a notch or two up from the pain I usually experience at the dentist's. [Local anesthesia doesn't work on my lower cheek.] Then, the endorphines and the adrenalin kicked in and the pain shifted to the background, ebcause I had this overwhelming sense of "Oh my god, what am i doing? This is going to be on my body forever! Nooo! Stop! I changed my mind!" but of course by then it was too late to chicken out.

And anyway, when it was done and I got to look at it in the mirror, it looked cool. I like. I don't regret it at all.

I just wish it'd stop aching. Owie. Nobody told me the pain afterwards was worse than the pain during. Bastards.

Anyway. From now on, until the day I die, there is going to be on the upper part of my upper left arm, this:

Comments

[zero3kid.livejournal.com]

Ouch ouch ouch...sounds like my first tattoo...except your had so much more black! The needles that apply the black go deeper into the skin, so they hurt more!

ouch....

[bubosquared.livejournal.com]

They do? Did not know that. I thought it would be less painful than other tattoos because it's on my arm. It wasn't even that bad, you know, once the endorphines kicked in. Although next time, I'm bringing someone with me to have a hand to squeeze, to distract me from the doubts, and to babble to afterwards. If only so I don't have the urge to stop random strangers in the street and tell them "Yo. I have a tattoo. I'm butch. I'm tough." Especially since, you know, this place is in the middle of, um the prostitution area and all.

Tattoo you!

[minette.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on the kick-ass tattoo, Melle. It looks very cool and it's very appropriate. ;) Glad you finally got it done.

Re: Tattoo you!

[bubosquared.livejournal.com]

Me too. *grin* And you know, it's true what they say, it is addictive. I'm already planning like 6 more. [Kitty skeleton on right leg, celtic knot on lower back, something down the outside of my left thigh, wolf paw print on left breasts and something around my navel, and I want something with an owl and something with a crucifix.] Help?

[(Anonymous)]

Damned lucky thing, you are. I'm counting the minutes till my tatts get done in July. Two full sleeves. Good thing I've got the pain tolerance of a brick wall, eh?

Needless to say, yours looks fucking cool - I envy you :)

Ta

[bubosquared.livejournal.com]

I'm planning more already. Damn; this is addictive. What are yours going to be of? And are you gonna have both arms done at once?

Re: Ta

[(Anonymous)]

The sleeves are gonna be solid black with and ivy design cut out in white (well, untattooed flesh, anyway - which is pretty close to white in my case :) on the top, or outside of my arms, and the underside will have the ivy design sort of taper out and in black-grey shading have two picture-type designs (one for each forearm)... one is confirmed to be a dragon, and the other will (probably) be a Haida rendering of a killer whale....

Okay, that makes very little sense, but, uh, it's hard to explain :)

And, well, it should take (by my calculations from having watched a couple of people get tattooed) around six hours or so... I'd be willing to do it in one sitting, but I don't know if the artist will agree :)

Re: Ta

[bubosquared.livejournal.com]

It made sense to me. :) And if you're gonna do it in one sitting, be sure to program a few lazy days afterwards. My arm was really stiff the day after, and I only got a bit done.