For the tattooed folk...

[morrigen]

OK. I'm booked in for my first tattoo on thursday, at the rip old age of 33.

I'm absolutely *terrified*

So, I want to ask the age-old lame questions...

How much did it hurt, and what does it really feel like?

Thanks in advance for replies.

I'm so scared :blushake:

[FroggieThePunk]

It feels like a long vibrating cat scratch.

[Isil Darkmoon]

Mine, being on my ankle, felt like I was repeatedly knicking myself in the leg while shaving--not painful, but that irritating stinging feeling...

[HorseCrow]

Morrigen- I just had my first tattoo about 1½ months ago (and I'm 27). I was quite apprehensive and dreaded the pain- but you know what? I was SO surprised at how little it hurt. In fact I wouldn't even say that it hurt-hurt... it was more like when you get brushed by a thorny bush or scratched by a cat ( I got mine on the shoulder). And really only in the beginning- after a few minutes the skin goes numb, and a large part of my tattoo I actually could not feel at all. In fact it hurt so little that I do not even get the tiniest twicht thinking about the next time- in fact it's only my lack of a nice design that's keeping me from going again.
You have nothing to worry about.

[Philbo]

It feels like a long vibrating cat scratch.

Thats exactly what I was going to say!

[RubyRose]

Mine hurt like hell ... but that's what you get for having your first tattoo on your lower back ... and it mostly only hurt going over the spine ...

[HorseCrow]

A friend of mine had her first one on her ankle- she said that one hurt as well.

So Morrigen- pick a "meaty" area of your body to have your first one done!

[mucgwyrt]

I was told by a friend who had a tat (who got told this by the tattoo artist) that if you repeat over and over "it tickles" and just imagining it tickling rather than scratching, then it does. And it did, apparently :)

[Faery-Wings]

Hon, you had a baby- no comparison :lol:
I have 4- and none of mine hurt. However, I had two natural childbirths, so take it for what it is worth.

For me, the worst part of it is when it heals and itches. Especially the ones on my ankles when the hair grew in- aahhhhhh! I had a hairy scabby Mickey Mouse!

If you are really concerned, you can ask the artist to run the needle without ink first, just to get a feel for it.

And congrats! I would love another- but no money!

[HorseCrow]

For me, the worst part of it is when it heals and itches.

I totally agree! Especially the first couple of days, when it is also too sore to be rubbed. It feels like a sunburn.

[morrigen]

Hon, you had a baby- no comparison :lol:


You're absolutely right of course, and mine wasn't an easy labor. I guess it comes down to two things...1. I'm a coward...and 2.well, I'm a coward :D.

It's the anticipation that's killing me, annd the fear of the unknown.

I'm terrrified I'll be the first person to run out of the studio with 1/2 a tattoo, because I can't stand it anymore...or worse...that I'll back ouut and keep vacillating until I'm 90, and driving myself batty :lol:

I've been carrying this damn design around for 10 years...

Thanks everyone forr the replies, I feel a bit better...:)

[RubyRose]

You're absolutely right of course, and mine wasn't an easy labor. I guess it comes down to two things...1. I'm a coward...and 2.well, I'm a coward :D.

It's the anticipation that's killing me, annd the fear of the unknown.

I'm terrrified I'll be the first person to run out of the studio with 1/2 a tattoo, because I can't stand it anymore...or worse...that I'll back ouut and keep vacillating until I'm 90, and driving myself batty :lol:

I've been carrying this damn design around for 10 years...

Thanks everyone forr the replies, I feel a bit better...:)

You could always ask during the tattooing, to have a little break. I didn't but, every so often the tattoo artist, (she was female) paused, because I ended up crying so much because of the pain ... but now I look back on it it doesn't seem so painful (she says, until she gets her next tattoo)

[*Rain*]

Where are you getting it? That will make a difference to how much it will hurt.

I have one on my abdomen and one on my shoulder blade. I'd describe it as like a wasp sting or cigarette burn. It's like a scratching sensation that's quite sharp but I wouldn't describe it as painful, more just slightly uncomfortable but not unbearable. I believe the base of the spine and the feet are quite painful though.

If you've had the design for that long than you obviously want it and it's not that bad.

[LacyRoze]

I got my first tattoo last November at the ripe ole age of (gasp) 39..I agree with the others who said it felt like a vibrating cat scratch. I got mine on my shoulder and it really wasn't that bad. I was told that it's all about position. If you get one that's close to the bone it will hurt more. Now I'm a big wimp when it comes to pain but I wouldn't hesitate to have another one done and that's saying something!!

[Druchii]

It feels like a long vibrating cat scratch.

THAT is the best description I have heard! :) I hardly felt my first though. :)

[Nissala]

OK. I'm booked in for my first tattoo on thursday, at the rip old age of 33.

I'm absolutely *terrified*

So, I want to ask the age-old lame questions...

How much did it hurt, and what does it really feel like?

Thanks in advance for replies.

I'm so scared :blushake:


I had my first tattoo in April of last year at the ripe old age of 40! It is on my left ankle, and all I can say is it stung for a bit then felt like someone had injected novicaine in there...kind of numb feeling. Where are you getting yours (on your body), that could help others give a closer description of what to expect... Oh, and Congrats!

[Faeawyn]

For me, the worst part of it is when it heals and itches. Especially the ones on my ankles when the hair grew in- aahhhhhh! I had a hairy scabby Mickey Mouse!


:rotfl: :rotfl:

[SylverStar]

Oh I just got one done a week ago. Hey for new tattoos. This one hurt alot less than my other one. Probably cause of the artist and placement of the tatoo. My newest one is on the back of my neck. It itches like hell though. *resists scratching* but weee new tattoo. I found that most just as soon as the pain really bothers me the artist lifts the tattoo and the pain resides. It's pretty much a series of that until the tattoo is done.

[soilsigh aingeal]

I have three.
1. Probably three inches in diameter and it hurt like hell the whole time. It was 7 years ago and I can't remember what exactly that one felt like
2. again, 3-4 inches diameter and this one is on my calf. After a few minutes, like someone else said, that area went numb because of the vibrations. I giggled the rest of the time for that one.
3. on the small of my back about, well I don't know how big it is because I can't see it. :lol: but it hurt really bad. I stuck through it the whole time, I had to hold my breath and take breaths every 30 seconds or so, so I wouldn't move and the guy wouldn't mess up. I kept forgetting to breath when he would stop because I was so focused on the pain and I damn near passed out.

As long as you can keep your mind off of the pain somehow, you'll do wonderfully. And you have kids. Really, I don't think a long labor could compare to the pain of a tatoo gun. Especially if your labor and contractions were anything like mine. You'll do fine! I'm getting ready to find someone to start drawing up my next one and add to the one I have on my back, it'll have to be bigger and I'm afraid I'll be one of those people who walk around with half of their art done for a week or so becaues I'm a big baby when it comes to pain and if I can stop it, I will! You can't stop babies from coming out :lol:

[Lady Jade]

Personall, I had 2 done within the last month or so. The one on the back of my shoulder was the first and smallest (about 3x3), the pain was almost pleasurable. It was a simple tatoo with minimal detail and outlining and took about 2 hours. The other tatoo is another story, it was large and detailed (6x8) and I got it on my upper arm. It took 4+ hours to do and there was extensive detail. After the 3rd hour, I was ready to be finished. All that detail and the needle going back over the same spots again and again really made this tatoo hurt and the healing was longer and more painful too.

Just choose your spot carefully and ask for some pain relief/distraction from your guides. My fairy went with me the first time, that's why I think it hardly hurt.

Be sure to post a pic when you are all done!

[DebLipp]

The major variant is the part of the body. Thin skin over bone (ankles, elbows), "soft underbelly" (armpit), and major nerve endings (base of spine) hurt, soft tissue and big muscles (outer arm, outer thigh, back of neck, breast) don't hurt.

Just remember that you can control your pain. Relax voluntary muscles; open your jaw, your fingers, and wiggle your toes. Also remember that low deep moans relax muscles and move pain OUT, high-pitched sounds tighten muscles and hold pain IN. So if you need to, moan don't shriek.

[samiaminsane]

Don't worry, it's not so bad. The only ones that really bothered me were the 2 on my back, because they run across my spine. Other than that, the shading sometimes bothers me, not because it's too painful, just that after awhile it gets irritating. Everyone is different though. Some people think I'm crazy because I say it doesn't hurt.

[DixieWitch]

I have 4 tattoos...the one that hurt the worse was the purple rose right about my right boob. The one on my ankle felt like a sun burn as did the one on my right shoulder blade. The one on the inside of my right arm, my name in Japanse, took not even 5 minutes and was done before it could even start hurting. I think each person is different. Depends on your threshold of pain. I've had 2 children with no medication, so there's my pain threshold!!!
Where are you getting it? As weird as it sounds, I read for my first 3 tattoos! I jsut picked up a magzine in the shop and read!! Kept me from not focusing on the pain!! Good luck!! Once it's over, you'll look back and ask yourself why you were so worried!!!

[savannahrose44]

What image are you getting...out of curiousity. :p

[luna rising]

It's not so bad. Four of my seven are on my spine, and the only time it hurt was when the artist had to branch out into areas where I was ticklish. If you keep it moist during the healing process, it won't be too bad then either - at its worst it will feel like a sunburn.

I assume you will be posting pics, eh? :)

[Mab]

It feels like a long vibrating cat scratch.

Well put!!

[Gwenhwyfar]

I have a daisy on the back of my neck and It didnt hurt at all, but my other ones felt like someone drawing on my skin with a razor...ya, it hurt like a *&^%*

[witchsmacked]

The one on my ankle didn't hurt very much. The one on my lower back hurt more, but not nearly as bad as I thought it would.

Some tips for you--

Don't take anything before. Some people may advise you to take Alieve or Tylenol, but wait until after. Some of those will make your bleed more. Definitely don't take any kind of sedative, or painkillers or drink alcohol.

If you can bring a friend with you, do so. Having someone talk to you will take your focus off the pain. Also, sometimes watching them do it will make it WORSE. It did for me.

Find an object to focus on, or a person or something to keep you not focused on the pain. If you do yoga, breathing will help.

The noise is more annoying, at least to me, than the feel of the needles. Maybe bring a portable CD player or something to keep the noise blocked out.

Good luck!

[Kalika]

"A long vibrating cat scratch"

Is definitely the best definition I've heard!

Totally depends on where you get it as to how painful it is - also depends on your pain tolerance level I think.

The healing process was the worst for me... I always want to scratch! But definitely DO NOT.

It'll be worth it - just go in there, tell em you're a little scared - most likely they'll try and put you at ease and talk to you through the whole thing, and before you know it, its done, and you have a new peice of art! :)

What are you getting, or do you know?

[CloakofStars9]

http://mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=22137&highlight=tattoo


check out my tatt thread, lots of good info :hugz:

[earthprincess]

:woot:

i loved getting my first tat... im gonna warn ya its addicting!!
i have to keep myself out of the tat shop so i dont walk out with a full body tat...

good luck and have fun... tats are great!!!!

bb
Earthprincess

[CaitrionaMorgaine]

Just thought I'd throw my two cents in here...

I got my done 9 months ago. I thought it would hurt a lot more than it did. I focused on keeping myself relaxed via breathing exercises. My best friend says that I looked "so zen" when I got my tattoo. It wasn't very bad at all. If you need a break, just ask for one. Your artist should be willing to work with you.

For me, it felt more like being written on with a hot ink pen than a cat scratch.

Avalon's Blessings, ~Rhiannon

[Yasmine Galenorn]

I have numerous, very numerous tattoos and most of them are *very* big. Some hurt a little bit--some hurt like hell. Depends on where you get them, how big they are, what shape your body is in (health-wise), how much sleep you've been getting, etc., etc., and your personal tolerance to pain.

I just got a new one yesterday--almost three hours in the chair for it. A lot of work, my arm hurts like hell, but it's looking nice and the pain will go away...most of it's muscle pain now, because the body part goes into shock--you're getting scarred, really, punctured by a lot of little needles a whole lot of times. After a couple hours, you kinda lose touch with the pain until the numbness goes away and then it comes back.

I wrote about this in one of my books. I've done a lot of research. Some important caveats:

Don't drink or take aspirin for a day or so before hand, both cause excess bleeding.
Scarf the antioxidents and protein for a few days before and during the healing process, it will speed it up.
My tattooist has me use Bacitracin Zinc ointment on it, keep it lightly moist for two weeks until it's done healing.
Don't go out in the sun or soak in water or go swimming for two weeks. Don't scratch--when it itches during healing, and it will--give it a good swift slap and that will take away the itch.

MAKE SURE YOUR TATTOOIST HAS AN AUTOCLAVE AND THAT S/HE USES IT. I cannot STRESS this enough. If they don't, or if they won't show it to you, walk out that door and don't look back. You can get a lot of nasty bugs from unsterilized needles and some of those bugs can kill you.

I'm happy with my new one, I love it, and now just have to let it heal. I was petrified before my first but you know what? What pain I have, I give to the gods as a gift for the honor of wearing the tattoo I'm getting (since mine are all spiritually based). It's my payment, my dues I pay. And if you use breathing techniques--inhale before the needle hits a painful spot (thin skin, over bone) then breathe out as the pain comes in, it's much easier.

Yasmine :colorful: (And congratulations in advance!).

[Yasmine Galenorn]

I have a daisy on the back of my neck and It didnt hurt at all, but my other ones felt like someone drawing on my skin with a razor...ya, it hurt like a *&^%*

That's the thing--some hurt more than you thought, some don't hurt as much...a lot can depend on what your general health is going in. I always detox well before a tattoo and make sure to load up on protein and antioxidents which speed healing.

For me, I've likened the painful ones to being stung by lots of little bees over and over and over again.

Yasmine

[NivekDrgnMage]

I have 6 tats one on the inner thigh, one on each forearm, one on my back, one on the back of my neck and one on the side. Side of the neck and back caused the most pain, but was bearable.
Then you have my wife who tends to fall asleep in the chair....:)

[larry]

I would like to get meat tags on my left rib cage. if I get to go on leave how is that area, any advise.
Meat tags are my identification tags. Also I have a design in my head, but all I can draw is stick figures, and not all that well i might add. Will the artist draw it for me if I describe it to him or her?

[morrigen]

Wow...thanks for all the awesome advice, everyone. COS, I will check out your thread. Yasmine, thanks for the experienced advice....all of you guys, you've all been very helpful.

Well. It turns out because of my allergies (mainly metal derivatives like cobalt and silverr salts) about the only ink I will be able to use is black...maybe...

Black is mostly carbon, but does have some iron oxides (unlike colors, which are morre strongly metal based). So.

Instead of getting it done tomorrow, my tattoist has suggested a topical patch test first. If that goes well, she doesn't want to leap into a large tat, because a topical test isn't 100%, and I might still react once the ink is in my skin...so she's suggested a small tat to start.

Which is ok, because I have had a few ideas for other ones anyway...it just means I have to change
the order in which I get them.

Soo. The big design is a winged cat, in black silhouette...for Monty of course :)

The little one will be an Eye of Ra (left eye. Right eye is Horus).

The eye will be midway up on the side of my left calf, the winged cat will be on my right arm.

So. Not tomorrow now. Probably Saturday, if the 1st allergy test gos well.

The anticipation.....gah....

but I shall follow all of your good advice, and things shall be well :)

[Faery-Wings]

Oh wow, I never thought about allergies. I wanted my belly button pirerced, but I am allergic to a lot of metals and decided it wasn't worth it. Sounds like your artist is on the ball with doing the test/small tat first.

Good luck hon!

[Yasmine Galenorn]

Oh wow, I never thought about allergies. I wanted my belly button pirerced, but I am allergic to a lot of metals and decided it wasn't worth it. Sounds like your artist is on the ball with doing the test/small tat first.

Good luck hon!

If you are allergic to metals, then think twice about it. My niece can't even wear platinum, or gold, or silver...her wedding ring turns her hand nasty shades of color and makes her break out. She can't wear necklaces, earrings, much of anything.

Putting metal THROUGH your body, when allergic, is probably not a good idea.

I'm lucky--I have a LOT of bad allergies, but have never reacted to the tattoo ink that my tattooist uses. I guess that I lucked out that way, and when I first started getting them, never even thought about it until a friend reacted to ink (and then to the bacitracin ointment she was using to heal her tattoo).

Yasmine :colorful:

[Aurin]

Neither of my tattoo's hurt -- but WHERE you get ink will help determine how much pain is involved... Over bone = worse, over "meat" = much more bearable.

My mom got her first tattoo earlier this year... she's 40 something (Yes, I know, I'm a horrible child for not knowing how old my mother is :-P ).

She got a fairly large sized one on her thigh ... she laughed the whole way through =).

[coyoger]

OK. I'm booked in for my first tattoo on thursday, at the rip old age of 33.

Well, I got my first one when I turned 30. It all depends on where I suppose. I got mine down my spine. Tailbone up to about midback. This was a bad idea. My back is the most senstive part of my body. I gritted my teeth, held my hands til they turned white and took it like a woman. Yes, parts of it hurt, but for the most part it was just my ticklish back. I would jump and squirm and am amazed it all came out ok!

But what people have said so far is right. For the most part it becomes back-ground noise. Like a cat scratch. And remember, it's temporary pain! It will hurt about a week, then it's there, you'll look great and feel hot and sexy. Well worth it!

Go You! :colorful:

[Black RiverWolf]

Wow...thanks for all the awesome advice, everyone. COS, I will check out your thread. Yasmine, thanks for the experienced advice....all of you guys, you've all been very helpful.

Well. It turns out because of my allergies (mainly metal derivatives like cobalt and silverr salts) about the only ink I will be able to use is black...maybe...

Black is mostly carbon, but does have some iron oxides (unlike colors, which are morre strongly metal based). So.

Instead of getting it done tomorrow, my tattoist has suggested a topical patch test first. If that goes well, she doesn't want to leap into a large tat, because a topical test isn't 100%, and I might still react once the ink is in my skin...so she's suggested a small tat to start.

Which is ok, because I have had a few ideas for other ones anyway...it just means I have to change
the order in which I get them.

Soo. The big design is a winged cat, in black silhouette...for Monty of course :)

The little one will be an Eye of Ra (left eye. Right eye is Horus).

The eye will be midway up on the side of my left calf, the winged cat will be on my right arm.

So. Not tomorrow now. Probably Saturday, if the 1st allergy test gos well.

The anticipation.....gah....

but I shall follow all of your good advice, and things shall be well :)


hey i am also strongly allergic to metals and i have used the color purple in mine with no problems. i have 8 and so far the one the heut the most were in the muscles on the side of my neck and my lower back but other than that i love the little tingly feeling that it gives. if the artist has a radio concetrate on the or i brign my zippo lighter to flip back and forth.

[blugirrl1]

I think it feels differently to everyone and things such as part of body, needle size ( i.e outline, or color) out of all mine ( 14 right now ) my most painful was my chest piece, and i think bonier area is def. more painful, but i don't really think that they are all that bad. just take a deep breath and focus on something. i prefer music. but the faery i got last weekend i read a book through most of her. good luck. :)

[morrigen]

AAAAARRRRRGGGHHHHH.....

Right.

So, after alll that fuss, we did the topical allergy test with the ink and I came up with a nice red rash.

-sigh-

So. No tattoos for me, bacause I'm allergic to the iron oxide in the ink.

I was all hyped up and scared and excited and, and, and...... everything....and now I can't get it/them.

I'm feeling really let down :sadeyes:

[soilsigh aingeal]

:hugz:

[LadyTrinity]

my girl friend andrea got a winnie the pooh done on her shoulder and cried through the entire tattoo. She nagged that she wasnt getting another one done lol

[NivekDrgnMage]

I have 6 tats one on the inner thigh, one on each forearm, one on my back, one on the back of my neck and one on the side. Side of the neck and back caused the most pain, but was bearable.
Then you have my wife who tends to fall asleep in the chair....:)

ROFL Oppps! I forgot to count my wedding ring which is a little green Dragon which green is my wifes fav color and she has a little blue Dragon which is my Fav color. :) So I have 7 total.

[Faery-Wings]

AAAAARRRRRGGGHHHHH.....

Right.

So, after alll that fuss, we did the topical allergy test with the ink and I came up with a nice red rash.

-sigh-

So. No tattoos for me, bacause I'm allergic to the iron oxide in the ink.

I was all hyped up and scared and excited and, and, and...... everything....and now I can't get it/them.

I'm feeling really let down :sadeyes:

Oh poo. :(

Not that this is permanent, but you should think about getting thatt henna/mendhi (?) done. You know, the stuff that they can paint on your hands or feet, or whereever. I have heard it does last a while.

Erg- that bites. :(

[coyoger]

So, after alll that fuss, we did the topical allergy test with the ink and I came up with a nice red rash.
So. No tattoos for me, bacause I'm allergic to the iron oxide in the ink.
I was all hyped up and scared and excited and, and, and...... everything....and now I can't get it/them.


Saoory to hear that! but you don't have to fear it anymore right? Henna lasts about a week with proper care, and there are other methods. (natural dyes) But short of going to the islands, that's not gonna happen. *hugs*

[morrigen]

Thanks guys.

I was doing henna there for a whlle, but the last lot caused me to rash up.


Mind you I put cloves in the last batch to darken it, so it might have just been that. I really should make another batch, sans cloves.

It's so weird. I don't react at all to the nasty stuff in hair dye or makeup. I have no problem with harsh chemicals or common food allergens...just metal salts, and some of the more natural irritants (such as cloves, apparently) And it's always contact allergies...always on my skin.

I should be grateful it's not something like anyphalactic peanut reactions or somesuch, really.
Yes.
That really put it in perspective :)

Thanks for your support, guys. :hugz:

[FIREDRAGON]

I just had to tell you about my tattoos. I have three. The first one that I got was a purple rose on my left upper breast. That hurt and I was scared because I didn't know what to expect. I actually passed out because I unconsiously was holding my breath. The second one I got was a butterfly on my right ankle. This did not hurt at all. Being on my ankle you would think that it would. My third one is on my right shoulder on my back. It is purple flowers with red hearts and green vines. This took a bit longer than the others, because it is the biggest and it was parts of several tattoos put together. I couldn't find one that I liked but a bunch of parts that I liked and the guy said he would fix it for me the way I wanted. It is really pretty and I get a lot of compliments about it. I think they are additive. I keep thinking what I want my next one to be. I enjoy having them and it makes me feel pretty.