Okay, I have one tattoo, a small one on my back. It took about 15 minutes. Im going in tomorrow for my mac daddy, dream tat, full color photograph of my eye between my shoulder blades.

How do you go in for your tats? Do people really use the anethetic cream? You cant go in drunk around here, they wont touch you. But if you happen to be one who has a ton of tats, do you just go in and bust out the skin?

I have a very high pain tolerance, had both my kids with no drugs, 36 hrs of labor with one and 9 with the other. Broke and dislocated my ankle, sat in the ER for 4 hours, they relocated it with no drugs (FUN!) then I had surgery on it and spent 3 days in the hospital attached to a morphine pumo I only used once

Why am I scared out of my wits about this tat?

After about the first 5 minutes, your pain sensors shut off due to overload, so from there on to about the 3 hour mark, you really don't feel much.

just go in and bust out the out the skin. last one i got took 8 hours. and yes use the cream!

i dont know why you are psyching yourself out...i love tattoos and the pain...i have four but am getting many more....theyre very addicting and i dont go in any way but sober...i have a total of 12 hours work on me....

bacitracian for at least the first 3 days while it heals.. dont let it get dry basically. and then aveeno unscented lotion for a few weeks after.

I have one on my hip -- hurt like hell; but I really wanted it and I also have a high pain tolerance. If you got through child birth this should be easy for ya hun

just grin and bare it!!!! its all good.....in the end!

Yea, thats what they tried to tell me the first time. I was okay until they hit my sides, then it was this horrible burning. And I just had one color, just writing the first time. This time its outline, multiple colors. And Santana has a reputation as a "digger" but a damn good artist and his tats dont fade...prob because they are in your bones. lol

Im toally stoked about this one. Its a photo I took of my eye, with a treble clef in it. I'm pretty sure its in my profile. My artist is playing with the clef, he doesnt like it, wants to put it in my pupil.

i checked it out and i think it will be kewl....i would prolly put the clef in the center of the pupil like he said...i think that would make it

Kravvyn-- the pain increases in places where there is a higher concentration of either body fat or nerves/arteries. Shoulders and upper body parts are usually less painful. I's very strongly advise against using ANY tattoo care that your artist does not recommend. It's there for life- take good care of it.

Your body's endorphins kick in after a while, about ten minutes into the tattoo. Some people get the work done specifically for the "high" they get off the pain. As far as pain goes though, location is the biggest factor. A place like your ankle, wrist, sternum, or other bony area with thin skin will give you the most trouble. Fleshy ares like the lower back and upper arm are supposedly the least painful. So...for a tat between the shoulder blades you should expect a mid-grade pain-hurting more especially on the area over the spine. I was terrified of my first tattoo, but once it gets going you just get in the mindset that you're in for the long haul and you have to ride it out. I'm sure you'll be just fine...maybe even addicted!

i have a very detailed turtle with a rose on its back across the top of my left foot and there is basically no meat there...it hurt alot at first but then it got easier to deal with

I have 2 tubs of Nuttbutter given to me by the guy whos doing the tat. Hes a good friend of mine, which is another reason Im going to him. Im totally stoked, still think I like the clef in the side, it takes up all the white space, doesnt clutter the beauty of my eye. Yea Im vain, the pic has been around for a while and as a photographer, I name my shots. That one is "So vain." And music is my life so I dont want to take anything away from the clef.

The next one will run up my side, its a statement in italian with music notes and stars.

As Poly said, your endorphins kick in quickly enough. I think part of the worry is over the art itself, both the expectation, and the possibility of disappointment. It gets transfered to the worry about the pain because you can measure that. :)

Tips:

Eat before hand. You need the energy and your blood sugar needs to be stable.

Take a sugary drink in with you. Sports iso drink or similar. Sip if you need to, during the tatt, but definitely after. You may be a little shaken.

Other than that, enjoy it!

I want to see pics when it's done. :)

Well, I don't have the high tolerance for child birth and going drug free, especially since my son had to be induced. When I got my tattoo, it was nothing compared to child birth, to say the least. However, it wasn't done in a drunken stupor either, which is smart, because the bleeding is different. Listen to some good Celtic music and tune out the pain. Mine was done in my own living room.

And absolutely do make sure to use the cream that's recommended to care for it. Some people asked me...what if you don't like your tattoo after several years? Well, they didn't know me well enough, apparently, because I still like it and always will. Nothing's gonna change that.

Yea there is a concern about it not turning out the way I see in my head. But Santana is one of the best, hes been around a long time and hes a nice guy. Hes excellent at portrait work.
I have a one year rule, I keep and idea or design for a year to make sure I still like it. My first tat was my name on my lower back. My mom asked what I was going to get that I wouldnt regret when Im 60...my name =)And that way the guys behind me know who I am. lol.

This one is a photo I took, of my favorite feature of mine, with my passion incorperated. And it will also be on my back, so I dont have to see it if I dont want to. And now the guys behind me will know Im watching them...heeeehheee

After the 7th or 8th....ya hardly notice it!!!!!
I like the tat design!!!!

Im sure Ill get to that point. I wanted a gemini sign behind my ear and "live laugh Love" on my wrist...but now I have a new job and I cant have visibles. I also told my mom Id get a chili pepper for her, he is my hero and she totally has a thing for the southwestern lifestyle and native american culture. AND i have an idea for a big back piece I want, but I need a good artist to draw it up...I have NO artistic ability outside of photoshop.