I am thinking about getting a s ake tattoo . . .

[SquamishSerpents]

brightly colored tattoos should NOT require regular touch-ups, if they are done well. there are a lot of artists out there who just should not be allowed to go anywhere NEAR a person with a needle, let alone needle and ink.

the biggest part of deciding on a tattoo is make sure you go to a shop that you feel comfortable and safe in. it should look clean, smell clean, and BE clean! generally good, clean, trustworthy shops will have much better artists than a shop that looks yucky. but don't get me wrong, this is just a generalization. even the most tidy shop could still have a very shoddy artist. that brings me to my next point. before you choose an artist, make sure you see LOTS of their work. and NOT just fresh work! a tattoo will always look brighter and better when first finished. you need to see healed work too - sometimes they can go too deep and all the ink could blowout and end up ``bleeding`` which looks really horrible.

also a good reason not to get it too small, is because if you get a little tattoo, it could potentially take up a lot more room than the actual image. say you want a tattoo on your right shoulder, but one day you decide to get a piece that goes right across your back...well, you kind of can`t, unless the artist is willing (and able) to do a cover-up.

a tip about snake tattoos: my artist said he`s done a handful of snakes, and they look better without scales. scales make them look too busy. and here`s mine:



it`s an anery corn snake

[NorthernRegius]

My first tattoo had crap ink. At the end of 20 years it had all but completely faded away, it was done while I was in Okinwawa Japan in the early '80s.

Now the inks are much better & they stay bright too, I found a great artist & had her do a redo on it. I was so happy with the result I got a few more. Just make sure that you get an artist who has done reptile tats before & is comfortable. My person here specializes in Celtic, tribal & Asian stuff.

If I ever add a reptile tat, she told me she would recommend a guy she knows for that... gotta love someone who's so good at what they do & honest they would do that. Definitely see a sample of work & get the right person so you'll be happy with the result.

[Buttons]

I personally love back tattoos... I completely agree that a "too small" tattoo would be disappointing... Make sure they do a detailed drawing of the tattoo and allow you to take a really good look at it before its made permanent- Don't let them rush you no matter what!! Also, eat a light meal a little bit before having the tattoo done, you don't want to go on an empty stomach or on a really full stomach.

You may also want to take into consideration that brightly coloured tattoos will require touchups throughout your life. (You probly already know that )
I demand pics if you end up getting your tattoo!!

A properly done and cared for tattoo shouldn't need touchups. I have yellow on me that's 10+ years old and still as bright as the day I got it.

[euphuistical]

Yeah I already found a nice clean shop with a really good artist and he has done some animal and reptile work (I looked through his folders a d saw so many wolves howling at the moon it was painful).

I'll make sure to ask him a lot of questions before getting it done (which I a
at like 60% sure I am).

[Neal]

A properly done and cared for tattoo shouldn't need touchups. I have yellow on me that's 10+ years old and still as bright as the day I got it.

Actually, you're information is quite inaccurate well partially, not about the cared for, that was accurate. The shop can be the best in the business, sometimes you need touchups sometimes you don't. Some people don't follow directions, and don't properly care for it, others may make an honest mistake and try to peel the skin off, and in some cases i've seen to where it messes up the line, makes it almost seem like they skipped a spot. It happens, different things happen, and people are all different. I had a guy that goes on tours do the tattoo on my chest(dragon) and about the time it was peeling, I peeled a bit off by the very tip of the tail, and it looks almost like he missed a spot, which he didn't it was my own fault due to peeling.

[Neal]

brightly colored tattoos should NOT require regular touch-ups, if they are done well. there are a lot of artists out there who just should not be allowed to go anywhere NEAR a person with a needle, let alone needle and ink.

the biggest part of deciding on a tattoo is make sure you go to a shop that you feel comfortable and safe in. it should look clean, smell clean, and BE clean! generally good, clean, trustworthy shops will have much better artists than a shop that looks yucky. but don't get me wrong, this is just a generalization. even the most tidy shop could still have a very shoddy artist. that brings me to my next point. before you choose an artist, make sure you see LOTS of their work. and NOT just fresh work! a tattoo will always look brighter and better when first finished. you need to see healed work too - sometimes they can go too deep and all the ink could blowout and end up ``bleeding`` which looks really horrible.

also a good reason not to get it too small, is because if you get a little tattoo, it could potentially take up a lot more room than the actual image. say you want a tattoo on your right shoulder, but one day you decide to get a piece that goes right across your back...well, you kind of can`t, unless the artist is willing (and able) to do a cover-up.

a tip about snake tattoos: my artist said he`s done a handful of snakes, and they look better without scales. scales make them look too busy. and here`s mine:



it`s an anery corn snake

Great tattoo, how does it look from the side/front view? I would love to see . Yep let me now change that subject, as I was only kidding for public sake, unless this part got moved to QT. Then i'm serious.

EDIT:
And people if you say you weren't thinking the same thing, I call you a horrible liar. Atleast that was the first thing that popped in my head when I seen.

Oh and here's my 2 tattoos. The dragon I had done when I had just turned 18. Other was done like in August of last year.



EDIT:
And oh yea, The forearm tattoo is my name incase you may not be able to read it, which was sort of my intention. Once you realize it, then you see it, but just walking up and looking at it, I've only had one person figure out what it said.

[SquamishSerpents]

Actually, you're information is quite inaccurate well partially, not about the cared for, that was accurate. The shop can be the best in the business, sometimes you need touchups sometimes you don't. Some people don't follow directions, and don't properly care for it, others may make an honest mistake and try to peel the skin off, and in some cases i've seen to where it messes up the line, makes it almost seem like they skipped a spot. It happens, different things happen, and people are all different. I had a guy that goes on tours do the tattoo on my chest(dragon) and about the time it was peeling, I peeled a bit off by the very tip of the tail, and it looks almost like he missed a spot, which he didn't it was my own fault due to peeling.

this is PARTIALLY true. on one hand, if you go to a good shop, and get tattooed by a good artist, they will give you very detailed and thorough aftercare instructions. the #1 thing ANY tattoo artist will tell you is NO SCRATCHING and NO PICKING!!! they will let you know what is going to happen to your tattoo as it heals. scabbing, peeling, itching, etc. and if your artist is good with the needle and places the ink in the correct layer of the epidermis, and you follow the aftercare instructions to a T, you shouldn't need ongoing touch-ups throughout your life.

on the other hand, some people just don't heal that great. but when you've seen enough healed tattoos, you can tell the difference between shoddy tattoo artisty, and a lack of following aftercare instructions.

so like i said, you find a good artist, and take good care of your tattoo, you may need a touch-up after the tattoo is initially finished, but you really shouldn't need to be going back for 2 or 3 + sessions of touch-ups. most good artists usually provide 1 round of touch-ups for free, or a discounted price.

[Neal]

this is PARTIALLY true. on one hand, if you go to a good shop, and get tattooed by a good artist, they will give you very detailed and thorough aftercare instructions. the #1 thing ANY tattoo artist will tell you is NO SCRATCHING and NO PICKING!!! they will let you know what is going to happen to your tattoo as it heals. scabbing, peeling, itching, etc. and if your artist is good with the needle and places the ink in the correct layer of the epidermis, and you follow the aftercare instructions to a T, you shouldn't need ongoing touch-ups throughout your life.

on the other hand, some people just don't heal that great. but when you've seen enough healed tattoos, you can tell the difference between shoddy tattoo artisty, and a lack of following aftercare instructions.

so like i said, you find a good artist, and take good care of your tattoo, you may need a touch-up after the tattoo is initially finished, but you really shouldn't need to be going back for 2 or 3 + sessions of touch-ups. most good artists usually provide 1 round of touch-ups for free, or a discounted price.

Yep, he told me the aftercare instructions, but I really didn't listen. Anyways you never answered my question lol.

[wilomn]

Wait, this isn't about Sake?

Also, some folks, the lucky ones like me, have skin that pushes the ink out. I've got a black piece on my shoulder that was done at least 3 times and is still not as dark as when it was first done. I don't get a lot of sun, took proper care of it, it wasn't my first, and the guy who did it is really good.

Lots of variables involved.

Back to Sake, cold is good but hot will do.

[SquamishSerpents]

Yep, he told me the aftercare instructions, but I really didn't listen. Anyways you never answered my question lol.

teehee thanks for the flattery but i've only been on these forums a short while, wouldn't want to get myself banned or anything, lol!

euphuistical, have you decided what type of snake you want yet (i'm assuming BP)?