Got Ink? **DU WARNING**

[pslsnakes]

my feet didn't hurt at all. not even a tiny bit... my elbow however, that was another story!

I wish mine were like that. The one I did on myself, is a tribal thing that stretches across my whole foot. It was the first one I've ever done, and I severly messed it up. Going to get it redone by a friend one of these days. My other foot was done by one of my favorite local shops. I just not too long ago.

I want to get my upper chest done. I was floating on an idea of either a portrait of a Bald Eagle on a branch, with his wings open, that extends across my whole chest to the area by my shoulders/armpits in all black and grey. I was also thinging about a Japanese piece there too. Dragons, Koi, Masks, all that type of stuff. Im afraid of the collar bone area though.

When I was getting some stuff done a few weeks back, I told my artist to do a little blood lining (no ink, makes a blood line, goes away in about 30 mins.) on the inside of my elbow, and on my elbow. Let me tell you this, IT HURT!

[LadyOhh]

Don't want to hog the thread, but I was asked by someone to post the photo of the snake I used and the tat next to it.

Here we go!

[Laooda]

Niiiiiiiiice!!!!!

[ladywhipple02]

Finally got this damn picture up! ARG! at Photobucket!

[ML85]

Diaper rash cream is okay as long as its the jelly like stuff.... the key is to keep a thin layer of jelly like stuff (vasoline) on it so it doesnt dry out. ALthough, Im sure you're g/f knows all this stuff already

Def. use vitamin E ointment or they make this stuff called tattoo goo thats pretty good stuff too. i have 4 tats and always used vitamin E ointment and used tattoo goo once. Both are great! but honestly my brother in law used vasoline and it ruined his tattoo not sure why but he had to get it covered up. none the less thats cool lookin tat ya got!

[pslsnakes]

Def. use vitamin E ointment or they make this stuff called tattoo goo thats pretty good stuff too. i have 4 tats and always used vitamin E ointment and used tattoo goo once. Both are great! but honestly my brother in law used vasoline and it ruined his tattoo not sure why but he had to get it covered up. none the less thats cool lookin tat ya got!

The tattoo could have been ruined by one of two things, more like two things in the same cause.

He used a petroleum based product on an open wound. Tattoo "ink" isn't ink at all. It's a pigment (usually titanium, plastic, and even silicone in some) suspended in a water/glycerin base. By using vasoline, or any petroleum based prodcuct, that's going to pull the color out. Oil and water don't mix.

It also could be that he had it overly exposed to sun. water, dirt, etc. before it was fuly healed. Because really, a tattoo is nothing but an open wound.

I have a lot of tattoos, and the first 3 I got, I used Vitamin A&D ointment, and all of those 3 had to be redone/touched up.

I stopped using it, and all mine look as bright and fresh as the day I got them.

Here's what I do...

• Get tattoo, leave bandage on for 30 minutes.

• Clean with Soft Soap, or Dial Soap, non scented to get the blood, plasma, and excess ink off my skin.

• Put LubraDerm lotion on the tattoo after I washed it.

• Wash 5 times a day with the soap mentioned above, and lotion 5 times a day. (this might be different for others. I work out side, and sweat most of the day, come into contact with grease, dirt, and oil, so I wash and moisturize more often.)

This method has worked A LOT better than others that I used a petroleum based product on. And heal time is cut down to a 3rd, with minor flaking and pealing and NO scabbing. When I used A&D, It they would take almost THREE WEEKS to heal, and would always scab on me.

Sorry for posting this long thing, but I'm OCD about this kind of stuff...Being I'm involved in tattooing, and always try help people out.

[pslsnakes]

Oh, and about using Tattoo Goo, Ink Fixx, and Tattoo Potion...All that stuff is, is overly priced lotion/ointment.

Don't waste your money on that crap, use LOTION. LOL

[TheMissingLink]

A&D Ointment is all one needs.

[Enve]

A&D Ointment is all one needs.

Thats all i've ever used

[soshanna]

Well, originally I wanted a tattoo of a life like snake around my thigh, but decided to go for something else on my back Still thinking about the snake though - I've wanted it for years.. but am quite happy with the dragon.






and final - shot by Robert Alvarado, friend of mine



Kinda hard to take a pic of your own back