The officially offical tattoo thread!

[lonestar]

Cheers on XV bro!!

[faizoff]

Awesome, congrats!

[gmillerdrake]

Cheers on XV bro!!

Thanks RJ    I know I'm a tad shy on the full 'year' but I had to take the open spot.

Awesome, congrats!

Appreciate it!

Congrats on the milestone Gary.  Looking forward to seeing the 20 year tattoo.

You and me both! Thanks Tim!

Gary .... put the damned laundry away!!

Also, tats look bitchin.

Yeah...yeah....laundry smaundry. That's nowhere near the largest pile of clothes that needs to be put away that has formed in that spot

Also, Gary, I (for one) would appreciate a bit of grooming (if not shaving) of your pits prior to the next photo. Eeeeeeew.

Won't that itch?

Thanks Gary! Love your new work and congrats

Thank you Tricia!

Love it Gary.

Thank you Joe!

Those look great 

Phoenix.....love the idea and the tat itself. I'm sure you've done this....but....make sure to find a really good artist to do that one. It may be small and what some would consider to be 'simple' but due to it's meaning and the symmetry and 'flow' of it you want them to nail it! Looking forward to seeing it!

Thanks for the guidance. I think I found someone who is up to the task and I scheduled some time with her next Friday the 5th. Going to get the small infinity sign on the wrist and she said she can do the polish phrase on the inner arm during that session too.

Thanks! And, looking forward to seeing that tat!

[Phoenix87x]

So as i'm about to get these first tattoos, does anyone have some guidance on how to take care of them as they heal, do's and don'ts and healing time?

[gmillerdrake]

So as i'm about to get these first tattoos, does anyone have some guidance on how to take care of them as they heal, do's and don'ts and healing time?

I use and have had great luck with Aquafor….the skin ointment. Just a light layer every couple hours. Cover it well and Work it in. Depending on where your other tat is I’d wear a shirt to kind of keep the ointment at bay, especially sleeping. And  After a day or so the tat will ‘flake’ a bit but it rubs out easy with the ointment…..then there will be a few days where it may itch. I’m 11 days out from my tat and Im pretty much healed up. A itch here and there and I use Aquafor maybe two times today….but I think I’m pretty much done with it now.

Not sure what others do but that’s been my strategy and all mine have healed really well.

[Phoenix87x]

Good info

Thanks so much

[chknptpie]

If your artist uses second skin or any other type of brand like that - do it! If you can keep it intact, it saves from 3-4 days of washing and goo-ing and then you go straight to just peeling.

[SchecterShredder]

If your artist uses second skin or any other type of brand like that - do it! If you can keep it intact, it saves from 3-4 days of washing and goo-ing and then you go straight to just peeling.

This all day long. Second skin is fantastic for healing

[Podaar]

If your artist uses second skin or any other type of brand like that - do it! If you can keep it intact, it saves from 3-4 days of washing and goo-ing and then you go straight to just peeling.

This all day long. Second skin is fantastic for healing

This is what my wife and daughters use for tattoo recovery. I've had to apply it several times...pretty cool stuff.

[gmillerdrake]

I never went with anything other than Aquafor. It’s worked like a charm for me…..probably a fraction of the cost, but I don’t know the cost of that stuff.

The point being that definitively take the time to be vigilant about the aftercare. It’s very important.

[jingle.boy]

I don't know that it really matters what brand/product.  Just use some form of mosteurizer (not petroleum based) don't let it dry out.  I used Tattoo Goo for my last big tat, and simply used my usual tattoo balm on my latest tat.  Even though it's just a tiny one, it didn't scab up whatsoever.

[Phoenix87x]

All done, here goes my first tats ever

[gmillerdrake]

Nice work! Just a fair warning....they're addictive as all heck!!

[Phoenix87x]

Thanks.

I know right, lol. Me and my artist were already talking about the next one 

But all in good time. No need to rush. Today was a good introduction

[SchecterShredder]

Nice work! Just a fair warning....they're addictive as all heck!!

Truth rings forth from these words haha. If we weren't doing a massive reno on our house right now, I'd be in the chair having my back finished.

[Lonk]

Looks good 

[Phoenix87x]

^^ thanks so much

Well, I'm on day 2 and they look pretty much perfect 

No itching, no pus, no scabs, no flaking at all. And they look awesome as well. That all may come, but so far so good

And because of their positioning, I was able to be out enjoying the lovely weather, and not really worry about the sun.

I'm very happy

[JustJen]

[Phoenix87x]

Cool 

[gmillerdrake]

Went and got some ink for my B Day....just stuck with the same 'theme' of most of the rest of mine.....can anyone guess the inspiration and template for the 'straight line' design in this one?

[TAC]

Looks cool Gary! Happy Birthday!!

[ReaperKK]

Happy birthday Gary, and sweet tattoos! How many do you have now?

[gmillerdrake]

Happy birthday Gary, and sweet tattoos! How many do you have now?

I’ve had 11 different sessions…..couple of them are now just blending into ‘one’ design/look. I’m heading back in a month to do a similar design on the other arm in the same spot.

After that I have an old tat in my right chest I want to get reworked

[ReaperKK]

That's awesome, what do you mean reworked? Are you getting it touched up or changing it?

[gmillerdrake]

That's awesome, what do you mean reworked? Are you getting it touched up or changing it?

It’s an almost 40 year old tattoo….so my artist did something with an older tat I had before that I liked so it’ll be kind of retouched and worked/incorporated into a new design.

[jingle.boy]

That's awesome, what do you mean reworked? Are you getting it touched up or changing it?

It’s an almost 40 year old tattoo….so my artist did something with an older tat I had before that I liked so it’ll be kind of retouched and worked/incorporated into a new design.

You got a tattoo when you were 9!?!?!

[King Postwhore]

Looks like the 1st Son's of Apollo album cover.

[gmillerdrake]

That's awesome, what do you mean reworked? Are you getting it touched up or changing it?

It’s an almost 40 year old tattoo….so my artist did something with an older tat I had before that I liked so it’ll be kind of retouched and worked/incorporated into a new design.

You got a tattoo when you were 9!?!?!

Typo……20

[gmillerdrake]

Looks like the 1st Son's of Apollo album cover.

Some of it was inspired by an album cover…..just not that one.

[gmillerdrake]

OK....I'm done for a bit now but just got the other arm done last night to kind of 'even out' each side. The pattern in this one is from my wedding ring....the colors are my wife and I's birthstones.

[SchecterShredder]

Looks good,  Gary!

I've been thinking about doing something similar using the design from my wedding band. I wear my dad's wedding ring,  and it has a really interesting pattern that almost looks like flames.

[TAC]

Wow that looks nice. Love the Majesty symbol and the wedding ring design is a nice meaningful touch.

The only way I’d ever consider a tattoo would be as some sort of tribute to a loved one.

[gmillerdrake]

Wow that looks nice. Love the Majesty symbol and the wedding ring design is a nice meaningful touch.

The only way I’d ever consider a tattoo would be as some sort of tribute to a loved one.

I'll be that 60 year old man getting grand kid tats   

[TAC]

Wow that looks nice. Love the Majesty symbol and the wedding ring design is a nice meaningful touch.

The only way I’d ever consider a tattoo would be as some sort of tribute to a loved one.

I'll be that 60 year old man getting grand kid tats 

I can see that. 

I meant something more in line with a tragedy of some sort.

I’ll be very lucky to ever see grandkids.

[gmillerdrake]

Wow that looks nice. Love the Majesty symbol and the wedding ring design is a nice meaningful touch.

The only way I’d ever consider a tattoo would be as some sort of tribute to a loved one.

I'll be that 60 year old man getting grand kid tats 

I can see that. 

I meant something more in line with a tragedy of some sort.

I’ll be very lucky to ever see grandkids.

I just really need an excuse to get a tattoo and am always on the lookout for a good reason....it 'sells' the idea to my wife better. She's not a big tattoo person. But I get what you're saying now with the tribute.....