I'm a Tattoo Artist - Ask me anything

[stilldontgiveaf]

Ask me anything 🤷‍♀️

@TheLovleyChebbyMcGee sorry that wasn't meant to say wouldn't tattoo**

@AtillatheHun Never spelt anything incorrectly. I'm pretty much a grammar nazi 😂 and people I worked with before would often come to me to triple check the spelling out of pure paranoia. (We all get it).

I have had to stop someone once. They just started tattooing something and I walked in and noticed something spelt wrong, thank god I came in when I did.

@AtillatheHun that's very interesting! Thank you, I'll have a look

How long are you prepared to work wih clients for? For instance, I have an Egyptian eye on my left wrist. I want to get something on my other wrist... somet lhing like the 'Om' chant around it or a lotus or something like that... how long do you work with your clients for to make sure they pick something they're happy with? Do you give input and ideas? Do you limit your time?

And do you prefer to build a bit of a rapport with your clients?

Do you hate doing tiny, line tattoos? I really want something incredibly simple and small - and I'm very happy to spend a decent amount for exactly what I want.

I'm scared to go and ask because all the artists I see do these incredible sleeve tattoos

Great thread OP!

1. Can old tattoos be sharpened up again in future?

1. Do you have a neat and effective comeback for the loathsomely self-righteous nosey arse bores who whine on about "oooh you'll regret it when you are older!" etc?

2a. Why do you think people who don't have tattoos are SO over-invested in criticising people who do?

1. I am seeing a lot more women with full sleeves (which usually look amazing!). Do you find the designs they tend go for differ to men with sleeves?

Do you hate doing tiny, line tattoos? I really want something incredibly simple and small - and I'm very happy to spend a decent amount for exactly what I want.

I'm scared to go and ask because all the artists I see do these incredible sleeve tattoos

Sorry for the double post, on the tube

*How long are you prepared to work wih clients for? For instance, I have an Egyptian eye on my left wrist. I want to get something on my other wrist... somet lhing like the 'Om' chant around it or a lotus or something like that... how long do you work with your clients for to make sure they pick something they're happy with? Do you give input and ideas? Do you limit your time?

And do you prefer to build a bit of a rapport with your clients?

@PlinkPlink* I don't limit my time, no. I'm happy to work with a client until they are confident it's what they want. I understand it's a big thing for people. That being said, if designs are wanted I always take a small non-refundable deposit. That comes off of the final price of the tattoo, but if the client decides to back out I keep the deposit for all the drawing time. I always give input and ideas.

I work with all types of different clients. Some are very friendly and chatty, some I've made friends out of, some don't speak at all. I've had one client who was late flurries early fifties. He wasn't nice to me at all. He wanted a portrait of his wife but he came across as a bully and was rude to me. I said to him if he wants a nice portrait of his wife he'd better rethink his attitude towards me or he can leave. I was only about 22 at the time. Safe to say he apologised and was overly nice to me after...

I've had a local artist trace my tattoo that I posted a few years back. That was very disappointing because that was a particular design for my best friend. The person had it in the same place as well on their arm. That artists version wasn't as good and he charged more than I would have done. 🤷‍♀️

So, in fact, they got the tattoo they deserved rather than price=quality🤣 Good tattoos are expensive but not all expensive tattoos are good. I really do think people tend to get the tattoos they deserve.

*Do you hate doing tiny, line tattoos? I really want something incredibly simple and small - and I'm very happy to spend a decent amount for exactly what I want.

I'm scared to go and ask because all the artists I see do these incredible sleeve tattoos*

@LaurieFairyCake I'll do any tattoo asked of me, as long as it isn't offensive/rude. I have preferences on what I like to do but I made sure I learned every style possible to cater for every client. A lot of artists only advertise what they want to do. I always post everything I do so people know I'm capable.

This is where the needles goes slightly too deep and the ink spreads under the skin slightly.

This happened my sister a few years ago. She has a big blue cloud of ink that looks like a permanent bruise.

She has asked several tattooists and they all say there’s no way of correcting it. Just checking there right?

*1. Can old tattoos be sharpened up again in future?

1. Do you have a neat and effective comeback for the loathsomely self-righteous nosey arse bores who whine on about "oooh you'll regret it when you are older!" etc?

2a. Why do you think people who don't have tattoos are SO over-invested in criticising people who do?

1. I am seeing a lot more women with full sleeves (which usually look amazing!). Do you find the designs they tend go for differ to men with sleeves?

@BuzzShitbagBobbly *

1. Pretty much any tattoo can be re-worked to look better. I love re-working old tattoos and taking before and after photos.

1. I always explain that my generation of people are mostly covered in tattoos so I won't look that weird in comparison...

2a. Because they think they are better than everyone else. But I also find those kinds of people judge a lot of other things. Generally means their own lives are shite. There was a very big thread on here recently about what would be a "classy tattoo". That thread pissed me off big style. Although I don't pay attention to people who criticise in person, this thread was somehow allowed on MN and it was just horrible. Some of the things people say are beyond me. (Double standards of MN, not allowing certain things but allowing offensive posts like that) sorry for the rant hahahaha.

1. Personally, no. There are a lot of girls my age in this area with awful sleeves and it really upsets my soul because they could have been done so much better 😂 that goes back to my previous post of "you get what you pay for".

Hi lovely work!
Asking on behalf of my know adult son. He's had a lot of problems with mental health and as a result has quite a few self harm scars all in one place mainly at the top of his arm. They're pretty old know flat not red etc. Know he's moved on so much in his life he feels really self conscious hates going out if he'd need to show his arm, struggles with relashinships etc. He's looking into tattoos if you google it some day it works really wel some say it can't be done. So how easy/hard/possible is it to tattoo over scars, participle sef harm when There's a few

@MmeBufo haha yes you are so right. Both those sayings are brilliant, just two different scenarios hahaha.

I'm planning to get a tattoo over my mastectomy scars - I had a bilateral mastectomy 4 years ago. I just plan to speak to tattooists who've been recommended and see how much experience they have of tattooing scars.
Any other tips?

This is where the needles goes slightly too deep and the ink spreads under the skin slightly.

*This happened my sister a few years ago. She has a big blue cloud of ink that looks like a permanent bruise.

She has asked several tattooists and they all say there’s no way of correcting it. Just checking there right?*

@JoxerGoesToStuttgart Laser removal is the best route. Never had it personally, but it should be able to help remove some of the ink bleeding.

Thanks still, i’ll Pass that on. I don’t think anyone has suggested that to her. Or at least she hasn’t mentioned it to me.

Hi lovely work!
Asking on behalf of my know adult son. He's had a lot of problems with mental health and as a result has quite a few self harm scars all in one place mainly at the top of his arm. They're pretty old know flat not red etc. Know he's moved on so much in his life he feels really self conscious hates going out if he'd need to show his arm, struggles with relashinships etc. He's looking into tattoos if you google it some day it works really wel some say it can't be done. So how easy/hard/possible is it to tattoo over scars, participle sef harm when There's a few

@mindgoinground12

I'm sorry your son had to go through that. I hope he is much better now.

I have covered my self harm scars so it's possible. I've also tattooed over scars.

Unfortunately, it does depend on how bad they were/are. It takes years and years of healing. I tattooed over one of my own on my leg and it was at least 7 years old. Some of the ink bled into the scar because it was a big one.

If a client has scars, I ask to meet them before. I'd look at the scars and I'd be able to judge on whether I could do it. I'd ask them how old they were etc etc.

It is possible though.

I'm planning to get a tattoo over my mastectomy scars - I had a bilateral mastectomy 4 years ago. I just plan to speak to tattooists who've been recommended and see how much experience they have of tattooing scars.
Any other tips?

@weebarra Bio Oil. Continuously.

As long as the artist is experienced enough and knows enough about scar tissue, they should be able to assess whether it's safe to tattoo over.

Hey 👋
Just wondering how soon after a new tattoo you can apply fake tan?
Mines been about 4 weeks now and has pretty much all finished scabbing, no open bits just the occasional dry line. It's a full thigh design but everything online is a bit contradictory, some sites says months and others say until all scans have gone. Any ideas?

Scabs sorry

Hey 👋
Just wondering how soon after a new tattoo you can apply fake tan?
Mines been about 4 weeks now and has pretty much all finished scabbing, no open bits just the occasional dry line. It's a full thigh design but everything online is a bit contradictory, some sites says months and others say until all scans have gone. Any ideas?

@OnlyYellowRoses I personally have never used fake tan so on a personal level I'm not sure.

But the logical part of me says as long as the tattoo is fully healed then I can't see any reason why not. As long as the wound is no longer open, it means you can't get any sort of infection.

That being said, depending on the type of fake tan I'm sure it can cause tattoos to not be as bright as they originally were. Especially sun beds.

Loving this thread! Beautiful work...
I'm a late starter, 48 now and started having a few tattoos done about 3 years ago, is there such a thing as 'too old'? I know older skin is difficult to work on, what's the oldest first time client you've had?

I quite like the look of a watercolour style one. Do they last well? Also, whats the best couples tattoo you have seen ( or are they all just naff)?