"Very glad that I finally went for it =]"
How I did it: I spent about 2-3 months going over my design and figuring out exactly which version I wanted. I spent a LOT of time thinking about this, and making sure that it was something meaningful and personal to me. I didn't tell anyone about it except my mum and one or two people at work (who are into piercings/tattoos anyway). The reason being that I wanted to make absolutely sure that I wasn't even subconsciously doing this to impress anyone - making sure that I was doing this entirely for myself, not because I wanted to show so-and-so.
The design symbolises past, present and future all branching out from the one life (the hollow gap in the middle). I'm not a grounded person as I've never lived in one location for more than about 2 years, and as a result have had to adapt/change each time I've moved. Past, present and future are very vivid in my life, and have shaped who I was, who I am, and who I'm going to be. This tattoo will never go 'out of fashion' for me, because it represents ME so boldly.
Lessons & tips: - spend a lot of time choosing a design and make sure that it MEANS something to you. Don't get something just because it looks cool or pretty if it has no meaning for you, because then there'll be more of a chance that one day you'll regret it.
- do it for yourself, not to impress others
- be chatty and friendly with the tattoo artist, after all, they're armed with a sharp needle ;) No, seriously, the experience will be much more enjoyable if you make friends with the artist and are able to relax and chat with them while you're in the chair
- remember to breathe and focus on a spot on the wall when you're getting the tattoo done, and don't worry about pulling odd faces to cope with the pain, that's what I did ;)
- when I say pain, it really isn't anything unbearable. The first couple seconds are definitely a shock, but the instant the needle comes off your skin, the pain disappears. It's only present while the needle's on. It's only ever on for a couple seconds at a time, so it's definitely manageable. I MUST stress that you should NOT let the fear of pain hold you back from getting a tattoo! It's SO insignificant compared to how much you'll love the art.
- tip your artist about 10-15% if they've done a good job and you're pleased with the result
- take care of your tattoo as instructed by the artist, remember to moisturise and do NOT pick the scab, otherwise you'll tear off patches of ink and you will have blank spots in your design!
Resources: - tattoo design websites
- celtic symbols websites
- local tattoo parlour
Sep 15, 09:30PM PDT
| 0 comments
