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Anyone got one? Any recommendations for shops in the London area. ? Ive never felt the need to get one, just never appealed, but thinking of getting one now. Just for shits and giggles basically. Nothing profound. I turned 50 this year, and theres plenty of things I havent done in my life, but a tattoo seems tempting. I had a bald skip driver turn up yesterday and he had a whole tropical island on his head with palm trees and coconuts and a sunset. He seemed pretty happy in life too. Anyone regretted a tattoo.. ?
In the main, have always viewed tattoos along the lines of a ‘Kevin’ ‘Stacey’ sun strip windscreen sticker.
From a young age vowed never to go out with a girl who’s got tattoo’s. Never have, never will.
But. Your skip driver adds a different dimension. If it’s genuinely artistic, if it’s loud, if it’s a thing of beauty and defines him, then I’m good with it.
Trouble is, most tattoos are much like graffiti, pointless, ugly and generally awful. Just occasionally though, like a graffiti mural under our local bridge, a piece of art.
I realise this is not in the least bit helpful but, personally, the appeal of tattoos is completely beyond me. The same goes for self-adornment of any sort really (piercings, jewellery etc - I don’t even wear a watch!)
Which is not to say that the opinion of anyone who thinks otherwise is any less valid. Each to their own and all that.
As for your skip driver, I wonder if his sunny disposition is because of, or despite, his tattoo (who knows)?
Anyway, good luck, Punter, whatever you decide to do!
A tattoo used to be just that, a tattoo. However, since Beckham decided to go mad with them, they've gone beyond ridiculous in my humble. Equally, there was a type of person who got a tattoo back in the day, and it kind of seemed appropriate for them.
Now, you've got people who would never have dreamed of having a single tattoo, walking around like they're a Jackson Pollock painting. And they are going to look stupid once they start hitting their late 50s and things start to sag.
All that being said and with a huge twist of irony, I intimated I might get one yesterday!
However, this is not your normal tattoo, this is a new covering material for my prosthetic leg. Seemingly, other amputees are availing themselves of the opportunity to have designs printed on them, with the current vogue being for Maori designs.
Accordingly, when presented with the option, I took a badge of our favoured local west London football team, and asked, 'Could they do this?'
Growing up with punk and metal culture, I always thought I'd get one. I had an idea for one maybe 30 years ago and just needed to get someone to design it. One thing I was always going to do was live with the design for six months before getting it tattooed. Make sure I didn't get bored of it.
Anyway, it never happened and it's just as well. 99% of tattoos are shit.
Thing is I've watched every episode of Ink Masters and watched all the London/Miami Ink programmes back in the day. I love the culture of tattoos and the technical application aspects. But in real life, almost everyone's tattoo is shit. Even the good ones.
What really annoys me are the younger women in my office over the years. They'll have something like an anchor on their forearm. So I'll be like 'what's that about' and it's like 'oh, it's for my grandad, he liked boats.'
Er... okay...
One of my best mates got his first tattoo back in the 90s in Croydon. I went with him. Despite my advice, he picked something out of a book. It was a tiger. Fking thing looked like it was done in felt tip. Also, the tiger appeared to have Downs Syndrome.
Anyway, inexplicably he went back and got an eagle done on the other arm. Almost as shit. Then he got the tiger added to. Still shit. And then, years later, he went back again but this time it was all new management and artists. He got a sleeve around the eagle. Pretty much freehand. That was actually decent work.
Stefan Moore, Stefan Moore running down the wing. Stefan Moore, Stefan Moore running down the wing. He runs like a cheetah, his crosses couldn't be sweeter. Stefan Moore. Stefan Moore. Stefan Moore.
I've always wanted one, but the idea of permanence scares me (some I may have gotten in my younger years would've included lyrics from artists I now know to be paedos) and I'm not great with needles.
My wife has quite a few, all on her arms. I think they look hot
I've always wanted one, but the idea of permanence scares me (some I may have gotten in my younger years would've included lyrics from artists I now know to be paedos) and I'm not great with needles.
My wife has quite a few, all on her arms. I think they look hot
just hit 60 few weeks ago and like a few had said not been down the tatoo route before , but im seriously thinking of getting one , my big issue is needles since i was a kid , to anyone whos had one did they get the numbing gel beforehand and did it work ? yes im a woos before anyone says it
I have a few tattoos, mostly watercolour style. They're just a part of me, and can't say I think about them too often.
Hiking themed one with walking boots and forest on left thigh.
Interpretation of Harvest Moon on left calf ('our' song, matched on partners right calf)
Rather large interpretation of 'the Whitsun Weddings' by Philip Larkin across upper right arm, shoulder and upper chest. Favourite poem.
Picture of a Pied Wagtail on left arm. Favourite bird.
Got it all done in Kentish Town, but the artist has moved away. I love them all, can hide them if ever 'needed' and generally a fan of tattoos. I do think they should be individualised though. Lots of blokes have such awful tattoos designed to make them look 'hard' that seem to have no meaning at all.
I can't get on board with neck and face tattoos though.
Originally the had two done, a heart with my ex Mrs name in and Homer Simpson wearing a QPR kit ( was my avatar on here for years) when my ex did a bunk and I met my new Mrs I went and had the name blacked out, I then took the plunge and had it lasered , 9 sessions of eye watering pain and it was light enough to cover, now have half sleeve with an elephant walking through the jungle, was done by a brilliant artist here in Lowestoft, always gets commented on when I’m on holiday. I then decided to get rid of Homer, was told 4-5 sessions should do it! 11 sessions later at £40 a pop and I’m booked in for my cover up, will take 3 full days of work apparently. Going for a sunken ship with a great white and other sealife. The only photos on line of my elephant are on their Facebook page, I’ll see if I can copy a link and post it up.
just hit 60 few weeks ago and like a few had said not been down the tatoo route before , but im seriously thinking of getting one , my big issue is needles since i was a kid , to anyone whos had one did they get the numbing gel beforehand and did it work ? yes im a woos before anyone says it
It really depends on where on your body it is.
Things on big muscles are all absolutely fine. The closer it gets to sensitive areas and thinner skin like back of knees it absolutely sucks.
I'm fine with needles though, and honestly there's something quite meditative about the buzz of the needle and mild discomfort as the artist works away.
just hit 60 few weeks ago and like a few had said not been down the tatoo route before , but im seriously thinking of getting one , my big issue is needles since i was a kid , to anyone whos had one did they get the numbing gel beforehand and did it work ? yes im a woos before anyone says it
My missus and pals who have tattoos say it's best not to use the numbing gel as it has a time limit, so if it wears off mid tattoo all the pain comes through at once and is quite overwhelming. I know a lot of artists won't do work for clients who want to use it for that reason.
My wife insists that as long as it's on a fleshy bit not near a bone it's basically just like being scratched
Things on big muscles are all absolutely fine. The closer it gets to sensitive areas and thinner skin like back of knees it absolutely sucks.
I'm fine with needles though, and honestly there's something quite meditative about the buzz of the needle and mild discomfort as the artist works away.
Looking at inner left arm prob text not a pic of nourry and williams on a tandem or anything like that.body has prob sagged a much as able to
I have a few tattoos, mostly watercolour style. They're just a part of me, and can't say I think about them too often.
Hiking themed one with walking boots and forest on left thigh.
Interpretation of Harvest Moon on left calf ('our' song, matched on partners right calf)
Rather large interpretation of 'the Whitsun Weddings' by Philip Larkin across upper right arm, shoulder and upper chest. Favourite poem.
Picture of a Pied Wagtail on left arm. Favourite bird.
Got it all done in Kentish Town, but the artist has moved away. I love them all, can hide them if ever 'needed' and generally a fan of tattoos. I do think they should be individualised though. Lots of blokes have such awful tattoos designed to make them look 'hard' that seem to have no meaning at all.
I can't get on board with neck and face tattoos though.
Philip Larkin tattoo! As long as it wasn’t the man himself.
Funnily enough, I’ve always regarded tattoos as “religious wounding”, so I’ve never been tempted myself. My daughter went to art school and her housemate gave her some prison style ink of one of her paintings on her thigh. Mrs S wants to cry every time she sees it (as do I).
I have a couple but they have specific meanings. This one, for example, represents my family, including the baby we lost, and was taken after my grandson was born and added:
Had some lyrics on my inner forearm done 13 years ago when my marriage broke down. Hardly noticed any pain. Then had a phoenix done on my right shoulder 3 months ago at the age of 60. 3 hours in the chair and a little bit aggressive towards the end. Numbing cream offered and declined. For me they are personal reminders of sh*t that I have gone through to get me where I am on life today.
As mentioned some are horrendous, advice is to do your research on the artist and work with them to get what you want, after all it’s for you and no one else!!
Been thinking for a while that peak tattoo passed some years ago and (speaking as an old git myself) that people in their 50s and 60s are considering them underlines that. I can well imagine younger people considering tattoos to be dumb shit that old people have.
I don't really care either way, but Bluce is right, as usual. Like most art, a tiny percentage are really good and the rest are sh*t.
But it's personal opinion and all that so my second advice would be - maybe try a Henna version of something close to what you're after and see how you roll before making that pemanent jump.
I'm not a fan but 25 years ago went for the QPR badge on my thigh to match the Compaq shorts I had on in Tenerief and a street Henna artist. She was proper good and convinced me not to do it as a permanent.
You'll remember Johhny the Tiler from my gaff? He's gone mental on them and had all sorts done this year.... I can't say they look the best on him..... but he's happy.
Cherish and enjoy life.... this ain't no dress rehearsal
just hit 60 few weeks ago and like a few had said not been down the tatoo route before , but im seriously thinking of getting one , my big issue is needles since i was a kid , to anyone whos had one did they get the numbing gel beforehand and did it work ? yes im a woos before anyone says it
Tried the numbing cream for the first time last week as I'm getting my chest done at the moment and the previous two sessions were bloody miserable, by far the most painful tattoo I've had. When it works it works beautifully - I didn't even know the artist had started because I couldn't feel anything. How effective it is depends how good your coverage is and it's most effective on the parts that matter least (i.e. the bits of your body that are good at absorbing it and going numb are the same ones that feel fine getting tattooed anyway).
I'll probably give it a go again. Someone mentioned it wearing off - the way you fix that is that you apply it and immediately cover with cling film, then expose a section at a time when it's getting worked on. That stops it evaporating off and keeps the numbness lasting longer. You get about an hour out of it anyway, so for smaller pieces you won't need more time.
To address the original question, for London shops I went here a couple of years ago and had a good experience: https://www.redpointtattoo.com
Rates were pretty high compared to what I'm used to but the work was very good. There's a lot of different artists working out of there plus guests, so worth checking that who's available will do what you want.
Would also add a recommendation for the Second Skin type products for healing. I've been getting tattooed for nearly 20 years now and using that has made things massively better and easier.
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