At A Glance Author Jerry Contact Jerry@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Brendan Studio Inkfish Location Maidstone So I've been wanting a tattoo for the same amount of time as I wanted my piercing (wicked fun for my helix story). I'm really interested in the roots and history of it and am not just getting one for the hell of it contrary to popular belief ¬_¬ :P. (My mate said people get tattoos to 'fill a hole in their self perception'. Personally I don't agree but he's just grumpy (love him really)). Plus I like to think of the skin 'as a canvas' cliché and cheesy I know, but come on we all know its true.
I've got psoriasis and have been advised by many people, including my specialist and my cool nurse (who has them herself!), not to go through with it under any circumstances, but what can I say, I REALLY wanted one. I did my research, read up about the 'Koebner phenomenon' which means that anywhere there is a cut or scratch a flare up of the itchy stuff will occur and decided that I'm not gonna let it stop me doing what I want. I thought I'd better play it safe for the first one though, and got the smallest out of all the ones I have planned, positioned on the back of my neck (I haven't had psoriasis there for a while now). The other day I went to finally get it done. There was a problem with this however, as all of the tattoo shops in town were shut. I though oh great just my luck. Yesterday, after a bit of a hectic and problematic start to the day I managed to arrive in town, meet my friend and get it. I dragged my mate Anna along for the ride again and we were in business XD. I walked in and explained what I wanted and got told to come back in 20 minutes to get it done. I was excited but a bit 'oo-er' at the same time, so I gave my mate who wants to be a tattoo artist a ring before I went in for the actual tattooing itself. He's had two - a wave on his calf and the beginnings of a sleeve of koi which he recently had done on his arm and chest. 20 minutes passed and we headed back to the shop.
After drawing up the design, a bit more of a wait and a quick nip to the cash point I was sitting in the seat, short legs dangling over the edge, with a lolly and a soggy neck. The design was positioned perfectly and looked really good from what the stencil showed. Brendan said things to remember are keep breathing and don't move! The gun began to buzz away and made contact. Originally I was told that the outline hurts the most and the fill isn't so bad, but I seem to be the wrong way round :P. It wasn't unbearable overall though and quite relaxing after a while. Plus its worth the pain, its with you for life and if you want it you gotta stick it out. It took a while longer than it probably should have because apparently my skin doesn't absorb the ink very well but eventually it was done and I was bandaged up and on my way.
The tattoo itself isn't doing too badly as of yet but its early days, I seem to have a rash where the plaster was though :P. I'm going to keep it moisturised as much as possible, if not more that it necessarily needs because I don't want to give the psoriasis any opportunities! When the inking was done Brendan thought it might heal a bit patchy and not as smoothly as usual. If it does fade or heal a bit poorly I get to go back for touch ups, and take it a stage at a time. The parents weren't too happy or impressed but so far the Mums been doing all the work because I cant really see the back of my neck to take care of it properly. I'm hoping to soon get two more, one of which is a design by the friend who wants to become a tattoo artist and is trying for an apprenticeship after university. I know for a fact I'm going to become addicted to it, which probably isn't good news for my skin, but you only live once and if you let something prevent you from doing/getting something you really want you are not gonna be a happy bunny later on.
At the moment it's a bit rough if I run my fingers over it, and is very tender around the tattoo. Washing it with soap and water and applying moisturiser 3 times a day is the way to go. I was told to just remove the bandage after 2 hours, wash it and leave it till it began to itch and peel. But I've read up about it and even though there are 100s of methods to heal it, they all say moisture is the key. Savlon when it begins to itch and peel is the advice Brendan gave me so I will stick to that even if I do moisturise it more than he suggested. I'm just hoping it wont be flaking instead of peeling :|
I'll keep you posted on how it turns out - fingers crossed anyway.