Does any one have a tattoo?

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DuchessAimee

Senior Member
Apr 27, 2011
3,922
129
63
#1
I have an idea for a story and my main character is going to get a tattoo. But I need some help. Since I've never had one I can't describe the experience. Would any one be willing to describe their experience? The pain, anxiety, was it therapeutic? Any help is appreciated!
 

rachelsedge

Senior Member
Oct 15, 2012
3,659
81
48
34
#2
I have one. I got it when I was 18. I've mentioned it before, but my twin and I went in together to get it done. She got my middle name on her ankle (Joy) and I got hers on mine (Faith). They look different, but it's funny because it goes with our personalities. :)

I remember being quite anxious. I wasn't really anxious about the actual tattoo, as we had thought a lot about it first and had printouts of what it would look like before they put it on us. I was anxious on what it would feel like.

She went first. It didn't take long since it's small (maybe 15 minutes?) and she had a different experience than me. She was freaking out because she thought it hurt a lot. I didn't think it was that bad. When it got closer to the bone (which is where it hurts more) it did start to get more uncomfortable and painful, but I just gritted my teeth and looked away. When I know it's coming, I can have a somewhat higher than average pain tolerance.

To me, it felt like someone taking a pen and digging it/dragging it across my skin. I don't remember a whole lot, it was a pretty quick in-and-out experience, but I don't regret it at all. It almost was a bit therapeutic, oddly, though my lack of sleep is making my brain evade coming up with the words on how, exactly.

Hopefully that was at least a tiny bit helpful. :p
 
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zaoman32

Guest
#3
I have two, one on my calf, and one on my forearm. They're just more uncomfortable than anything else. Painful, but not horribly so.
 

zeroturbulence

Senior Member
Aug 2, 2009
24,644
4,305
113
#4
I felt pain and anxiety just watching somebody get one on tv. o___O
 
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zaoman32

Guest
#5
It's no more painful than getting poked with a needle. When you see people freak out and yell about them it's more in their head and the expectancy of pain than anything else. I've seen videos and a lot of them will start freaking out before the needle even hits their skin.
 
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Powemm

Guest
#6
I don't have any... but I watched a girlfriend get one , she held and squeezed my hand through the whole thing crying..for
over an hour ...I think it was as painful for me as it was for her
 
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meggars

Guest
#7
i've got two....the one on my back felt more like a massage than anything. the most uncomfortable thing about it was how loud it was when it got further up my back and was closer to my ears. the one on my leg was a little less relaxing in that it felt more like how i'd had tattoos described to me....like a consistent scratching in one spot for a long period of time (as opposed to a ''poked with needles'' feeling). it'll hurt a LITTLE bit more when going over places that don't have a lot of meat on 'em....ankles, feet, ribs (unless you're pillowy soft like myself....but then pillow soft people should NOT be getting anything on their ribs unless they want to look like a walking abstract painting in a few years) but it's still not really that bad at all.
 

Oncefallen

Idiot in Chief
Staff member
Jan 15, 2011
6,061
3,407
113
#8
[SUB][/SUB][SUB]Everyone has different tolerances for pain, so everyone's experience is going to be different. Personally I have three and I would consider the discomfort to be little more than a mild annoyance. However, as Meggars said, get to an area that isn't meaty and the discomfort level increases dramatically. Even the discomfort in the days immediately after I would equate with a mild case of razor burn.

I would make the experience match the character type. The range of experience is broad depending on the person. I've heard of people falling asleep in the chair and also heard of people passing out from the pain.




[/SUB]
 
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DuchessAimee

Senior Member
Apr 27, 2011
3,922
129
63
#9
I intend to make her reaction to pain match her personality, but I thought I'd ask for experiences just the same. :)
 

DuchessAimee

Senior Member
Apr 27, 2011
3,922
129
63
#11
She will most likely be based on me. I'm just getting back into writing, so I'm going to start with the basics.
 

TheAristocat

Senior Member
Oct 4, 2011
2,150
26
0
#12
I have an idea for a story and my main character is going to get a tattoo. But I need some help. Since I've never had one I can't describe the experience. Would any one be willing to describe their experience? The pain, anxiety, was it therapeutic? Any help is appreciated!
Never had a tattoo. Always thought they were cool, but I think I'd regret getting one. A friend of mine in high school got one once, though. He came to school one day and was showing the dragon tat off as the guys gathered around. Then one guy was like, "Where's its tail?" And the guy looked closer. His dragon had a tailless butt. And then he swore up a storm. lol He didn't look so bad after that. ;)
 
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Ugly

Guest
#13
I've had two. But i'm needle-phobic. I can get a bit anxious with shots or blood draws, but both tat's (small ones at that) they had to stop repeatedly to keep me from passing out. It wasn't the pain, it did hurt some, but nothing i couldn't tolerate. It was just the needle. Ick. Ugh. ACK!
So if i can ever afford more, bigger ones, i'm hoping to be drugged up before i go in haha.
 
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SeatBelt

Guest
#14
I've oft heard the phrase "electric cat scratch" applied.
Me, personally, in the days when I would have considered one, my argument against it was that I couldn't take it out like the piercings to tame down my appearance if I was trying to dodge the cops.

I've thought about getting one to celebrate my children once the divorce & custody stuff is all final. I have my doubts about it being something I should do, though.
 

Oncefallen

Idiot in Chief
Staff member
Jan 15, 2011
6,061
3,407
113
#15
I've had two. But i'm needle-phobic. I can get a bit anxious with shots or blood draws, but both tat's (small ones at that) they had to stop repeatedly to keep me from passing out. It wasn't the pain, it did hurt some, but nothing i couldn't tolerate. It was just the needle. Ick. Ugh. ACK!
So if i can ever afford more, bigger ones, i'm hoping to be drugged up before i go in haha.

A reputable shop won't work on you in that condition
 
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Theophane

Guest
#16
I have an idea for a story and my main character is going to get a tattoo. But I need some help. Since I've never had one I can't describe the experience. Would any one be willing to describe their experience? The pain, anxiety, was it therapeutic? Any help is appreciated!

There's your problem, right there! :p

I have a tattoo, an old one with fading ink. It's a small red maple leaf on my right shoulder, I've had it for years. The artist added texture and the appearance of leaf-veins, as well as a shadow. I could no more "prove God to you" than I could convey the experience of getting inked. Some things you have to experience for yourself!
 
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iTOREtheSKY

Guest
#17
I think I'm gonna get this on my back. LOL
jesus-grumpy cat.jpg
 
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MissCris

Guest
#18
I was a tattoo, once.

...

Go back to bed, Cristen.
 
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Powemm

Guest
#19
There are several I'd
Love to get .. But then I look down the road each time thinking " am I really going to want this when I'm 80?"
I've yet to answer myself .. And yet to do it ..
Think if I ever got one it would be on my ring finger .. Sometimg in Hebrew writing
Then I think again " will it spell the same thing when I am 80?".. Hmmm
 
E

Esarin

Guest
#20
I don't have any, but I think a big factor is where the tattoo is. For instance, my brother got a tattoo across his ribs. I have heard and read from several people that that is the most painful place because of all the bone, and the fact that the skin is thinner there. On areas where there is more fat, such as your stomach or arm it is not supposed to be as bad. My friend told me it kind of felt like having someone scratch your sunburn. She told me that it was uncomfortable, but not unbearable. Hers was on her lower back. She said the most painful part was when they went over the spine. I have heard the outlining is more painful then the coloring in, but I have also heard the opposite.