Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with tattoo

please recommend a tattoo parlor in Hamilton, Ontario*

chasles — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:55:05 -0800

please recommend a tattoo parlor in Hamilton, Ontario* *or burlington or saint catharines....

i'm getting my first, and my wife has many, I want to surprise her with a tattoo "gift certificate" for Christmas... she'll do something simple with words and mine is my own design and is very simple (like really really simple... plus i am open to having it redone in nearly any fashion) so hopefully this info helps shape the recommendation.

Bright Ink, Dark Skin

Juliet Banana — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:06:24 -0800

Is it possible to get a bright, satu rated, extr emely colorful tattoo on light brown skin? It hasn't escaped my notice that the tattoos I admire are generally on Caucasians. I've heard that you should consider tattoo ink like colored cellophane; the color of your skin will shine through. I've heard tattoo artists saying that your color options become more limited as your skin gets darker. Hence, I've kind of accepted the fact that brightly colored tattoos are out of the question for me.

I'd love someone to prove me wrong, though, with photos or anecdotes or personal experiences! I'm half Mexican and half White, with skin the approximate color of peanut butter. I would like to see examples of colorful tattoos on people in a relatively similar shade range (ex: Latinos, South Asians, Native Americans, multiracial people, any light-brown people regardless of race). I know about BMEzine, but it's total information overload. If there are certain colors that would work but others that wouldn't, I'd like to know that too; this previous thread discusses white ink, for example.

If I got inked, it would almost certainly be on the upper arm or back, as pictured. I know that the bright color in photos of tattoos is sometimes because the tattoo is very fresh, and I also know that maintaining that brightness has a lot to do with limiting sun exposure, sunscreen, regular touch-ups, etc. I just want to know: is it possible for someone with my shade of skin to get a very colorful tattoo and keep it that way with a reasonable amount of effort?

I know Metafilter "doesn't do race well." This is not a cultural question about race or identity or ethnicity, it is a scientific question about how tattoo ink appears when applied to different shades of skin. In addition, I know there are issues with tattooing over scars; that's a different can of worms, kids. Your reward for keeping discourse civil is an extra bonus NSFW colorful tattoo.

I need an image of a pilcrow/paragraph mark for a tattoo.

sugarfish — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 06:03:18 -0800

Can you show me your favorite image of a pilcrow/paragraph mark, suitable for a tattoo? So I'm (finally) ready to get my next tattoo, and I've decided that I want a pilcrow, or paragraph mark. I'd like to see as many different variations as possible before I choose which one I'd like.

I've googled, of course, but seem to get only the same few repeating images. I'm thinking there might be some pilcrows hiding in fonts out there or some other place I've not thought to look. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Ink my mama

mudpuppie — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:39:15 -0800

I need recommendations for a friendly, non-intimidating tattoo shop in Reno, NV. The kind of place you'd take your mother. Or, actually, the kind of place I could take *my* mother. My 67-year-old mother has been threatening to get a tattoo for 5 years or more. A friend of hers of a similar age just got one, so I'm thinking the time is right to finally get her to commit. We'll be in Reno next weekend. Seems like the perfect time/place to make it happen. (Don't worry. She doesn't drink, so it wouldn't be like she'd wake up regretting what she'd done.)

Anyhow, I think she really wants to do it, but that she might back out if we ended up at a place that turned her off for some reason. It would need to be a clean, safe-feeling place, and I don't want to take her to a place where they'll be all tattoo snobby and look down their noses at her. Artistry isn't a huge consideration, given that she'd probably just get something like a heart or a rose or a butterfly. (I know, I know. But hey, she's 67 and she wants one. More fucking power to her.)

Any suggestions?

Burn, Baby, Burn!

Jon-o — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:23:46 -0800

Holy Crap! I burned a tattoo! The other day, I got a serious burn right on one of my tattoos (hot exhaust+forearms=teh suck)
I gave it some first aid, but it's a really nasty, deep, ugly burn and it's probably going to scar. Unfortunately, it's right in the line of fire, as far as being aggravated goes. It gets touched and scraped all the time and I'm really worried about how messed up the ink will be when it finally heals.
Aside from keeping it covered (I'm doing my best, but I tend to sweat the bandages off), what other advice do you have for helping this come out at least ok-ish? Is my ink doomed? I'm really upset and worried.

Where in VT should I get a wedding band tattoo?

cmar618 — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:50:14 -0800

Can anyone recommend a tattoo shop in southern Vermont? Wedding band tattoo advice welcome as well. My wife and I are taking an vacation in VT for our one year anniversary and to commemorate the occasion, I would like to get a tattoo.

I am looking to get a wedding band "ring" tattoo so I don't have to wear the actual ring all the time. I work in a machine shop and we can't wear jewlery on our hands for safety reasons. If I feel the need to "class" my finger up, I will simply wear my titanium wedding band my wife gave me on my wedding day (not that I feel tattoos are unclassy).

At any rate, I have never had a tattoo before and would like some recommendations if anyone has any. I am aware that some artists don't do hand tattoos because they don't hold up but I think a simple black band might be okay.

Any Suggestions? Thanks.

btw we live in CT, if that matters

Help me honor the pursuit of science and truth with tattoos!

RobotNinja — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:27:52 -0800

I've been thinking of getting a tattoo for a long time, but only recently decided what would be meaningful enough to have permanently emblazoned on my body. I'd like to pay tribute to Galileo and others like him - the general concept of testing hypotheses, the power of logic and rational thinking, and not believing things just because they are the status quo. In short, Science - It Works, Bitches. What are some good quotes and symbols I can incorporate into a design? I really like the idea of "Eppur Si Muove!", as seen here. The design is a bit too boring for me though. I'd like to incorporate some stylized image of a famous experiment (perhaps the apocryphal dropping of objects from the Leaning Tower of Pisa). Alternatively, I'd to make some kind of ambigram of "Eppur Si Muove" with another famous quote about science/rational thought/defiance of traditional ideas in lack of evidence/etc.

Bring me your quotes in any language, design ideas, and favorite paradigm-shifting experiments, o wise MeFi!

Help ID this tattoo on metal dude Kvarforth from Shining!

punkrockrat — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 14:56:03 -0800

What is this tattoo? - Nicklas Kvarforth, from the swedish metal band SHINING has a tattoo on his chest that I am trying to identify. Any tattooists or art aficionados may have seen this before - can you help? I realize that this can also be a completely customized piece of work too, but I'm going on the chance that this may a copy of something that already exists. Anyway, the tattoo in question is the little skeleton dude on this chest - you can see it in any of the following photos: here, here, here and here.

Tattoo in Philly

Anonymous — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 08:52:11 -0800

Where can I get a good tattoo in the greater Philadelphia area? I would like to get a Celtic arm band and have been told it would be a 4-6 month wait at my local tattoo parlor; this doesn't seem reasonable wait to me but I'm a tattoo newb so any advice or recommendations would be appreciated.

Worth the Pain

CwgrlUp — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:15:59 -0800

To what would you compare the pain of getting a tattoo? I'm thinking of getting a tattoo between my shoulder blades. I have a regular to slightly wussy threshold of pain. How painful is it? Anything you could compare it to? Is that an ok spot because I know thin spots like hands and feet hurt more because you don't have much meat there. I would appreciate some wusses coming out of the woodwork and telling me I can do this. :) Thanks!

For what it's worth the tattoo will be a version of a cross with a banner around it. Not sure of size, I'm thinking maybe 3x3. So not a whole lot of filling in.

Bill Baker tattoo

acorn — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:31:33 -0800

I'd like to contact tattoo artist Bill Baker in Toronto for an appointment. Can anyone help with his current info?

Tattoo translation help

sporaticgenius — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:57:12 -0800

I need help finding a romantic phrase in Tagalog I'm looking to get a new tattoo in honor of my husband. I do not want to put his name necessarily, just something meant for him. I have one tattoo in Latin, but I'm thinking I might change it up a bit and get one in Tagalog (his native language). Unfortunately, I don't speak the language. What would be a good translated phrase? I'm looking for something romantic, not too long, and not extremely corny (slightly corny is ok). I could google this, but I'd like other peoples opinions since it will be permanent.

I'm not sure if this makes a difference, but it will be going on my chest, right underneath my left collarbone, curving with my body's natural angles. I would prefer a caligraphy-type cursive writing. I don't want it to be very large, but if I find the right phrase I'm willing to work with it and make a design I'd like.

Thanks

Please recommend a henna artist in the Baltimore/VA/DC/MD area

schroedinger — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:23:23 -0800

Can you recommend a good henna artist in the Baltimore/MD/DC/VA area who will do a large, custom, non-traditional design on my back?

Inked in my memory

alice ayres — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:28:53 -0800

Please help me find this magazine advertisement or tattoo/model. In the October 1997 issue of Teen or YM magazine with Jared Leto on the cover, there was a Calvin Klein advertisement that featured a model with a unique rose tattoo. The small tattoo was located on her shoulder or on her arm off right off her shoulder, and it was of a rose. The head/petals of the rose looked like an @ symbol. It was not the AOL rose tho ( @--->---). The stem was not like a typical thorny rose stem, and I believe a snake/serpent was wrapped around that part.

I don't recall any distinguishing characteristics about the model, but she was white.

Other things to note:
1) I am very certain about the issue, but as time passes, I am less certain about which magazine.
2) I have searched the online CK ads archive, but I think it is not complete. The ad was not in black and white, and it was not a celebrity model ad either. The feel of the ad was like this one, but I remember something about a purplish, reddish hue in the background like this one.
3) She wasn't standing, but I think she might have been laying in some contrived pose on water or a branch.
4) I have called the YM and Teen back issue departments, but they do not do back issues that far.

I'm crossing my fingers that someone, somewhere loves this model, Calvin Klein, Jared Leto, tattoos, or old teen magazines, and can help me identify this tattoo.

Please share your experiences with foot tattoos?

DingoMutt — Sat, 23 May 2009 14:50:42 -0800

Do you have a tattoo on your foot? Do you have any regrets, lessons learned, or advice for someone considering it? I've been thinking for a few years now about getting my dog's pawprint as a tattoo, and since she's constantly stepping on my feet it seems kind of "right" to me to have it placed on the top of my foot. This would be my first tattoo so I've been trying to learn as much as possible before committing, and one thing I keep coming across is the idea that foot tattoos apparently don't wear very well over time. I've read different posts on the subject (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4) but I don't have a sense of just how bad the fading or blurring is likely to be so now I'm hoping to hear from tattoo artists and from people who actually have foot tattoos, especially ones they've had for a few years or more.

If it helps, I'm thinking I'd want the tattoo to be all-black, and placed somewhere on the top of my foot (would it be more/less prone to fading if I placed it closer to my toes or farther back?). My dog's paw is roughly 2"X2.5" and I would like it to be life-sized (for once I'm kind of happy with my US Size 9 feet!). As a student who's off for the summer, if I got it done now I could easily wear flip-flops for a few weeks while it healed, although to be honest I really hate flip-flops and so would hope to eventually get back into my Doc Marten sandals or my trainers. Hmm ... I am aware that the foot is supposedly a painful place to tattoo and am not really put off by that ... I hope that gives enough background info to be helpful.

Finally, I do realize the most important person for me to talk to will be the actual tattoo artist(s) I approach (actually, if anyone has any recommendations for a Tampa or Orlando artist I'd be most grateful!), but for now I'm just trying to do as much groundwork as possible so I know if this placement is even one I should pursue. Thanks very much for any experiences or advice you can share!

help out a tattoo newb!

firei — Fri, 01 May 2009 14:17:13 -0800

[TattooFilter] I'm (hopefully) getting a tattoo soon! But before I do, I have a few questions to ask regarding tipping, drawing, and weight. So, I'm hoping to get a tattoo soon. Actually, it probably won't be until the fall, but, I like to plan ahead.

Before I settle on a place (although right now I'm looking at NY Adorned), I had a few questions that I thought you guys might be able to help with. (I've seen past ask.mefis about tats, but they don't quite fit the bill.)

1) I know that you are supposed to tip your artist. However, I once read that bringing gifts (baked goods, say) is also cool/better. Is this true? Or should I just tip 20% and skip the tin of cookies?

2) Gaining weight can cause a tattoo to stretch out and look stupid. What about losing weight?

3) I have always planned on having a friend draw my tattoos. Is it acceptable to bring in their work, instead of having the tattoo artist draw it? It will not be an overly complicated design.

If it helps, the tattoo will be a one to two inch line drawing (probably not filled in, just the outline, but I haven't decided for sure) on my side (either on one of my hips or by my boobs where the bra band hits).

How many congresspeople have tattoos?

boots — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:48:52 -0800

How many members of the United States Congress have tattoos?

Ahh, the price you pay for individuality...

sunshine arakhan — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:15:33 -0800

I got tattooed yesterday - great! - and just realised I can't wear a bra during the healing phase, and I need to go back to work... alternatives?? I got a new tattoo yesterday morning (on my left hand side ribcage, about in line with the lower part of my breast). The tattoo artist recommended not wearing a bra while it heals, so over the weekend I've just been wearing a bikini top with the back tie pulled down lower so it doesn't rub.

But I've just realised I go back to work in a day (I work in advertising, so it's a semi-corporate office environment), and so a bra is needed. I won't be able to get away with wearing a bikini top under my clothes, and the tattoo is right where the main strap sits.

So my question is - does anybody know of any other bra alternatives I could get away with for the next few days? Would it be safe to tape a cloth bandage over it so the bra doesn't rub? Or is it going to rub anyway? Or will it be ok as long as I'm taking care of it?

Thanks!

Nothing you do not need

anthropoid — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:53:48 -0800

TattooFilter. Looking for a poetic version of the phrase "Nothing you do not need." I am getting a new tattoo to act as a constant reminder of the way I am striving to live. In the past year I've worked towards a more modest life. I've minimized my expenses, eliminated all but the smallest of luxuries, and I'm giving to charity the money I've saved. (Though the irony of spending money on a [seemingly unnecessary] tattoo is not lost on me...)

The phrase "nothing you do not need" is constantly running in the back of my mind and I'd like to get a tattoo of it, though I'm looking for a more poetic version.

I like the way the phrase sounds and feels; the cadence. It's just not as poetic as I'd like. 'Nothing' and 'need' are the main words that resonate with me and I'd like the phrase to include both, though it's not absolutely necessary.

I'm also open to quotes you think might work, though I'd like to keep it to just a few words. Any ideas?

Thanks, as always.

Tattoo to reward a long, hard, but worth every minute, journey!

kgreerRN — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:01:17 -0800

Ideas for evidence of my success as new ink! I just successfully completed another huge milestone in my nursing career. This road has been very long and stressful, to date the hardest thing I've ever done. It is also by far the one thing that I cannot get enough of. I love what I do, I love being a nurse and I love learning. I have several tattoos already, but this one is more of a reward and a reminder of my love for nursing and the hard work it took to get here. I have ruled out the typical Caduceus, and Star of life. I like the ECG rhythm, but it's become very common. I like words, and beautiful fonts.
If everyone didn't have "breathe", I would get that...
*breathing is what kept me moving forward, and my nerves at bay
*my job is to keep people breathing! :)
*i can finally breathe and concentrate on enjoying my life and career instead of passing tests!
But too many celebrities with that tattoo.

I would like to incorporate nursing as well as the hard work and success I have achieved. This will be small...ish <4 inches, somewhere out of site; just for me

...now where's that Egyptian pine bark...?

mykescipark — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:08:47 -0800

My next tattoo is going to run the length of my torso's right side, from about mid-breast to inner thigh. I'd like to avoid the usual sort of vines/leaves/faux-tribal clichés, with a similarly organic or flowing feel, and in a more modern style. Can you recommend some resources for interesting patterns or motifs? (Nb.: I've already explored the wide world of tattoo sites, so I'm looking for more intriguing ideas, i.e., scientific diagrams and the like.)

Facial Tattoo risks

ilovehistory — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 21:16:20 -0800

What would the drawbacks be of getting freckles tattooed on the bridge and cheek area of the face? I have spoken with over 50 tattoo artists (cosmetic and non) wherein 70% of them would agree to do it, but some don't.

- Explanations that do not deter are: they will fade to an odd color, they will be dark at first, they can stretch. (These are not any different than any tattoo risk)

- Explanations that I do not completely understand: Something regarding if I were in an accident and the hospital has to use a special x ray on me, it would discolor the tattooed area forever to a dark purple.

Any further explanation of the above would be appreciated as well as additional issues I may need to be aware of.

Where should I get a tattoo?

hapticactionnetwork — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:54:32 -0800

TattooFilter: I live in San Antonio, Texas. I'm going to be in New York for the first week of April. Should I get a tattoo while I'm in New York, or just wait and get one in San Antonio (or Austin)? (Multiple questions inside! I've never gotten a tattoo before!) So, I'm fairly certain I know what I want. Max, from the book Where the Wild Things Are, with a banner that says "MISCHIEF!" The thing is, I want a tattoo artist to redraw Max in his/her specific style, and not try to copy the images from the book. Is this even something a good custom tattoo artist would do?

I'm leaning toward Daniel Santoro at NY Adorned (I found him by reading old tattoo askmes). The thing is, I'm only going to be in New York for a week. Is that enough time to talk to an artist about what I want, have him draw it, and get the tattoo?

I'm open to the possibility of just getting this tattoo closer to home. I live more or less an hour from Austin, so if anyone has any suggestions of tattoo artists over there, that would be fantastic. If anyone has any suggestions for great artists in San Antonio, that would be good too.

I'm excited about getting this tattoo, but I'm also very aware of the fact that it's going to be on me forever, so I want it to be as incredible as possible.

I don't read Chinese, but I do speak Science.

i_am_a_fiesta — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:57:02 -0800

I'm thinking of getting a tattoo of a bunch of organic molecules that represent positive traits, feelings, etc. More along the lines of serotonin representing happiness than ethanol or caffeine representing happiness. What are your ideas for emotions/ traits and their corresponding chemicals?

I Own Every Bell That Tolls Me

heavenstobetsy — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 18:58:56 -0800

"I own every bell that tolls me" What does this mean to you? Neko Case's Fox Confessor Brings The Flood helped me through a rough time, and I love this line. I'm seriously considering getting it tattooed on my arm. But I want to make sure that it makes sense. I take that line to be about taking ownerships for mistakes made. Which I can definately identify with. What do you think?