About Getting Inked :)

Son of a bitch, life's been busy--the mundane kind of busy where you feel like nothing's happening but also you seem to not have time for anything, really. I've been writing a lot (of fiction) lately and seeing as how school's starting next week, I'm trying to get in as much work done as I can. But I also feel like I owe this blog a little postage so I thought I'd tell you guys about how it was getting my tattoos done. :D 

  

If you've been following me for a while, then you'll know that I have one other tattoo but that this is the first time I'd ever gone to a legit tattoo shop. The first time, my friend Trizha home-made it (good old prison style) with a sewing needle and calligraphy ink. I was a bit nervous this time around, but also I figured that it couldn't be as bad as being poked for three hours for a 2x2 tattoo. And it wasn't! (yay)

I got inked at Wild Ones in BF (Presiden't s Ave) Paranaque. I decided to go to Wild Ones because the guys who own it are good friends of my brothers' and they did a lot of my brothers' tattoos (and my brothers have a lot of tattoos). 

I don't have a lot of photos taken while getting inked because I got the work done on my forearms, plus obviously a certain amount of stillness is required for someone to draw on your skin with a needle. But luckily my bestfriends came with me (because it's always fun teasing someone when they're nervous hahaha) and so I have a couple of pics c/o of Joy Vidad and Instagram. :))

I was tattooed by Mark aka Batas. :) And the design I got done was the one that I posted about here, except that I had it flipped around with the feather points pointing toward me. 

I found the pre-tattooing process super fascinating: they shave the area being tattooed, then put some deodorant on so that the ink from the stencil transfers (like magic, I swear). They then measure it (not sure why) and let the stencil drawing dry. It took about 45 minutes to get both of these done, total. :)

And that's them, done! :) This was taken right after we finished, so it's a bit reddish still. Now it's gone flat and is healed for the most part. :D

Over-all I was very happy with my tattoo experience and will definitely be heading back to Wild Ones for more work done, soon. If you guys want a great tattoo shop with awesome people running it, then you guys should definitely check this place out.

Also, below are some of the questions I got via e-mail, re: tattoos! 

(1) Did it hurt?

Not nearly as much as people make you out to think. It's definitely uncomfortable and it does sting (as you would expect from being poked with a needle) but it isn't so bad. If you've had braces put on or any part of you aspirated for internal bleeding before, then this is going to be easy peezy for you. :D Although of course it also depends on how big the piece you get done is, and mine are pretty small. It also depends where you get it done, although I've heard a billion inconsistencies re: tattoo placement--I have a friend who got one near the ribs and she said it hurt like hell but I had another friend who got it in roughly the same place and she said she hardly felt it. So it'll still depend on your pain tolerance, but in my experience the pain isn't too bad. :) Start off with something small and see if you're alright with the pain, then move onto something bigger once you've gauged how much you can take.

(2)  How do you know what you want?

I...get this weird feeling. In my boddeh.

(3) How much did it cost?

Well. You'll have to e-mail the tattoo parlor in advance to get a quote because prices always, always depend on how big/how intricate/how many colors will be involved re: your tatt design. :)

(4) How did your parents react to you tainting your body??

Dearest person, I sure as hell (fuck) hope that you mean this question sarcastically, because if you don't then maybe it's best not to check out posts with tattoos or not to follow blogs of people who have tattoos. Anyway. First off, I don't think that tattooing is "tainting" your body. It's a form of self-expression and people will argue that it's unnatural or whatever, but our ancestors did it and I don't think you get any more au naturale than the indigenous tribes. Not to say that I'm suggesting we go back to that way of life, but you catch my drift: as long as you're careful about it (I should know right haha), skin art can be beautiful. :D 

My parents weren't supportive, exactly but they didn't get mad either. I mean, it's not their cup of tea but they aren't going kick me out of the house or anything. :)) I think they're above thinking that tattoos are a way to destroy your body. You know what does destroy your body? Shabu. Moving on.

(3) How did you decide on a design?

Well. I thought about one thing about me that I knew and that was that I like to write. It is the poison I've picked. So yeah. :) Pinterest is great for finding tattoo designs, though.

(4) Can you take a bath after?

Girl, you better or that shiz gon' get nasty!