Hey tattoo people, a question for you...

after 45 minutes of work on my sugar skull between my shoulder blades the endorphins wore off and every second was what i like to call "bearable agony." i could take it, but it was awful. its a rather large peice. the collar bone tattoo i have tickled.

It's usually a good idea to eat something before you go. I've been in the shop multiple times while the artist next to mine has had to stop because their client was about to pass out. Their first line of questioning is usually "Did you eat something before you came?" (The answer is always no.) Keep a bottle of water nearby, also.

As for the pain- it depends on the location. I have both of my feet done, and they didn't hurt at all. My right arm is now a dragon sleeve, and the spot where my forearm connects to my upper arm, that crook-of-the-arm area, hurt more than all of my tattoos put together. It's actually the only time I've felt "pain" while getting tattooed. Most of the time I've just felt a burn, like a sunburn, from the needle. It could also be possible that tattoos hurt more as you get older, which is what I've encountered- first 3 at 18, last one was a portrait done last year at 32.

Oh yeah, they're crazy addictive. You need to start mapping out your real estate now, and think of how one will incorporate into another. Do NOT go in drunk or "altered" in any way- drinking thins the blood, which will cause you to bleed more and have the artist spend more time trying to drill ink into an area... and the feeling/sensation of the tattoo is part of the whole experience. Why numb yourself to it? Embrace it- it's like therapy for the soul. You'll walk out of the shop at peace with the universe if you do it right...

I love my tattoo getting my arms done very soon

I got mine near the same spot, shoulder blade area. I dozed through mine. My sister, however, got hers on the top of the foot and cussed a blue streak through the thing.

And I never ate anything before hand because I went right after work and ate supper afterwards. Didn't bother me at all not having any food.

My first was on my lower back on my spine. The first 3-5 minutes I was wondering what I got myself into because it felt like she was using a soldering iron on my back. After I got over the initial shock (and pain) I kind of enjoyed it. I picked a large tat for my first one and I am hooked too. It won't be my last for sure. Have fun with it!

different places can change the hurt - your location should be okay. Closer to bone the more it can hurt.... from what I'm told. Also, flabby or softer areas (like under arms). The outline tends to hurt worse than the shading - shading feels more like some one scratching a sunburn.

When you hit a painful part in the outline, just breathe in deeply through your nose and out through your mouth slowly. Or swear - it's nothing they've not heard.

I need to get the two on my feet touched up and I have a few more I want... ah where's that money tree!

Best of luck w/your ink!

PS: did you research the shop, ask to see the back where you'll be getting the work done, their autoclave or sterilization stuff - is everything individually wrapped when you get there. Ask to see their inspection license... just some thoughts.

The pain is only when getting it, so only lasts that long. My tattoo artist says it feels like "kitten kisses" and we all laugh and go, yea, whatever. Ones on less fat areas hurt more (like boney/thin areas). When it starts, for me, it kinda feels good. As time goes on, I get to a point when I think, OK, I can't go much longer, and happily, it ends about then anyway. I describe myself as having a high-tolerance to pain also. I've had three kids with no drugs, kidney stones 5 times, a broken hip, a replaced hip, a fully blown disc in my back, later repaired, a hernia, also repaired, knee surgery, a hysterectomy, yadda yadda, I could go on. I can't take pain meds (heavy duty ones) because I'm allergic. So I focus a lot on getting through pain, like with breathing, and I get through. I bet you'll do great and can't wait for your next one! Welcome to the club

They are wicked addicting... I don't think they hurt at all really, but it does depend on how hard the artist hits your skin. I started falling asleep during a session with one artist, but the guy I went to after my original artist moved made me wanna jump outa my skin. Anything that is over a bone will hurt more than others, but it'll be totally worth it.

Eat a normal sized meal a couple of hours beforehand. Eat too much, or just before you head to the shop, and you run the risk of tossing it back up depending on how your nerves are. Eat too little and you could pass out. Don't overthink it. If you're hungry, eat.

Most important, dont psych yourself out too much. Have fun! The pain is not really bad at all. I would compare to a semi-bad sun/rug burn. Since yours is so small it likely wont take long, and the skin wont have much time to get tender. Your body will adjust to the pain quickly. For my bigger pieces...the pain the next couple days far outweighed the pain of getting it. It will be sore to the touch, but you have to lightly scrub it with soap several times a day while its healing. Just make sure you take care of you new tat and you wont regret it. A clean and moisturized tattoo is a happy one. I still put lotion on mine daily and they look brand new.

As most others have said, it's addicting....so you have that to look forward to. I got my first one about a year and a half ago. I've got 2 since and am planning on another before the year is out. haha

I have the Sacred Heart on my shoulder blade. It was my first. Honestly, I almost fell asleep in the chair. The only part that hurt was the healing. Make sure you keep it out of the sun! It burned a little, then they get itchy.

My first one is in the same place you are describing and that one hurt less than my other 2. for me, it just felt like a pinch. ive tried both eating before and not and id recommend eating before only because i got lighteaded and queasy when i didn't eat before.