tell me about tattoos

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’m thinking of getting “fiat justitia et ruat caelum” (let justice be done, though the heavens may fall) tattooed on my upper arm. I’m not going to do this any time soon - it seems prudent to wait a year or so to make sure I really want it - but I’ve got some questions for the smartest, sexiest, and all-around grooviest group of people on Earth.

1.) Anyone know of any good, safe tattoo parlors in DC?
2.) Any thoughts on fonts/layouts for the text?
3.) Would I need to do this in more than one session, or could it get done in one go?
4.) Tattooed dopers - what should I know about this whole wacky thing?

2
  1. Ask all the tattooed people you meet where they got theirs.
  2. If you lay it out on your computer, the studio will make can make a transfer from your printout. So the font is up to you. Something bolder might last a little longer before fading out, if it fades at all.
  3. It makes sense to do it all in one shot. Type probably doesn’t lend itself to “outline one session/fill in the next” the way a drawing would. And the spacing will probably look more consistent if it’s done all at once.
  4. You should know that your experience may differ from mine and everyone else’s, and that not everyone will agree with your decisions about how you adorn yourself. Your tattooist should be able to estimate the time/cost of your tattoo. The time for completion will expand if you need frequent breaks. If you’re hairy, shave your skin before you go for your appointment. This will save a little bit of time, and your personal razor is probably better than the cheap disposibles at the studio. You should know that your tattooist can put whatever you want on your skin without getting the least bit emotionally involved in your choice. He may even dis you after you leave. Your tattooist should be a consummate artist/draftsman. He may also be an awesome person, or he might be a sorry excuse for a human being. You may hear a lot of rough talk and unsavory opinions while you’re getting tattooed. You’re in someone else’s house at this point and it’s probably best to ignore the trash talk if it’s not directed at you. You should tip your tattooist. About $20 on a $100 tattoo is reasonable.
3
  1. x2 on asking folks where they got there’s. Anybody I’ve ever met with a tattoo was more than willing to talk about it and parlor where it was done.
  2. I would get a general idea of the type of font you like and then go to some of the places you’ve been reccomended to and ask the artist. A decent artist will have a good feel about what does and doesn’t look on the body. When I get work done, I have a really good “general” idea of what I want and then work out the details with the artist on how the design will flow over the musculature.
  3. Depends on the size of what you want done and how long you can sit for. I went five and half hours straight when I got my first (a tribal draon on my arm) but could only take 2-3 hours at a shot on my lower back.
  4. Find an artist and a shop you like. Don’t be afraid to walk out and go someplace else if you get the wrong vibe. The first time most people worry about how much it’s going to hurt but for me the biggest thing was the leap of faith I put into the artist (it’s all fun and games until the needle hits the skin :)).

Finally, be prepared to want more. I was absolutely positive the dragon on my arm would be my first and only and now (4 years later) I’m almost done with a full back piece. It’s addicting. :smiley:

Good luck!

4

Nothing to add except for what it felt like. To me, it felt like someone was scratching on a sunburn with their fingernail.

5

If you think tattoos will remain popular as long as you will have it, you know nothing of the history of tattoos. They go in and out of fashion, with good long multi-decade gaps in between when you will feel obliged to hide it.

6

If someone feels obliged to hide his or her tattoo because they aren’t in fashion at that time, he or she never should have gotten tattooed.

7

Also, the feeling depends entirely on where (on your body) you get it. I got a tattoo on my shoulder and expected lots of pain. But I almost laughed because I swear it tickled more than hurt. It felt like a cat licking my upper arm. I’m planning on getting the other shoulder done soon, so I hope I have the same experience.

8

Before getting a tattoo in another language, consult more than one scholar to make sure it says what you think it does. Tattoos are permanent, and you wouldn’t want to forever have your arm proclaim, “Let justice be do, though the pants may fall.”

9

I dunno, I wouldn’t mind having “Let Justine be done, though pants may fall” but YMMV.

That said, I’ve recently fallen in love with the idea of having damask style tribal sleeves done on both arms, from shoulder to wrist. My reasoning against, I’ve only recently had the yen for it, I’m very young (17), it would hurt my job prospects as a waitress, it would be very expensive and painful. But I still love the thought.

10

Ditto.

And, to save them the effort I’ll go ahead and round out the list of stupid and insulting statements or questions that are bound to be made by tactless busybodies in any thread about tattoos:

  • Don’t you realize that’s permanent?!
  • What will your grandkids think of you when you’re 80?
  • If it’s visible, you’ll have trouble finding a job.
  • Why would anyone want to do that?
  • I like tattoos but I think animals/roses/portraits/objects/phrases/etc. are stupid.
  • My Uncle/Father/Sister/etc. got a tattoo when they were younger and they totally regret it. You will too.
  • People who get tattoos are generally considered dirty/skanky/unprofessional/stupid/etc. and you will be too when you get one.

I swear, I’m yea close to getting “I did it to piss you off” tattooed on my forehead. It’s art, it’s subjective, it’s personal, and no one does it for the same reasons. That said, I think we all realize what we’re getting into when we sit down in that chair and feel the needle digging in. Those of us that don’t, and later come to regret the choice still don’t deserve to be insulted.

I guess the best advice I could give about getting tattooed is to realize that once you do, whatever restraint people have when it comes to commenting on things that are none of their business just vanishes. You’ll have complete strangers commenting on it, good and bad. Make sure you’re comfortable with that kind of scrutiny and attention.

As for the experience itself, I agree with the person who said it felt like being scratched on a really bad sunburn. At least, that’s how the one on my arm felt. The one on my shoulder wasn’t as bad, and the ones on my ankles weren’t necessarily worse, but more intense. I could feel the vibrations rattling through the bones at times, and that wasn’t exactly pleasant.

When it comes to selecting an artist, make sure you find someone whose style you really enjoy. Tattoo artists aren’t robots, and don’t just pump out exact replicas of what they’re fed. Each will introduce their own subtle style to whatever you bring them, so make sure you like the way they render their lines, or their use of color and shading. And don’t be afraid to shop around until you see what you like. If a shop doesn’t have some portfolios on display for you to look at when you come in, or seems defensive to your questions, run for the hills.

There’s a very good Tattoo FAQ here from rec.arts.bodyart. Although it’s a bit out of date, it’s still great information.

Last but not least, if/when you get it done, come back and post some pics!

11

But they are all pretty much true, especially outside of the Straightdope tatoo fantasy land. Visible ones will hurt serious job prospects.

12

I have visible tattoos and they’ve never been an issue for me at any job I’ve held. I work in a technology-based corporate environment where I am responsible for meeting with clients and representing my company as a consultant. Prior to that I worked for government consulting firms and a non-profit business association (both extremely conservative environments) where I dealt with the public, our members, legislators, and businesspeople of all stripes. I find that if you are knowledgeable in your field, educated, and have good communication skills visible tattoos are not a dealbreaker and will not hurt serious job prospects. As for the rest of my list, they aren’t all “pretty much true”. They’re broad-brush generalizations that make people who are uncomfortable around tattoos feel better about themselves and serve to justify their stereotyping.

13

Then you’re lucky. And your education and skill helps. You’re the exception to the norm.

14

Look at this way, an employer is looking for an employee that will deal with other people: secretary, clerk, waitress, dental hygenist, public school teacher, police officer. With two equally qualified applicants, who is more likely to be picked, the tatted up one or the un-tatted one?

15

Look, if you want to debate the socialogical impact of tattoos in the workforce, then start another thread. The point of my post was to divert the inevitable hijacks like this that always pop up whenever someone asks about tattoos. The OP asked for opinions from tattooed people on the process itself, not what you think his job prospects are going to be, or what you think of tattoos. Do you have anything to contribute towards the questions that were asked or not?

16

Better count me in as another “exception”.

My tattoos have never been a problem. From what I see, no one seems put off by them anymore unless they are old, WASP types.

17

Ditto.

18

I just got another one last Sunday. Yeah, it hurt. Mildly at times to fairly irritating at others.
I have done tattoo flashes (designs) for others that wanted something unique to them and not from a flash book. My advice to them was to take the design they think they want, we’d draw it up in color and to scale and tape it to the fridge, the bathroom mirror and maybe elsewhere for at least a month. If after looking at it repeatedly you are not tired of it or haven’t thought of any changes then go for it.
My first one was upper right arm because I could wear even a short sleeve business shirt and it would be covered. I have known a few that regretted a fore arm, full sleeve or neck because it is hard to conceal when you wish to do so (meet the parents, or the Judge).
Just my HO.

19

Example #1
See Post #7 by According To Pliny

Example #2
See post by According To Pliny’s remark in this thread.

Methinks According To Pliny needs to stay out of the tattoo threads.

20

I believe you have the translation right, but not the latin: my sources say the correct wording is “fiat justitia, ruat coelum”. This quote is attributed to Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus.