If I'm going to get my information from people on the internet it should be the ones I know.

[dira]

So I'm getting my first tattoo on Saturday. On the back of my shoulder, monochrome, text, further details forthcoming when it actually exists for iulia to photograph.

So! Who wants to supply with aftercare tips? Or what-to-know-when-getting-tattooed tips, I guess, although "holy fuck that spot is going to hurt a lot" is not helpful information and I've already visited the tattoo place and let Iulia ask questions about sterilization. Anything else, yes please. I have already read the first two google hits for tattoo care, but I would like to hear it from you guys.


Unrelated request for information from people on the internet: can anybody rec good long kidfic? I feel like I have read a lot of what's out there under that description, but surely there is more! I am not incredibly fussy about already knowing the fandom when it comes to feeding my long kidfic jones, so anything is fair game.

This request has become significantly less urgent since I discovered elderwitty's McShep AU Masterlist, but still. It would be good to know for the future.


This entry is cross-posted at http://dsudis.livejournal.com/548184.html.

Comments

[dodificus]

I don't know if it actually made a difference but I took 2 panadol before I got mine done. I wasn't in excruciating pain for the two hours it took to finish, so maybe it did help, just a little?

[damned_colonial]

If you're fandom-agnostic about your kidfic, and/or you have other preferences wrt the genre, you could ask on kink_finders.

I'll be tracking responses re tattoo aftercare... I'm planning one too.

[strina]

Man, all the long kidfic I can think of has been recced everywhere (like So Wise We Grow), but:

Thereafter You Have It (And Tango Makes Three) - Brendon/Spencer, Panic RPF. Brendon knocks up a girl and is left with the baby.

throw a little sparkle all over it - Frank/Gerard, MCR RPF. Baby on the doorstep.

Forever Now 'verse - Panbandom RPF, first story gen, succeeding stories of various pairings. Brian adopts the homeless!orphaned!babyWays.

Secrets - Harry/Draco, HP. Set the summer after HBP; Harry ends up caring for Draco's secret daughter. Possibly leaning toward idfic, but I love it.

Um, you've read Pru's Connor series, right? (I'm blanking on the name.)

[molly_o]

Keep it moist and covered -- alternate between neosporin and plain petroleum jelly every 12 hours for the first 2-3 days, and cover loosely with gauze.

In my experience (three so far), it really does hurt a lot during, but it's not a deep, achy pain, it's a surface-level pain. My pierced ears hurt more -- they throbbed, while the tattoos felt more like a sunburn (not so noticeable unless something rubbed up against them).

It's good to have someone there (the tattoo artist or a friend) to chat with you and keep you distracted; it's better if they talk about distracting things and don't say things like, "So, does it hurt?"

via network

[jumpuphigh]

Ask your tattoo artist. Most artists won't guarantee their work unless you follow their aftercare directions. Also, aftercare depends on your climate. What works for me (and works well) in the desert could be disastrous for someone with humidity. Call the artist before hand and ask for the directions so that you can get all of the supplies you need prior to your appointment. Also, I guarantee you that you will not remember the directions if you get them at the end of the session. Your mind just won't be functioning that well.

I recommend taking some ibuprofen (800 mg) and acetaminophen (1000 mg) together if both of those medications work for you. Take a dosage before your appointment and then regularly for a few days afterward. Do not drink alcohol prior to your appointment. It increases your pain sensitivity and causes you to bleed more. Bring snacks and a blanket. Your body may go into shock and having both of those things can help prevent it/head it off if it starts to happen. Water is a good thing to bring as well.

Good luck! Bring a camera and have people take pictures. Other artists will be happy to snap pictures of the process.

This could be really short and boring

[commodorified]

Because basically I'm going to say 'follow instructions'

They will tell you to keep it covered for the first 12-24 hours. DO THIS.

They will tell you to UNCOVER it and let it dry after this point. DO THIS. Leave it covered too long, you'll lose colour.

They will tell you to keep your dirty little fingers off of it, even if you do want to see if the skin feels different or anything, and to make sure that you wear a nice clean breathable cotton garment over it and keep your sheets nice and fresh for the first week or so. DO THIS.

They will give you some antimicrobial (NOT antibacterial) skin cleanser and tell you to use it twice daily. DO THIS. Use the rest of the bottle for first aid or for facial cleanser, btw, it's great for both. :-)

They will give you some 'tattoo wax' and tell you to apply it with clean hands and VERY LIGHTLY after every cleansing to keep the skin moist. DO THIS.

They will tell you to LEAVE THE SCAB BE NO MATTER HOW MUCH IT ITCHES and instead deal with the itch by washing and anointing with tattoo wax. DO THIS.

Before stuff: EAT. A lot of people don't eat 'in case they throw up'. If you eat, I swear, you will not throw up. If you don't, you might, when the endorphin wagon arrives.

As far as pain, I had my artist do 30 seconds with no ink before she started the actual work. They will do this, and it will tell you what to expect. This makes it all much less scary. Cat's was in a more painful location than mine and they just took more breaks.

I have to say that everyone said mine would hurt and basically it just felt weird and mostly made me want to twitch my arm a whole lot until basically the last two minutes, which burned some. After, it felt like a sunburn for a day and then just fine. Slept on that side Night Two. I mean, you were there, you saw me. And you know I'm not this big stoic.

[commodorified]

Also I hate to argue with nearly everyone, but no, do not take pain pills before.

1) Pain pills are not actually very effective against pain from something that is still happening to you. They're fine for after, but they won't, frex, numb your skin any while you're being tattooed. Lanocaine patches would, but locals, injected or patch, swell and distort the skin slightly which = blurry bad tattoo.

2) NSAIDS are anti coagulants. This will buy you MORE swelling after.

It's not worth it.

[elizaria]

What commodorified said. They'll supply you with cream/wax or tell you what to buy at the pharmacy. I was recommended to use a salve for light burns (Bepanthen) on the last 2 I did which worked better than the salve I was given for my first tattoo. It varies with the artist, but a good artist who sterilizes and is "proper" is also good with aftercare and know what to recommend.

[dira]

Hmmm, I'm told mine will be a lot quicker than that--about twenty minutes, by the artist's estimate--so maybe I'll be okay regardless?

[dira]

Ooh, hey, I hadn't even thought of kink_finders! Thanks for the reminder. :)

[dira]

I've read the bandom ones and So Wise We Grow, but not Secrets or Pru's series! Thanks for the recs!

[dira]

Yeah, I am bringing Iulia along to pay attention to the artist's instructions and hold my hand and talk to me and take pictures.

And, hmmm, sunburn, okay. I have had me some sunburns. I can deal with that. :)

Re: via network

[dira]

Yeah, I'm bringing a friend to take pictures and probably pay more attention to the directions than I will. It's good having the other half of my brain located in a whole other person at times like this... :)

Re: This could be really short and boring

[dira]

All good things to know! I will do those things. Even the not fiddling with it, lo though I have to sit on my hands. (Where it is, and the time of year it is, and my work dress code being what it is, it'll stay covered up a lot, which hopefully will help.)

And since Iulia is paying even more attention to everyone's advice than I am, we have scheduled meals accordingly and I should be pretty well looked after. :)

[dira]

Duly noted!

[dira]

I figured as much, but I thought it couldn't hurt to poll the internets--thanks for your contribution! :)

[elizaria]

Polling the flists is what I do too, except when I got my first one it was ... oh 10 years ago so it was polling the mailinglist I was on :D

[dira]

The more things change... :)

[grammarwoman]

How ridiculous is it that when people ask for kidfic, the first thing that comes to mind is "Get Loved"? Like, I was all scrambling for the link and everything, and then...*headslap*

Here's some others:

Panthalassa by sapote3 - SGA, "Atlantis, Lantea, eight years after the war ends", about the military pimping out Sheppard's genetic material after he's lost.

The Tragic, Doomed, and Epic Life and Loves of Elizabeth Jean McKay by captanddeastar, SGA, McKay/Sheppard, hysterically funny story about their offspring, a genius teenaged girl.

Yes Sir, That's My Baby by ijemanja, SG-1/SGA, Carter/McKay, a 'what if Sam got pregnant in the "The Road Not Taken" universe' story, also very funny.

Time When... by tassosss, Firefly/SPN crossover, Zoe/Dean. (Serenity spoilers) Guh - it works so well, and it's so true to them all.

I had a couple of others in my links, but they've since gone to lockdown. :(

Re: This could be really short and boring

[commodorified]

If you do need to cover it to stay off it, use a dry loose cover. gauze squares are good. Keeps you away from it and keeps it in the air. I gauzed at night so I wouldn't wake up with my fingers in it for a couple days. It honestly won't itch a lot if you keep it clean and waxed. Just off and on like mild healing sunburn, not like poison oak or anything.

If you scratch before you heal, you can *scratch out chunks of your tattoo*. Lotus will do one free touch up on consult with the artist, but you'd rather not need one.

Re: This could be really short and boring

[commodorified]

... or you can chop your nails down till you can't pick up a dime. Then you're safe no matter WHAT :-) By the time they come back, you'll be done.

Re: This could be really short and boring

[commodorified]

you'll be peckish after, belike. We had pizza at the place that does the mac and cheese pizza. :-)

[dira]

Oooh, I don't think I've read ANY of those! Thanks!

And thank you also for wanting to rec Get Loved--I must admit it came up when I was searching the AO3 for long kidfic, and I was slightly frustrated. I've read that one before! A lot! :)

Re: This could be really short and boring

[dira]

Mmmm, mac and cheese pizza.... :)

[t_vo0810]

I just got my first tattoo last August, the memory of it is still fresh. Let me preface this by saying I am on the low average side of pain tolerance levels- i am not particulary stoic or brave or anything like that. I made me friend go first cause I was gonna chicken out if she said it hurt too much. But it really really did not hurt all that bad. My tattoo took about an hour overall. The outline they do first hurt the worst and really, honestly, it wasn't that bad. I made lots of ouchie!faces and bit my lip a few times, cursed under my breath about 3 times, but I could still carry on a conversation without trouble. I found I had to concentrate hard on not fidgeting or flinching during the brief moments of stinging pain that would happen every so often. After he finished the outline, everything else was pretty easy breezy. I think at that point, my endorphins were flying high and took the edge off.

Overall, I would say the process wasn't all that difficult and probably less painful than my imagination had predicted. I didn't take anything beforehand cause our tattoo guy said it was best not to, but if u r worried, some prophalatic nanoproxin (i.e. aleve) or ibuprofen (i.e. advil) wouldn't hurt. That's what he recommended for aftercare. The only thing I wish I had done that I hadn't was taking some advil and/or aleve at the shop before i left. I had plans after and didn't make it home for a few hours. I was in alot more pain then when I finally got home. Kind of like a sore bruised bad sunburn that first day. After that, it didn't hurt at all.

As far as aftercare, my guy gave us very explicit, WRITTEN instructions that he went over item by item. Thank god they were written, cause I would have not remembered half of it when i got home and all of it was important. The only thing that did not happen like it was supposed to was that about a week after, the tattoo is supposed to scab, then 'seal', and then 'peel'. After it peels, it really doesn't need any more care. Well, mine scabbed and sealed but did not peel. I put some vitamin E ointment on it (the kind for very bad sunburns which i had gotten in the past) and that did the trick. it softened up the dry scabby seal and it peeled off the next day.

I adored getting my tattoo- the tattoo artist and the atomosphere at the shop was great and kept my mind occupied for the most part. The whole experience was good and not nearly as painful as I thought it would be. And it was a huge bonding experience for my best friend and I. I would totally do it again.

Take lots of pictures and post! I can't wait to see your fresh ink! You will be great so don't worry and don't be apprehensive. It's well worth all the trouble. <3

[fox]

I don't think "holy fuck that spot is going to hurt a lot" is even accurate, much less helpful. Have the others said? It'll itch like nothing else in the world, and you must not scratch it. Slap the hell out of it, though, if you can reach. And Neosporin, dab dab dab.

[dira]

All good things to know, thanks! :)

[dira]

Yep, yep, yep. And I will no doubt get another round of instructions from my actual tattoo artist. :) Thanks!

[thedrummertobeat]

I swear by Lush's Ultrabland cleanser as a moisturizing agent for the many tattoos I've had done. It's thick with a layer of moisture-barrier beeswax, and has kept all my tattoos from flaking and scabbing all over the place. It doesn't take a lot to be effective, and it lasts forever.

Honestly, I doubt that your skin will hurt alot unless you have very sensitive skin or are very very sensitive to pain; it's easy to get used to the needles, and the inflammation that occurs after the ink has been injected into your skin is no more noticeable (for me, anyway) than a scrape or a cut.

I'm sure your artist will give you aftercare instructions, but you'll want to leave the clingfilm over the tattoo for about a day before pulling it off and letting it air out. (Wearing fabric over it is fine, though I would wear dark colours because your skin will reject out a lot of ink and it can ruin lighter shirts.) Once or twice a day, rub cream (as I say, Ultrabland is aces, but any kind of unscented/unperfumed thick moisturizing cream should be fine) into the tattoo, but otherwise leave it be. You should heal pretty swiftly, though if you're still getting (significant) pain 36 hours after your tattoo is finished I'd contact your doctor.

Don't use soap or shower gel on it. Water itself is fine in the shower, but you want to avoid any kind of chemical soap. Make sure you put cream on it again after you get out of the shower.

That's about all I can think of! It's a really easy and streamlined process for me, now, but that's 'cause I have big ol' arm tattoos, and you get used to it after the first couple. :)

[thedrummertobeat]

I way agree with this. Way way way. Don't take pain meds; the best artists will know, and if they're responsible they won't tattoo you if you've taken them. After is fine, but before or during is something every artist I've used has expressly said not to do in the literature they provide.

[thedrummertobeat]

Well, commodorified covered just about everything anyway. :) I would reiterate that eating before you go is a great idea, and having something to snack on after can be helpful; but I mean, I did about seven hours in the chair at my peak inking, and that's when you really need to be aware of how tense you are for long periods of time! If your tattoo is small and the artist estimates it'll be under half an hour, you should be perfectly capable of handling your body's reaction. Get iulia to hang on to water for you, and you should be sorted.

Good luck. Tattoos are the best thing in the world, and I hope you love yours.