Thinking about a tattoo, but is it what good girls did in the 1940's?

[Crazy8s]

Plain old Lubriderm unscented lotion will heal quicker than anything else I've ever seen if used as directed. The petroleum based stuff gets overdone by 90% of the people that seem to use it which makes the tattoo take forever to heal. The only problem with the Lubriderm is that you have to stay on top of it and make sure you're not letting the tattoo completely dry out. Your tattoo should never be allowed to scab. If moisturized properly, it should dull as the upper layers of the epidermis are dying then begin to flake like a sunburn. As long as you don't pick at the flakes or scratch at it, it should heal nice and bright.
That's my opinion, but I'd still recommend you listen to your Artist. Nothing drives us more crazy than when one of our clients completely ignores what we tell them and proceeds to get their advice from their "friend" that is usually covered in terrible tattoos that scabbed over and never healed properly.
Everyone is different though and eventually if you get enough tattoos you'll figure out what works for you. Common sense dictates that if whatever your using irritates your skin, stop using it and give your Artist a call to discuss alternatives. Keep it clean (no infection) and keep it moisturized (no scabs). Doesn't need to be complicated.

 

[Amy Jeanne]

That's exactly what Tattoo Goo does for me -- prevents scabbing, keeps it moist, yet lets it breathe. I suffer no bad skin reactions to it and I LOVE the smell! I've tried everything from lotion to Aquaphor to A&D ointment and they all made a red, bumpy ring around my tattoo. Just a tiny bit of Tattoo Goo goes a long way for me. Have the naysayers ever used it? I'm curious.

 

[C-dot]

That's exactly what Tattoo Goo does for me -- prevents scabbing, keeps it moist, yet lets it breathe. I suffer no bad skin reactions to it and I LOVE the smell! I've tried everything from lotion to Aquaphor to A&D ointment and they all made a red, bumpy ring around my tattoo. Just a tiny bit of Tattoo Goo goes a long way for me. Have the naysayers ever used it? I'm curious.

I've used it, and I can't say it interfered with my healing at all, and I too liked the smell However, I'm a cheapskate, and the Vitamin E cream was free. I'm just going by what my artists told me (all artists have different techniques.)

 

[Travis Lee Johnston]

I wouldn't spend 8-10$ on some small container of goo when I can use something that works well FOR ME for 2$. I've worked jobs where I couldn't carry around lotion, so I used something that could last all day. No pimples, no scented irritation, no drying out. Like I mentioned if you use a little bit you wont suffocate your new tattoo, and it will stay lubed for a while.
It didn't work for you I guess, so you found something that did.

 

[Lady Day]

I remember this conversation distinctly. The only thing I've ever used on any of my tattoos has been plain old aloe lotion.

"Stings a little, but opens your pores," my tat guy said. "Neosporin or any petroleum ointment coats the top of the skin. You can get more scabs that way. You want you skin to be able to breath so it can heal faster in and out. Pat it on, don't rub it."

I did that twice a day, and I was healed in 10 days.

LD

 

[Travis Lee Johnston]

The work speaks for itself.

 

[Amy Jeanne]

Tattoo Goo is FREE from my artist!! lol He lets us take what we want.

I got a tattoo last week and I'm getting another one on October 22.

 

[C-dot]

I got a tattoo last week and I'm getting another one on October 22.

How did it come out?

 

[kittyred]

i've only got one tattoo at the moment, and i used bepanthen on it, the tiniest little bit ever, and it healed super quickly. gonna get another tattoo in a couple months, so excited!

 

[Lilydelacruz]

When I was trying to decide what to get, I spoke with my friend Pooch, who is a fabulous tattoo artist. We were out one night with friends at an art show, and I had just seen a gorgeous woman who had fingerwaves in her jet black hair, and was dressed as a sexy flapper girl. I couldn't take my eyes off her. She has a tattoo on her arm of... well.. a flapper girl. lol I asked Pooch what I should get. He said to me, "What's the first thing you ever passionately collected as a kid, and still collect to this day?" I responded, "The Florida Orange Bird. Mom and Dad used to take us to Weeki Wachee and Disney every summer as kids, and I collected all of the orange bird toys at the Florida souvenir stands". He nodded. "OK, so what's the thing you collect most of all, right now?" I smiled. "Tiki". He grinned and said "Great. Show up at my studio after hours on Tuesday night. I'll be waiting for ya." So my husband (at the time fiance) and I arrived that night, and he presented me with a fabulous drawing of the Florida Orange Bird holding a tiki mug with a tiny straw and umbrella. I couldn't have been more thrilled with it. It makes me smile every day.

My father always told me when I was growing up (and still tells me to this very day) that a woman's most amazing beauty accessory, her greatest secret weapon in the world of beauty, is her smile. And my tattoo makes me smile. So I feel really beautiful with it, and that makes the look work for me. At least I think so. And I suppose that's what really matters.

But, to each his (or her) own!

LOVE LOVE LOVE your reply and story! My hubbie collects tiki and I collect vintage Florida Citrus adverts and products, so I am working towards a citrus pinup label.

I wholeheartedly agree on to each their own. For me personally I love the asthetics of tattoos on people, but for my body I would need to have it on a place where it can be covered up. There are evenings were I want to doll up and don't want to cover a clashing tattoo and I have a professional workplace where they are not allowed. For those of you in creative fields and with the means to get fully tatted up...go for it! I love looking at your gorgeous artwork and envy you!

 

[Lenore]

fftopic:
C-dot... Not tattoo related but I saw this and thought of you.

http://www.unique-vintage.com/images/unique-vintage/8218larger.jpg

 

[C-dot]

fftopic:
C-dot... Not tattoo related but I saw this and thought of you.

http://www.unique-vintage.com/images/unique-vintage/8218larger.jpg

Oh, you sweetheart Practically everybody who knows me would think of me when seeing that! I want that apron really badly to go with my cupcake/ice cream theme now...

 

[flat-top]

[video=youtube;pBVfD_Av5AY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBVfD_Av5AY[/video]

 

[Lenore]

bump!!!!


Wanted to bump this thread because I waaaaaant a tattoo. Yes, I talked about it previously, but because of finances, they never occurred. Stupid lack of money. I'm thinking around my birthday this year I'm going to get a stylized ouroboros in between my shoulder blades. I've also come across my grandmother's embroidered peacocks that she made in the early 60's I believe. I think one of the smaller ones would translate great to a tattoo, and it would be a great memorial to my grandmother at the same time. I still want my stars and compass too... I want a lot of things lol

Anyone got any new ink they want to show off?

 

[TheSacredFemme]

Interesting that this thread has just popped back up. I've been googling "average woman, tattoos, 1930, 1940, 1950" without much success. There is a fabulous book out there centred around women and tattoo culture. It does move chronologically as far as I'm aware.

I too worry about my, hopefully, future tattoo interfering with my "image" as the PR industry is notoriously dependant on appearances and looks. Furthermore, whenever I bring up wanting a tattoo (or shock, horror, several!) everyone in my circle of friends turns around and goes, "No, that's so unlike you, you're so classy and vintage...no, no, that would not work!" Certainly words that have put me off the idea.

For the longest time I was looking to get an old school, Sailor Jerry type sleeve but through all my tattoo research I had a dream a few months ago (I know, mumbo jumbo). In this dream I was in the shower and could see my back. On my shoulder blade was a tattoo of a red robin sat in a gilded, intricate, open cage with the words, "Cages or wings, which do you prefer?" incorporated. This dream has finally erased doubts of not being about to get used to me with a tattoo or it not looking right. I saw it, didn't I? And it looked awesome. Later on I realised that my subconscious turned one of my favourite songs into a tattoo for me. Nifty!

Now it's just down to getting the right artist to match up their vision with the vision in my head. I absolutely adore coloured tattoo so someone will have to do fine work.

Lenore, I love the peacock idea! But clearly I'm partial to birds!

 

[Lenore]

Hey, don't discount dreams as mumbo jumbo. Sometimes they cut right to issue at hand and we don't even realize it at the time. I think the dream tattoo sounds fantastic. I can't wait to see it one day.

This is the embroidery (well, one of many) that my grandmother did. I think she was most proud of her peacock series, which is why when I see peacocks I always think of her.

 

[Amy Jeanne]

I'm a legal assistant (on my way to becoming a paralegal), lover of vintage, and covered in tattoos. All my tattoos are vintage-oriented to reflect my interests. Here's one of my recent tattoos:

It's Clara Bow. I have Jean Harlow on my other shin

 

[Amy Jeanne]

Another I got a few years ago:

From this:

I even went so far as to make the dress:

I don't live in the 1940s and don't care to, hence my ink. I have no problem with anyone trying to be authentic, but it's just not for me

 

[TheSacredFemme]

Amy, that boxer is amazing!

I sent off the loooong word document describing my tattoo along with inspirational photos off to my tattoo artist yesterday. Nervous!

 

[magnolia76]

One thing I have found unavoidable: be prepared to answer when asked about it. There are people out there that say that their tattoo is no one else's business, which is true I suppose, but you can't get tattoos and then be offended when someone asks about it. I suppose it makes it easier for us since we are used to people stopping and asking us about our vintage appearances. If you don't want the attention (good and bad!), don't do it.

My biggest tattoo enemy and giver of two cents? My mother.