What a journey it has been.
June 2020, we were pregnant with our first kid (soon to be born Lily) and I thought, you know what? I like spending money, let’s start this tattoo sleeve journey that I have been wanting to do for years and thankfully I did, cause if I did it after kids? It would never have happened. For years, you have heard me talk about my sleeve tattoo, share my experience, seen me in public, post pictures online..after about 4ish years, I can confidently say that major work is done which does not include touch ups and some small filler….but the base? Is complete.
First and foremost, I learned a lot through this whole process, and this first blog is all about you…if YOU want to do this? Then here is everything I learned, what I didn’t expect, how naive I was to the whole thing, picking artist, you name it….cause maybe YOU want to do this? You want to cover your entire arm but where do you start?
- Decide and sleep on it.
This is your whole arm and will be there forever and ever! The skin you grew up with, will never look the same, so you BETTER know what you want. Once you decide and think, ‘Man, that is cool and I love this idea’….wait awhile…what seems cool today to you? May not seem cool tomorrow…for me, I decided and waited a whole year and it still excited me. Keep in mind…this does affect the next part.
- Save a LOT of money.
Good work costs good money, don’t….cheap….out! One more time….DON’T CHEAP OUT! While I can’t give you a specific number cause I’ve had many sessions, I‘m going to generally estimate that my entire tattoo sleeve is over $4000…maybe $5000….ya still with me? Before I scare you off, you don’t pay that cost right away. A session can cost around $300 to $400...so do that math, save your money, and take it in strides. Because of this, a tattoo sleeve can take a long time, and that’s ok! Don’t go broke blowing your wad all at once, take your time. Got money? Wanna get started? Move on to probably the most important part….
- Ask around and find your artist.
All artist are not the same, and not all artist want to do your work! Artist have different styles, healing processes,’ interest, and more! So if you have friends that have tattoos or someone in the grocery store that you see their tattoo…simply ask them ‘Hey who does your work?’ 9 times outta 10, we are beyond excited to talk about them and share who did it and? That’s how artists’ also get work too…you are, in a way…a walking billboard when your tattoo is done for that particular artist and word of mouth referrals. Many if not all artist post work on Instagram these days, so surf there too. Once you find one, it’s time to nut up, send a message on Facebook/Instagram or better yet, walk into the tattoo shop. When you walk in, ask the questions to yourself…is this place clean? Do I feel comfortable here? If you feel crappy from the moment you walk in, walk out and move on. However, if the staff is friendly and great…then talk and setup an appointment (cause they may be tattooing someone) or if they happen to be available, begin the conversation and state what you want to do….if they are excited about it? Then you found the right person! If they are doing the same ol’ tattoo for the 9000th time? They’ll do if for you of course, but….here comes the next part.
- Let the artist be the artist.
You have an idea, and that’s great! Let that artist, flush out the idea for you and discuss. That artist has been doing tattoos for probably 20+ years, you came up with the idea last year…let them do what they do best, unless it becomes a radical departure of what you want, then maybe find a different artist. While I do LOVE my sleeve tattoo, there are a couple of times I wish I would have let Juno just do his thing, and for the most part he did, but I would put up a wall occasionally and be like ‘wait!’ I remember when we were figuring out my Star Fox tattoo and I wasn’t sure what I wanted, we looked around, and he found a design and I instantly was ‘Nope’….so….we kept looking, the artist wants the tattoo to look as good for me as for him too…cause remember, it’s ultimately his work! We decided on the one I have and I wasn’t completely sure it could be done….then, I trusted him and the process….and it is one of favorite tattoos on me cause of the care and touch he put into it.
- Don’t be a dick
That’s it….don’t be a dick….you’re gonna be sitting there for many sessions….so don’t be a dick. As far as I have known, I’ve haven’t been one….Juno? Can you confirm?
- HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE!
I learned this the hard way. Before your tattoo session….drink a metric shitload of water…not coffee, not Monster, not even Sports Drinks….WATER! My 3rd session in, my skin would not take the ink cause it was like tattooing a brick as my skin was dehydrated and would not function….why? I didn’t drink water….so what could have been a great session, turned out to be a later touch up, costing me money….so HYDRATE!
- Listen to your artists’ healing process
Every artist has a different way to heal your tattoo, they all differ, have different opinions, etc….listen to your artist on how you should heal! It’s gonna take a while, your body knows what to do, listen to your artist and if you have questions, just ask!
- Tip well
I’ll admit, I’m probably not the best tipper when it comes to tattooing as Juno deserves thousands more dollars for the work he has done…but I do tip regardless…whether it be money, or even one time I tipped him an old BC Rich Warlock guitar I had he took, repainted and looks epic AF! At this point, I know who he is…GI Joes, Star Wars, Hardcore, Punk, Metal, etc. There really isn’t a standard when it comes to tipping, but it’s respectful to tip your artist, so do plan to factor that into your cost.
- Setup your next appointment and aftercare.
If you want your sleeve done? You gotta keep at it! For awhile during the early days of my sleeve journey, I went once a month…then Lily was born and had to stretch that out. If you want it done, you gotta keep focus and continue to be excited about it. Obviously financial stuff is always going to be in the way, but find ways to supplement your tattoo. Before all my money was wrapped up in owning a house and keeping children alive…I did side work for the Waterloo Blackhawks, sold video games on eBay, whatever kept it going.
I go a bit above and beyond when it comes to caring for my tattoo sleeve…get used to lathering up SPF 50 when you are out in the sun or better yet and what I do? Get a tattoo SPF sleeve! Does it cover up your tattoo entirely? Yup! Can people see your tattoo? Nope! Then what’s the point?!?! Sure I got it to show off, but I’d rather preserve it for as long as I can that impressing random folk at the theme park and grocery store.
- In Conclusion…
It’s one of the biggest decisions of your life. Something that will change your appearance forever. People will love it, people won’t understand it…but honestly? Who gives a shit what other people think? This is your arm, your tribute, your love….and of course the ever so popular…
‘That’s gonna look like crap when you’re older.’
And I say? Live in the moment, get the tattoo and when and if it looks bad when you get older? You’ll think ‘But I lived dude.’
Good luck!
