My first tattoo was a Tool design from their latest album. It is an eye with burning colored flames around it.
At A Glance Author anonymous When Six months ago Artist jake Location Aus A lot of people told me I was rushing into it and was only getting it because I could afford it, I recently ran into some easy money, which i suppose was true, but I always wanted to get a tool tattoo, I have liked them for as long as I can remember.
Anyway, I wanted it on my back down my spine. I did not want it big, it is about 9cm down and about 4 across at it's widest. Being 17 I knew I either had to get my mum to come or know the tattooist, I had both on my side. Mum could not really complain with me getting one, she has two, my sister has three and my brother is getting one. Dad did not find out about it until the day before, he did not really mind, he just reminded me that once its there it stays.
My current girlfriend could not understand my want for the tattoo, telling me I was stupid and that i should wait till I was 18 etc.
I did not listen.
I went to the only tattoo shop I would ever have gotten my first tattoo, regardless of when as I knew the tattooist, he was an older brother of a friend. He gave me a pretty good deal because he liked the design and the band, which was also pretty good. So I booked it in for the following week after school.
The days leading up to it I was nervous and a bit scared, I was not a needles person as a kid, passing out a few times at school did not help.
The day arrived and i got there at 2pm, he was running late as his coworker was sick, this did not help the situation, I waited for an hour. In this time I went for many walks down the street and also watched him finish off another person's piece on his chest, he was sitting there talking to people as if nothing was even happening.
A delivery guy also came in and I spoke to him about tattoos. When i told him that this would be my only one he laughed, told me that is what he said and now his stomach is covered.
While I was waiting nerves kicked in and almost put me off getting it done, I did not know if this was what I really wanted, although I knew it was, everyone telling me I was an idiot for getting it and that I was to young was getting to me, but I figured that if I backed out I would never be back, so I stayed.
After having the print put on my back, it took me 15 minutes to relax myself, and a few glasses of water. He told me he was going to start by giving me a blood outline because the design had no outlines the colors just met. After calming myself down I asked to lie down as I thought it would be easier than sitting.
As the needles started to buzz i became very nervous, and sweaty, my palms felt like I had spent a few hours in a pool I was sweating that much, the first time it came into contact with my skin was a huge relief as it did not hurt as much as I was told it would, until it hit my spine, i have ever experienced pain like this before, the sensation made me shake but become bearable after a while.
The pain was bearable, after the first few minutes, the blood outline did not take long, and then came the colors.
This took approximately about 2-3 hours, like the outline it did not hurt until it hit the bone. A few friends came in to see me getting it done, which helped as I took my mind off the tattoo. The music in the shop was also a help as I just closed my eyes and listened to the music, it did help when the needles were hitting the bone, Jake told me not to tense as it only made it hurt more, that was helpful advice, and advice I would pass on.
When it was all over I could not believe how good it really looked, after it healed and I could see it properly I knew it was never a mistake, the colors look incredible and the detail was done just the way I had intended. My girlfriend also loves it now.
I now want to get another one, although I did not before I got my first I realized how addictive they can be, I want my next one for my 18th, but cannot decide what to get.
All I can say is make sure if you get one it is for the right reasons. Which I knew mine was.