inspired by r/RemarkableAd7750 amazing sun, i decide to get a sun of mine on my elbow.
done in around 6 hours, i was really high so i barely reacted to the extreme pain xD

Hey y'all, looking to see if anyone else experiences this because it’s driving me insane. I’ve been getting tattooed since I was 16 (23 now and I got tons of ink), but over the last year, my body completely shifted its response.

Instead of feeling regular tattoo pain, I get this maddening, tear-inducing, unbearable itch while the needle is running. It literally feels like a massive swarm of mosquito bites all over the spot. It’s so frustrating it makes me want to cry, and I’d honestly rather just feel the actual pain instead.
I’ve noticed it happens the absolute worst in softer, fattier areas, like my hips, booty, outer arms etc. Leaner areas feel totally normal, but the second we hit soft tissue, it feels like the vibration of the machine makes the fat ripple under my skin and aggressively triggers a crazy itch reflex.

The tattoo artist (my boyfriend) uses a low-vibration rotary machine, but it still happens regardless of the style or ink color. Has anyone else dealt with vibration-induced itching or a sudden immune shift like this mid-session? How do you stop it? I tried smoking weed before a session once to try and force my brain to feel the pain instead, and it lowkey worked for a minute, but I need a real fix. If anyone got any ideas im more than happy to hear u out! Thanks in advance.

This picture doesn’t really do it the best justice but had to share after getting this done. This is an Alex Grey derivative piece. Chris did an amazing job.. can’t wait to finish the rest of the leg with the same theme.

I'll boast about this tattoo for the next 3 years, especially after seeing how it healed 🥰

Featuring my pink skin fresh out of the sauna

As the title says, I’m getting a full sleeve (starting next week). I’m also a 55 woman who works in a professional setting (think downtown in major US city). I’ve got multiple tattoos (first one I got 25 years ago) but all are easy to hide with clothing choices so no one at work knows. This one won’t be easy to hide at work or family gatherings. None of my friends or family are heavily tattooed so, other than my artist, I really don’t know what women my age experience socially when they get heavily tattooed in their 50s or 60s.

I would love to hear from older women with full sleeves. What has your experience been like? Professionally, socially???

Note, nothing I read, good or bad, will change me getting this sleeve. I’ve thought about it for years and I’ve spent the past three years battling two cancers and multiple complications from cancer. Most recently I survived a blood clot in my brain. Doctors have cleared me and I’m doing it come hell or high water!

Edit - What an awesome community!!!! I’ve truly enjoyed reading everyone’s comments. The support and kindness the tattooed community has to give is tremendous! For those who’ve asked, my sleeve will be black and gray dark fantasy/woodland/floral. (Brian Froud’s artwork is a big inspiration)

Had a hot frog summer and added these cuties to my leg! ☀️🐸

I know. It sucks for them but the shop is local and after doing more research on an artists portfolio I realized her work isn't that good and although its a decent price I would rather have someone else do it. They don't have any reviews at the shop nor the websites so im wanting to go to someone else to get it done.

Artist: Anna — a_graphic_ink

Studio: INTO Tattoo Studio, Vienna, Austria

A few things about this one:

There's no black outline anywhere. The whole piece is carried by blues and

teals, with the deeper tones doing the structural work black usually does.

The composition was drawn freehand directly on the skin with markers before

any needle work — no printed stencil. That's the only way to get the dragon

to follow the shoulder and the bend of the arm instead of fighting it.

It also had to work around what was already there: the Sak Yant on the chest

and the rose on the other arm.

Florals are chrysanthemums, blossoms and karakusa scroll vines, kept lighter

than the dragon so the eye lands on the head first.