London Ink

I just watched the premier episode of London Ink just now and am astonished to learn that people in Jolly Old England seem to feel actual pain when getting a Tattoo. I've seen a lot of tattoo-themed reality TV shows in my time, I've seen Tattoo Wars, Tattoo Stories, Inked and both Miami and LA inks, and in all those shows I have never seen a single person show any pain at all. I always figured that when you get under TV lights or in front of a video camera you become completely impervious to pain. It's like having a super-power.

But in London folks seem to actually feel pain while under the needle. I really saw it; tears, grimacing, jaw clenching, hand wringing, and general fidgeting. I was shocked. I can only think the crazy 50Hz power European power system blocks all the super-powers.

Where we are now

This is the last photo taken during the 4th session. I think all the shading is done. The next session should start the color work.

Little smiling at the end of the session.

What's it like

Everyone wants to know what it's like.

Day 0 – Before, During and After

Kathy and I leave about 2 hours before the appointment time to make the one hour drive and have enough time to get a little dinner at the Thai restaurant downstairs from the studio.

When we arrive sometimes the shop is empty and sometimes it’s rocking. You never know.

Each session generally last 2-3 hours, which seem to be just about right. I could go longer, but I am always ready when Joel says we’re finished. The first two of sessions included a lot of time to draw, now we go straight to the gun and start the bleeding.

Day 1 – The Day After

Things are still pretty sore and very swollen from the night before. I leave the bandage on over night and sleep in an old T-Shirt as things are still weeping. In the morning I remove the bandage and hop in the shower. I was the tattoo very gently with plain soap – this is easy because it still hurts. I avoid getting letting the spray hit it directly and just let water run over it to rinse. At this point there is a lot of ink and fluids coming out of the tattoo, I wash all of this away.

After the show I pat it dry and apply a thin coat of Aquaphore, a thick Vaseline like lotion. I gently rub it in until invisible. I like this stuff because it lasts all-day without reapplying. I wear another T-Shirt under my work clothes in case the tattoo is still weeping.

Day 2

Same a yesterday, but no T-Shirt. Bruises are starting to show now and swelling as coming down.

Day 3

Same a yesterday. Bruises are in full bloom now. They are only yellow, not black/blue, I wonder why?

Day 4

First peel is underway (it started yesterday). A thick layer of skin comes off in the shower. I generally switch to Eucerin lotion about this time. I have a bottle at work a reapply after lunch and sometimes in the late afternoon. You know it’s time to reapply when it starts itching.

Day 5-7+

Same-Same. Wash in shower, pat dry, apply lotion. Sometimes there is a lighter second peel that seems to happen to heavy lines more than larger shaded areas.

The ink is still bumpy now – you can feel the ink under the skin. This seems to go away in about 30 days. After that the skin is completely smooth.

Day 14-21

Another session and it starts all over again.

Waiting

Everything that happens during the last few days before an appointment is an annoyance.

Tattoo (Session 4)

Session 4
Sunday November 18th
5:00pm

I think the shading is all done now. It's really starting to look good. I just need some color. I'm still not totally sure about the final color of the dragon's scales, Blue or Green. Next appointment is 2 Dec.