@mrdonkey 125278 wrote:

Hi everyone, 25 year old male writing from Canada. Never had a tattoo before but I’m planning to get something done for a trip I’m planning.

In September I will be taking a 6 month trip all throughout Europe, and what I want to do is get a composite piece done on my wrist/forearm, one part for each country I visit. I want each part to symbolize the most memorable or meaningful experience I had in that country.

I have a couple questions, since I am brand new to this whole scene. Firstly, since I am planning to be adding to this piece roughly once every two weeks, would this place too much strain on my wrist area, or are there any kinds of safety concerns here? I am worried that I might not be giving my body enough time to heal between sessions. I feel like the tattoo might be more meaningful and unique if I add to it one part at a time in each country, but might it be safer to simply write down what I want as I go and get it all done at once when I’m back here in Canada?

Secondly, I have heard that wrist tattoos are more painful than usual because it is in a sensitive area with less muscle. My wrists in particular are actually quite small for a male (stupid ectomorphism). As someone who has never had a tattoo, is this ‘jumping head-first into the deep end,’ as it were? Am I in for a shock?

Many thanks to anyone who reads and can share some wisdom/experience. I look forward to reading your replies and becoming a member of the community in the not-so-distant future!

How many countries are you visiting? 1? lol You are not going to fit a lot on the space you said. I could understand a full sleeve 🙂

I would spend the time enjoying the places and experiences, and collect photo’s and reference material along the way. Then after you get back you can research and find a REALLY GOOD artist who can do justice to the piece.

If you get little ones along the way:
a) there will be no flow to the tattoo, there will be no continuity or consistency, and like buttwheat said you are not going to be able to find good artists that have time for you
b) you are going to spend your whole trip healing – a fresh tattoo is an open wound and requires care to keep it clean, it must be cleaned properly multiple times a day and I was advised by an artist to never let the fresh tattoo ever touch any of the hotel’s linens because they can have bacteria on them. This means sleeping in long sleeves and carrying your own towel – and finding a place to clean your towel.
c) your fresh tattoo(s) can limit the activities available to you on your vacation. It cannot be soaked in water so no swimming, I also get a lot of swelling when I get tattooed which then limits other activities (for example last time I knew I couldn’t go trail riding with a swollen arm, but a walk down the boardwalk or a little shopping was o.k., but no trying on clothing in stores – they may have bacteria on them)
c) I have travelled to tattoo appointments in the past, and always have my flight back booked for 2 days after my appointment so that I only have 1 day of walking around with a wound before I head home. I like to have 1 day to rest up after a long appointment and to get used to the new boo-boo before I start hauling luggage thru a crowded airport. (and let some of the swelling go down – not everyone swells much but you won’t know until your first tattoo)

If you just collect your ideas along the way and present them to a really good artist when you get home they will be able to lay them out in the best possible design and you will not only have reminders of your amazing trip but will end up with a fantastic tattoo that you will be proud to wear. So collect ideas that inspire you along your way along with your pictures and any other reference material.

And most important: do your research and find a REALLY GOOD TATTOO ARTIST. Just because a friend recommends someone doesn’t mean that they are good (I’ve been the victim of this myself, but only once and long ago) and be ready to pay real money for your tattoo. GOOD TATTOOS AREN’T CHEAP and cheap tattoos aren’t good!!

EDIT: Of course your tattoo will hurt. They all do. Just get what you want where you want it and SUCK IT UP BUTTERCUP. We all did.