Question Posted Wednesday December 10 2008, 12:54 pm
Hey everyone, I have an experience poll for you.
I'm 21 f, if it matters. I'm thinking about getting a tattoo. She was concerned about me being allergic to the ink, or something similar. She has some crazy allergies, so she's rightfully concerned that I'll react badly.
As far as I'm aware, I'm only allergic to pollen, certain types of mold, and cold weather (last one's kind of a joke). I'm not even allergic to cats. First, what are the chances of that actually happening?
My boss at work gave me the business card of the people who do his tattoos (he has something like sixteen, all over his body). I looked them up, and they have all sorts of medical licenses, and sterilization practices, so I think they'd be fine.
The tattoo I'm thinking of is maybe two inches in length, one inch in width, and would go at the base of my neck, where that bone is. It's a butterfly made out of music symbols (treble clef upper wings, bass clef lower wings, crescendo symbol for the body, whole note for the head, another crescendo symbol for the antennae) and some tribal-looking lines extending on either side.
I seem to have developed a problem with permanence recently, and I'm a little wary of getting this done because it would, in fact, be permanent. I want to, but I don't...I'm sure you know how it is. I'd love to do something that forces me to get over this phobia I'm developing, and this seems like the best way to do it.
Anyone have any experience with...well, ANY of this?
Thanks!
Additional info, added Thursday December 11 2008, 12:55 am: By the way, the "she" I was talking about up there is my mom. I deleted something important, obviously. Oops!. Want to answer more questions in the Miscellaneous category? Maybe give some free advice about: Random Weirdos? Missa8305 answered Thursday December 11 2008, 7:27 pm: I'm allergic to different types of trees (including cedar), several types of grasses, molds, dusts, and highly allergic to cats. My skin is super, super sensitive on top of all that and I've never, never had a problem with tattoo inks. Like the last post said, just ask the tattoo artist. Infact, ask several.
As for your phobia... While I commend you for your courage... If this is a problem, maybe you should think about getting it somewhere else? If the tattoo is on the back of your neck, anytime you are in a professional setting you would be forced to wear your hair down to cover it. How about a place that would be easier to cover up? Like your upper arm, chest, back, or hips? [ Missa8305's advice column | Ask Missa8305 A Question ]
NyadesRoadGhost answered Thursday December 11 2008, 12:48 pm: As far as the allergies go, the only allergy I know of people having as far as ink goes is an allergy to nickel. If you've warn jewelry with nickel in it and it's made your skin break out and itch, (necklaces, belt buckles, an earring, rings, etc..) then you may have a reaction to blue and green inks. I have a nickel allergy but my tattoo has blue in it, and I never had a reaction to it. when you go to fill out your paperwork with your tattoo artist, the form will ask if you have any allergies. the artist him/herself would be the best person to ask about this.
And personally, I love the idea of your tattoo- it's very original and it sounds like it would be beautiful. But my advice about permanence is- don't get it done unless you're totally sure you want it done. If you think you might regret it, you probably will. I designed my tattoo out a year before I got it done, just to make sure it was what I really wanted. Remember that tattoo removal is an extremely expensive and painful process.
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