Well this past Saturday the 11th of December I decided I was going to get my 5th tattoo done. I had been planning on getting this next tattoo since March when my daughter was born and then I finally saved up enough to be able to afford one. I hadn't really thought a lot about what I was going to get, so I decided on just her name and birthday and then I decided if I want to add something later I can do that. Instead of getting something on a quick decision and regretting it later.
At A Glance Author cpbabygirlz2003 Contact cpbabygirlz2003@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Don't remember Studio Ink Assasins's Location Harborcreek (Erie), PA So I went and picked up my friend Pat for moral support and we went looking for the cheapest place *not a smart idea*. The first place we went to said $50 for just the name, the next place said between $60-$100 and it was extra because I wanted it on my neck. Why was it extra? Who knows, I have never heard of anything like that before. We went to one other shop and they wanted $70 so we turned around and went all the way to Ink Assasin's.
Now usually I'd make an appointment since it was a Saturday and most tattoo places here are packed on weekends but there was only one other person getting tattooed so I didn't need it. Another reason I didn't want to make an appointment is because I get very nervous before a tattoo and I didn't want to wait any longer to get it. I have heard many stories about how getting a tattoo on your neck hurts, and that would have made me even more nervous.
So I went in ready to get inked up once again. The tattoo artist said he was going to be awhile and that he was waiting for another artist to show up so I was more than welcome to wait. Which is exactly what I chose to do. Well we waited an hour and no one else showed up so he started calling around looking for another artist to come down. Well the artist he found was clear across town and it was going to be another hour, so my friend Pat and I chose to leave and come back. I left my cell phone number and they called when the other artist arrived.
We went back to the shop and I filled out the paperwork and the artist says "How much did he say he was going to charge you?" and I told him "$50" so he says "Write down whatever you want done" So I put Emily 3-18-04 (the day my daughter was born). Now keep in mind the price I was quoted was just for "Emily" but he didn't know that. I'm bad I know.
So he goes back to his table and starts drawing it up. He didn't ask if I wanted it in cursive, block letters, nothing so I was like um ok. Then he came back and showed me and I loved it. So he got all set up and then had me come back and sit down. He opened the needles, got the gun ready, asked which colors I wanted and got the color ready. I told him I wanted a purple to dark pink fade.
When he was all set he tells me to sit back and put my head down to my chest. We decided where I wanted it, right above the bump on my neck and he shaved and area, and put some stuff on it to make the drawing stick. He put the drawing on and then had Pat look at it, he must have thought Pat was Emily's dad, oh well. He didn't even ask me if I wanted to see it, I should have said something, but I didn't. I trusted him I guess.
So then he asks if I'm ready and I say I guess so. So he starts on the right side first. OH MY GOD that hurt so bad. I almost told him to stop. I have 4 other tattoos and none hurt as bad as this one. I sat there shaking for probably 10 minutes. Every time he got to the sides of my neck I almost started crying because it hurt so bad. Pat and the artist kept asking if I was ok and I just kept telling them it hurt really bad. So he said he was done with the outline and I said "Can I go outside and smoke now?" and he said "We'll make a deal, let me just get the shading done, and then you can go smoke and when you come back we'll do the color" I said cool so he kept going. Well I knew something was going on because Pat and the artist kept making jokes about how nice the color was going to look. So about 10 minutes later he says "The shading is done, let me get a mirror so you can see what I've done so far" Well I looked in the mirror and it was done! I was so happy is was over. That was so nice of him. It looked really good but the color looked black and red which I wasn't worried about because I was in so much pain. So I got all cleaned up and he put gauze over it for the drive home and I paid. I gave him a tip, I believe you should always tip your artist, just my opinion though. I told him thank you and we headed out the door.
Now I should have sat in my car and relaxed and let myself stop shaking but I didn't. I drove Pat home and then back to my house. The whole way home my neck was killing me every time I turned my head. So I got home and cleaned up the tattoo and kept staring at it in the mirror, it is so pretty, even though the color isn't what I asked for. I think it might be just because it's still red from the process so the color might change.
It's been 3 days now and it's still pretty sore, but it was totally worth it. I just hope it doesn't start itching. To me, that is the worst part about getting a tattoo done.
Overall it was a good experience, it hurt really bad and I will not be adding anything to this tattoo, I don't think I will ever get one on my back either because of the pain from this one either.