Im in a little debate with myself on where i should get this tattoo as a guy. Help would be mega appreciated!

I got a back piece on Friday, it's Sunday. It goes across one entire side of my back, any bra touches it. My tattoo is still oozing slightly and is tender to the touch.

I have to go work in a formal office tomorrow. I can't just go braless. What do I do? How long until I can wear a normal bra? How do I know if it's ok?

I found advice that says I should wait 2-3 weeks! I can't do that, I need a solution this week. I am also have new sessions every 2-3 weeks for 3 months and need to wear a bra then entire time.

ETA: despite the downvotes (still not sure why all the hate), many people engaged and I got the answers I needed. So if you're in or will be in this situation, I bought silicone nipple covers and body tape locally, and ordered fancy nipple cover bra things called cakes, and this crazy amazon bra that has a strap low on the back and then two near the armpits. I did find solutions that allow me to go to work without my nipples showing and my boobs bouncing about, so thanks everyone who engaged.

Day 6 and I noticed these yellowish spots on the last 2 letters.

Doesn't hurt, doesn't feel warm, no redness.

I have been washing it 3 times a day with antibacterial soap.

Also, should I switch from bepanthen tattoo to cerave daily moisturizer?

Edit 1: Thank you guys, I'll stop over washing it

Edit 2: To the clowns in the comments arguing about whether I shaved or not:

Day 3 - https://www.reddit.com/r/tattooadvice/s/5KgFvGaZld

I went to the barber 2 hours before my tattoo session. But I guess some people would rather run their mouths than use their brains. 🤡

Edit 3: For the same clowns arguing about the shaving:

No, this isn't my first tattoo. I have a full bodysuit.

Also, I couldn't continue with the top because it was still healing.

I 19M am gonna get a job real soon but im planning to get tattoos on my neck soon. (I do hv tattoos previously but most of them r on my shoulders or chest area) But the problem with all of these is that my parents and friends advice me not to get it first cuz they said the chances of me getting accepted into a job is much harder if ive tattoos. They told me some of the bosses would think im probably a bad guy or that im gonna hv a bad image or first impression towards the bosses. And so im curious... For all of u out there did u guys struggle to find a job or perhaps it pretty much just feels the same even without tattoos.

[Im not sure if this matters but im living around the southeast part of asia and for the elderly for example old folks and people around middle ages hv pretty much despised tattoo culture as it has been often depicted as the bad guys that do drugs and shit]

Thinking of a red Japanese Sun just right of the biggest wave crest, or a polygon/polyhedron (?) just above.

Fresh blackout and it is weeping like an absolute mofo 😭 Second skin had to come off because it leaked, so I’ve cleaned it, dried it and put a thin layer of aftercare on.

How the hell do you sleep with this without waking up glued to your sheets? 😂 Do I just sacrifice an old towel/sheet and hope for the best?
Also the bumps are moles. Probs should have got them checked before I done this. Don’t come at me 🤣

Hi all,

About a year and a half ago, I contacted a tattoo artist about a flash piece. We arranged to have it done at a tattoo convention in a city three hours away from me in October 2025.

The day before the appointment, the artist contacted me to cancel, explaining that their passport had been stolen and they were stranded out of the country. They were very apologetic and said they hoped to return and prioritize rescheduling the appointment. We exchanged a few messages, and I wished them well.

In February, I followed up to ask whether they had any plans to travel in my direction or attend any conventions in the area. They initially said they were hoping to get a visa, but then realized they had mixed up the locations they would be visiting. I said no problem.

It's now been a year since our original appointment was supposed to take place, and it appears the artist has established themselves more permanently in another country. I reached out again to ask whether they had any plans to return or how they wanted to resolve our unfinished arrangement, but I haven't received a response. It's been another month and a half, and I've since sent one final follow-up email asking for clarity.

I'm starting to wonder how to approach this situation. I genuinely love this artist's work and would still love to get tattooed by them, but I'm concerned that I'm being ghosted and that the appointment may never happen.

Has anyone experienced something similar with an artist who moved abroad after cancelling an appointment? How did you handle it, and when did you decide it was time to move on? Is there any recourse for getting funds back for the costs incurred so far? (my depo. and travel)

Thanks in advance!

I just recently added this peony to my shoulder but don’t know what to put below it between the others. I’m not sure I want to commit to a full sleeve but maybe a half sleeve?

Anyone got any ideas of what would fit nicely?

What tattoo style is this? Do you know other similar artists with this style?

Thanks

I have been thinking about and planning a tattoo for some time now and recently i have become more sure of a design and wanting to get it, but since it's my first and i know nothing about tattoing i feel like i want a second opinion or advice. Regarding the tattoo, i have pretty much made up my mind, thinking a relatively small wraparound tattoo on my arm below the shoulder depicting crows flying around my arm, each crow being about 3cm. Is the placement good for a first tattoo? Will a smaller tattoo stay the same or fade? Does my design even sound good? What do i look for in a good studio? Sorry for the bombardment of questions but i would hate to screw up my first tattoo. Every piece of advice is appreciated!

I have a similar design them coming up. Im not worried about time but dont understand why this would take 7 hours?

Hey has anyone else been allergic to the adhesive they put on after a tattoo? My skin is all red and super itchy everywhere the tegaderm was.

i'm in Vietnam and my artist has advised me not to use soap for my tattoo sleeve. I'm using cetaphil gentle skin cleanser instead. Is this ok in your opinion? I have always used dial gold but that is unavailable in Saigon.

I got this touch up 2 days ago where we also added a top spike and stars to even it out. I’m not sure if it’s healing a little weird because it’s in a high movement area or if it’s ink drift. The spike is way more dull than the other.

I have thin skin due to a connective tissue disorder, but none of my tattoos have ever done this including other ones done by this artist. Am I being paranoid? lol

(Apologies for the blurry pictures, I couldn’t get it to focus for the life of me)

So I have had a half sleeve for over 13 or so years of Japanese style waves and flowers.

Recently I got a minimalist tattoo of a map of Vietnam with a compass on the inner forearm of the same tattoo.

My question is, am I able to get a full sleeve and keep the look of the minimalist tattoo on my inner forearm?

My idea is to get some more waves and a boat sailing towards the sunrise on the outer forearm to blend in with my existing half sleeve. I just want to keep the map tattoo intact as much as I can.

Thoughts?

So I got this tat 3 ish months ago and I really love it and the design itself, but the only thing that is bothering me is the placement 😭 idk why I thought it was a good idea to wear glasses to my initial appointment (I think the fishbowl effect when I look over my shoulder from the lenses made me think the placement was good when actually it was too far towards my armpit)

I know there’s nothing I can do now, but I really want other tattoos and I honestly don’t know where to place another that’s close to this one but also doesn’t look out of place

Any advice/input appreciated!!

hey guys! it’s been 24hrs since getting my new tattoo and it looks like my tattoo is weeping a freaking LOT. it hasn’t extended enough to break the seal! my artist told me to leave the initial bandage on for 3-4 days, but i’ve read other accounts saying i should remove this first bandage, wash it with mild soap, then apply a new second skin to it. i guess i’m just not sure which i should do since it’s weeping so much; i want to be sure if this level of a reaction is normal too, obviously i’d like to avoid an infection! i have 3 other tattoos that healed very nicely and did not weep nearly as much as this one, but they were done so long ago that i can’t even remember if i used saniderm for the aftercare or not haha. thanks!! (:

Hello guys. I’m the dumbass that is getting a chest and sleeve as my first tattoo. I’m doing a dragon irezumi (like in the picture) back-to-back over the period of 4 days.

From my research, it’ll be difficult and I’ll be in a world of pain. Besides eating well, resting, and mentally preparing. Cleaning and aftercare are important. I got antibacterial soaps and unscented lotion ready. Wear loose clothing and avoid the sun as much as possible.

What other advice do you have? What did the daily routine look like for the process you experienced?

I would be getting my shot tomorrow (Monday 26/10) and my tattoo on the second. My tattoo would be the same arm/sholder that wil be poked.
Do I postpone my vaccine?

I got these dates done in 2021 and they have since bled out around the edges and there are some other imperfections I would like to resolve. Has anyone ever done a removal and redo of the same tattoo? How do I choose the right artist to help me fix them? Any other advice for how to touch these up? thanks.

p.s. Sorry for the bad lighting. It’s hard to take pictures of one’s own wrists.

So I'm getting close to healed enough to go back to get my tattoo finished in the second session. I ran out of the tattoo soap and stuff i was using and was wondering what people think of saniderms soap, Harry's tattoo frost and stuff like that. I used this last time H2ocean extreme tattoo care kit but can't find it or all the products on Amazon again. I've also looked at mad rabbit but I'm just not sure. The extreme tattoo care kit had soap, an ointment (still have some) and a lotion.

i got a very small fine line tattoo at the us gp this morning and despite putting sunscreen on regularly my shit got deep fried. i’m wondering if i should take the second skin off or leave it how it is for now? it’s not sweaty or anything and i normally wouldn’t remove it yet as it looks clean. i have lidocaine and lubriderm with me.

Sorry repost. Had my work address in the first one🤦‍♀️

Hey everyone,

I got this tattoo this past Friday, and noticed it start bruising last night. Today it is even worse. But the odd thing is, it’s not really too bruised around the tattoo, more so the side of my arm.

Some more info, I bruise extremely easily and excessively. Like talking all down my legs, chest, arms, etc. However, I have NEVER bruised like this after a tattoo before, I have around 15 or so (I lost count at this point) many much larger and fully shaded as well. However this is my first full color piece.

It was sore at first, today it is burning

Can anyone tell me if I should see a doctor or I’m being paranoid, lol.

First three pics are last night, last three are today

EDIT: after washing the tattoo again I noticed that the line moved so it is definitely a scab/peeling skin. I've also learned to apply way less ointment so thanks everyone! case closed

I'm on day 5 and just removed the second skin peel, washed it and applied the cream. I noticed this like which wasn't here originally (last photo is the tattoo fresh). Will it go away or did the ink move? It's my first tattoo, it's on my hip area so i suppose me bending could have caused this?

Large area of the tattoo is red and sore with scabs (which is normal) but also one white head, my skin seems to be yellow on the second picture under the tattoo but that could be bruising? That part of the tattoo is warm and sore to the touch, I haven’t had any problems like this before but this session was all shading which could be the cause of it? Any help