some_stars | (no subject)

I do wish I had been warned about the horrorshow that would present itself when it came time to take off the bandage and clean my tattoo. I mean, I was told 'dried blood,' that is not horrifying to me, but I hadn't realized it would also bleed ink and the entire area would look like a smudgy inky mess. Obviously after ten seconds of OMGWTF I realized it was physically impossible for the actual tattoo to be affected, since any ink that hadn't been shoved into the skin with needles must just be sitting on the surface, and even if ink somehow came out of where it had been placed twelve hours ago, it would leak up onto the skin, not somehow magically beneath it into other un-needled skin cells. But it was a deeply unnerving sight to discover nonetheless.

I have attended to it as per the aftercare instructions, and it's hurting a little bit--basically like a sunburn, but somewhat deeper. I gather from the internet that this is normal. I am absolutely enchanted with the way it looks on me--if I ever get more tattoos I'm almost certain they'll be solid black designs. I love color tattoos on other people but it almost always seems like something laid down on top--often to beautiful effect, to be sure. But this looks like it's just part of my skin, like an extremely unlikely birthmark. Also I feel a little bit like a page in a book, which is awesome. I'm already have fantasies of filling up my entire back with neatly parallel lines of text.

One thing I probably should have thought about re: placement is that doing aftercare on a tattoo located directly atop that spot on your back that you can never quite reach with either arm is rather difficult. Especially when living alone.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

One thing I probably should have thought about re: placement is that doing aftercare on a tattoo located directly atop that spot on your back that you can never quite reach with either arm is rather difficult. Especially when living alone.

Oh yeah. I've done a lot of aftercare for

piecesofalice in that area.

I managed it eventually, mostly by feeling around for the raised slightly sore parts, then photographing my back in the light (via mirrors and some contortion) and checking to make sure the whole area was shiny from the Aquaphor. Success! But I really wish I had some kind of soft-yet-firm spatula. I might try an actual spatula tomorrow morning, come to think of it.

Do indeed try a ssilicone spatula, that's what they're there for, extending your reach.

*sends you healing vibes*