got a tattoo?

[Paul]

Hey guys. I'm getting my first tattoo in a couple of weeks... it's probably not going to be the easiest thing I've done with a possible 2x 5hour sessions of the unexpected ahead but I'm looking forward to having it finished!
I'm getting my McInally family crest with some decorative elements in a really unique design with a lot of vibrant colours. So basically it's not just a typical black & white family crest!
It's on the outer top of my arm towards my shoulder so it shouldnt be too sore - so I've heard!

I'm wondering if any fellow kilt-lovers have tattoos?
and if so did it hurt?
are you glad you got it or do you regret it?
and if you got a family crest or something of your heritage could you post a pic please?

Thanks

[madman79764]

I myself have been getting tattood for 23 years full sleeves, waist to knees, and a complete back piece. As I have told people in the past when they go to get their first piece of art. First make sure that you eat something, and do not go into the shop all pshyced up that it's going to hurt. Also get to know your artist ask questions if you are unsure of anything your artist will answer them. My own personal artist of over 10 years has said that (no disrespect to anyone) if an artist will not answer a clients questions to walk away and find another artist. Pain is relative to the individual. Me personally going in and getting work done I don't feel it the same as someone who is getting their first tattoo.

My wife only has a few pieces and she said that the only time that it hurt her was right on top of bone. Which goes back to what I said earlier. I'm sure that there are other's who might provide other information I know that we do have an artist here and if memory serves is also a mod who can probably provide better information than I can.

You will more than likely be a little sore for a day or two, and as you heal you will go through what I call bleed and peel where it will leave excess color and dead skin the dressing that is placed over your piece and what ever you do, do not scratch when the piece starts to itch. From long years of personal experiance I can advise that when you go to apply the ointment per your artists advise make sure that you clean your piece with mild soap and water and pat dry and wait about 30 minutes before reapplying ointment and dressing.

Do I regret any of my art no I don't because my art tell a personal story through good times and bad. And at the moment I am unable to post any of the photo's of my work due to the subject matter and location of some of my pieces. Eventually I would like to get the family crests of the 4 lines of my heritage that being Dutch, German, Irish, and Scottish.

[nh_maclean]

A few years ago I got my mother's family crest on my upper arms/shoulder. But I modified/designed it to represent my hodge-podge heritage



Excuse the blurriness - awkward angle.

Maclean coat of arms with tower crest and motto "Virtue Mine Honor" below
Blue & Gold: around shield represents my Swedish side
Hungarian Flag (Red, "white" Green) and Polish flag: Hits my dad's side of the family.

I second the eat first... but also to talk to your artist and really make sure they get a feel of what you're looking for and you like what they've come up with. I designed this with a friend and then my artist cleaned it up and tweaked it/modified it for where i wanted it with size considerations, etc.

As for it hurting, the top-most part and the bits that are on the softer underside of my arm hurt, otherwise, I just got used to it.

Cheers and good luck!
-Noah

PS - not sure if I'm using "crest" and "coat of arms" correctly...

[JRB]

I've got three tattoos so far and plan on many more. It doesn't really hurt so much as feel very irritating. And the longer the tattoo takes, the more irritating it feels until you just want to tell the tattooist to stop. But, I've never found it hard to push that to the back of my mind even for my longest tattoo (which took 5 hours). There are much more painful things you go through in life for sure. Besides, it's worth it.

[TheSp8]

I've got four. The longest time spent under the needle was 8 hours, but that included a couple of breaks for the latrine and getting a drink of water. It got a little irritating towards the end. The one that was the worst was the armband as it went on the inside of the arm. My wife has four and during the largest went to sleep. Our saying is "it's all about the pain, the picture is just the souvenir". I found that on a site talking about tattoos and we adopted it. As has been mentioned, pain is relative. I know a Soldier that would start crying at the sound of the tattoo gun. I also agree with the advice to talk to and question your tattoo guy. My wife says she is done but there are a couple others I'd like to get.

YMOS,
Tony

[EagleJCS]

I'm not an expert, but I have read quite a bit about heraldry. From what I've read, the 'crest' is technically the device above the shield and helmet - in your case, nh_mclean, the tower - with the wreath (a roll of cloth on top of the helmet, which is missing in nh_mclean's case). The 'coat of arms' is the entire picture (officially called an 'Achievement', per Lord Lyon's website) - the crest, the wreath, the helmet, the shield, any supporters (figures to the sides of the shield), decorations, and the ribbon with the motto. With Scottish clansmen, the crest (and wreath) goes inside the 'strap-and-buckle' to signify their allegiance to the clan/clan chief (with the motto on the strap).

That leads me to ask, Paul., which were you planning on getting, the crest or the coat of arms? In Scotland, you should remember, the coat of arms belongs to an indivual (an armiger), not a family. The crest thus also belongs to the armiger, and putting the crest (with strap-and-buckle, a la the crest badge) or coat of arms on any object (including yourself, I would suppose) would mean that that object belongs to the armiger. If prosecuted for it, wearing/using (usurping) someone else's coat of arms/crest is punishable by a fine and confiscation of the item(s) bearing the arms - in your case, wherever you have the tattoo placed. Yikes!

Not to put down your enthusiasm for getting a tat. Perhaps your famiily name and/or something personally symbolic would be better?

[longhuntr74]

I have four...but mine are very unusual...very simple geometric line designs. They're meant to replicate typical eastern woodland native designs from the 18th century. Two I've copied from prints or paintings of native warriors. The one on my left thigh is my own design incorporating some Iroquoian symbolism (sky dome, tree of life, scroll designs) and the fourth is an infinity symbol on my chest...which mirrors a related tattoo that my wife has.
I'll echo the comments about not getting all psyched out, etc. It hurts, but isn't that bad. They started my first one, an armband, on the inside of my bicep...which I was told was the worst place. It wasn't bad. You might feel some pain as they get up near your shoulder bone, etc. Fleshy parts aren't bad. Muscle parts sometimes spasm. Boney parts sometimes hurt.

[Big Mikey]

As previously stated, pain is relative. Having said that, the process of tattooing involves steel needles being inserted into your skin thousands of times. Draw your own conclusions.

I also am a veteran of numerous sittings and I'm happy to show my latest. On my right calf I have a triskelion with shamrock for my Irish side and thought it only proper to balance the view with a tribute to my Scot side.

The new piece incorporates crossed claymore and thistle with a targe. On the targe is the MacGregor tartan. This piece has receives the most compliments of any I have.

[NewGuise]

I have three. My first, my avatar here, was a York Rose with a gar (an Anglo-Saxon rune, signifying my name) in the centre; it's below my neck, right over my backbone, which I was told should hurt more than those on my shoulders, but ... it didn't. While pain is always relative, as mentioned, tattooing does generally hurt enough to release endorphins, which is why some find the process pleasurable, even addictive. I'm not fond of pain, but sincerely did not mind this; I look forward to the next.

[Chas]

I'm not an expert, but I have read quite a bit about heraldry. From what I've read, the 'crest' is technically the device above the shield and helmet - in your case, nh_mclean, the tower - with the wreath (a roll of cloth on top of the helmet, which is missing in nh_mclean's case). The 'coat of arms' is the entire picture (officially called an 'Achievement', per Lord Lyon's website) - the crest, the wreath, the helmet, the shield, any supporters (figures to the sides of the shield), decorations, and the ribbon with the motto. With Scottish clansmen, the crest (and wreath) goes inside the 'strap-and-buckle' to signify their allegiance to the clan/clan chief (with the motto on the strap).

That leads me to ask, Paul., which were you planning on getting, the crest or the coat of arms? In Scotland, you should remember, the coat of arms belongs to an indivual (an armiger), not a family. The crest thus also belongs to the armiger, and putting the crest (with strap-and-buckle, a la the crest badge) or coat of arms on any object (including yourself, I would suppose) would mean that that object belongs to the armiger. If prosecuted for it, wearing/using (usurping) someone else's coat of arms/crest is punishable by a fine and confiscation of the item(s) bearing the arms - in your case, wherever you have the tattoo placed. Yikes!

Not to put down your enthusiasm for getting a tat. Perhaps your famiily name and/or something personally symbolic would be better?

I totally agree - there is no such thing as a 'family crest'. Paul, if you lived in the US, you could get away with it. But you don't, you live in Scotland, where the granting of arms is a legal process and is protected by law. A coat of arms in Scotland is deemed to be private property and a man using (usurping) arms that are not his own as if they were his own, is guilty of theft. That is not my interpretation - that is the law.

Go here, and read Lord Lyon's site before you make any mistakes:

http://www.lyon-court.com/lordlyon/CCC_FirstPage.jsp

Regards

Chas