Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hehehehe! LOL! I don't know but for a while, I've been wanting to get my ears pierced and get a few tattoos.

My Mom has previously said that she doesn't care about me getting my ears pierced and having whatever earrings I want in. But she's skeptical when it comes to tattoos.

For earrings I would love something like this:

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nerselirene.com%2Fshop%2Fimg%2Fproducts%2Flarge%2FPaua_Earrings_001.jpg&hash=e1afd7d13e379e7ca764e61b9d8cbac4f4895f7b)

And for a back tattoo something like this:

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi75.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fi303%2Fpussycat37%2FFLOWER-BACK-TATTOO.jpg&hash=3fc6b484f7642c78e7040c10d35ae0463bb2775c)

Something like this for my arm:

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm3.static.flickr.com%2F2034%2F1659813815_9b815f7206.jpg&hash=86f7ea0baa53902abe05283f33b03e3831f3f673)

And...An face tattoo like this:

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.blu-ray.com%2Freviews%2F321_2.jpg&hash=1f71f4cacde2722208201ad80b610220751f7318)

What do you think? Also...How does the process for piercing work? How do I get it done professional? Etc. Etc.! =]

Always Always Always go to a professional.
Go to a good tattoo and piercing parlor.

Tattoos like those?  Have fun with months and months of work costing in excess of $1000, but the back tattoo looks really nice.  I'm not a big fan of sleeves or facial tattoos myself though.  Earrings?  Pay the $30-50 to get it done by a pro or you could end up all infected and bleeding all over your good sofa.

Yeah, large tattoos take a long time to do and most tattoo artists will suggest you start with something smaller, so if you don't have a tattoo at all, they might want to only do a small part of the back-tat or sleeve that works as a standalone segment so you can experience the pain of it and know what you're getting into before you get the full thing completed.
I plan to have a full back piece done when I've finished transition. It will probably take about 4-6 sessions, one session a month, and each session will probably run me somewhere between 200 and 500 dollars.

The back tattoo you have a photo of looks like it's designed to fit more flowers, more parts, so that's probably not a complete piece. Either way, it's pretty.
In the end I hope you choose something that's uniquely yours so that you don't end up with the same tat as a dozens of other people.
All my future work will be self-designed and utterly "mine", only one of my three current tats isn't self-designed and that's because I'm a "child of the 90's" (it's a Chinese symbol) and while that tattoo has a purpose/meaning to me (it means "pure" and is decided as a "I'm gonna be me, just me, for me and quit compromising myself for the sake of others"-reminder), I'm considering having it covered up as a part of a full shoulder piece that would go across both shoulders to a degree.

Oh and while I remember.
DO EVERYTHING THAT THE TATTOO-ARTIST/PIERCER TELLS YOU IN REGARDS TO AFTERCARE!
Don't want to ruin your permanent and expensive piece of artwork.

Something most have not said, but in the US you have to be at least 18 for any tattoo.  And large tats are very painful and take a long time to complete. 

Think very hard on getting tats as some employers will not hire you if it is visible.


Janet

For visible tats, you can always wear long sleeves or makeup, but the main thing I have to say is go to a professional for the ear piercings, no matter how many people tell you, "I went to Claire's and it turned out fine."

Maybe you should just stick to getting your ears pierced. Tattoos are pretty much permanent and you can regret them (I know it's obvious but I have to say it.)

Maybe stick with the face dragon, it's small and cool-looking.

That woman with the back tattoo has a really nice body. . .

I have 11 piercings. I use to wear girl earrings when I was little, but now just the circular barbells, captive bead rings and gauges.
I think getting your ears pierced is a great idea, it may help you pass. But you should hold off on getting a tattoo until you are absoletely sure what you want.

A reputable tatoo artist is unlikely to put one on your face. I would think really hard about that one.

Personally I think if you want a tat - try getting it drawn on yourself to see what it is like, sit on your design for a year or so and if you still like it go for it. I think the arm and back pieces look beautiful!

Look online for questions you should ask a tatto artist or piercer. Things like sterilisation of equipment, ask to see their autoclave, one-use needles etc. It is better to get your ears done with a one-use needle rather than a gun, tends to be safer and heals better. Or you could just get the ears done at the local chemist with a piercing gun, most people get a great result. There is always some risk, but really the risks are rather low. 

I have a number of tats - I want a new one though - something like this
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.px.yelp.com%2Fbphoto%2FTZpRwaH9VhvBPko1FbFdhA%2Fl&hash=8c08832a69f1f2cbc7864aa7334ca86396ffa956)

I have a tattoo on my neck and will get more around the neck area.
Iceland's less conservative about tats than many other places. Mine's fully accepted as is.

I also plan to get dreadlocks and eventually more tattoos, possibly even in the face.

Something else that wasn't mentioned is that if you need/plan to lose weight *or* are planning implants in the tattoo area, hold off on the tattoo. Tattoos will distort so you'll want to do the weight loss/implants first so the skin is stretched (or shrunk) into its final shape.

WR

Alway research artists and piercers, there are so many crap ones out there so be careful.

I plan on getting a large tattoo either from Marc  who was at Swastika Freakshop or Bez from Triplesix studios, Bez would be easier to get to but for a good tatto i'm willing to travel. I'm not getting any tats till after top surgery though.

Disregarding the looks of it...
That facial tattoo is bad, do not do something like that.

Ink tends to bleed a little over the years, the fine details of that tattoo will look very blurred later in life. Talk to someone with experience and make sure it will look good for years before you bother.

Some artists will simply not do a tatt that small with details because of how it will look soon.

Tetra, I don't know where you live, perhaps it is a liberal area.  But if you ever move to a more conservative area, I think you would run into bad reactions to a facial tattoo.  Employers would certainly take a dim view, and you might even get negative from the strangers you cross paths with in daily life (bureaucrats, cops, landlords etc).

The earrings, however, are pretty.  :)

Always go to a professional.

I just got my second piercing almost two weeks ago. The first one went great, no problems. The second one has been a wrestling match but is finally beginning to heal. Both of them cost less than twenty bucks each including tip

I've seen tat.s I've liked and others I thought "What were they thinkin'?" But to each their own on that.

I don't have any tat.s but would like to get a butterfly on my butt  :laugh:

For me the arm is not a big iffy! The main ones though I want is the back, which I can always wear something to hide it and the face one, which if I do need to...I can wear make-up to cover it.

I think I am going to go with the one-needle idea! It sounds better...But taking the feedback from everyone! The tattoos seem like it's going to be the more dangerous and rougher part.

But I am still an teen so I won't be getting the tattoos anytime soon! It's just a idea and I don't think I want to get a breast tattoo, so I don't have to worry about that area!  :D

Weight though, I'm already really skinny, It for some reason it looks like my body isn't losing anymore. =o

Ohhh! Also, I'm thinking about getting harp notes around my stomach/belly area! @(^_^)@

Not wishing to sound fuddy duddy (?)

As a teen I would suggest waiting for tatts until your body has matured. I would really counter against facial tatts unless you are completely certain of where you are in life. Suggesting you can cover a facial tatoo with makeup means to me don't have one.

Tatts also come in and out of fashion. At the moment they seem cool for some reason. If the pendulum swings you still will have them. As a teen that could be a problem, remember hun you still have a whole gorgeous life ahead.

Never know, you may meet mister perfect, want the white dress and the lot and how the hell do you hide the tatt?

Can anyone who has had tatts say how painful they are?
I realise that is a difficult question, if you want something enough; pain doesn't matter (as we all know).

But boiling water? Mossie bite? Not meant to be a poll just comments from those who have been there.

BTW Tetra, the Tatts you showed look gorgeous. There some incredible artists out there.


Hugs

Cindy

I  have my ears pierced and one tattoo. The tat doesn't show when I wear a shirt or blouse. I have seen persons with their ears gauged with holes large enough for a golf ball. Too many tats is not attractive. Facial tattos should be left to the cheif (cacique) of some south american tribe and large piercing for some true African tribal women. It looks alright because it is part of there culture. For example the Kuna indian women of central america look very natural with a large gold ring in the nose.

Seconding "go to a professional", and by professional, I don't mean a salon.

I know being young you may balk at the cost of going to a professional piercing studio. Yes, it's usually way cheaper to go to some salon with a gun. It'll probably heal ok, too (since it's only ear lobes).

Guns are nasty. They were designed for tagging cattle, and in my opinion that's the only thing they're good for. For starters, the plastic they are made from cannot be autoclaved.

How they work - they ram a stud into your ear lobe... a blunt stud. It causes much greater tissue trauma and creates a rough and nasty hole compared to a proper single use needle. Also - those cheap studs the guns use are normally of pretty sucky quality both in materials and machine work. 

Bad machine work on the metal and jagged piercing gives bacteria a place to hide, promoting infection. Rough holes take longer to heal and can do so with more scar tissue.

More often than not, the studs used in guns aren't long enough to allow for swelling to happen and drainage while everything heals (which increases the chance of infection yet again, and make it a literal pain to heal and keep clean).

Find a nice place that uses single use needles, and has an autoclave onsite. When it comes to body mods - do it once, and do it right.

As for tattoos, I'm going to have to go with the majority here and say that the face tattoo might end up being a very, very bad idea.

The dragon face tattoo that pic is a fake anyway. How else would she be wearing layers of foundation, blush and other makeup and have her tattoo still look so vibrant?

She's got enough caked on foundation to cover quite a few pimples - it'd cover a real tattoo for sure (at least partially).

But hey - if you like the look, then that means you can replicate it using makeup just the same as she does :)

Look for a good, CLEAN place. For piercing look to see if they belong to the Piercers Association or not. To get the cert you need to keep everything separate and CLEAN. Yes, clean is a must.

Tats. I love mine and dropped $400 including the tip for 3 hours of heaven across my lower back (sensitive spot but I love pain anyway so...). I found an artist that I liked and who had done similar work (floral, industrial, Asian) and took in copies of my sketches and pictures that I had collected together. I told her to make it her own and have fun. The result is fantastic!

I look at young girls who have large tattoos and often they look fantastic but I often think what are they going to look like when they are sixty.   My brother's wife has a couple of small tattoos.   At least they are small and could be easily removed.   I feel they distract from her personality.   Large tattoos are difficult to remove and often require skin grafts.   Laser hair removal is bad enough.   Imagine that for months and months.

As for ear piercing, go for it.   It is part of my femininity and I feel naked without earrings.   I got my ears pierced twenty years ago.   It was a statement of my true self and a message to the rest of the world of my intent to change gender.    I intended to transition shortly after university but the twists and turns of life delayed my goal.  Earrings were a constant reminder of where I want to go with my life.

Now, thank god, I am strong enough and stable enough to transition.   

Tatoos just become more a part of you with time, they home themselves in your skin, soften and meld. If you look after them then they should still look good for a long time to come, and you can always get a touch up.

I'm not worried about being 70ish with saggy tattoed skin, they will be badges of honor, kind of like stretch marks from being pregnant. Also when I am 60 I really don't think I will care, I don't plan on being a conservative granny. If you choose wisely there really should be no reason to ever remove them.

Intricate little designs are the ones that will look bad as they age, nice big tribal pieces should look great for a lifetime.

Quote from: Nicky on October 20, 2009, 05:10:39 PM
Tatoos just become more a part of you with time, they home themselves in your skin, soften and meld. If you look after them then they should still look good for a long time to come, and you can always get a touch up.

I'm not worried about being 70ish with saggy tattoed skin, they will be badges of honor, kind of like stretch marks from being pregnant. Also when I am 60 I really don't think I will care, I don't plan on being a conservative granny. If you choose wisely there really should be no reason to ever remove them.

Intricate little designs are the ones that will look bad as they age, nice big tribal pieces should look great for a lifetime.

I agree Nicky.

I'm close to 60 and have 3 tattoos that cover my body.  All mystic oriental creatures all custom work with approximately 2 months designing and 4 fitting sessions for each; One covers my left side, one covers my right side and the third covers my back.  The inking was finally finished about 15 years ago and believe me I take care of them as each approached $2,000 apiece.

They are never exposed to the sun without there being something like SPF 40 covering them.  As we get older our skin changes and along with it so do our tats, they will fade some,  and to say that my body has changed over the years would be an understatement but with TLC tats can look as good as the day they were inked.

-={LR}=-

My first tattoo I ever got is 11 years old and still has a perfect black colour.

I'm not saying this to promote it or get fame, but I am thinking about when I am older that I may get face lifts, botox, Etc. Etc. (Obviously professional as this stuff is dangerous!)

But even though I use moisturizers a lot, If for some reason my skin sags and everything fades; It won't bug me...'Cause about the time you're in your 60's, you're shunned from everyone else as someone who is weak and old and that you're just eating up money and hospital bills.

Basically saying, that a majority of old folks are cast aside just like the LGBT community in a way and people don't pay attention to them...When I am 60, a faded tattoo?! Ahah...Unless I can be like Madonna or Cher, I don't think I have a hot chance of even caring.

The closer I get to 60 the younger it seems :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Now when I was a teen I was pretty sure anyone over 30 was really old.

Cindy, old and demented though I may be :laugh:

One of these days, I plan to become a tattoo artist.

One day...

*stares off into the void*

Quote from: Miniar on October 21, 2009, 08:43:19 AM
One of these days, I plan to become a tattoo artist.

One day...

*stares off into the void*

Then maybe...I'll get my tattoos from you!  :P

Quote from: Tetra on October 21, 2009, 01:14:19 AM
But even though I use moisturizers a lot, If for some reason my skin sags and everything fades; It won't bug me...'Cause about the time you're in your 60's, you're shunned from everyone else as someone who is weak and old and that you're just eating up money and hospital bills.

I don't know about that. I think of 60-year-olds as the ones who are much more likely to have advanced far enough in their careers to be driving their Porsche Boxsters to their beach houses in the Hamptons, or taking ski vacations staying in their slopeside condos at Telluride or their chalets in Aaaah$$$pen. Or at least saving enough to take a week-long vacation in Kauai now that the kids have graduated from college. In other words, the people that service industries really care about, unlike the aimless single 20- and early 30-somethings I tend to hang around with. Since you'll probably end up a DINK (unless you are desperate to adopt kids) you have a good chance for a sweet early retirement. You've got plenty of good living ahead of you.

Quote from: Miniar on October 21, 2009, 08:43:19 AM
One of these days, I plan to become a tattoo artist.

One day...

*stares off into the void*

Do you think an artist would tell the first person they tattoo that they are the first? :laugh:

Quote from: Tetra on October 21, 2009, 10:56:54 PM
Then maybe...I'll get my tattoos from you!  :P

Maybe.. ;)
Already have a line of friends who want to get my work when I'm ready to give it.

Quote from: CindyJames on October 22, 2009, 01:00:10 AM
Do you think an artist would tell the first person they tattoo that they are the first? :laugh:

I would!
It's only fair...

{just for fun}

What's Icelandic (?) for "Ooops slipped"

Quote from: Pippa on October 20, 2009, 03:36:20 PM
I look at young girls who have large tattoos and often they look fantastic but I often think what are they going to look like when they are sixty.

You're going to get old and wrinkly either way, tattoo or not. I always found the, "it'll look horrible when you're old!" a bit funny because the rest of you is going to age anyway, and it's not going to be pleasant.

Quote from: CindyJames on October 22, 2009, 08:53:06 PM
{just for fun}

What's Icelandic (?) for "Ooops slipped"

úbs, rann til

Quote from: Tristan H. on October 22, 2009, 09:00:20 PM
You're going to get old and wrinkly either way, tattoo or not. I always found the, "it'll look horrible when you're old!" a bit funny because the rest of you is going to age anyway, and it's not going to be pleasant.

Is 30 old? Do you know a lot of terribly wrinkly 30-year-olds? Because I know a 30-year-old with a tattoo she got as a teenager, and it's pretty faded and weird-looking. It looks like a permanent bruise, more or less -- it started as a butterfly, I think. Luckily, it's small and quite discreet.

Quote from: Alyssa M. on October 23, 2009, 04:47:04 PM
Is 30 old? Do you know a lot of terribly wrinkly 30-year-olds? Because I know a 30-year-old with a tattoo she got as a teenager, and it's pretty faded and weird-looking. It looks like a permanent bruise, more or less -- it started as a butterfly, I think. Luckily, it's small and quite discreet.

It depends on how you take care of your tattoo! If I get a tattoo, obviously for me; Personally, I'll take care of it! Getting lots of water is the best shot as it keeps your skin hydrated and helps tackling wrinkles.

Quote from: Alyssa M. on October 23, 2009, 04:47:04 PM
Is 30 old? Do you know a lot of terribly wrinkly 30-year-olds? Because I know a 30-year-old with a tattoo she got as a teenager, and it's pretty faded and weird-looking. It looks like a permanent bruise, more or less -- it started as a butterfly, I think. Luckily, it's small and quite discreet.

There are several ways to touch up tattoos and prevent the colours from fading, as well as many products to keep it looking fresh. It's also not uncommon to get touch ups either.

When I got my first, only, tattoo the artist was quite the comedian.  After a few minutes of tattooing me he said "Is this your first tattoo?" and I replied "yes".  He then said "Cool, mine too!".  Of course I almost flipped but he laughed and assured me he was kidding.  Later during the process he suddenly said "Whoops!" and, again, I flipped.  He laughed and said "Don't worry about 'whoops' whoops we can deal with, worry about SH*T!".  There were no mistakes and the tattoo looked amazing when he was done.  He just made it a little fun, I guess I looked nervous. 

Of course now I have to have it removed, a little too masculine.  I have a very femmy one in mind to replace it though :)