English Tattoo artist?

Looking for an English speaking tattoo artist? Any recommendations? Since this will be my first tattoo, would like to know about personal experiences through their respective preferred tattoo artist and not just directory listings...

Julia Wilson at Star Crossed Tattoo is not only English speaking, but actually English. Specializes in color tattoos. Works pretty fast. If you want a custom design the actual design work may require a wait of a few weeks. She is good at taking an idea and going with it.


I won't say it wasn't painful ;) but my experience was good (2 sessions, first 2, then 3 hours). I would definitely go back there for the next one (there's always a next one). Julia can be quite "focused" and I would sometimes get the feeling she wasn't listening. But in actual fact she was taking it all in, and the tattoo really exceeded my expectations.


http://www.starcrossedtattoo.com/ . Lots of pics of her work on the website.



First tattoo, eh? Nice. Here are some things that typically alleviate the pain at least a bit.

- During the three days leading up to the session, make sure you get plenty of sleep. Also avoid alcohol and caffeine (that includes Tea and Coca-Cola).

- Drink plenty of water on the day. Being dehydrated during the session is no fun at all. Your legs may start shaking uncontrollably.

- An hour before the session, have a decent meal. Not too much, but you don't want to go in on an empty stomach.

- If the session is over an hour, sip a soft drink during.

- Taking Ibuprofen just before can lessen the pain since it is an anti-inflammatory. DO NOT take aspirin as it increases bleeding.

- During the session, try to relax. Bring your iPod and listen to music (loudly if necessary). You can also bring a stress ball (or a teddy bear) and squeeze it when the pain is at its worst. Sounds silly but it works. Anything to distract you.

- After the session, you may feel light headed. Going out on the town is possible but you might faint. ;)

- Follow the artist's after-care instructions to the letter.



It WILL be painful but you CAN do it. It's ok to cry. ;)

The top place for this in HK is http://www.thd.com.hk/

Thanks axptguy38 and Aijin. Your advices, really help..hopefully the pain will not be as bad as labour (gave birth to 2)!

Ed..the link you gave me is for Hairdressers...cannot see any tattoo link anywhere..

Try to call them up - the used to offer this service...

"Ed..the link you gave me is for Hairdressers...cannot see any tattoo link anywhere.."


Call them. They have a separate but connected tattoo parlor in "Delay No Mall". I went there and was not very impressed, so I went to Julia instead. However as Aijin says a lot depends on how you feel personally about the artist.



".hopefully the pain will not be as bad as labour (gave birth to 2)!"


The pain is very subjective. It depends on three things:

- Location of tattoo on body. A place like the upper arm is pretty "easy". On the vertebrae or anywhere bony is more painful.

- How you feel at the time of the session.

- Your tolerance to pain. My wife has a very high pain tolerance and hardly winced during her tattoo. I was in tears during my second tattoo, for hours.


"I guess you just need to go in to the tattoo parlour with a positive attitude and not worry about how much it's going to hurt & relax the area of your body your having the tattoo in :)"


Indeed.

The pain shouldn't be too hard, more uncomfortable than anything severe.


There is a good place on Lockhart Rd next to Mes Amis that has photos outside, seems pretty good and a couple mates of mine have nothing but good things to say about the place.


Good luck