Everyone has different pain thresholds, but calf is an area with a lot of muscle and tissue so you might find it does sting a bit, but the pain isn't unbearable by any means, and after a while your body will kick in and start numbing the pain a little as it goes, but it depends how detailed the work you're having done is. It only really starts to ache if they go over bits multiple times with shading, colour, etc. Walking might feel a bit awkward but you should be okay.

Infection isn't much of a worry so long as you maintain good aftercare, keep it moisturised, don't let it get dirty and clean it, and keep it out of the sun. A little bit of my bird got infected but it just made the healing process slower as opposed to anything bad happening.

Best advice is take something you can eat which is high sugar content for energy, and it's important you don't go on an empty stomach because that can increase the risk of you passing out or it feeling worse. If the piece is big enough, they usually let you take breaks here to eat or drink something in the middle of it. So long as your glucose levels are high enough before and after, you'll be fine I reckon.

As for weed, doesn't help nor hinder really other than personal peace of mind, just don't turn up drunk or coming down from a hangover because your blood is less viscose if your body is dealing with processing alcohol.

Edited by user 23 July 2011 20:05:50(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

I don't have tattoos (as I've gotten older I've gone from "I'd get one if I could think of anything interesting enough" to "man, almost everyone has tattoos now. And they almost all look awful") but I have loads of friends with tattoos. Infact was talking to a couple about this last night & the conclusion was that they should really up the legal age limit for tattoos to 25 because 18 year olds who get a tattoo become 28 & end up wanting it covered up with something else.

So with out trying to rain on your parade I would say take your time & don't rush into it. Think about it long & hard. You don't really want to have to go get another tattoo over it in 5-6 years time, I'd hope.

Well, I can say I've carefully thought of the right tattoo and the right place for it. I'm having a green iguana. Why?
Because it means a lot to me. I'm not doing it just because I find it a cool drawning. First, it represents the career path I want to follow, as an herpetologist, and second I want to tattoo all animals I work on my life and I started working with iguanas.
And the calf is good because whenever I have to go somewhere I can't show it or a day I'm tired of it, all I have to do is wear pants :p

As far as the pain goes,i'd liken it to a sunburn. If they hurt like hell,nobody would get them. I find the worst part to be the itching when its healing.it itches like crazy!


I got 5.the only one i would say actually hurt was the one i did myself.mainly due to the equipment used,though.guitar strings dont sharpen that well. No, i wasnt a stupid kid when i did it.i was well into adulthood. I wanted my own art on my body,that i put there.

I hope your being sarcastic,because thats how im reading it.