Afraid to get a TATTOO?

The number 1 question that people would asked me if they saw my tattoo, "is it painful?" I always answer that question "at first it is painful, but after that, you will seek for the pain that you felt." That's why I have lots of tattoos in my body. 

When I was young, I always wanted to get a tattoo. I always buy sticker tattoo and pretend that my tattoo is real. I always said to myself if i reach the right age, I will get many tattoos. I always knew that having tattoo is painful. It is no joke in getting a tattoo. I don't care about the pain, all I care is the tattoo. 

Now, I reached the right age, and I have tattoos in my body. People always say to me that I will regret getting a tattoo. They are wrong. I loved my tattoo, no regrets. 

You should not afraid to get a tattoo. No one force you to have ink in your bodies, it's you choice to have one. I never heard a person forced to have tattoo, but I guest some tribes has tradition to get ink in their body. But in our time, no one is forcing you to get a tattoo. No one force me to get tattoo, It's my choice. 

One thing to consider having tattoo is the after care. Its a wound, can get infections, and its painful when touched. You should keep it clean and never scratch it when it gets very itchy. My after care is just very simple, keep it clean and let the wound to heal. I didn't use any after care products, just let my body nature worked. When the heal is near, what do you expect? It becomes very itchy and so good feeling to scratch. DON'T SCRATCH IT! You can still get infections, the wound will not fully heal, and worst, the color of the tattoo will fade and the result that you expecting will not be seen. I scratched around the tattoo, not in the design of the tattoo. Just let your body healing power do the healing process. 
 
 Remember this, tattoo is not for men who wants to be frighten by others but it is an art. Other artist hangs their artwork, tattoo artist and enthusiast wears their art work. 

Another TATTOO

I have been thinking to have another tattoo, but where? I want to put in a place that can be seen by others. I want to show other people how beautiful is my tattoo. 

But first of all, I want you to share where are my tattoos.  

My first tattoo was on my back. It is small but I am proud of it. The design is the cursed seal or Uchiha Sasuke given by Orochimaru. The picture that was taken during my tattoo session is gone, that is why i can't show the design. 

That is the cursed seal of Sasuke. My first tattoo.

 My second tattoo was an Alibata letters in my right wrist. The letters are "LG"(not the brand of appliances) stands for Leonard Graphix. I don't have the picture of that tattoo because I forgot to take.

The third one is a koi fish, very famous tattoo for men, in my right wrist. I need a cover up tattoo for my Alibata letters because my brother said, which my tattooist, it is not nice. So I decided to have a cover up tattoo.

My right hand.

 The fourth one is in my middle finger, the most painful tattoo I ever had. It is a Tribal design. I love it.

That's me.

 The fifth tattoo is on my right ankle. It is like a Polynesian tattoo design. One of my favorite design. I am planning to expand this tattoo, covering my whole right leg.

Polynesian Tattoo Design.

 My sixth and last tattoo, for now, is in my left arm. It is a nautical star design. With colors black and pink. I had this tattoo because i like the star tattoo of Vice Ganda in his right wrist. 

Vice Ganda star tattoo. Photo by: http://viceganda.net/vice-gandas-tattoos/

 And here's mine, not the same place and design but same concept. 

Nautical Star tattoo.

 I know, I can't find good job because I have a tattoo. But I don't care, this is my life. This makes me happy, contented and I don't have any regrets having tattoo. It is painful, but I enjoy the pain that the needle gave to me. The striking needle to my skin is like giving a child a candy to make the child happy. This tattoo thing make me happy. No one will stop doing this, even my parents agree when I am having tattoo. 

Now, I am planning to have a new tattoo, but I don't know where to put it. But for now, I will search designs for my next tattoo. My brother, my tattooist, is waiting for my design. I don't have any regrets having many tattoos. And if I graduate and find a regular job, I will have many tattoos until only my face don't have tattoo.

Tattoing in the Philippines

As far I can remember, I've watched the television series Tattoo Hunter of Lars Krutak and one of the story of the series is tattooing here in the Philippines. The place where Lars Krutak have his documentary is in Kalinga. There only few who posses that tattooing culture in Kalinga. One of the last tattooist in Kalinga is Whang Od. 

Whan Od. Photo by: http://www.flickr.com/photos/onanie/

I am still hoping that this culture of Kalinga is would still exist in the future. I, myself want to have a Kalinga tattoo in my body. 

In Kalinga, the warriors have their tattoo after their victory in the fight,.

Jaime Alos, the last tattoo warrior. Photo by:http://www.vanishingtattoo.com/

I hope that this culture will continue in the future. 

Visit Lars Krutak's website to know more about Kalinga Tattoo.

http://larskrutak.com/articles/BatokFestival/index.html