Lower back tat?

[zorba]

I'm very seriously thinking about getting a lower back tat for my 50th, 3+ years away. As always, I research something like this to death...

I know it will hurt...

I know that area will hurt more than most...

But what does that really mean? For those who have a tat in this location - will it be an annoying kind of a pain, a crying kind of a pain, a screaming kind of a pain? Rate your pain experience from 1 to 10. I'm thinking a "mostly black" rose, between 2 and 3 inches high. Low on the spine.

Experiences of my dance sisters would be appreciated!

[Toya]

Hi Zorba!

I have one - it's a vine, in black, that scrolls most of the way across. It did hurt, but then they all do, to some degree. (I have three tattoos.) I do have to say, sitting for it was kind of awkward, just because they had me sit in a chair that had handlebars on it and lean forward with my butt pooched out. (The technician actually said, "I love my job" when I had to do that. )

On a scale from 1 -10, I would say it was about a 2 or 3, but then again, I have a high pain tolerance. When I was giving birth, the nurse who was monitoring me actually asked if I felt the contractions I was having. When I said "yes", she said that as major as they were reading on the machine, she expected that I'd be screaming. I figured, why scream? It wasn't going to make it hurt any less.

You can do it! Just breathe through it and try to relax your body as much as possible. Don't tense up. And remember ... the pain is temporary and you'll have your lovely body art to look at forever afterward.

[mahsati]

Oooh - I love mine!

I have two tats: 1 lower back and 1 center back - see here: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/109/2...fafafc1f_o.jpg

Both hurt when I got them. I am pretty sure that is a universal part of the experience. The pain level will vary based on what type of design you choose. My peacock feathers involved a lot of detailed line work, then coloring, then white line work, so they were a lot more painful than my moon-ankh.

When the artist first started working it was a very sharp intense pain like being cut or stung by a bee. Once he had been working for a few minutes it subsided to a steady pain - not comfortable, but not terrible. I was able to sit still the entire time without jerking, but another person there was having more trouble with staying still for his.

I closed my eyes and concentrated on the vibrations from the needle and just let myself zone out and breathe evenly.

On a personal scale of pain, 1 being a stubbed toe/broken nail and 10 being broken ribs...I would say the line work on my lower back tattoo was a 5 (somewhat like a continuous shot or having salt water on a burn) and the coloring was a 3. My mid-back was about 1 less on both parts.

Have you found your artist yet? I definitely suggest looking around and seeing different people's work and have something custom designed or design your own. Both of mine are custom and I love them :)

[sumayasaahir]

Zorba, no way you look 47. I dont believe you.

[zorba]

Originally Posted by sumayasaahir

Zorba, no way you look 47. I dont believe you.

You're right, I'm 46. Won't be 47 til later this year!

Thanx for the compliment!

[nitara]

Imagine being scratched by a cat (a strong, feisty cat) for a couple of hours straight (design and scope depending). Mine felt like that. Not a comfortable experience, but on the absolute pain scale (I'm thinking comparison-wise to the time I broke my elbow), it's a 4 or 5.

[indigostars]

Men allegedly have a lower pain tolerance, according to the tattoo artists I've been to (all male).

My tattoo sits a little higher than lower back. It's a bunch of stars and swirls that curve over the hip and to the front (like Rachel Brice's). Parts of it hurt. Going over the spine hurt. Bone in general hurts (inner ankles tattooed, too). But it's tolerable. I just think about other stuff or talk to the tattoo artist.

On a scale of 1-10, I'd place it around a 3. I have my nipples pierced (sorry if that's TMI), and that hurt much worse (I was so hot, like I was burnt pretty badly) and for a longer period of time, around an 8. The nice thing about tattoos is the pain hasn't really lasted longer than the tattoo itself, at least for me.

[Michelle75]

No harm intended in what I'm about to share. I'm passing on knowledge that I learned on the Oprah show. I found out that the tatoo on the lower back of women are refered to as a "tramp stamp" by men who are regulars at the clubs. I guess it's a new term b/c I've never heard it before until than. I was seriously concidering getting another tatoo there until I heard that.

Michelle

[indigostars]

Tramp stamp isn't that new of a term. I'm not sure how seriously people take it, since it's a really common area to tattoo.

However, that's why my tattoo starts near the midback.

[tattood1]

tramp stamp; a term used by guys who can't get laid by tattooed women & are pissed. that's my theory.

there are alot of myths surrounding tattooed women & sex & supposedly our tattooes always have MEANINGS!! particularly to dorks & dweebs.

supposedly a kio fish swimming up means you're hetro & down mean gay if on a male & on a female it means what sex acts you'll perform.

a pierced tongue on a man means he's gay on a female what sex acts she'll perform.

aren't stupid musings of the idiotic fun !!

zorba; to me the worse part of getting my lower back done was sitting with my head between my legs. it will hurt. i give it a 5. aftercare might be an issue with waist bands rubbing it.

you'll be fine!! tina

[kina]

Originally Posted by indigostars

Tramp stamp isn't that new of a term. I'm not sure how seriously people take it, since it's a really common area to tattoo.

However, that's why my tattoo starts near the midback.

and or "handlebars"

Not that I care about what anyone else says, if that's your prefernce go for it.

My tats (3, one large shoulder piece, 1 upper thigh/lower hip, 1 mid back) on a scale of 1 -10 (and I have low pain tolerance) mid-back was about a 2, just persistent and annoying, hip was a 2-3, if he hit a nerve bundle it shot up, but that was brief, shoulder, prolly cause is took 3 hours to complete went from 3-6 at times. Nothing untolerable about any of them, it was just the amount of time that it was going on for that was difficult, as it's often hard to sit for something that hurts, so I was sore the next day just from holding myself still.

[antimony]

I don't think there's anything inherently trashy about lower back tattoos. But what *is* trashy is the women who show them off by wearing jeans cut so low that they expose the top of their but crack.

[zorba]

Originally Posted by mahsati

Oooh - I love mine!

I have two tats: 1 lower back and 1 center back - see here: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/109/2...fafafc1f_o.jpg

Both hurt when I got them. I am pretty sure that is a universal part of the experience. The pain level will vary based on what type of design you choose. My peacock feathers involved a lot of detailed line work, then coloring, then white line work, so they were a lot more painful than my moon-ankh.

When the artist first started working it was a very sharp intense pain like being cut or stung by a bee. Once he had been working for a few minutes it subsided to a steady pain - not comfortable, but not terrible. I was able to sit still the entire time without jerking, but another person there was having more trouble with staying still for his.

I closed my eyes and concentrated on the vibrations from the needle and just let myself zone out and breathe evenly.

On a personal scale of pain, 1 being a stubbed toe/broken nail and 10 being broken ribs...I would say the line work on my lower back tattoo was a 5 (somewhat like a continuous shot or having salt water on a burn) and the coloring was a 3. My mid-back was about 1 less on both parts.

Have you found your artist yet? I definitely suggest looking around and seeing different people's work and have something custom designed or design your own. Both of mine are custom and I love them :)

Very pretty! Haven't selected an artist yet, I have time. All other things being equal, I'd prefer a woman.

[indigostars]

Originally Posted by antimony

I don't think there's anything inherently trashy about lower back tattoos. But what *is* trashy is the women who show them off by wearing jeans cut so low that they expose the top of their but crack.

I think that look is trashy, regardless of being tattooed or not.

and or "handlebars"

Never heard that one.

[zorba]

Originally Posted by tattood1

tramp stamp; a term used by guys who can't get laid by tattooed women & are pissed. that's my theory.

there are alot of myths surrounding tattooed women & sex & supposedly our tattooes always have MEANINGS!! particularly to dorks & dweebs.

supposedly a kio fish swimming up means you're hetro & down mean gay if on a male & on a female it means what sex acts you'll perform.

a pierced tongue on a man means he's gay on a female what sex acts she'll perform.

aren't stupid musings of the idiotic fun !!

zorba; to me the worse part of getting my lower back done was sitting with my head between my legs. it will hurt. i give it a 5. aftercare might be an issue with waist bands rubbing it.

you'll be fine!! tina

Yea, I've heard/read all the crap about what a "tramp stamp" means, blah, blah. When I had my ears pierced at age 40, my next door neighbors were mighty curious about "what does it mean?" My reply "It means I like earrings". So will be my "Tramp Stamp", it will mean "I like something that makes me look pretty."

I'm planning on wearing my class harem pants to the tattoo parlour to avoid the waistband issue. My daily attire, as most here know, are skirts of one sort or another, mainly the famous "Utilikilt" - the waistband for same is higher than I expect the tat to be, and I'll wear my low cut undies I wear for performing until its healed.

Hmmm... Ears pierced at 40, a tat at 50, wonder what I'll do for 60? My wife can HARDLY wait to find out...

[kina]

Originally Posted by zorba

Very pretty! Haven't selected an artist yet, I have time. All other things being equal, I'd prefer a woman.

Gypsy Jill is in Seattle. I know that Cali and Seattle are not that close, but she was fantastic, used to dancers (did many of the FCBD ones, I believe) and creates one of a kind designs just given your descriptions. I thought the prices were reasonable, etc.


www.gypsyjill.com

Of course, this was prolly 2 years ago, but I'd still recommend her.

[zorba]

Something to think about - I have a sis in Seattle.

[tattood1]

if the tattoo is in the center it's a tramp stamp, anything shooting off either side are handler bars.

i think alot of guys are threatened by women who are assured enough to get tattooed so they have to marginalize them with demeaning theories for their tattoos

when i first started getting them they supposedly meant you had been to jail & what crime you committed.

tina

[laura 2]

Originally Posted by antimony

I don't think there's anything inherently trashy about lower back tattoos. But what *is* trashy is the women who show them off by wearing jeans cut so low that they expose the top of their but crack.

I have my husband's name with a musical note tatooed on an area that is just on border between where my back ends and my butt begins. I always check to make sure that it's not visible over my belt - not because I worry about people seeing it, but because if you can see "Mike", the belt is too a little too low for an all ages crowd.

[Azeeza]

Hey Zorba:

It took over eight hours to do my lower back tat (this pales in comparison to others with lower back tats) and I would rate it as a 2 or 3 as far as pain is concerned. However, the longer the artist is back there working, the more it seemed to hurt and if you go around the curve of your hips, it seemed to hurt more.

Don't laugh, but my right side was much more sensitive than my left side. Weird.

Go for it babe! You only live once !

Your bud,

Azeeza

[zumarrad]

when i first started getting them they supposedly meant you had been to jail & what crime you committed.

There's supposed to be such a system here, but those are on the face, and they're spots and stars. I think stars are maximum security.

The famous (in NZ) drag queen Carmen served some time when she was youngish (in men's jail of course) and the guys kindly made her spot look like a beauty mark.

One of the coolest lower back tattoos I ever saw was done by a sort of spiritual tattooist who could view "energies" on your body. It was very Maori/Poly in style and had stylised wings and things that related to the girl's life and family - but it looked abstract. Covered the whole lower back area. I don't know about the spiritual guidance aspect but the tattooist certainly had a great eye for the way her body was shaped and creating a design that worked with it.

[LauraLevana]

Hi Zorba,
My husband says my face in this picture says it all:


I'm getting a lotus with vines on my lower back...and yes, the tattoo artist is wearing a shrimp costume!

I got it on Frenchmen St. in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, and like you, partly to commemmorate my upcoming 40th birthday.

And Azeeza, like you, my right side hurt like heck (I'd describe it as a steam burn), but my left was barely even uncomfortable. My tattoo artist said that it's very common for one side to absorb all the pain for the other. Interesting!