Hey everyone!

I always wanted to get myself a tattoo but never did. I kept thinking "What will it look some day? What if I don't like it anymore?" But since years I have a nice design in my head and I think if I love it after all this time it won't change. So I'm thinking about a snake all over my ribcage (see picture)

But since it's my first tattoo I fear it's too big. What if I can't stand the pain..? I don't know, if it's a good idea to start with such a big tattoo..

I think that would look pretty awesome. :'D

If you've been imagining the tattoo for so many years and your feelings about it haven't changed, then I think it's fine for you to get it done. If you still love the idea now, then chances are, you will still love it after it's on your body. Personally, I wouldn't start so large, but it is your choice after all. Just be warned that the ribs are supposedly one of the most painful places to get tattooed. It all depends on your own pain tolerance, of course, but you should go into it knowing that it could be pretty painful.

That is very large and over a sensitive area for a beginner's tattoo. It's beautiful and easily covered by clothes, but you might think smaller until you know for sure. Find yourself a professional who is honest about the pain and what you need to do to take care of your new ink. Someone willing to work with you and remind you it's ok to take a break. For the design itself you might start with a much smaller area on your ribs and if you find you can tolerate it, then the design can be branched out to wrap around.

Also remember that you can pace yourself and do the outline, THEN go back for shading and coloring. Which feels a lot different than the outline.

I know this is personal,but how old are you?

You should go for it! But be warned that the rib cage is one of the most painful spot for a tattoo! In the end it will all be worth it

Yoo, that sounds like it would be a really awesome tattoo! I wouldn't be too worried about the pain honestly! I was nervous when I got my first tattoo, and it turned out to be pretty easy going. Mine went right over the spine (which is said to be one of the most painful), and honestly it just felt like a small scratchy burn but wasn't unbearable. Though with a tattoo the size you want, I would definitely suggest scheduling more than one appointment. Shading is done differently than the linework, and you may be pretty sore when they're done lining and it is never a good idea to push yourself to get it done in one go! Most importantly, make sure you find an artist that you are comfortable with. Go around to different parlors, check out their work, meet the artists, and find someone who you think would work best with you and your design. Nobody ever wants to end up with a bad design, horrible regret, and the trouble of now getting a bad tat covered up, so def be cautious there.

I'm 20 years old and come from bavaria, a friend of mine recommanded 'Tattoo Tomas' near Nürnberg. It's about an hour from here. They do a really nice job (here the website: Klick me! :D ), my friend already told me about their studio and I think, this one will be the best choice without traveling for miles. I will definitely take breakes, first lineout and then shading.. or I'll split it some other way. (The snake should pop through my skin, coming out of my body. So I could start with the head, then take a break, do one or two parts more, take a break and finally do the tail..) Guess I will talk some more with my friend and then I'll go there and talk to the artists. I will have enough time to think about it - their waiting list usually takes about 1 1/2 years. So if I chicken out of it I can tell them I don't wanna do it anymore and my friend will take my place. (He'll be glad about another opportunity to expand his tattoo xD)

I already thought about some smaller tattoo but there I get stuck again with "What if I don't like it anymore?".. =/ I love such itsy bitsy tattoos behind the ear but I can't think of something for that place... Well, at least none that I consider to be something for ever.. Hm....a triforce.....? No, I'd better not. Argh. xD

I have to say, once I got my first tattoo I became hooked, as well as did my fiance. That being said, it does hurt. I'm terrified of needles and I don't handle pain well, but I managed to get 4 tattoos so far without crying. I did tear up, but I expected that. But I don't consider it unbearable. Also the nice thing about getting one is it isn't nonstop. They do so much for a couple seconds and then pull back and wipe. So you get small breaks in between. Personally, that's what makes a huge difference for me. If there wasn't that couple of seconds I doubt I could ever get big ones like I plan. Honestly, if you want one bad enough (and it seems like you do) it's totally worth it and bearable. Also, like said, shop around. I got impulsive with the one on my wrist and it turned out bad. Then when I went for a cover up, I once again for impulsive and it looks even worse. Don't settle, it isn't worth it.

I can think of myself getting hooked to it, that's one of the reasons why I want it on that place. If the tattoo would go all over my back and I'd come up with a great idea for the other side of my ribcage... ah, you know what I mean ;D I have reptiles and it's some kind like with tattoos: Once you start with it you can't stop. (Sure it's different, because we are talking about living beings that you have to take care of, but there is always this 'Oh god, this snake looks just great and they have a really interesting behavour. I want one!' in your head xD )

I'm also terrified of needles but I seem to have a high pain tolerance. I have some problems with my liver what get's me often into pain so I'm kinda used to it. But it's a different kind of pain, so I will have to wait and see. :P

I heard there is going to be a tattoo exhibition (is that the right word..?) next year and I'll go there for sure to take a look at all the artists. :) For now I'll just try to catch my friend so I can talk to him about it.. ^-^

Somebody told me about UV tattoos, could someone tell me about that? (is the ink harmless? is it visible at daylight?) Right now the idea of an UV tattoo triforce on the back of my hand won't leave my mind. I grew old with LoZ that's why I always come up with the triforce xD I even drove 800km - that's about 500 miles - just to go to the Symphony of Goddesses... And I had to get the whole way back, too. It was worth it and I would do it again. :D

Tattoos feel like scratching an itch on a sunburn. Be aware that right now the ribs is the trendy place on the body to get tattooed, so expect to see a lot of people in your age group wearing tattoos there. As well, if you're female and thinking of having kids someday, be aware that anything on the belly and ribs will likely stretch and leave you with a somewhat mangled tattoo. The UV tattoo effect tends to wear off pretty quickly, and it's not like the tattoo is invisible, you'd still have a tat, just without the glowing effect later and I don't know how it is in Europe but in the States a lot of employers won't hire you if you have tattoos on your hands/face.

All the various warnings aside, if you really think you can live with a giant snake on your ribs, showing it off to your grandchildren, then go forth and get it! grins It can be a lot of fun having something large like that.

My brother (27) told me something similar. It was just "a cat scratching on a sunburn".. laughs (Yes, he got tattoos, too. But we don't meet often so it's hard to talk about it.. xD)

I don't mind, if there are more people having their tattoo on the same place. There will always be some other tattoo having something in common with your own. ^^

Oh, I see. I thought the UV Tattoo would be 'invisible' at daylight. So that's a 'no' on my triforce. pouts It's the same with tattoos in Europe. I noticed, if you are some usuall worker and the supervisors see you work really good, then they don't mind your looks. Sure, they won't let you get into close contact with costumers but you've a good chance on working in an office. (But that takes good connections and good qualifications) (Well, at least it's like that at my company)

Hehe, if there should be (grand-)children I will show them. That's no problem ^^ Do you know Necomimi? Click for Youtube video I wore them all night on our company Christmas party in some fancy restaurant. Some went like 'WTH?!' others came and asked if they could try them. I don't mind showing stuff that I like to others. No matter how silly it may seem to them. And if I'm lucky they like it, too. :3 If they don't? What ever. I like it and that's what counts for me. C:

I was 17 when I got mine... I went big and did it all in one sitting. The guy who did mine was honest about the pain and said it was going to hurt a lot,explained that every time we took a break that going back to it would hurt again. In the end getting a tattoo is worth all of the pain. Your brother was right about the feeling, but its different for everyone, my older sister laughed through her first one but her not her second one. If you get yours done by the right person, in a reputable shop it will heal nicely and won't really need to be touched up in the months following

I started out with three words across my back which wasn't bad at all. But my next tattoo was far more detailed, colored, and bigger on my thigh. I got through it like a champ, but it wasn't pleasant at all haha. Mostly because by time the lady got the outline done, it was already sensitive and so the color really hurt. You could always see about getting the outline done first, letting it heal, then getting the rest done in sessions! Either way I think it would be an awesome tattoo!

Thanks for your suggestions and happy holidays! :) I talked to my brother and a close friend of him about it. His friend fell asleep while getting the tattoo. While getting his arm inked he felt nothing. Getting the ribcage inked was 'more annoying than painful'. laughs They adviced me to get a smaller tattoo first to see if I can handle the pain (I'm afraid of needles and often faint after getting injections.. xD) I thought about it and now I have an idea for it. A Triforce on the back of my foot (design like this: Click me ) If getting inked should be fine to me then I could expand it some day and get Midna right over it on my leg. :D (I know this place is also pretty painful - I'm good at wanting tattoos on such places.. That's my one and only talent :P )

Now it's time to shop around :3 (Well, after holidays xD)

Just for the record. Yes, the area is very sensitive BUT also tattoos don't hurt, hurt.... Tattoos are more like.... burn. Like when you were a kid and would go running and fall and got all your knees scratched? That's how it feels. Won't last forever. I'd suggest you to do a smaller tattoo first, somewhere (of course, one that you like) and see how it goes. Then go for the big one. Unless you play brave girl :D Go get the snake. You'll love it ❤ Don't forget to get a good artist, no matter the price you pay for it.

Thanks for your advice! ;) If you take a look at my post right above yours you'll see that I decided to go for a smaller one first :D

It's just that most of the better artists are pretty far from here and that makes it kinda expensive to check them all.. But I got some recommendations from friends so I will go and check them first :)

Oh, I'm not good at reading other's conversations so didn't notice. Is that the main form of the smaller one? Becauuuse here I go again lines feel so different from the fillings.... A line hurts more because the artist use only one needle for that. For the fillings, depend on the color intensity, it can be 2, 3, 4... needles at once... but hurts so much less! So try to make it as similar as possible 😊 tattoos are so beautiful

The small one should look like made of stone and the big one should show some realistic (but still black and white) snake. The shading in both of the tattoos will vary pretty much, I guess.

I heard from others that the lining hurt less than the filling.. Well everybody handles pain differently. I will just have to try and find out myself. :)

I guess lines are more bothersome to me! You show pictures when you get it done :D