Tattoo Artists Are Sharing Stories About Their Worst “Tattoo Virgins,” And I’m Simultaneously Cringing And Cracking Up

14. "I was a tattoo apprentice, and this girl was getting a quarter-sized outline on her ankle. She lays down on the bed, and as soon as my machine starts, she screams — not a little yelp of surprise or gasp but a full-on scream. I immediately stop the machine and ask if she's okay. 'Yeah, I'm fine, it's just a scary noise!' Okay, I understand, it's loud and intense. As soon as I turn it on again, she screams. My nerves are shot, my heart's pounding, and I'm now telling her that she shouldn't get tattooed today. 'No, it's fine, just tattoo me through it!' Alright. I turn on the machine (cue a small shriek) and go to make one line. She immediately squirms across the table, yanking her foot away. This back and forth ensued for another 20 minutes. After half-standing to hold down her foot, I make a little line, the size of a sewing stitch in a jacket. She bursts into tears, and I entirely give up on the whole tattoo."

"I'd go to tattoo her, and she'd scream and writhe on the bed, physically wrenching her body away from me. But she'd argue with me, 'Just do it,' 'I can handle it,' 'I don't want to leave without a tattoo.'

I told her she clearly wasn't ready, it's not a big deal, and she can just come back to finish it another time. So I bandage it up (it's still a wound, after all), and she goes on her way. The whole thing was excruciating.  Ironically, she did come back and get it finished a few weeks later with minimal fuss.

Getting tattooed (even a little one) can be terrifying, and I don't want to diminish anyone's anxiety. A permanent change to your body is always a big deal. However, in this case, she seemed to be playing it up for the friend she brought with her. He'd step into the front room to check his phone, then she'd start to really act up and look over to see if he noticed.

My mentor was with me during this whole process, and she was trying to let me handle it on my own, but she actually stepped in towards the end to tell my client that I could not tattoo her with her behaving this way. I was so new that it didn't occur to me I could refuse to keep going. I also suspect that that's why she came back and got it with no big deal; I insisted that she come alone." —u/deadwittingly

from BuzzFeed - As/Is https://ift.tt/3j4udO3