I got a hideous tattoo while on vacation. 20 years later I have it covered

Bangkok (CNN) – Ah, the tattoos.

For some, it’s the ultimate vacation memory. A permanent symbol of a rewarding experience in a foreign land, a work of art to contemplate as you remember a time and place that left an indelible impression not only on your soul, but also on your skin.

For the rest of us, they remind us of the day we maybe had a few too many drinks on the beach and asked a stranger to ink us with a weird design that didn’t hold up well to the cruel hands of time.

Unfortunately, I fell into the latter group. In my case, it was a large black “tribal” art piece engraved the entire length of my lower back with an arrow down the center pointing in a rather unfortunate direction.

And sorry, I’m not showing it here. Call me a coward if you have to, but it was so bad.

None of these experiences were as regrettable as this tattoo.

I gave it little thought, deciding to get the ink on a whim after meeting a promising tattoo artist in the north of the island.

I flipped through the pages of his stencil book for five minutes before hastily settling on a drawing – it must have been an extension of an oddly placed black dolphin jumping through the waves I acquired from there. age 18 at home in Canada. .

What more ink is there to commemorate this epic year-long journey of self-discovery, I’ve rationalized?

Cover up the mistakes of the past

Fast forward two decades and, shockingly, hated it. I’ve spent years trying to hide it at the beach or by the pool, leaving myself with limited swimwear choices, seeing it as a constant reminder of my young self’s penchant for making rash decisions.

At the end of last year, with the pandemic dragging me down at my home in Bangkok, I decided that enough was enough. I had a lot of free time. The tattoo must go.

For a very brief moment I considered removing the laser. Then I looked at the cost. Nope.

“A lot of tattoo artists and studios refuse to cover up because, honestly, they’re very empowering and often artists don’t want to have to work around someone else’s work,” he says.

As I soon learned, covering a huge canvas with black ink isn’t as easy as finding a cool design and getting it slapped by the artist. There are many factors to consider including size, line details, and color.

“We try to be very honest with our customers,” says Tonello. “Often a cover-up comes with certain limitations due to what is already there, so we will review options with the client on what we believe is possible and work our best to balance both getting rid of the old tattoo. and have a new likes instead. “

It was certainly true in my case. I worked closely with their talented artist Bird, who covered my monstrosity with a monochromatic floral collage after contemplating several creations related to special places in my life.

Getting the right size was a struggle, given the width of the original and my desire to extend the new tattoo further down my back.

I went for a total of three sessions, each ranging from 4 to 5 hours and spanning a few months.

The numbing cream was applied one hour before each session. It kept the pain to a minimum – in fact, I was able to watch a lot of Netflix in relative comfort – but alas, the cream only lasts a few hours. During the last stages of each visit, my teeth were clenched. Words of curse were spoken.

But it was worth it and I couldn’t be happier with the result. The details are gorgeous and the old tattoo is buried – without an arrow or dolphin in sight.

My kids even love it – and one of them is a brutally honest teenager.

The importance of finding the right studio

My experience got me thinking about why we want to get a tattoo on vacation and what travelers should keep in mind to avoid making the mistake I made.

Tonello, owner of the All Day Tattoo studio, said that before the pandemic, around 70% of their clients were international visitors.

“As Bangkok is so well known for its tattoos, it has become very common for people visiting Thailand and the region to want a tattoo in memory of what often turns out to be the trip of a lifetime,” says Luca, who got her first tattoo at 23.

It has a lot of tips for tattoo enthusiasts – most of them apply whether you are on vacation or at home.

“We think the most important thing about getting a tattoo is to make sure it makes sense to you somehow,” he says.

“We all know that as life goes on our likes and dislikes change, but a tattoo that was done well, that had meaning to you the moment you got it is rarely regretted by people.”

Then he says to make sure you do your research and find a studio with a good reputation.

“Check out the reviews, read the website, check out their social media and their artist portfolios,” he says.

“Does he seem like he took the time and effort to present himself well and make sure clients are happy with the tattoo and the service they received?”

Otherwise, he says it’s probably an indication of a lack of effort in other parts of the process – a major red flag.

“Running a good tattoo studio is a tough, never-ending endeavor. Either you’re ready to do it or you’re not, I don’t think there’s really a middle ground.”

This also applies to hygiene.

“Tattooing is very safe, if done correctly,” says Tonello, who notes that All Day has a government license and strictly adheres to international best practices for tattooing, going beyond minimum requirements.

Don’t be afraid to ask the studio about their own practices, he says. A reputable establishment will have no problem addressing your concerns.

Meanwhile, language can be another issue when you are in a foreign country.

“Tourists are often rightly concerned about their ability to communicate properly with a tattoo studio and ensure that they are understood.” he says.

“I think we’ve all seen some funny tattoos that have been received due to poor communication between artist and client on the internet. Well, these things are fun unless they happen to you! ”

What will you think of this design in 20 years?

Ok, so you have found a studio that you are comfortable with and you are ready to make that appointment.

But if you are on vacation, you should also consider the schedule and post-ink plans.

Tonello says traveling with a new tattoo is usually not a problem, but you should avoid submerging it in water for a full two weeks to avoid infection – a tattoo is basically a big wound – so that means travel at the beach are completed. of the question.

For this reason, the majority of people book their tattoo appointments towards the end of their vacation, he says.

Size is another issue. Many large lumps require multiple visits depending on your pain threshold, so take this into account when making an appointment.

Tonello says their sessions last around 6-7 hours at most, although under certain circumstances they can last much longer.

“While there is obviously some discomfort, we find that the vast majority of clients find that the process hurts much less than expected and that they can take breaks as often as they like, so for the most part people, a long session is possible if the design requires it, ”he says.

You also need to consider how well this design will hold up in the future.

it was definitely not the tattoo artist’s fault that I hated my ink. The color has stood the test of time and it did exactly what I asked it to do.

I just didn’t think about the concept or what it meant to me, but stuck with a style that was popular at the time.

“We don’t think it’s necessarily a bad idea to get a trendy tattoo as long as it means something to you personally, and you don’t get it just because you’ve seen other people get the same. Says Tonello.

This is when getting a tattoo while on vacation can be a good thing, as it represents a connection you have to a destination that will likely stay with you.

For example, Tonello says that not many people visit Thailand without feeling like they’ve experienced something really special, so a tattoo is a great way to commemorate and rekindle that feeling of joy later on.

“Apart from the Sak Yant (traditional Thai tattoos) which are probably the most popular among travelers, we often do other tattoos that symbolize Thailand or travel in some way.”

These include compasses, world maps, elephants, tigers, tuk tuks, Unalome and Mandala designs, lotuses, and even food, like noodle bowls.

Basically, anything goes. Well, almost everything.

Tonello suggests that clients avoid getting tattooed with the name of someone they are in a relationship with – no matter what they might be feeling at the time.

“Even though something may seem to go on forever in the moment, we know it doesn’t always,” he says.

“However, getting the names of pets or children is not a problem, as these relationships are unlikely to turn sour.”