Tattoo Q&A | Sleeve Pricing | Keratosis Pilaris | Travel Dates

[@Alyssa-up5mu]

Thank you for addressing Keratosis!!!

[@Mewjuice]

I literally hate when people ask me how much I paid for my sleeves. I usually get shitty/disrespectful follow up questions or comments of people telling me how much they paid for theirs and how I could have saved money by going to someone else (usually a living room tat-daddy lmao)/all the other "responsible" things I could have bought (like I don't make sure my bills are paid first). I've gotten to the point where I just give them my artist's business card and tell them to contact him for his rate if they are really interested in how much a sleeve costs. 😂

[@JamesWithee]

yeah this happens to everyone with good tattoos. ppl say they have a homie that can do it cheaper then they point to their squiggly tatts as evidence. some ppl really don't know how bad their tattoos are. it's kind of awkward for everyone involved lol

[@mikekendrick7981]

I got this question and comment the other day. Lady at the gas station asked how much it cost after telling me how good it looked. Once I told her she said "Wow, mine was half that". Then she added that "maybe for that quality it would be worth it". I thought, yeah, that's why I went to who I did.

[@RobDaKid87]

I don’t mind it. I always say the same thing, “$125 an hour, so quite a bit”, and leave it at that.

[@Mewjuice]

@@RobDaKid87 I just think it's kind of rude to ask unless you're actually interested in getting tattooed. The only time I've made it a point to ask how much someone's rent was is if I was considering moving into the same neighborhood. And if someone is actually interested in getting tattooed by my artist, I'd rather let him disclose his rate because he sets different rates depending on factors like the scale, complexity, how interested he is in doing the tattoo, etc.

[@RobDaKid87]

Kaori Cynthia Makes sense to me.

[@chadharrington1]

I was recently tattooing a person who worked at a plastic surgery clinic. She mentioned that studies showed that there is more collagen under tattooed skin. And that's where the concept of micro needling is from. It helps rejuvinate skin... So.... that might explain how your skin conditions got better after tattooing.?!

[@sinaiulliel1700]

Chad Harrington this just blew my mind omg! wow.....

[@katthemetalhead7980]

Wow that’s crazy! That to totally makes me feel comfortable getting a tattoo on my bumpy upper arms!

[@kjerstiva]

My skin felt like baby skin after my tattoos. It felt brand new

[@CAVEMANsean]

@@kjerstiva that's because the top layer of skin is brand new

[@GTEARZ144]

I have this type of skin and I’m about to get a big tattoo over it😃 wish me luck 😀

[@saulalvarado1667]

Costco does sleeves now. Got mine for $350. Also got a 100lb bag of protein.

[@guillermomartinez6006]

Lmao 😂😂😂

[@jameswalters8155]

*@Lydia Jade* Here's a great treatment for keratosis pilaris: www.MootKen. xyz

[@TheKianaRoe]

😂

[@KunKhmer562]

I have kp all over my back and arms. But I have a huge back piece and both half sleeve. I hate them but the tattoos covered them up. U can only see them if u look at them closely! I have no regrets! I love my tattoos!

[@XBLAxDigital]

I know you get these comments a lot but you are so damn good at conveying information objectively and professionally. I'm happy with all my choices but I wish I found your channel before I got my first piece just for the peace of mind on so many different aspects.

[@JamesWithee]

That means a lot, I appreciate the support. Hopefully in a couple of years I'll have a nice catalog of info for ppl to research when they first get into it like u said

[@onlyhalfbad333]

Customer: How much for a sleeve?? Me: A few thousand dollars. Customer: What? My friend said he'd hook it up for $500! Me: Ok. Go to him then. Best of luck to ya.

[@JamesWithee]

yup. you can either have a whole arm full of shitty braille tattoos for $500 or one legit one for the same price lol

[@RobDaKid87]

Yeah and you’ll see him in a year or two for that cover up which will be even more expensive than if they would have just gone to you in the first place. Smh, some people want to learn the hard way.

[@hadassahgrace5]

Isn’t a few thousand a lot though? Not that I want a sleeve

[@hadassahgrace5]

Then again I just want three words of lettering

[@RobDaKid87]

@@hadassahgrace5 It's really not. I just finished an American flag 3/4 sleeve from the top of my shoulder down on to my forearm. From design to placement and then all the details in between it takes alot before you even start and my artist only charges for chair time. For that alone I've got between 20-25 hrs. That at $125 an hr and it's totally worth it. The last thing you want to do is be cheap on something that can potentially be there forever. If you do go cheap laser removal or a cover cost way more in the end. Best to spend and get it right the first time.

[@hathawyn]

Thank you so much for answering the question about KP! I’m really glad someone asked it. So far I’ve only got tattooed on areas where I don’t have it, but I’ve been wanting an upper arm tattoo for a while and was worried about it. My KP is pretty mild, you can see the red dots but only a few of them are actually raised. This makes me very relieved!!

[@ricardoherrera4042]

I paid 1,100 for a quarter sleeve this past month and literally everyone thinks its a badass tattoo, but every now and then a bufoon tells me "I know somone who could've done that for 500". I just look at their lower quality tattoos and chuckle lol I wish more people were knowledgable over tattoo pricing so thank you for this Q&A video.

[@Denka187]

thats becuse people really think in there minds that every tattoo looks the same with the same quality , for some reason they think a lets say bob tyrell black n grey tattoo are just as good as there friends work or someone who got it cheap . people really tellin themself this its not even funny , they dont see quality at all just that you have a tattoo and base everything around the price they got it for

[@AIlezAlIezAIIez]

was it a lower quarter sleeve?

[@ricardoherrera4042]

@@AIlezAlIezAIIez yeah, its all my inner forearm. I need need to do the outter arm and my upper arm.

[@ricardoherrera4042]

@@Denka187 most of them think a portrait or realism, should be the same cost and time as a traditional tattoo. Here where i'm from, there's rarely any realism tattoo artist. So they are pretty pricey here, but I do love realism. And if its on me for life, I'm paying or what I want.

[@AIlezAlIezAIIez]

@@ricardoherrera4042 ah cool how long did the inner bit take?

[@stevie7666]

I love this video format! :) I don't have a specific question but I'd love to see a video about sleeves. It would be cool to hear about different types (like the traditional 'patchwork' sleeve vs one full planned piece) and the pros and cons of each, and the best way to approach them. Like you said, the idea of a sleeve can feel kind of daunting so it would be cool to hear more about them

[@Mewjuice]

I second this idea!

[@JamesWithee]

i've actually been thinking about the difference between these two types of large scale collections quite a bit lately. eventually i'll talk about it in a video

[@XXallycat101XX]

I have KP and a full half sleeve. Never had any issues getting tattooed.

[@Uelchito]

Allison Williams I also have KP and I was worried about it getting in the way of a tattoo but it may depend on some people

[@yudasaputra7766]

Full half sleeve???? What that's mean?

[@Hayleysmy]

I have KP and my forearm played up soooooo bad when getting it tatted. Swelled up, bright up, hot and skin went tight (I've never had issues before) and she had to keep stopping I've got a portrait on my upper arm booked for next week and I've been desperately trying to get rid of the KP and it's not budging. So worried its gonna play up again 😭

[@Goggalor1990]

For anyone worried about getting "bumpy" skin tattooed: I got a tattoo from my shoulder down to my elbow that wraps around my arm to cover up extensive self harm scars (including a few keloids). If you go to an artist that knows what they're doing, it's entirely possible to get a nice looking tattoo on not so nice skin. Ask the artist if they've ever tattooed over scars before, or look at their previous work.

[@MmeViper]

I appreciate how succinct, informative, and professional you deliver tattoo knowledge. Knowledge is Power, after all. Kudos!

[@JamesWithee]

thanks! i try my best to get straight to it and include as much info as possible

[@whoa_kryst618]

I have KP and I did wonder about the longevity of tattoos on those areas. Thank you for addressing it!

[@Mookie819]

Starting a traditional japanese sleeve next month & it's going to take 6 - 7 sessions $600 a session for 4 - 5 hours.. costly but its something that I really really been wanting for a couple years. looking to get in finished by April

[@TulanePass]

That's a good deal!! I went to alot of sessions for 2-3 hours for 150 per hour. Maaaaan alot of hours put in but I love my sleeves.

[@Poundsalt_Ryan]

Its pricey and takes a long time, but you'll love the final results. I have both of my arms in Japanese. It took 40 hours to do one arm including my hand. I've been working at them for about a year.

[@Smartfunnyandlazy]

Me too! I started mine last month, I'm 2 sessions in and I'm loving it!

[@ashleigh5016]

Thanks, for answering the question about KP. It’s been a thing I have been avoiding to get tattooed over as I have it only on my upper arm but today I finally booked for a Japanese Crane tattoo and I emailed and asked the artist the question... your answer gave me confidence

[@ashleigh5016]

Its an awesome tattoo now just started to peel

[@ExtremeMetalManiac]

How did it heal? I also have KP

[@hectorpinedo9054]

Can you talk about ink allergies? And options if you have them?

[@NsIX3]

There are so many variables when it comes to sleeve pricing, but a few grand is a good estimation. One local tattoo artist that I was gonna go with charges $7800, flat price which I thought was crazy. The guy who ended up doing mine charges $150 hourly, and I think it cost me somewhere around 4 grand CAD... I wasn't keeping track like I was planning. Was nine or ten sessions total, I'm getting my other arm done by him starting in October, can't wait.

[@Alicanto87]

Really glad i found this video since i'm currently getting a full sleeve and everytime i told someone that i pay 600€ for each session and my tattoo artist booked me 8, they all do shocked face thinking on how much money i'm going to pay and that it was really too much, making me nervous and doubtful on my choice. Hearing that some sleeves could take even 15 or more sessions is a relief. Thanks James!

[@raymonddelacruz1225]

how much does a sleeve cost 6:24

[@earlwilliams6639]

*@Anna Ilieva* If you want some great treatment options for keratosis pilaris go here now: www.MootKen. xyz I highly recommend it.

[@bomber101581]

Thank you

[@humanityfirst4246]

Hey, I don't have any tattoos but enjoy your videos.. Thanks for posting good quality videos with full of information. It helps people like me to understand the tattoo culture. Fascinating.

[@freerider8737]

Humanity First why not is my question 😑😑 get some ink

[@abluequaker5486]

Thanks so much for the section on KP. I was starting to get a bit anxious about my next tattoo which I planned on getting on my right outside bicep where I still get a little bit of KP, but I feel much better after watching this. Interesting that you mention that the skin smooths out a bit where the tattoo is, I've seen it mentioned in a couple of other places that I been reading up about KP and tattoos.

[@julio42k]

I've got my entire left arm done for around 4,700 and I've sat for about 26 hours for 3 sessions with one session left that will include touch-ups on the earlier parts of my sleeve that were done love how its turned out so far and im excited to finish it up when I schedule my next appointment

[@maricandice917]

My first tattoo was a black/gray and I worried about it being too dark too. I loved your answer to the first person's question. Your channel is amazing because you cover topics and concerns that people have in such a thoughtful and easy to understand way. Keep it up!

[@baltax1212]

My buddy has severe eczema throughout his body and even though healing is much longer in the lower body than upper body, he got tattooed on his calf and that spot never got eczema again.

[@JamesWithee]

tattooing is the new cure all for skin conditions lol

[@kjerstiva]

I also have some of those bumps on the outside of my arms and the tattoo looks fine. I was also conserned about it before but the skin actually got smoother afterwards

[@MrMetsMeeseek]

A friend of mine paid $150 for a half sleeve......he’s getting it lasered off now

[@MrMetsMeeseek]

Angel Duarte ok lou

[@ashleylaurennnx3]

thank you for answering the KP question! i want to get a sleeve but have been reluctant bc i was afraid my skin wouldn’t be smooth enough.

[@XxArjaypheonixxX]

I’m currently getting both of my arm sleeves done and maaaan you really gotta love and appreciate art to do it and be dedicated but it’s so worth it. I do find people are kinda rude about the price though. Like it’s gonna be on me forever. Of course I’m gonna pay for a good artist.

[@jghim1994]

always appreciate these no bs informative videos, thanks very much man!! also, very off topic but your skin looks really nice!

[@CAVEMANsean]

I have very mild KP I've been getting tattooed for 12 years now and every area that I had the bumps that has been tattooed over is a lot smoother now even 10 years later. I think it has to do with the tattooed skin being able to heal itself and basically start over

[@GTEARZ144]

Wow. Makes me want to get a all the tattoos I want. Do you have Instagram man ?

[@hollyodii5969]

James you add a lot to the "tattoo collector" community! Thank you.

[@pitpride1220]

Man! I finally went to your website and saw that you're in my area. I'm coming in for a consult! That never happens!

[@celitorres2144]

Thank you so much for answering my question about KP. Really appreciate the response and knowledge

[@AlbertoCavadia]

thanks for the KP answer, I've been doubting for a couple of years about me getting a tattoo just because I have mild KP

[@christoph8200]

I banged out my full sleeve in 6 months :D 4hr session every 3 weeks. Like you mentioned though, did cost a couple k but it looks AMAZING!

[@hoon_3163]

Absolutely love how informative your videos are. Been wanting to get my first tattoo for awhile I just havent come up with the time or money at the same time. But keep up the great videos absolutely love them!

[@marcusedcofficial]

I think my sleeve was around $2,400-$3,000 and that's low balling it. I'm basing that on 24 hours worth of tattooing at $100/hr. some sessions were longer and some sessions were $125 or $150/hour. It was about 6 4 hour sessions.

[@RobDaKid87]

The money and chair time is no joke. But in the end personally, totally worth it.

[@alissatewmuch]

I’m getting my sleeve today and I have kp this really helped

[@GTEARZ144]

How did it go ? The healing process and all ?

[@Nappa9000]

I'm a big fan of this Q&A kind of video. My only suggestion would be to maybe keep the question itself up on screen somewhere so it's easier for people to navigate...or remember what you're talking about if they have a bad memory lol.

[@10MinutestoRouletteFortune]

I travel to Thailand 2x a year as I'm a Buddhist. I have 2 Sak Yants, stick and poke, on my upper back below my shirt line and a 5 line on my left shoulder. In comparision, it felt like bee stings but got numb. It was a pretty cool experience as it was a blessing from a Monk. He was very well known so that made for a great experience.

[@comegetmyxlove]

I've had KP growing up my entire life! It was so bad and embarrassing to the point where my family, friends, and strangers would notice and always ask if I'm cold and if I had goosebumps. It's gotten A LOT better as I've gotten older and there are apparently lotions that help with the condition as well. From my experience, I've never had any issues and no comments made while getting tattooed and I have some work done on my arms and a leg sleeve!

[@mizo9339]

It’s great to hear from you again James, I’ve missed you! How’s everything been on your end? Hope all is well brother. Take care of yourself :)

[@JamesWithee]

what's up scorp. i'm good just same shit different toilet. tattin the tatts and running on this hampster wheel. buying a house rn. done traveling for the year so vids should be flowing properly for a while. thx for watching!

[@mizo9339]

James Withee nice brother, good luck with the house! It’s a huge step forward. I’m glad to hear you’re at that stage now. Much love bro.

[@disneydarlingx]

I’ve been watching tons of videos since I’m getting my first tattoo tomorrow, and watching your videos has made me a lot less nervous. love your videos btw

[@xeetrix2869]

Vanessa Viera-Ramirez how’d it go?

[@katmikatze]

A good way to figure out the price is by asking how much time it’s going to take. I will ask for the hourly rate and add 15-20% tip.

[@katmikatze]

I have that Kp on my legs and I’m really here for this !!!! Yes! My legs are next. Thank you.

[@garretmichael170]

I just got a realism tattoo done didn’t even finish the sleeve 1500 a session but work is amazing. Literally about 7 hours worth of tattooing 2 days in a row. And people ask me how much and they’re like damn I only payed this much for mine but theirs look like shit I just respond yea I can tell. Not trying to hate on ppl but you pay for what you get

[@foo9877]

Cool tattoos, that tiger was really nice. You did a good job with the texture of it

[@JamesWithee]

thanks!

[@trevor4081]

If you're ever in New York, try coming to buffalo. It's pretty alright here but were right next to Niagara falls its beautiful and a one of a kind thing imo. I've lived here all my life and the people here might be crazy but it's a good place. Also I wanna get tattooed by you😂

[@thebird36]

it's cold as hell here and you gotta like snow lol

[@SpookyCharms]

Anyone with KP - apply a AHA toner to the area 3 times a week working up to daily over the course of a month. Follow with moisturizer. If you find that too drying for your skin try a body wash or face wash with AHA in it like First Aid Beauty body scrub. Again, follow with moisturizer. Also works on razor burn!

[@rect7840]

We want so badly for our brand new tattoo to look awesome. I got an illustrative colour portrait done where a lot of the face was my skintone or a bit of red. With all the abuse my arm took it looked like she was completely sunburnt for like 4 weeks. Just had to keep telling myself it will soften (and it did).

[@ppnnyyy]

I always kinda assumed that the reason for black and gray tattoos looking darker at the beginnning was that the first couple of layers also get inked, but fall off during the healing process, thus becoming lighter.

[@ppnnyyy]

dug around a bit and this video is pretty helpful, lots of information I didnt have before (: kzbin.info/www/bejne/en7Yc5ycZtJ9sJI

[@freerider8737]

oh god...

[@mr.w1129]

I paid $2,250 for my sleeve. Five 4 hour sessions at $450 a session. Not including tip of course. (TIP YOUR TATTOO ARTIST!!!!)

[@freerider8737]

Justin Wade thats cheap as nice find man. $100 an hour is super good rates

[@mr.w1129]

FreeRider i live in Ohio. Everything hear is cheap. 350 for 3hrs and 450 for 4hrs is the best shop around my way, it’s the most expensive. Everything else is cheaper.

[@freerider8737]

Justin Wade fuck me the artist thats doing my chest is 200 an hour the one thats just started my sleeves is 260 an hour

[@kalekhalili8130]

It’s crazy this popped up in my feed I recently started on my half sleeve.. I’m 5 sessions in now and about $1,000 over 10 hours so far. Really,,, who knows when or what it will take til finishing it. It’s so intricate and he’s really really detailed and peoples don’t realize what it takes til they get it done. But honestly to those who gripe or complain about price... with something you’re going to have on your body for the rest of your life... you really want to play bargain hunter on it??? I mean you don’t want to get ripped off but in a sense you pay for what you get. Just make sure and do some looking up on the artists work prior and you’ll know if he’s good by what you see. It’s like if you had a heart attack and needed heart surgery. Would you go searching for the cheapest priced heart surgeon? Nope I know it’s a little different but treat it the same

[@GTEARZ144]

I have kp all over my arms. Starting my sleeve journey later today 😃 kinda nervous and excited at the same time. Appreciate this video ! 👍🏽

[@619R]

How did it go?

[@GTEARZ144]

@@619R nice and smooth

[@619R]

@@GTEARZ144 can you tell you have kp under the tattoo?

[@GTEARZ144]

@@619R depends on the lighting but I rather have a bunch of bumpy tattoos than irritated red jumpy skin

[@619R]

@@GTEARZ144 true thanks for the info 🙏🏽

[@EmptyHavok]

I appreciate you talking about kp. I have it and my artist ended up doing some dot work on me so it is pretty much not noticeable. However, the skin where the kp is worse is more sensitive for me and the pain is kinda crazy during shading lol

[@kramer1372]

Car analogy was good my friend

[@spid3rmike117]

Thanks for the info! I'm getting a sleeve soon and I'm real excited and also a lil nervous. Next Tuesday is the 1st session

[@codygallman6747]

sleeves are expensive for sure, didn’t know how much it would end up being but i love my work and don’t mind spending the extra $$ to get quality work

[@delelelele_whooop6194]

I love your thumbnails lol

[@JamesWithee]

they're definitely improving right lol

[@joyl6079]

Thanks so much for doing a video with info about kp! It's something I've been wondering about for years. Follow-up question: are there colors that look better on areas with uneven skin tone/texture like that? I'm really pale for the most part, but my upper arms have moderate kp, plus tons of freckles and generally uneven skintone. And it's almost impossible to find good reference photos online to get an idea of what it would look like if I did get tattooed there.

[@JamesWithee]

no problem. it would be tough to tell which colors would work best on you without seeing your skin in person. one piece of advice that i can give though is that if you have kp / freckles, it may be best to go with a bolder, more legible than avg style, like traditional / neotraditional / geometric / blackwork. if you have generally uneven skin tone, color is probably better overall than black and grey for you, because black and grey is translucent and the differences in your skin tone will be more apparent in that style. as always, opinions on this subject may vary if you talk to an artist in person about it and you should definitely consider their viewpoint if it contradicts mine since they will have more information than i do

[@joyl6079]

That all makes sense. Thanks so much for the advice!

[@joeym9573]

You should try and go on Ink Master

[@honestlynate7922]

My sleeve cost me about 1000.00. That was 15 years ago. Took about 4 sittings to complete

[@UntouchedDust]

Love this Q&A video as I suffer from KP as well and needed some clarity

[@CrownTheGame]

Thanks a lot. Especially for the explanation of sleeve costs. Personally I can see both sides. On the one hand I want to have at least a price range when I get tattooed by my favorite tattooer, because I'm not Elon Musk. I can't just get a Tattoo and then pay "blindfolded", I need to save money for it. On the other hand it's of course difficult to tell for the reasons you explained

[@vrushabhshah7167]

can you do a breakdown of the different styles of tattooing? There's so many that branched off of each other but I have trouble understanding the evolution/differences

[@JamesWithee]

yeah eventually i will do a full series of videos that talk about strengths and weaknesses of different styles. it's a pretty big undertaking tho so i haven't tried to touch on it yet. it's coming tho

[@vrushabhshah7167]

@@JamesWithee can't wait man. It really is a crazy amount of info so that totally makes sense

[@iCuteDuh]

Great video! I've searched for a detailed vid about KP & tattooing over it for awhile. And this is hands down the best! 👍🏾#Subbed

[@lisaw7633]

Damn I wish I was in the same city 😔. I love how he gives his opinion and advice on coloring and such

[@Smartfunnyandlazy]

I'm getting a sleeve done, traditional japanese, and I'm 2 sessions in, 8 1/2 hours (4hr and 4 1/2 hr session) , 800$ in and I have a lot more sessions to go.

[@BIIILLLLYYYY]

I would like to come check out your shop when I get out the service next fall and maybe get a tattoo from you. I live in Tucson so I could swing by on my way back from Cali.

[@raymonddelacruz1225]

can you make a video on what to look for when finding a good tattoo artist?

[@tattoodude4205]

Raymond DeLaCruz he already made one

[@resco91]

It depends on pricing, in my country you can get a great sleeve for under 1500$ - 2000$, the artists at the shop I go charge like 60$ per hour but they do work pretty fast, I'm working on a Japanese dragon piece that goes from my chest to the middle of my arm, I paid 160 $ in my first session 3 and half hours but bare in mind that in my country 160 $ represent a lot of money, there are people that have a bit over 200 $ their monthly income so getting a piece that costs over 500$ for many is novelty here Talking about Romania and the guy that is doing my piece charges like 45$/h but he is a great artist and did design the whole piece to fit my body specifically because I'm a smaller dude

[@austintx6033]

I’m the only one who feels like listening a doctor advice !! ?? I say that in a good way lol !

[@kayleep.2458]

Im starting my first tat (a sleeve) in about a week. We do know that itll take a couple grand AT LEAST by the end of all the sessions and im okay with it bc ive always wanted a sleeve. I mean, im a small girl so it might be a little less or a little more but overall i knew having such a big ass piece would have a big ass price tag to it. Its an investment. If you dont wanna put in the money/cant put in that kind of money then i would say maybe a sleeve or other big ticket work isnt for you. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@idklmaostilldontknow3592]

Do a vid on your tattoos

[@WolfeofGrey]

I got my sleeve done for around probably 1300 total. It isn't super super detailed, but only took a hand full of sessions. The shading is bomb though

[@CAVEMANsean]

Tebori seems like it depends on the person. I've heard people say it hurts less and some say it's slightly more and some say it's the worst. I'm still gonna get some though lol

[@tmccabe72]

Thanks again for a great video and insight!!👍🏾😊💜

[@IEversmann1]

I've been asking these questions to myself for a while

[@shanemcman3665]

My KP went away in my early 20s

[@MobySeniorDik]

Hey brother really loving it vids lately and I was just wondering if u could make a video and give ur thoughts on eyeball tattoos, really considering getting one of my eyes done completely black. Cheers

[@JamesWithee]

i've done eyelids, but as far as the actual eyeball, i've never done them or seen anyone doing them, although i know a few ppl who have them done. sorry, but that's one part of tattooing i know nothing about. kudos for even considering doing it tho. pretty badass and ballsy.

[@Ella.L.]

@@JamesWithee Badass? Lmfao. No - it's stupid.

[@SP.Family]

You need to come to California 😁👍👍

[@INKLALO]

Hey brother, first I was to say thank you for all the quality information, it’s very helpful for an aspiring tattoo artist. I have a couple questions. I’m 28, I’ve been drawing since I was a kid so I feel like the quality of work that I can put on paper is in the higher percentile. I practice daily and have built up a pretty strong portfolio in my style. So my question is, in your experience or from your knowledge, what is the best way to transition into an unpaid apprenticeship? Meaning, do you recommend doing the apprenticeship full time and working a side job for income, or do you think it’s smarter to stack up before the apprenticeship to be able to live off my savings until I start generating income? Or would you even recommend learning on my own and skipping the usual apprenticeship process? I’m at a point where I know what I want to do, and I’m investing all my time and focus into making this a reality for myself. I’d appreciate your opinion and thanks again for the videos.

[@kallixoxo5334]

I've never had a real tattoo but i gave myself a stick and poke yesterday and it hurt sooooooo bad. It was terrible. It looks pretty good tho.

[@champ18d]

Good tattoos aren’t cheap. Cheap tattoos aren’t good.

[@Troll_Spanker]

Ya mine after a week the greys looked purple hahahaha now its lookin fire

[@thatthatthat]

love ya videos man!

[@seanmichaels1052]

I'm getting both of my sleeves done right now. I'm paying $600 per session and the first 2 sessions tok 5 and a half hours. I'm gonna be at 6 sessions to finish both arms. A total of $3,600. I'd rather pay more and get a great tattoo the going to the WalMart for a tattoo. If its a lot cheaper than 600 per session there is a reason, the tattooist probably isn't that good.

[@DerekKlimax]

I’m older (55) what should I do to prep my skin before getting a tattoo

[@JamesWithee]

use lotion and stay out of the sun. but that applies to everyone

[@FComies]

In the same vein as the lotion comment, drinking enough water, and little to no alcohol, a few days before a tattoo helps your skin be as moisturized as possible.

[@gsmmillennialdiversity3539]

Hey man, I dig your videos! They are entertaining yet full of good insight and information. I have a super random question. Just had my 3rd session on a quarter sleeve done five days ago. My artist added some color.. got the Chicago Bean. He added some yellow/orange inside the Bean where the skyline is at to give it a sunset look, per his recommendation. I am NOT a fan of the coloring at all. Question 1#, is it easy to get it back to black/grey and remove the the coloring? Question 2, should I expect to pay his hourly rate to fix that? It wasn't what I originally wanted but don't have many tats so relied on his suggestion. Please let me know your thoughts. Overall, the whole piece still looks dope. Just not digging the coloring. Any feedback or insight would be much appreciated. Thank you!

[@gwapman9528]

Going to NYC for a half sleeve @ Sohoink by Michela Bottin , shes charging me 2500$ for 2 projects.

[@courtneygolden]

Curious about shaving etiquette.

[@arielleabelon7847]

James can you talk about the pro's and con's of being a tattoo artist?

[@JamesWithee]

Sure that's a pretty good idea for a video. I'll add it to the list

[@arielleabelon7847]

Nice! Can't wait to hear your perspective on the career 😁

[@kendrellramsey7781]

Sleeve cost and they are worth it... if you are to cheap or broke to get it... don’t come up with bull crap reasons why you didn’t get it or where you can get it for cheap. This is your body go to the best and pay the best for an excellent job. If it’s a thousand or more pay it get a great tat that you will never regret and shut up and enjoy it

[@ThisGuuuuyyy]

Since you talked about gaining and loosing weight. I’m looking at getting my first tattoo around my upper arm. I’m curious to know how much of an affect muscle growth will have on a tattoo on that area.

[@Honest-joe]

Hi, can you do a video on tattoo aftercare? I just had my first tattoo and even though my artist (who was great with me,) gave some advice, it contradicts what I've heard online a lot. Specifically, he suggested I use bapantham nappy rash creme or vasaline, yet I've heard these can both suck out the colour and cause patchy or poor healing. I've so far followed his washing instructions, but unsure about the cream I should purchase. Thanks in advance!

[@OoxB505]

Never use Vaseline! It contains petroleum jelly which clogs pores. I use coconut oil, works a treat, it’s all natural.

[@Honest-joe]

@@OoxB505 Yes I thought as much, I ended up dry healing but using a gentle moisturising body wash in the shower. It worked really well, but since it was my first tattoo (and was small and simple) I didn't really know when it had healed fully and ended up sleeping on it too soon, so now a few of the lines where most of the pressure was are blown out :( still, I like it and it's not really all that noticeable :)

[@Reamgirl95]

I'm kind of curious what your thoughts are on walk-ins and if you think it is ever ok to tattoo a walk-in who is clearly intoxicated? Also what is the best way to prepare for the day of your appointment? I.e. how important is it to eat/drink before hand, should we shave the area before hand or just let the artist do it, what happens if we have a blemish on the area we are looking to get tattooed. Also what kind of clothing is best to wear after getting tattooed? I've heard two schools of thought on this. Some say loose fitting clothes to avoid chafing and sticking, while others say that something closer to the body is better because the tattoo is less exposed to outside elements that could lead to an infection. Some people say it doesn't matter and just to keep it wrapped for a few days, but others have said keeping it wrapped for more than the first night can cause an infection based on fluid build up under the wrap.

[@Reamgirl95]

Oh, just found your video on pain and that answered the question about eating before hand.

[@rect7840]

Question regarding the need for reference images. Whenever I have went to get a tattoo the artist wants very specific reference images. I've had issues when I can describe the thing I want by talking about subject matter and art styles and such but I can't find the exact image I want on the internet. How much should I worry about getting the right reference images? Should I keep trying different artists until I find one who is willing to take on a truly original piece?

[@jns08d]

For me personally when picking an artist I go to someone that fits my style or has done similar work that I want in the past. So if you're looking for traditional Japanese art you wouldn't want to go to the guy who specializes in lettering or clocks/nautical symbols. The general rule of thumb is the more references you have the better the stencil, I always print full sheet papers of the images I want.

[@rect7840]

@@jns08d Right, but I'm talking about when I can't find an image that maps directly to what I actually want in my head. Doesn't matter that I'm at the artist whose style I want. Maybe I have just had bad luck in this area. I feel like I can't get a tattoo unless I'm just copying something else :/

[@TheCrybabyOtaku]

Informative & helpful video, got a question when should a tattooer get their tattoo re-inked

[@freerider8737]

Roy Chandler artist can get there tats touched up easily since well they work in a studio and are in the community. also it depends on the area and type of tat. finger tats get touched up heaps i have a few mates that constantly have theres touched up and ones thinking about just letting it fade away at this point