Due to my absurdly low pain tolerance, getting a tattoo was always one of those things I thought I could never handle. Still, I'd tell people that if I ever got one, it would have to be an octopus. In college, I read an article in the feminist journal Differences about the sailor-devouring octopus in Victor Hugo's Toilers of the Sea and how it represented the power of the vagin*. What an empowering image, I thought — for someone with less sensitive skin.
Four years later, I met Sue Jeiven, a tattoo artist at Brooklyn's East River Tattoo who customizes all her drawings. She described covering a man's arms in whales before he left his job as a scientist to become a sailor. Since I was in the process of moving out of my apartment to become a digital nomad, his story inspired me. Before I knew it, I was blurting out, "could you do an octopus?"
By that point, the pain didn't matter. I needed that octopus on my body. That tattoo represented breaking free from my old inhibited personality and buttoned-up lifestyle and becoming a force of nature like that creature. So, last December, I booked a consultation with Sue.
Despite all the thought I gave to the design, I didn't give much to the process itself, other than googling "how to make tattoos less painful." Throughout the experience, though, I learned a lot more. Here are some things I discovered – and probably should've learned earlier.
1. You should have a connection with your tattoo artist.
You two are co-creating something that'll be on your body forever, so it's okay to be selective. In fact, you should be. A good tattoo artist won't just discuss the technical stuff. They'll have a conversation to understand your personality, your concerns, and what design fits you. Sue and I talked about all the changes going on in my life, and I can see them reflected in the wildness of my octopus, which makes me love it even more. She recommends paying attention to little things like how smoothly the appointment scheduling process goes and how friendly the person who greets you in the shop is. Many tattoo artists will offer consultations before you get your tattoo, so take advantage of that. Make sure you're comfortable asking questions and voicing what you want.
2. You may regret sacrificing design for comfort.
I initially considered switching to a simpler design, like just a few lines in an octopus shape, but Sue encouraged me to tell her exactly what was in my heart before bringing in logistical considerations. I described a fierce-looking animal with its tentacles wrapped around a ship's sails. Once I articulated that vision, I knew a few lines wouldn't do. If you don't have a clear idea of what you want, Sue recommends going with something simple to minimize pain your first time. But if you feel strongly about a design, don't compromise it. In hindsight, most people don't regret putting up with extra pain for a design they love. They regret getting tattoos they don't love to save themselves a few minutes of pain. Plus, you can drastically reduce the pain (more on that later).
