Dear Dave,

Tomorrow's my birthday and to mark the occasion I'm thinking of finally getting my first tattoo. I've spent years trying psyching myself to getting one and figuring out what I want to get, and now I need to find somewhere reputable to get it done.

Can you recommend a good salon to go to? I'm going to be in London to get it and don't mind how much it costs so paying over the odds isn't a problem as long as it's done well.

Also, I plan to go to Ibiza in months time - will it be healed fully and, do you know of any other tips to help it heal as being Irish I have stupidly sensitive skin?

All my tats are covered. The one I'm getting in a couple of weeks is over the shoulder and half down my arm.

See I don't like tattoos on girls shoulders/ upper arms or lower backs, I don't want it on my neck and I think having a tattoo of headphones on my stomach would look ridiculous.

I don't particularly want it on show all the time as it is supposed to be personal, but I would like people to be able to see it sometimes. I think the inner wrist does that ok...

It's ok for guys on your arms, because at work you wouldn't notice anyway, but girls hardly ever have long sleeved office wear. Especially in the summer.

I think it's a brave thing to do Bex. I'm far too fickle to ever get one.

Oooooooooh. Inner. I see. And you can always wear a watch.

See I have that problem too - always change my mind about things, but I've wanted a tattoo for a long time and have thought about the headphone thing for a good 8 months now.

I think I'm going through my rebellious stage now, want to get my tongue pierced in the next couple of weeks also...

See, that sounds like you've been pretty sensible about it all.


Hahah when I was 18 I got my nose done for same reason. Feels all rather tame now. lol

You know how painful it is for the wrist? I'm getting my daughters name down my inner arm as well, I contemplated the wrist but it's the worst.

The thing is, it will hurt, but once it's done you instantly want another.

I've heard it's really painful being that it's right on the bone!


I've been warned they are really addictive, my house mate has 7 tattoos and had 14 piercings but aside from the headphone design, I can't think of anything that I would want permanently on my skin. Least when I'm 60 odd and see the tattoo, I'll be reminded of gigs I've done and how it made me feel, parties I've thrown etc..

How many have you got Stew??

you can try..

I've got three. But I'm getting two more in the next couple of weeks and one more small one in a couple of years. Getting the tribal design on my arm/shoulder, then Soph's name, and the last which will be when I get married. I'll be getting Don's on my finger under the wedding ring.

i had my bridge done and all up my ears and a 14ml tunnel in one of my lobes when i was 17/18

Loads of people in Brighton have that. No offence Rob, but it's fucking hideous.

i thought it looked rather dappa lol, ain't got no piercings anymore or tattoos, and the only thing i would get done is a half sleeve of flowers up my left arm.

My little sister has got one on her inner wrist and one on the back of the neck she described the back of the neg as someone dragging hot razor blades through her skin and the wrist as someone tickling her with the end of a compass.

Bex a lot of people up north have got tattoos on their wrist now its getting to be the new lower back thing not sure if that will affect your decision as I know my sister got it there because whe thought it was quite rare?????

I want my first tattoo aswel I have designed it, it is just 3 simple coloured stars with a dot trail I want it behind my left ear but I'm scared and I've given birth lol.

I'd love to get a full sleeve, but I think I'd find it more fun researching and designing it than actually biting the bullet on the tat. It's a bit cliche, but I love the ones Angelina Jolie's got. That type was rather unique for the time. You can go to actual monasteries in Thailand and the like and get bamboo ones done, but they're not so hot on hygiene.

Very manly hun!

did i really come across as someone who cares about coming across as manly bex?

See that sounds like something I would be able to put up with, I have a pretty high pain threshold anyway.


No it won't effect it, as I really don't know where else I would want one, but I do hope it doesn't come too common.


That my dear, is going to hurt!!

Wish Jordan hadn't been banned, I remember him talking about a great tattoo place in London a while back in a thread!

ill find out from my ex the name of the place in camden bex.. she's had loadsa tattoos done an reckons this place was the best.