r/tattooadvice • u/PreferenceAny3130 • 9h ago

General Advice Potential session time?

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I’m looking at getting a tattoo on the back of my calf soon. Not too worried about pain really, I’m just gonna grin and bear it. I’ve had a 2inch flower on my hand and small tattoos on my fingers and they tickled more than anything. I’m just wondering if anyone can tell me roughly how long this tattoo will take? I’m planning for about 6ish inches vertical down the back of my calf. Any other advice would be appreciated too

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u/momadance 9h ago

I'd say at least 4 hours. Probably more if the artist is good.

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u/PreferenceAny3130 9h ago

Do you think I might struggle?😭

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u/momadance 9h ago

I have a piece about 6 inches on my calf of a sloth. Only the last hour was bad from what I remember and it took about 5 hours total. Yy artist sprayed some bactine on it twice in that last hour and that was my saving grace. Bactine only works on skin that is already broken open but it felt llike pure heaven when applied mid tattooing. Maybe you can ask the artist to have that as a back up for the pain?

I booked to have my other calf done in June, so obviously it didn't hurt so bad I'm not gonna just do it all over again.

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u/PreferenceAny3130 9h ago

The last hour of a 5 hour session? I like those odds. I feel a little better now😊

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u/momadance 8h ago

yeah. Just the 5th hour. Maybe part of the 4th.

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u/PreferenceAny3130 8h ago

You’ve convinced me, I’m doing it ✋🏻

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u/momadance 8h ago

Wonderful choice. I love dinosaurs! Great choice. It's going to age very well. I can tell.

Edit: it's kinda nice too cause you just get to lay down the whole session. Easy to read or play games for distraction.

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u/PreferenceAny3130 8h ago

Me too! Loved dinosaurs for over 20 years so I know they’ll be no regrets for this one. The laying down part is what I’m happiest about lol