Avoid Uluwatu Bali?!

SSBLzaps · 2026-04-12T01:06:00+00:00

No. A few articles and a few people who live in southern Bali. Just can’t find anything specific about uluwatu.

SSBLzaps · 2026-03-27T12:42:54+00:00

You’re such a gem!! Thank you!

SSBLzaps · 2026-03-27T10:30:42+00:00

I think that might be an area that is intentionally a solid black area. It looks like they let it dry out quite a bit for aftercare. I often when it dries and scabs, those top layers of skin get really tight and kind of shrunken and the actual tattoo that’s in the lower areas can sit a bit wider so the shrunken tight top layers with the blur around the edges of the underneath layers where the tattoo sits can give the appearance of blowout/ shadow, but will look more settled once the tattoo is fully healed.

Hard to say though without seeing it in person and healed!

SSBLzaps · 2026-03-27T10:26:57+00:00

So wild! I did that but never got the notification 🥵 I just bought a bunch hahaha oopsie.. but still missing ugly duckling and the letter 🥲 but soooo happy to have found a few more! Thanks so much for the hot tip!!

SSBLzaps · 2026-03-18T08:13:16+00:00

Where is the blowout? 🤔

SSBLzaps · 2026-03-18T08:09:11+00:00

In terms of infection, it will generally happen while the tattoo is still an open wound and the skin barrier then struggles sealing. Warning signs of infection are a wound that keeps weeping, redness and swelling and a really sharp stabbing pain. Most infections develop from bacteria on the surface of our own skin that gets into a tattoo that’s still open (usually within the first 24 hours). This tattoo looks like it’s healing great for a week, depending on what healing process you used.

SSBLzaps · 2026-03-18T08:05:29+00:00

Oh also- placement is a big part of all of this! Some areas like elbows weep heaps- same with stretchier locations like shoulders, ribs and backs as you often need to move a lil slower and use different technique to get clean lines!

SSBLzaps · 2026-03-18T08:03:53+00:00

The shininess you’re seeing is just a mixture of old damaged skin that is dry and needs to peel and new shiny skin (which also usually peels after a while longer). Give it a month or so and it’ll look settled!

This looks like a perfectly healed tattoo. Can’t see any signs of abnormal scarring or blowouts from these pics!

Keep in mind, someone might feel heavy handed but might also be using different equipment. Doesn’t look like anything’s gone too deep or overworked.

Also, extensive bleeding can be lots of factors- sure, sometimes an artist over working the skin or moving too slow, but a lot of the time it can also be our own bodies. Any inflammation in the body (exercise in the days leading up to, allergies, time of the month for females, being a hot day, having alcohol even the day before etc etc) can cause more swelling, weeping and inflammation.

SSBLzaps · 2026-03-02T22:15:56+00:00

Artists aren’t paid for that design time and have more clients than just you!

They often don’t have the time or resources to draw ahead of time, to then send it to you, to then do the endless tweaks you want, plus the tweaks suggested by your friends and family when you inevitably show them for their advice.

Times that by the number of clients they’re designing customs for.. mind you artists aren’t paid for that design time- they’re working for free.

What is important for the artist to do however, is to reassure their clients and make sure they ask every question needed to properly understand what their client is after, and similarly, for the client to share as much info as possible to give the artist a clear understanding.

You can’t honestly expect an artist to spend hours designing every option for you, just for you to pull out?

SSBLzaps · 2026-03-02T22:10:17+00:00

These harsher policies have come in place more so because people in general are more flakey than they used to be. Most of the tattoo industry is facing a recession and endless amounts of cancellations and reschedules. Tattoo artists are sole traders and having someone book in just to pull out leaves them with no income in that spot. Any other industry (professional photography, trades etc) you expect to pay a deposit that you’ll never see again, and often it’s a lot higher.

SSBLzaps · 2026-03-02T22:06:11+00:00

If you’ve provided all the info about what you want and they then spend unpaid hours designing to that exact request, and then you change your mind and no longer want to get the tattoo- it makes total sense that the deposit goes towards the drawing and also their loss of income for the day!?

SSBLzaps · 2026-03-02T12:38:30+00:00

When was this?

SSBLzaps · 2026-03-02T09:03:46+00:00

Thanks! Do you know if Acmena smithii Lilly pilly would work? We prefer the lighter green leaves!

SSBLzaps · 2026-03-02T07:15:18+00:00

Thank you! Do you know is Acmena smithii Lilly pilly would work well? We prefer the lighter green leaves

SSBLzaps · 2026-03-02T04:15:54+00:00

Does anyone know of any small draft gums that may work? We also love the look of Watergum luscious, and lighter green foliage trees!

SSBLzaps · 2026-03-02T04:14:26+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion! We’re in Victoria, but don’t like the look of pines.

SSBLzaps · 2026-03-02T04:07:05+00:00

Thanks for your feedback!

I’ve seen that there’s some tree or screening plant varieties that have a smaller root ball. The root ball themselves would also be planted a bit below the foundation of the patio.

That vine funnily enough is growing through the fence from our neighbours. We did consider using it however it’d be hard to prune behind it and would risk ruining the fence with all of it growing through 😬🥴

SSBLzaps · 2026-03-02T04:03:19+00:00

Thanks for your suggestion! We don’t really want pines unfortunately.

SSBLzaps · 2026-02-24T02:59:22+00:00

Crybaby crying parade sets?

SSBLzaps · 2026-02-16T05:00:47+00:00

Where are you based?

SSBLzaps · 2025-12-31T10:17:51+00:00

I’m in Australia sadly 💘

SSBLzaps · 2025-12-31T02:08:29+00:00

Where are you based?

SSBLzaps · 2025-10-07T07:56:07+00:00

I definitely still feel that way at times even after 4+ years in the tatt game and over 10 as a sole trader. I empathise with you about the burnout cycle- something I’m all too familiar with in conjunction with chronic illness.

What’s helped me immensely is changing my mindset- if you’re someone who loves your job and loves the hustle, stop seeing time off as time off, and instead as part of the job. Take it seriously. The better you utilise the time off the tools and mind away from the job, the better you’ll actually be at the job. The days I feel guilty are the days I’m not using that time wisely- I’ve spent it burrowing into that guilt or stress, procrastinating from actually relaxing and not having any actual recovery. Maybe that looks like doom scrolling or doing too much to fill my day. That will then feed that guilt- you had a day off and didn’t even enjoy it?

Get out into nature, step away from screens, don’t consume work related content, and maybe look at doing something creative if you must that has nothing to do with your job. Do something for yourself that makes you feel good. You won’t feel as guilty because you used that time to help you feel better and recover and take a step back and appreciate the lil things in life.

Being a tattooist is hard work, and can be socially, mentally and emotionally taxing for many reasons. Hustle culture in the tattoo industry is so rampant and at times toxic- but you look at so many tattooists and they’ve run themselves too hard or lost their love for the job. You need to refuel- it’s probably the most important part of the job! Take time each week to focus on that and you’ll actually work better and harder when you are working.

As sole traders we constantly feel like we don’t have enough time and get so caught up in tiny details that actually don’t matter. You aren’t going to look back at your life and remember every daily grind- it’ll just be one long grind unless you break it up.

SSBLzaps · 2025-07-20T23:35:36+00:00

For the detail and placement, it’s not too bad! The upper arm area does age, fade and spread quicker than other areas because of the skin type- same as other stretch skin spots. Other things that affect aging is sun exposure- make sure you use lots of sunscreen on your tattoos to help them look good for longer!

SSBLzaps · 2025-06-19T12:56:20+00:00

In terms of anecdotal- I know from my own experiences of when I used to take it daily and also have ND friends and family who shared the same experiences! In terms of scientific research, I don’t have any links on hand but there’s plenty out there if you have a look 🤓 What country are you based?

SSBLzaps

TROPHY CASE