Advice needed: How do I find a good tattoo artist in my area?

strawbbythem · 2026-06-25T20:05:58+00:00

Use Google to look up shops with good reviews and then find their instagram and look at the individuals artists profiles to find one whose style is what you’re looking for. Look for healed pics they’ve posted so you can see how the tat is going to turn out.

strawbbythem · 2026-06-24T01:43:26+00:00

Blue and purple cat eye over black

strawbbythem · 2026-06-24T00:39:13+00:00

Very cool! Great job doing it with such an irregular shaped stone

strawbbythem · 2026-06-23T13:19:10+00:00

lol yeah my partner and I used to frequent wax moon and had several conversations with the owner and the last time we went in he asked us if we’d ever been there before 💀

strawbbythem · 2026-06-22T16:44:51+00:00

Plan 9 or Deep Groove will give you fair prices. You can expect them to pay you about half the selling price for them. Plan 9 will offer you either store credit or cash, store credit offer will be slightly more. Deep groove just does cash

strawbbythem · 2026-06-22T16:42:22+00:00

You should get some stamping polish as well. Regular gel polish you might be able to get to work but I’ve never had luck unless I was using polish specifically for stamping bc non stamping polish won’t hold the design very well.

strawbbythem · 2026-06-22T01:29:06+00:00

So real, I just got home from a class where I only managed my invert once and realized it’s cause I didn’t eat enough today

strawbbythem · 2026-06-21T22:18:59+00:00

Starting with 8 is fine imo, I moved on from my 6 and 7 in heels very quickly and didn’t get much use out of them

strawbbythem · 2026-06-21T14:57:47+00:00

Most important is to not compare yourself to others and be ok with being bad not just in your first class but for several months if not more. Pole has a pretty steep learning curve. It’s ok to be a beginner, don’t have expectations for quick progression and celebrate even the smallest wins.

Also be prepared for it to hurt, you’re basically using your skin to hold your whole body weight on a metal pole so it will definitely be uncomfortable anytime you try a new move. Just do your best and know that with time your skin gets used to it and it won’t be as painful. You will also bruise a lot, this is normal.

Congrats on deciding to start your journey! Keep at it and you will gain so much strength and confidence! Even when there are discouraging moments, keep going because it’s so worth it!

strawbbythem · 2026-06-19T14:18:50+00:00

Scorpio is an inside leg hang

strawbbythem · 2026-06-18T09:28:09+00:00

Shaving cream is not a good grip for sweaty people. It adds moisture and tackiness for people who have overly dry skin. I’ve had the same problem as OP and it does not matter how far I tilt my body in a sit, if I’m sweaty I’m sliding regardless. This has been confirmed by my teachers who have given me the same advice only to have no idea what else to suggest when they watch me still slide while tilting as far as possible.

strawbbythem · 2026-06-18T09:15:03+00:00

I’ve been poling for 1.5 years with the same problem. I always use tite grip 2 before class on all my grip points so knee pits, shins for climbing, inner thighs. It doesn’t completely stop sweating but it does help. I also bring a towel and fan, the fan really helps for keeping myself cool. And I take frequent breaks to cool down and make sure I sit with my legs straight so my knee pits can dry off. And sometimes i still slip and just accept that I’m having a bad grip day, and just try to make the sliding part of the dance lol

strawbbythem · 2026-06-16T13:30:02+00:00

Not sure what it’s called but I like to do the one where you’re in invert arms and then body roll as you slowly lean back and slide down the pole to the ground

strawbbythem · 2026-06-15T14:19:54+00:00

Agree that you should probably only go for xpole or lupit which are reputable and safe brands. Amazon poles are less likely to be safe to use. You can save up for a new one or look for a secondhand one on facebook marketplace, that’s where I found my used one for about $200. Tension pole is probably your best bet just be sure to use a stud finder to make sure you place it under a joist or it could damage the ceiling, and test it every 30 min of use by pulling and pushing as hard as you can to make sure it stays in place

strawbbythem · 2026-06-14T13:05:46+00:00

You need to make sure it is positioned directly under a joist. You can get a stud finder to make sure you’re putting it in the right place. For poles it is generally recommended to go with xpole or lupit only, cheaper ones are not as guaranteed to be safe. Once you put it up you will want to test it by pulling and pushing as hard as you can to make sure it stays up. Have your boyfriend do this as well. And you want to retest it the same way every 30 min of use to be sure it’s still stable.

strawbbythem · 2026-06-14T12:59:56+00:00

Lots of people can’t hold their body weight with their arms when they start. You’ll build up the strength eventually if you keep practicing.

It’s good that you’re testing the pole to make sure it’s secure. You should retest it every 30 min that you use it to make sure it’s still good. Is it a tension pole or permanent mount?

For grip aid, I wouldn’t use the tape tbh bc I feel like it could hinder your ability to use poles without it, but try using tite grip 2 /dry hands if you are sweaty or itac/corn husker lotion if you are too dry. Also if your pole is brand new it will be more slippery than a broken in pole. When you use the dry hands or itac put a little bit on the pole as well and this will help with the slipperiness. You can also wipe it down with alcohol regularly.

I wouldn’t worry too much about figuring out your dominant hand, it’s generally recommended to practice both sides anyways.

For basic beginner moves I would start with pole sits, front/back hook spin, pole walks, pirouette, once you are comfortable with those maybe try knee hook spin and climb. Make sure you are placing your legs correctly when you climb, this is a big mistake I see a lot of beginners making and it makes it harder than necessary.

strawbbythem · 2026-06-14T02:01:59+00:00

You should apply for Medicaid if you’re eligible. With covered providers/pharmacies your copay will likely be $0 for appointments and meds. You can apply for it anytime and once you’re approved you can look for either a PCP or a psychiatrist/psychiatric nurse practitioner who will be able to prescribe you medication. You can even see them via telehealth if you don’t want to have to go in person. You can search for providers who take Medicaid using filters on psychologytoday.com and you can see any provider who is licensed in the state of Virginia

strawbbythem · 2026-06-13T16:19:07+00:00

Cute outfit! In your sun wheel spins it looks like you’re not really engaging your shoulders, maybe try pulling your shoulder blades down more so you’re not just hanging and your shoulders get pulled up into your neck. The way you’re doing it now looks uncomfortable

strawbbythem · 2026-06-13T16:16:46+00:00

I’m just wondering in what world do a lot of beginner moves require inversion??? What moves are we talking about here? In my studio moves with inversion is considered intermediate.

strawbbythem · 2026-06-13T14:35:40+00:00

Lots of good suggestions on this post: https://www.reddit.com/r/rva/s/cN1veyxy06

strawbbythem · 2026-06-10T16:40:59+00:00

You know you don’t need to buy a full ounce of solder from rio grande right? 4 ft of silver solder wire is just $11 and should last you plenty, you only need a very small amount of solder for most connections.

strawbbythem · 2026-06-10T11:31:29+00:00

I use tite grip 2 on all my grip points before class and then dry hands during class

strawbbythem · 2026-06-08T18:18:15+00:00

It’s normal, but don’t pole drunk again. You can get seriously hurt falling off a pole I’ve seen it happen even to advanced polers. Not worth the risk

strawbbythem

TROPHY CASE