Thanksgiving Re-Post: Have a Happy and Safe Holiday!

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for many things, especially my lovely wife and two amazing daughters. You, the readers out there in the world, are also people for whom I am thankful. Mahalo, as they say in my childhood home, for visiting often.<br /> <br /> I am also thankful for the month of November, which always seems to be a slowdown month for me and Tattoosday. My posting pace slows significantly, despite still carrying a backlog of posts from the summer. Consider them my tattoo acorns that I'm saving for those cold days ahead when a tattoo sighting in New York generally means someone has removed their gloves or scarf!<br /> <br /> Stay tuned in the weeks ahead for a flurry of book reviews, just in time for the holiday shopping season and, in the mean time, enjoy this post from last Thanksgiving, slightly edited, which appeared here.<br /> <br /> Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!<br /> <br /> <i>In honor of the holiday, I am sharing this, my newest tattoo, located above my knee on my right thigh:</i><br /> <i><br /> </i><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlw_16dZUKKVyPsEn0kjTJwegdZWDX0XRuDkn1-_8zLyMGHPtn58ou3pCQ1xWBoR4QZJKL2QRBoXvL5CciOgZorfjm3rqpUnGSRDB-do4w_1az9ArvwkzCP8WO59eNRaquUPF5z2Li7c/s1600/Thanks+tattoo+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlw_16dZUKKVyPsEn0kjTJwegdZWDX0XRuDkn1-_8zLyMGHPtn58ou3pCQ1xWBoR4QZJKL2QRBoXvL5CciOgZorfjm3rqpUnGSRDB-do4w_1az9ArvwkzCP8WO59eNRaquUPF5z2Li7c/s400/Thanks+tattoo+wm.jpg" width="400" /></a><i></i></div><i><br /> </i><br /> <i>This was done at Hand of Glory in Brooklyn yesterday as part of the shop's $75 Thanksgiving Tattoo Special ... </i><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJOEHNl8uq8vV4frX_dDrEPZzKV3g68j49XueOa5KlDScGVX3OE0gUfNlUNWbnuwy2i8Oagxk41TEmlL-9DkCr2IHMNj1zfBRea9_7WOMhwSkq6lpm-QsIMDoAoWS7v01csidx3lFuK0/s1600/Troll_Skin_Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /> </a></i></div><i></i><br /> <i>For those of you just tuning in, check the pre-post here, which includes all the Thanksgiving flash designed for the occasion. I asked readers to vote on which tattoo to get, and this one sneaked out a narrow victory over the traditional Native American profile.</i><br /> <i><br /> </i><br /> <i>I like this design because it combines a lot of traditional tattoo elements and delivers an image with a sociopolitical subtext. We have the traditional American flag and handshake designs, but the added element of crossed fingers serves as a reminder that, despite apparent good intentions, there was subsequently a historical betrayal of that initial good will.</i><br /> <i><br /> </i><br /> <i>But that's just one perspective, of course, and the Thanksgiving holiday focuses on the positive in our society. The mere existence of the tattoo reminds me to be thankful, which I alluded to in my original post.</i><br /> <i><br /> </i><br /> <i>I was fortunate enough to have BJ as my artist again. He had inked my Friday the 13th tattoo last August, and I appreciate that he works quickly and concisely.</i><br /> <i><br /> </i><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJYKV7u8IyUT1WInTYw3Cixt_LUvOfH4P4ITIAuMUHfbmyzm9NGUpAMveYm1wtytqOSI7095RIewHO8Jz4ray8QjSdmgcDyGOQWun4IoYq7dmRo9XFgg_lzaBIX_ueU4LbPS39rOGQco/s1600/Brian+Faulk+At+Work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJYKV7u8IyUT1WInTYw3Cixt_LUvOfH4P4ITIAuMUHfbmyzm9NGUpAMveYm1wtytqOSI7095RIewHO8Jz4ray8QjSdmgcDyGOQWun4IoYq7dmRo9XFgg_lzaBIX_ueU4LbPS39rOGQco/s400/Brian+Faulk+At+Work.jpg" width="386" /></a></i></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>BJ at Work</i></td></tr> </tbody></table><i>It was nice, also, that this design was one of his contributions to the flash sheet, as he was kind enough to embellish slightly on the original design, and it always seems better when an artist is tattooing his or her own design. As for the idea behind it, he was trying to represent graphically a broken treaty. I'm extremely pleased with the end result.</i><br /> <i>...</i><br /> <br /> <i>I want to thank all of the readers who voted for designs, and for everyone who reads and supports the site.</i><br /> <i><br /> </i><br /> <i>And thanks again to ... BJ at Hand of Glory, and to my family, at home in Brooklyn and across the U.S., for their support</i>

Thanksgiving Re-Post: Have a Happy and Safe Holiday!

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for many things, especially my lovely wife and two amazing daughters. You, the readers out there in the wor...

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The Tattoosday Product Review: Troll Skin Aftercare

Two weeks ago, Americans celebrated Thanksgiving in a variety of ways. Most had large dinners with families, many went on a televised football binge, and others watched the Macy*s parade and/or the Philadelphia dog show on NBC. I, of course, nursed <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/11/happy-thanksgiving.html">my new Thanksgiving tattoo</a>.<br /><br />For those of you just tuning in, late November found me being thankful for the good people at <a href="http://www.skinactives.com/aboutus.aspx">SkinActives</a>, for sponsoring a little contest we had here to choose which of these tattoos that I should get inked to commemorate the holiday (and <a href="http://www.handofglorytattoo.com/">Hand of Glory’s</a> cool Thanksgiving Special).<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OB4mYGDD16U3_HysrRMTQP__7la3R-VW4v6djB18iJac_Q-7zNyHSKdhyioD6aZRPxH8P-hOyGoTy1dcHJTUe73HmCIN_fgc-6FPTTtgk9gNSVib0RAWcS1dJAioSFas9Kklug8GQAI/s1600/Brian+at+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OB4mYGDD16U3_HysrRMTQP__7la3R-VW4v6djB18iJac_Q-7zNyHSKdhyioD6aZRPxH8P-hOyGoTy1dcHJTUe73HmCIN_fgc-6FPTTtgk9gNSVib0RAWcS1dJAioSFas9Kklug8GQAI/s320/Brian+at+work.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian Faulk at Hand of Glory, Helping Me Celebrate Thanksgiving Permanently</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Why would a skin care company sponsor such an endeavor? Well, they wanted me to sample their <a href="http://www.trollskin.com/">Troll Skin Tattoo Aftercare</a> product and I suggested that the best way to do so would be to have a fresh tattoo on which to use their product. The rest, they say is history.<br /><br />Immediately after the agreement was reached, however, I had some concerns. What if Troll Skin was not something I could positively review? Into what kind of moral conundrum had I wandered? I assured myself that the Troll Skin Aftercare folks wouldn’t be sending out samples to an inkblogger if they weren’t 100% confident in their product.<br /><br />Fortunately for me, no such moral dilemma surfaced, for I found the Troll Skin product to do remarkably well. In fact, I am so pleased with it, I intend to use it for all future tattoos.<br /><br />My most recent tattoos were treated the same way. Aquaphor ointment for the first 72 hours, and then Lubriderm cream until the tattoo had fully healed. This regimen seemed to work for me, but it has its drawbacks. For example, whatever clothing you have that may cover the tattoo that has been treated with Auquaphor, bid it farewell. The spot of clothing near the tattoo absorbs the ointment and is discolored permanently. It is also a thicker, gooier substance.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-KS79996xhcC0VpZOnIhe2tQ8Ipqfj5fZObARdg7Axxj2Cy_7RhfPpV9x1rrAAmDNzs1cUKYI1oPWoqYLDv5lzKM91SyfDlZEVgGC-zBXjRMhoqz270J6bzIV9DvMmtdfkIlVDAseWc/s1600/Troll_Skin_Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-KS79996xhcC0VpZOnIhe2tQ8Ipqfj5fZObARdg7Axxj2Cy_7RhfPpV9x1rrAAmDNzs1cUKYI1oPWoqYLDv5lzKM91SyfDlZEVgGC-zBXjRMhoqz270J6bzIV9DvMmtdfkIlVDAseWc/s1600/Troll_Skin_Logo.jpg" /></a>The Troll Cream instructions indicated I could safely apply the product as part of the initial tattoo treatment. Not only did the recommendation of keeping it in the refrigerator help soothe the new tattoo upon application<br />of the cream, but it was 90% neater. No gooey mess to confront, and no clothing had to be sacrificed. This is because the product is water-based, so it absorbs better into the skin and less into the fabric around it.<br /><br />More importantly, <u>the healing process went faster than I remembered it had in the past</u>. I was starting to see the peeling process as early as Saturday, only three days after getting the tattoo. This can be attributed to ingredients like natural oils from jojoba, sesame seed, almond, and avocado, as well as sea kelp extracts, Epidermal Growth Factor and Copper Peptides. This is what it looked like a week out:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhXfgYFZcqk-vey3uE4UqCcMYDEyA81PWlAzB5dsZOXycvq3XuKbodq9Ykaf-y5Dg8J2_Lh3Y2OZew5TrUWZDS-ENWx4dGhOKOp-67lt5ImBv2AVuYJEv1sceccSdxhQEkLf_Q5cjIlY/s1600/Thanks+Tat+1+week+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhXfgYFZcqk-vey3uE4UqCcMYDEyA81PWlAzB5dsZOXycvq3XuKbodq9Ykaf-y5Dg8J2_Lh3Y2OZew5TrUWZDS-ENWx4dGhOKOp-67lt5ImBv2AVuYJEv1sceccSdxhQEkLf_Q5cjIlY/s400/Thanks+Tat+1+week+wm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One Week Old, Just a Little Scabbing Remains</td></tr></tbody></table>The piece has healed quite nicely, as can be seen from the following photo of my two-week old body art:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2liKFisKfztOQJRTh4tO9zzD-ecLfuIB30yNB-11LAa__lRk6MJnMAl_RJgW5v2w5NFcd4AONC_1eborqrlfwXIOrMOmdej2MvY88IIeyQ1QLenhbf6HjNQ23IfXQ20uE8f7Tb3LU3Wk/s1600/Thanks+Tat+2+weeks+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2liKFisKfztOQJRTh4tO9zzD-ecLfuIB30yNB-11LAa__lRk6MJnMAl_RJgW5v2w5NFcd4AONC_1eborqrlfwXIOrMOmdej2MvY88IIeyQ1QLenhbf6HjNQ23IfXQ20uE8f7Tb3LU3Wk/s400/Thanks+Tat+2+weeks+wm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 Weeks, Healed and Vibrant!</td></tr></tbody></table>Amazing that originally, the stencil looked like this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKgPkBmO9wGIp7VB-RKIh3OHo4zmp1-SviCs7GC4kQpkq9hq-mbkgK1BUymmTCv6i4omnRasuXFYdCsNhseFesHzBPYnElw3nqGAV5O6rbsOvgjwqXcrhiJMcUhXPlpod-vaizdgELV4/s1600/Stencil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFKgPkBmO9wGIp7VB-RKIh3OHo4zmp1-SviCs7GC4kQpkq9hq-mbkgK1BUymmTCv6i4omnRasuXFYdCsNhseFesHzBPYnElw3nqGAV5O6rbsOvgjwqXcrhiJMcUhXPlpod-vaizdgELV4/s400/Stencil.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I also like that the Troll Skin Aftercare cream comes in a little round tin, rather than a tube or cap-top bottle, which has the potential to open or break in transit.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-kJVYWnadmjLUG8KcI27OS36Q5_gTzMBphNXxqioMLwSdKPytyXTeEWs8XTue9DAtk1a25HmBTdefCza7ItoKYvKHn2eaXMrCyNl-glaLXmEsh38lkybOdk266qkpKB7kOElnesI0Pg/s1600/main_page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-kJVYWnadmjLUG8KcI27OS36Q5_gTzMBphNXxqioMLwSdKPytyXTeEWs8XTue9DAtk1a25HmBTdefCza7ItoKYvKHn2eaXMrCyNl-glaLXmEsh38lkybOdk266qkpKB7kOElnesI0Pg/s320/main_page.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The biggest drawback? Perhaps the price. Suggested retail is $27.50. However, considering this is a treatment for protecting a lifelong investment that can cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to obtain, it’s a veritable bargain. Consider also that my old treatment involved Aquaphor (approximately $8) and Lubriderm (also $8), you’re only paying  a little bit more, for what I deem to be a superior treatment.<br /><br />Troll Skin also comes as a serum (MSRP $14) which is recommended for post-healing for “continued skin health and to maintain the vibrancy of the artwork”.<br /><br />Readers of Tattoosday know that I don’t generally endorse products here, aside from an occasional book review. However, I would certainly recommend this product for tattoo healing. I know, I know, people are generally overprotective of their new tattoos and don’t like to change their healing regimens. Nonetheless, why not embrace a product if it’s an improvement to an old process, and why not spend a little more to protect something you will carry proudly for a lifetime?<br /><br />For more information, visit the Troll Skin website at <a href="http://www.trollskin.com/" target="_blank">www.TrollSkin.com</a> and <a href="http://www.skinactives.com/aboutus.aspx">SkinActives Scientific</a>.<br /><br /><br />Thanks again to the good people at SkinActive for their cooperation with this project!

The Tattoosday Product Review: Troll Skin Aftercare

Two weeks ago, Americans celebrated Thanksgiving in a variety of ways. Most had large dinners with families, many went on a televised footba...

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Happy Thanksgiving!

In honor of the holiday, I am sharing this, my newest tattoo, located above my knee on my right thigh:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlw_16dZUKKVyPsEn0kjTJwegdZWDX0XRuDkn1-_8zLyMGHPtn58ou3pCQ1xWBoR4QZJKL2QRBoXvL5CciOgZorfjm3rqpUnGSRDB-do4w_1az9ArvwkzCP8WO59eNRaquUPF5z2Li7c/s1600/Thanks+tattoo+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlw_16dZUKKVyPsEn0kjTJwegdZWDX0XRuDkn1-_8zLyMGHPtn58ou3pCQ1xWBoR4QZJKL2QRBoXvL5CciOgZorfjm3rqpUnGSRDB-do4w_1az9ArvwkzCP8WO59eNRaquUPF5z2Li7c/s400/Thanks+tattoo+wm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />This was done at <a href="http://www.handofglorytattoo.com/">Hand of Glory</a> in Brooklyn yesterday as part of the shop's <a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#%21/event.php?eid=171304776221493">$75 Thanksgiving Tattoo Special</a> and was sponsored by <a href="http://www.trollskin.com/">Troll Skin</a>, produced by <a href="http://www.skinactives.com/aboutus.aspx">Skin Actives Scientific</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJOEHNl8uq8vV4frX_dDrEPZzKV3g68j49XueOa5KlDScGVX3OE0gUfNlUNWbnuwy2i8Oagxk41TEmlL-9DkCr2IHMNj1zfBRea9_7WOMhwSkq6lpm-QsIMDoAoWS7v01csidx3lFuK0/s1600/Troll_Skin_Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJOEHNl8uq8vV4frX_dDrEPZzKV3g68j49XueOa5KlDScGVX3OE0gUfNlUNWbnuwy2i8Oagxk41TEmlL-9DkCr2IHMNj1zfBRea9_7WOMhwSkq6lpm-QsIMDoAoWS7v01csidx3lFuK0/s320/Troll_Skin_Logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />For those of you just tuning in, check the pre-post <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/11/great-thanksgiving-tattoo-event.html">here</a>, which includes all the Thanksgiving flash designed for the occasion. I asked readers to vote on which tattoo to get, and this one sneaked out a narrow victory over the traditional Native American profile.<br /><br />I like this design because it combines a lot of traditional tattoo elements and delivers an image with a sociopolitical subtext. We have the traditional American flag and handshake designs, but the added element of crossed fingers serves as a reminder that, despite apparent good intentions, there was subsequently a historical betrayal of that initial good will.<br /><br />But that's just one perspective, of course, and the Thanksgiving holiday focuses on the positive in our society. The mere existence of the tattoo reminds me to be thankful, which I alluded to in my original post.<br /><br />I was fortunate enough to have <a href="http://www.handofglorytattoo.com/pages/brian.html">Brian Faulk</a> as my artist again. He had inked <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/08/tattoosdays-trip-to-hand-of-glory.html">my Friday the 13th tattoo</a> last August, and I appreciate that he works quickly and concisely.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJYKV7u8IyUT1WInTYw3Cixt_LUvOfH4P4ITIAuMUHfbmyzm9NGUpAMveYm1wtytqOSI7095RIewHO8Jz4ray8QjSdmgcDyGOQWun4IoYq7dmRo9XFgg_lzaBIX_ueU4LbPS39rOGQco/s1600/Brian+Faulk+At+Work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJYKV7u8IyUT1WInTYw3Cixt_LUvOfH4P4ITIAuMUHfbmyzm9NGUpAMveYm1wtytqOSI7095RIewHO8Jz4ray8QjSdmgcDyGOQWun4IoYq7dmRo9XFgg_lzaBIX_ueU4LbPS39rOGQco/s400/Brian+Faulk+At+Work.jpg" width="386" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian Faulk at Work</td></tr></tbody></table>It was nice, also, that this design was one of his contributions to the flash sheet, as he was kind enough to embellish slightly on the original design, and it always seems better when an artist is tattooing his or her own design. As for the idea behind it, he was trying to represent graphically a broken treaty. I'm extremely pleased with the end result.<br /><br />In consideration for their sponsoring this tattoo, I will be exclusively using Skin Active's product, Troll Skin Aftercare over the next two weeks as the tattoo heals. I can already say I am pleased with the aftercare cream because it is a lot less messy than the ointment I am used to using within the first 72 hours after getting a tattoo.<br /><br />I'll report back then on how their product held up compared to the regiment I've followed in the past. <br /><br />I want to thank all of the readers who voted for designs, and for everyone who reads and supports the site.<br /><br />And thanks again to Skin Actives for helping make this tattoo possible, to Brian at Hand of Glory, and to my family, at home in Brooklyn and across the U.S., for their support

Happy Thanksgiving!

In honor of the holiday, I am sharing this, my newest tattoo, located above my knee on my right thigh: This was done at Hand of Glory in Br...

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