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soc_puppetAfter the encouraging remarks on my post the other day, I decided I was definitely going to go ahead and get a henna kit. First, though, I took a suggestion of ysabet/![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ysabet, and tried a few scribbles with permanent marker (fine tip). While I'd had experience with other people and permanent marker drawings (a friend cosplaying Scar a few years back asked me to draw his tattoo on, and half of it ended up rubbing off on his shirt), I hadn't drawn on myself in quite a while.
So yesterday, I decided to lay out a few basic designs, to see how long they'd last, and get an idea of how they'd look: two on my left hand, one on my right ankle (outside). The ones on my left hand are pretty much gone today, but the one on my ankle is enduring pretty well. Granted, I did make sure to draw most of it so it wouldn't encounter friction from my sandals, and I don't take showers daily, but I'm still somewhat surprised at how long it's lasted.
Here's a couple of pictures I took:
My ankle. It's definitely not the most organized design in the world -_-a I'm going to plan it out better next time. And by better, I mean to actually plan something in the first place.
My left pointer finger. Here is a close-up, since that picture's kinda terrible. I couldn't manage to get a good picture without going into macro mode ¬_¬
The story behind this is that my boss at the toy store said if he ever got a tattoo, he wanted a ruler on his left index finger. I decided I liked the idea, so I went and applied it yesterday. I got out to four-and-a-half inches. I'm definitely going to re-do it with henna, even though it'll be a pain and a half to keep from moving my left hand for an hour or so. I think I'll also do centimeters on my thumb :Db
Trivia[l]: As I was drawing the ruler on, it occurred to me that measuring devices in such a place might be a little awkward if I ever end up giving hand jobs. 'Specially since a particular source lists a supposed average (very NSFW, possibly correct info in the flavor text). Not that it says anything about circumference, which would probably be more relevant, but...
MOVING RIGHT ALONG!
The "ring" design on my middle finger. I thought it would be too much work to go all the way around, so I just did the top and part of the sides.
More trivia[l]: My original reasons for wanting to get a tattoo was, if I ever got married, I wanted a tattoo'd ring instead of a metal one. (Ignoring, for the moment, the implications of ownership normally associated with a ring.) This was originally so I could continue to hand-whistle, since I was under the impression that gaps created by a metal ring would negate this ability (long[er] story), and had the added bonus of me not being able to take it off and lose it. (If I ever got divorced/remarried, I think I probably would've either gotten it removed, or gotten it altered.)
Anyhow, my impression was debunked with some help from my mom. She further informed me that my employer had asked a tattoo artist about the ruler-on-the-finger thing once, and had been told that fingers were just not viably tattoo-able. I have no idea whether this is valid information or not, I'm just passing on what she said. [Edit] I've since been reminded of the stereotypical biker with things like "Love" and "Hate" (or "Fish" and "Chip" for the Good Omens fans out there) tattooed on their first finger joints, so the misinformation could be something to do with joint tattooing, or that particular tattoo artist, or IDK what. Just updating.[/Edit]
Even though I found out a ring wouldn't hurt my hand-whistling ability, I was still somewhat disappointed to learn that a tattoo-ed ring was (I assume) out of the question. (This was also when it started to occur to me just how keen I am on the idea of [self] body modification. There's more, but I'm getting long-winded already.) It was here that my mind went to henna/similar alternative, which has the nice bonus of not interrupting my blood donating ability :Db
I also think it's somewhat more romantic. See, my male roommate refuses to give cut flowers to his ladyfriend, and gives her potted plants instead. His reasoning is that the flowers would wither and die within a short period of time, but potted plants were still alive, and would (hopefully) continue to grow for years to come. Similarly, a metal ring would be very permanent, but also completely un-living, and pretty much unchangeable. A henna ring, however, would need renewing once or twice a month, and the shape can change and evolve, which I feel is much better to keep in mind for a relationship.
But maybe that's just me ;)
...Wow, that got long. Next subject!
Today, following a little research (thank you for the link,inarticulate!), I went out and got a (cheap) henna kit from Barnes & Noble today ^___^ It came with a body-safe temporary [pattern transfer] pen, an instruction/info book, and 25 grams of pure henna (no PPD :Db).
My current henna plan is to keep the finger ruler, remove the ankle wings, and maybe go with something like this for my legs. It's a bit of an Avatar homage ^.^ Not sure about the "ring" yet.
I'm also thinking about my forearms. I'd love to be able to do matching arrows there, but unfortunately, they're one of my primary sites for my dermatillomania, and henna-ing over scratches and the like is a generally bad idea. Hopefully, this'll give me the incentive and motivation I need to stop (without switching back to hair-pulling, because that would be almost as bad, 'specially if I go for the eyelashes again x_x).
ysabet/ysabet, and tried a few scribbles with permanent marker (fine tip). While I'd had experience with other people and permanent marker drawings (a friend cosplaying Scar a few years back asked me to draw his tattoo on, and half of it ended up rubbing off on his shirt), I hadn't drawn on myself in quite a while.So yesterday, I decided to lay out a few basic designs, to see how long they'd last, and get an idea of how they'd look: two on my left hand, one on my right ankle (outside). The ones on my left hand are pretty much gone today, but the one on my ankle is enduring pretty well. Granted, I did make sure to draw most of it so it wouldn't encounter friction from my sandals, and I don't take showers daily, but I'm still somewhat surprised at how long it's lasted.
Here's a couple of pictures I took:
My ankle. It's definitely not the most organized design in the world -_-a I'm going to plan it out better next time. And by better, I mean to actually plan something in the first place.
My left pointer finger. Here is a close-up, since that picture's kinda terrible. I couldn't manage to get a good picture without going into macro mode ¬_¬
The story behind this is that my boss at the toy store said if he ever got a tattoo, he wanted a ruler on his left index finger. I decided I liked the idea, so I went and applied it yesterday. I got out to four-and-a-half inches. I'm definitely going to re-do it with henna, even though it'll be a pain and a half to keep from moving my left hand for an hour or so. I think I'll also do centimeters on my thumb :Db
Trivia[l]: As I was drawing the ruler on, it occurred to me that measuring devices in such a place might be a little awkward if I ever end up giving hand jobs. 'Specially since a particular source lists a supposed average (very NSFW, possibly correct info in the flavor text). Not that it says anything about circumference, which would probably be more relevant, but...
MOVING RIGHT ALONG!
The "ring" design on my middle finger. I thought it would be too much work to go all the way around, so I just did the top and part of the sides.
More trivia[l]: My original reasons for wanting to get a tattoo was, if I ever got married, I wanted a tattoo'd ring instead of a metal one. (Ignoring, for the moment, the implications of ownership normally associated with a ring.) This was originally so I could continue to hand-whistle, since I was under the impression that gaps created by a metal ring would negate this ability (long[er] story), and had the added bonus of me not being able to take it off and lose it. (If I ever got divorced/remarried, I think I probably would've either gotten it removed, or gotten it altered.)
Anyhow, my impression was debunked with some help from my mom. She further informed me that my employer had asked a tattoo artist about the ruler-on-the-finger thing once, and had been told that fingers were just not viably tattoo-able. I have no idea whether this is valid information or not, I'm just passing on what she said. [Edit] I've since been reminded of the stereotypical biker with things like "Love" and "Hate" (or "Fish" and "Chip" for the Good Omens fans out there) tattooed on their first finger joints, so the misinformation could be something to do with joint tattooing, or that particular tattoo artist, or IDK what. Just updating.[/Edit]
Even though I found out a ring wouldn't hurt my hand-whistling ability, I was still somewhat disappointed to learn that a tattoo-ed ring was (I assume) out of the question. (This was also when it started to occur to me just how keen I am on the idea of [self] body modification. There's more, but I'm getting long-winded already.) It was here that my mind went to henna/similar alternative, which has the nice bonus of not interrupting my blood donating ability :Db
I also think it's somewhat more romantic. See, my male roommate refuses to give cut flowers to his ladyfriend, and gives her potted plants instead. His reasoning is that the flowers would wither and die within a short period of time, but potted plants were still alive, and would (hopefully) continue to grow for years to come. Similarly, a metal ring would be very permanent, but also completely un-living, and pretty much unchangeable. A henna ring, however, would need renewing once or twice a month, and the shape can change and evolve, which I feel is much better to keep in mind for a relationship.
But maybe that's just me ;)
...Wow, that got long. Next subject!
Today, following a little research (thank you for the link,
inarticulate!), I went out and got a (cheap) henna kit from Barnes & Noble today ^___^ It came with a body-safe temporary [pattern transfer] pen, an instruction/info book, and 25 grams of pure henna (no PPD :Db).My current henna plan is to keep the finger ruler, remove the ankle wings, and maybe go with something like this for my legs. It's a bit of an Avatar homage ^.^ Not sure about the "ring" yet.
I'm also thinking about my forearms. I'd love to be able to do matching arrows there, but unfortunately, they're one of my primary sites for my dermatillomania, and henna-ing over scratches and the like is a generally bad idea. Hopefully, this'll give me the incentive and motivation I need to stop (without switching back to hair-pulling, because that would be almost as bad, 'specially if I go for the eyelashes again x_x).
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no subject
Date: 2009-06-13 02:52 pm (UTC)(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2009-06-13 03:44 am (UTC)Also: If by chance you ever want something very strictly temporary but with a similar effect (say, for a face mask for Halloween): try using really cheap kid's washable markers. Don't use Crayola; they have something-- oil, it feels like-- that allows them to smear much more easily than the cheapest off-brand washable markers you'll find at Wal-Mart. Seriously, I've no idea why the cheap ones work so well, but they do; I did my entire face up with knotwork at one Halloween SCA event years ago, and it washed off with skin-cream and bar soap later that night and left no trace. Fun to play with!
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2009-06-13 05:15 am (UTC)This reminds me of in highschool when I'd draw on my hand/arm with sparkly hybrid pen :D sparkly green vines up my arm was my favourite even if it did look hippy-ish.
(no subject)
From: