I am hoping to have my first dermal anchor soon instead of the surface piercing I would have gone for before I read up on microdermals, I wondered what people's personal experiences of dermal implants have been? Thanks, Kate

i recently got some tattoo work removed and wrote a story with pictures about it. you can check it out at www.mhough.com. i wrote it to help anyone get information or make a decision about removal. hope it helps!

Okay all, Tattoo is now finished and the pictures from all stages are now on the following web site (there are two index pages to look at as I couldn't get all the small pics on one page). Clicking on the small pics loads larger ones. [link] I would appreciate people's comments, both good and bad. Cheers Michael Michael Chappell

[link]/

Folks, I popped into Indigo Tattoo Studio in Northwich a couple of days ago to see about getting former UPB poster JP to do some work on me and it seems he's doing rather well just at the moment. He's pretty much fully booked up til September anyway, which can't be bad for him and is indeed a reasonable indication of the quality of the work he's producing these days. He wasn't actually there at the time I was there but it seems Indigo have guest artists in from time to time and a second artist in the process of relocating to work there having previously worked at a studio somewhere in deepest darkest Sheffield and still living in that neck of the woods somewhere. I'll no doubt post more about things as and when I get to have a chat with JP about the work I'd like him to do for me. It's a pretty embryonic idea just at the moment but I'm sure it'll begin to get some flesh on the bones of the idea once I've had a chat with him. Take it easy, Rusty.

Folks, I happened to be in London over the easter holiday weekend and decided that a new piercing was the order of the day. So off I went to Cold Steel in Camden who were their usual wonderful selves in terms of advice, general chit-chat, etc and I came away with a shiny (well, the jewelery was shiny anyway) new septum piercing. I'd heard one or two horror stories from friends regarding getting their septa (?) done but I can safely report that they are all a bunch of big girls blouses and it didn't hurt a bit. Getting the keeper put in afterwards (1.6mm) was a bit of a minor tug of war but hardly anything to write home about. That seems to be more down to the size of my nose given the fun I had putting the keeper back in when I accidentally knocked it out earlier today... My eyes watered a fair bit after the piercing though, I have to say! All in all - happy Rusty, happy piercing and happy Cold Steel. I wonder what I'll get done next?! Any requests?! ) Take it easy, Rusty.

Is Breed316 still the place to get custom steel from? I need a *** bar, Smartie type ends. They made my last one and quality was fine, but I'm wondering if all is still good there - UK only places. (and custom Ti would be good too for the move to 8mm) M.

(burp!) A beer's not bad either. "Beertender, a virtual round for any who're reading. Make it a double if they're not spamming sons of bitches, if you would, please!" Curt

Folks, Just curious as to what the actual regulations are regarding specifically a piercing studio these days? Do they have to be registered? Is it governed by regional or national regulations? Are there specific rules about frequency of spore testing of autoclaves? If it is actually a regional thing if anyone can offer experiences of dealing with Nottingham council that would be appreciated! Incidentally, I've googled for info and found the Local Government Act 2003 - Regulation of Cosmetic Piercing and Skin-Colouring Businesses. I'mmore interested in peoples direct experiences of what it's like to deal with in the real world more than anything and whether I'm missing any other regulations that need to be followed. [link] Cheers for your help, Rusty.

Any one know where I can get a real set of coils Ive tried them all from all the popular online stores And they just cant take it on the slower speed of colouring in they just stop Im thinking of making my own with oxygen free copper and stuff any one know where I can get the rods and ends from I have a winder and a supplier for the copper wire

Hi I'm looking for shops who sale "nipple stretchers" (online worldwide). One of these is [link] piercing jewelry nipple stretchers-p-1-c-54.html but is this all? Thx TH

Hi all, I tend to be a lurker rather than a poster on this group so you probably haven't heard of me but I'm quite excited as I'm due to get a sleeve done at the end of this month. It's going to be a pair of Koi carp in the Japanese style. I've actually been wanting to have one done for quite a few years now but never really plucked up the courage to go and have it done. It's being done by Butch from Ultimate Skin Tattoo in Leeds ([link]) and we hope to get it done in three sittings (outline, Shading and colour) so I would presume it will finally be finished in January. The first session for the outline will be October and I'm quite looking forward to it in a nervous way (although my wife has reservations about me having it done!) My last tattoos were done about 20 odd years ago and there was no after care as such; you just let it heal and the scabs came off and it was done. What's the best kind of aftercare for tattoos these days? If anyone is interested, I'd like to post a link of the results on the group. Is that okay? Michael Michael Chappell

hey, so, if folk are going to be in London this weekend, i'd kinda like to have their phone no's so that i could at least attempt to see some of you..and hey, you might like mine too? a quick show of hands and some email? see you this weekend, hopefully krys looking forward to it

Hi Guys, I need some advice here. I have now got two full sleeves (shoulder to wrsit) and I am not 100% happy with them. When I went to the tattooist first I explained what I wanted, and he seemed to know exactly, so I left it up to him. At first I loved them, but for some reason I have gone off them. The colours remain bright and the sleeves are very 'in your face'. I cover them as often as I can with a long sleeve shirt, but there is this part of me that keeps nagging that I paid for them so I should put them on display. Has anyone else had this sort of experience? I am now beginning to regret ever having them. Thanks, Paul

Well, I've done it. Said I would. Decided to be brave and just to do it. Got me megabus return ticket - all of £2.50. I'll get in about 1pm, and head on over. Got me a hotel room for the Saturday night(TBC - but apparently fine) - and not far away. Got me a day pass for the Saturday. Going home at 16:00 on the Sunday. I be going! Krys