Backpiece question for the ladies

[Sarah]

I'll be starting a full backpiece in November, but I don't have a clue about what to wear while it's healing. Can I wear a bra? (Need to keep the girls slung while at work!) Also, any suggestions for what to wear during all those sessions would be welcome... am assuming a button-down shirt worn backwards + loose pants?

Thanks much!

[Noelle]

For the actual session I did a button down shirt and sweats. I also flew 800 miles the very next day (WOAH uncomfortable and totally not suggested). I lived in those shelf bra tank tops for my healing process, they give decent support but don't put too much pressure on the piece. Not exactly my boob holder of choice, but I wasn't being annoyed by straps and clips etc. Can be worn under regular shirts as well. You can find those just about anywhere lately, i've found gottschalks and macy's to have a decent selection of them though. You'd be nailing the end of summer sales too, probably get some good deals on them.

[Judy]

The last time, when he was working right under my bra in the back I wore a shirt of my husbands and my black gym capris, and no bra (no strap marks). The shirt was big enough he could tape it up in back and it still covered my stomach in front.

For work I had a hard time fitting into my sports bras, they're pretty tight. I had some sleep bras from when I was nursing my girls, they're really soft and not too tight, I wore them inside out (so the seams wouldn't rub my peeling skin). Not very supportive for my D cup girls but I also wore my slouchy scrubs so no one really knew. The good thing is, you're having it done in November. Depends on what size you are but you could probably get away with a couple of tank tops and a sweater.

[TS]

My regular artist has a stash of (clean) tee-shirts cut down the front or back so I usually change into one of those. I go without a bra for the first week, but I'm lucky/unlucky that way! And at night I wear a loose long or short tee to avoid scratching my skin in my sleep.

Oh, and have a great time, can't wait to see pics.

[Erin]

As everyone else mentioned a button down shirt will work fine for the tattoo process.

I wear a bra after getting my back tattooed. I usually wrap the area of my bra that will come into contact with the tattoo with saran wrap. It will keep your bra from rubbing uncomfortably on the tattoo.

[Mary]

Thanks for posting this, I'm plaaning a large piece in the future and had no clue what you were supposed to wear. I do have a decent size piece on my shoulder and I hated how bra straps felt when they rubbed against the new tattoo. So I wore just a tank with no bra and then layered a thicker zip up sweatshirt over that.

[Sarah]

Awesome. Thanks, all - very helpful. Can't wait!

[Sarah]

a bikini top works well too.
and yeah, the tank tops w/ a built in bra worked for me with my ribs. not a back piece, but i had a lot done along my bra line.

[Katie]

K....so I have about 4 sessions to complete my back piece (pics on my page)....and for the first 2 sessions so far, I have worn those shelf bra tanks for the first couple days. But I happen to have quite the "situation" as far as boob size so I canNOT go without a bra for too long before scaring people. So they have these bra extendors that you can put on your normal bra that gives you a LOT more room and you get some support. But for the very first day after, I would recommend a clean, soft tee and thats it.
For during the session, I wore a zip up sweatshirt backwards. Then you can just zip it up if you need a break (I went for almost 6 hours my first session so we had a lot of breaks)
Good Luck!!!!!

[Chris aka Creepinbean]

I dont know if you would like to do this but when my friend was doing her back she unstraped her braw and wore a jacket backwards so nothing was showing the front while everything in the back was visible for the artist. Hope that helps.

[Deborah]

As everyone has said, button or zip up shirt backwards. If no one is at the shop besides me and the artist, I have just laid a shirt/shawl down on the table.

I make sure the shirt is very baggy and my pants are very soft the day of my sit. When I'm done, I usually wear a baggy shirt or sweatshirt outside the shop without a bra home. I have used the built in bras that are softer on my back but also will wear certain sports bras that have softer straps then regular bras.

I try to schedule my appointments on a Friday evening or on the weekend so I have one day home and don't have to worry about wearing a bra, shirt or anything uncomfortable the first day.

I also have some shirts that I have cut the back in to sleep in.

My biggest problem is getting cold during the sits. I've began bringing a fleece blanket with me to wrap any area that is not being tattooed.