Photographs Archives - Nina Louise

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! In the midst of all of my deadlines and a very important final year at university, I accidentally stumbled into a tattoo parlour and booked in for a two hour session. I think the main thing holding me back, was the unknown. How much will it hurt? What if it goes wrong? What does it feel like? Will they be nice? Can I bring someone with me? I thought I would talk you through the process itself and answer as many of those questions as possible. I hope that this helps those of you that are scared or apprehensive about getting tattoos and for those of you that have been there and done that, I hope you like how mine turned out!

First things first, make sure that your blood sugar levels aren’t low on the day. The most common cause of fainting whilst getting a tattoo is because of the sudden drop in your blood sugar levels. It’s how your body naturally reacts when it feels pain so that is totally normal! My session was booked in for 1 o’clock so I had time for a proper breakfast and then I topped up on some sugary snacks and drinks whilst I was waiting. Once I arrived, my tattoo artist, Magda, sat down with me and showed me the design, which I LOVED! She printed off a few different sized templates for me to choose from and once I had made a decision, she stuck it to my ankle so that I could see where it would sit and how it would look.

I couldn’t figure out what all of the wires and the equipment was for when I first looked at it. It all looked so intimidating and I started to panic a tiny bit. I think that’s natural when you start to see all of the actual tattooing gear.

It was when I saw the bed that my nerves really kicked in. I’m sure lots of you will be thinking what’s all the fuss about, it’s just a tattoo, right? Well it was my first ever experience of getting one and it wasn’t just a small symbol either. With two hours ahead of me, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I was shaking like a leaf and I couldn’t stop fidgeting! I made the mistake of sending my Dad this photo and he kindly replied “Looks like an operating theatre…” – lovely, thanks Dad? Magda suggested that I should lie on my side so that she could easily access my ankle and my leg and so that I would be comfortable.

I climbed on and lay there shaking (pathetic I know) whilst I clung onto my pal for support – her fingers actually went purple at this point. I asked Magda to count down from three so that I knew when it would begin and so I could see what it felt like before we carried on.

Let’s talk pain. Yep, it hurts. Not all the time, but it does hurt. Some people say it does and some people say it doesn’t – I think it totally depends on where you’re getting the tattoo and the shading that your design requires. The best way that I can describe it is that it’s like a persistent, sharp cat scratch. It’s actually more of an annoyance than anything else. We’re talking claws out, get off me you little shit kind of scratching.

Some parts were more painful than others. For example, the back of my leg was really painful but the front was something I became used to after a while. Like I said, I think it totally depends on the location of your tattoo. The shading was also quite painful but again, it was bearable once I knew what to expect. When it was time for my second tattoo, I was totally fine with it and I was even disappointed when it was all over!

What does getting a tattoo feel like? My first Tattoo experience

Excuse the blotchiness and the unflattering angle but this was the finished design! When we first moved into our house, my Dad planted a Cherry Blossom tree in our garden. We had a swing set right underneath where the blossom would fall. We used to spend hours in the garden playing on the swings, particularly during the Summer. It was one of our favourite things to do! After Ben died, I knew I wanted a tattoo that represented something that we had together. I wanted something that at first glance, people wouldn’t understand, something unique and personal.

That’s when I knew I wanted Cherry Blossom. One year, whilst we were playing in the garden, we both came face to face with a bee that seemed to be leaking something all over the paving stones. I started screaming that the bee was having a wee and Ben began to howl with laughter (we were only little, hence the toilet humour) and it became one of my favourite and funniest memories!

This one was designed with my mum in mind. Every night before I went to sleep, mum would come into my room and talk to me about my day. If I was anxious or worried about something she would say the following Chinese proverb to me: “Do not fear going forward slowly; fear only to stand still.”. The words clicked with me and they began to really mean something as I got older and was able to grasp the literal meaning behind it. It continues to shape me today and it has been the most soothing of thoughts at some of the hardest times in my life.

I thought the best symbol to represent these words was a semi-colon: not quite a full-stop but a pause before continuing. I’ve been struggling with chronic anxiety and depression since childhood. There have been times when it’s been manageable and there have been times when it’s just unbearable but it’s been a huge part of my life for many years. The one thing that has remained consistent is the support from my mum. I knew that the semi-colon was also a symbol for mental health so it all began to click into place from there! Mum has always loved painting in watercolour, so I wanted to incorporate that with the proverb that she has always told me.

*UPDATE – I returned for my touch-up and I asked for a couple of small changes. Don’t get me wrong, my original tattoo was beautiful and I was really happy with it but once it had healed and I had gotten over the initial excitement of it all, I realised it wasn’t quite what I had envisioned. I had a chat with my tattoo artist and she was more than happy to include these changes in my free touch-up! I explained that I wanted something that looked like a watercolour painting, much softer and almost like you could see the water splashes and where the paint had bled. After an hour, I basically had the tattoo that I had always dreamed of.

If you compare the pictures, you’ll see how much it has changed. There’s so much more detail and the whole thing looks softer and more delicate. Moral of the story is, if you have ANY doubts about a tattoo that you’ve had done, say something! Even if you’re worried about it being an awkward conversation (a professional wouldn’t allow that anyway), it’s on you for life so it’s more than worth it just to make sure you’re happy.

Do you have any tattoos? Are you planning on getting one? Do you have any questions? Let me know in the comments! Don’t forget to follow me on my social media – come and say hey!

N xxxx

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well and that you’ve had a great week so far! I’ve been enjoying the first week in a while where I haven’t had to work on my dissertation. I literally spent all day every day over the last two weeks in the library! People must have wondered if I had anywhere else to go. Good job scanning our student cards on the barriers goes towards our attendance…Thanks to Birchbox, I had some new beauty treats to come home to after a long day at the library and that means it’s time for another review! Before I begin, I’ve included some information about what Birchbox actually is, how much is costs and all that jazz below!

Birchbox is a UK beauty subscription service that sends beauty boxes to their subscribers containing 5 goodies every month. You don’t have to worry about lifelong commitments or contracts. In fact, you can cancel anytime with a monthly subscription – no fuss whatsoever! The monthly subscription costs only £10 per month plus £2.95 P&P! You can edit your beauty profile on their site to ensure you get sent products that are suitable for your skin/hair type and personal preferences. Birchbox is so great for discovering new brands and products. I have been subscribed to Birchbox for a long time now and I stil look forward to receiving their boxes every month. I’ve gone on to buy lots of the things I’ve received because I have loved them so much. Every box you receive is beautifully packaged, some months are designed and inspired by artists and companies. I use some of the boxes to store makeup in too as they’re too pretty to throw away! If you want to try Birchbox for yourself, click here and use my referral link to get £5 off your first box!

This month’s box is all about celebrating women, which is fitting given that international Women’s Day was on Saturday! Birchbox have provided us with a selection of beauty products that can help keep us feeling fresh and glam even when life is feeling pretty hectic. This box couldn’t have come at a better time either because with all of these deadlines, it’s been easy to forget about self-care! Let’s see what’s inside shall we? RRPs correspond to full-size items at birchbox.co.uk/shop.

The Beauty Crop “You Go Girl” Bronzer Compact – in Sardinia Sand – RRP £8 (Full Size)

Apparently Spring is on it’s way but knowing the UK, the weather is bound to go in all kinds of directions before that day arrives. After getting a taste of that summer sunshine a few weeks ago, I’m more than prepared to add some colour to makeup routine! When it comes to bronzer, I’m painfully predictable, I mainly stick to Benefit’s Hoola most of the time. It’s the perfect shade for contouring on my skin tone and I just love the formula. That’s why I fell in love with this bronzer from The Beauty Crop. I was a tiny bit unsure when I first saw it but as soon as I’d done swatches, I was obsessed. I simply apply it with a big fluffy brush and voila, I look sun-kissed even if I haven’t left the library for a week!

Chella – Eyebrow Defining Gel – in Clear – RRP £15.50 (Full Size)

I can’t believe that I never used brow gels as they’re now a staple in my makeup bag! This one in particular is a new favourite of mine. It’s clear, so it’s perfect for setting your brows in place on top of powders, pencils or pomades and would also work on it’s own too. It tames and locks brow hairs into place so that they don’t budge all day! It also doesn’t give that horrible straw-like texture that some other brow gels do. I’d definitely recommend giving this a try if it’s within your budget, but it is quite pricey and this is the full size version of the product too!

Generation Clay – Detoxifying Clay Mask – RRP £28.50

This was the product that we were able to choose in advance, to be included in this month’s box. I love clay masks and I find that they offer the most benefits for my skin. This one in particular, is packed with activated charcoal to draw out any impurities, whilst hydrating and boosting the skin too! It also reduces the appearance of pores and prevents a build up of oil. Who would’ve thought that one mask could be capable of all of that within 10 minutes? I’ll let you know how I get on with this over on my Instagram, so be sure to give me a follow (@ninalouiselaw)!

Caudalie – Vinosource SOS Thirst Quenching Serum – RRP £29

I really love Caudalie’s skincare so I was really pleased to find this product in my March Birchbox! This serum is 97% natural and it’s oil free, so you don’t have to worry about feeling like an eel after you’ve applied it to your skin. Apparently, it uses the “power of grapes” (never heard that one before?) to rejuvenate and hydrate dry skin. With the stress of third year finally catching up with me, I’ve never needed a skincare saviour like this more! I can’t wait to see the difference that it makes to my skin.

BOD – Glitter Body Scrub – in Pink Salt & Coconut – RRP £4.99

I have to admit, I tend to use scrubs on my face but not so much on my body. However, the fact that it’s pink and glittery had me really keen to use it. The first thing I noticed when I tried this product, was that the glitter literally just fell off whilst I was scrubbing and the scrub itself felt quite harsh on my skin. I’m all for some exfoliation every now and again but this was really rough and I would’ve preferred something softer.

Charlotte Tilbury – Scent Of A Dream – RRP £49

I don’t know about you, but I had no idea that Charlotte Tilbury produced fragrances! This perfume features lemon, peach and black pepper, complimented by floral notes of jasmine, tuberose, violet, patchouli- and amber base notes (phew!). It’s not as sweet as the perfumes that I usually go for but it’s definitely growing on me. I probably won’t repurchase it but I’m glad I was able to try it!

Some of the items included just weren’t for me. I was excited for the scrub, but I was disappointed with how rough it felt on my skin. I was excited to try the perfume but it just wasn’t to my taste. I would have preferred a choice when it came to the fragrance, just because it’s something that really depends on an individuals’ taste and could even lead to the purchasing of the full-size product. I know I will use all of the other products, so I still feel as though I got my money’s worth to an extent. The value of the products inside the box, altogether comes to a whopping £134.99. I’d say I thoroughly enjoyed £81 of that and on any normal day, there’s no way I’d be able to spend that on products. I still think this month was good value! The subscription itself costs only £12.95 per month, which I think is more than worth it if you get to try a variety of products that you wouldn’t normally invest in! Are you subscribed to Birchbox or any other beaut boxes? Let me know in the comments. Check out last month’s Birchbox review!

Want to try Birchbox for yourself? Click here and use my referral link to get £5 off your first box! (affiliate link)