I’ll start this article off by saying that I indeed do have tattoos. I got my first tattoo right after I turned 18 (literally the next day) with cash I’d saved up from working as a server on weekends. To this day I feel that it has been an investment into discovering myself and expressing my individuality.
The most common answer I get from people when I ask them if they would get one, is that they can’t find the confidence to commit to one single design that will be on their skin forever. This is something I completely understand. After all, getting a tattoo removed is costly and painful, and getting it covered up limits you to certain designs and is like spending double for one piece of work. Admit it, we’ve all seen our fair share of horrendous looking tattoos (looking straight at you, meaningless tribal designs). This is enough to put most people off from the idea of getting a tattoo. But here are a few valuable points that I think could persuade you otherwise, or at least help you make a more informed decision.
- Before getting a tattoo, you need to think long and hard about why you want a tattoo. Do you want to get something to commemorate a certain event or person? Or do you just think it looks really cool? Whatever your answer, you should try to attach a personal significance (even if it is small) to the design you want to get. By doing this, you establish a deeper connection to the idea that you want to get permanently etched into your skin. This can help to solidify your choice or avert complete disaster, like your friend Todd who has his ex-girlfriend’s name in bold on his ass.
- Spend a lot of time doing research on styles, designs and artists that you find pleasing. The more time you spend designing your tattoo in your head, the better the end product is bound to be. Play around with different ideas and really see what works for you. Since my first tattoo was a piece of writing, I asked my brother to write the words I wanted to get on various areas of my body where I was considering getting it. Lots of fun explaining that scenario to my mother.
- Lastly, and I can’t stress this enough, is that you get what you pay for. Tattoos have become a variable form of art and as such, a certain price tag also accompanies quality work. If you’ve made up your mind about your design, save up enough cash to get it done by an artist who specializes in the style you’re interested in. Nearly all tattoo artists have examples of work up on the internet, so take to instagram and get profile stalking. Planning your dream piece methodically and shelling out the necessary funds for it will pay off in the end.
I see my tattoos as a kind of road map to where I’ve been in my life. By looking at each separate piece, I can recall memories of when and where I was in my life when I got it. It’s a good way for me to reminisce about memories and also to keep track of where I’m heading in my life. As I said at the start of this post, it’s a unique way of expressing yourself. It’s an accessory that’s been custom tailored just for you and that’s something that’s becoming rarer in today’s world.
Finally, keep in mind the positioning of your new ink. If you’re in a field of work where tattoos aren’t as accepted yet, get your work somewhere on your body where it can be easily hidden by clothing. There’s a reason neck tattoos are affectionately referred to as “job-stoppers”. Tattoos are becoming more and more commonplace in our daily life, but there will always be a significant amount of judgement passed (good or bad) on people with tattoos.
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