To tatoo or not to tatoo

Decide what you want first. Have the artist draw it on paper for you to be certain that you like it. As far as pain, pick somewhere fatty, and not bony. I picked the side of my calf and it didn't hurt much at all.

A bottle of Patrone should help lol - Ink On!

actually, any tattoo artist who agrees to tattoo someone who has been drinking should have their equipment confiscated. It thins the blood...which leads to heavier bleeding. (not to mention bad decision making)

Yep. BAD advice to drink before getting inked. Take some Tylenol beforehand instead. (not aspirin!)

I have 2 tattoos, so I am a fan. I will say that they do require maintenance. Old, faded out tattoos can look really horrible, so be prepared to get them touched up when needed.

As for the pain, the one on my shoulder felt like a sunburn and the ones behind my ear felt exactly like a bunch of little beestings. I would choose something that is meaningful to you, so you don't regret it.

I have two (hoping for a 3rd and 4th in the near future). one is on the inside of my wrist and the other is on the top of my foot. I have a high pain tolerence. The one on my foot was my first tattoo and the artist couldn't believe I sat the entire time without moving or complaining. The one on my wrist was easy compared to that.

I got my first tattoo at 25. And it took me years to figure out what I wanted and where I wanted it.

I'm about to get my second one, and it's taken me 6 years to figure out just what to get. Tattoos are permanent body markings - I don't want to regret it down the road.

It sounds like you're in the place where you know you want one, but now you need to take the time to really figure out what's meaningful to you and what you will still want down the road.

If you decide to do it...

...just make sure someone proofreads it first.

QFT! Thought this when I read the title.

I have 2. For me, they have to be meaningful. I have a gorgeous cherry blossom branch on my left foot that has a ton of meaning - I'm from the DC area, so it's a reminder of home; I had 3 family members and a friend pass away that year so the falling petals represent them; I went to Japan a few months before during cherry blossom season and it was the first big thing I've done for myself, and was in all a very healing trip; and along all those same lines, the cherry blossoms in Japan are a representation of how life is fleeting but beautiful. I did a LOT of research before I got it and found an artist whose flower tattoos look more like silk screens than tattoos, and I absolutely adore it. I've gotten tons of compliments on it, I haven't seen anyone anywhere who has anything I like more, and I'm ridiculously anal retentive about sunblock if there's any chance sunlight will hit it. 6 years later, it still looks amazing even with the light pinks. My friend told me I'd forget about the pain and tell people it wasn't that bad. I disagree - it hurt like a b**ch but for me it was worth it, and I feel like I earned it.

My other one is a book with vines on my left shoulder. I don't love it, but I didn't do as much research as with the first. Placement is a huge key. I'd love it if I'd gotten it on my side like I originally wanted but I let myself get talked into the shoulder since it doesn't change as much as women's sides. But, it is where it is and I can't exactly move it. :-P

From my experience, make sure you love what you get, make sure you get it where you want it, do your research on artists (most have profiles online you can check out), and SPEAK UP if they do a sketch you don't like. They'd want you to be happy with it forever since it'll be on you forever! And laser removal is wicked expensive.

If you can't spell the word "tattoo," I'm going to go out on a limb and say you aren't ready for one.

Remember that a tattoo is PERMANENT. It's not like something you can easily rid yourself of, like a house or a car, (I'm making a point here, people) so take your time and be dead certain about what you get and where you get it. If you're wishywashy about either of these two things, don't do it.

As much as I consider tattoos to be personal art, I don't particularly like the fact that people get tattoos simply because: it's pretty, it looks cool (or whatever is the up to date word for the same thing), everyone else is doing it. I believe tattoos should have some deep personal meaning, because, like I said, they're PERMANENT.

Take into consideration whether you want everyone and their brother to see it, or if you want to be able to cover it at times.

Think about how you might feel about having one, and whatever content you're considering, ten years from now, twenty years from now.

Don't get lettering. Just don't. Personally I've yet to see any lettering done that looks good. But if you must, double, triple, quadruple check the spelling, not just one what you supply, but what they put on your body before they start tattooing. You're going to feel like a dumbass for the rest of your life if it's wrong.

Know your artist. Don't just walk into a place and let the random person there do it. Take the time to see a portfolio, if you can, see something they'd done in person. Find out what type of tattoo they like to do, artists will do they're best work on their favourite style. If you feel remotely uncomfortable with the person, or place, don't do it.

Pain will be dependent upon the location, and the person. Anything over bone is likely to hurt a fair bit, where there's more padding, less so. I got two, I'm well padded and only part of one is over a bone. I actually enjoyed the sensation.

Yes, it is going to hurt, but how bad it will hurt depends on the location.

You will have some bleeding, but not a lot.

It is always good to pick a tattoo that could mean something important to you. Your chances of hating it in the future are less likely.

As for location, that will depend on how much you want it to be seen, if at all. Just remember, location also decides amount of pain.

if you have to ask then its a no

Do NOT get a tattoo if you have no idea what you want.

If you are serious about getting inked, you should decide what you want tattooed and where, and if in a year you still want the same thing, then go for it. The subject of the tattoo is important, but so is the placement. Do you want it easily visible? Will certain placements cause problems at work?

You should research to find a great tattoo artist. DON'T just show up at a random parlor and pick something that you think looks pretty. Find an artist whose work you really like and set up a consultation. Be willing to travel a bit if necessary. You can go in and talk to him/her about your concerns, what you'd like, etc. A good tattoo artist will be happy to answer any of your questions and show you his/her work.

The pain is not bad. Getting work done on a bonier area of your body (hip, ribs, foot, spine) is definitely more painful, but somewhere like your arm or thigh isn't as bad. To me, it felt like someone rubbing sandpaper on my skin. I bled a little bit.

I LOVE my tattoo (had it for 8 years) and am really happy that I took a long time deciding what I wanted and researching the right artist for the job. Your tattoo should be meaningful to you - it lasts forever.

I've got about 15 of them, one of them being on my neck, the most painful was on my chest

I have 4. One of mine is a work in progress but has 11 hours on it so far! And I adore it ;d

I think body art is beautiful but if your unsure, don't do itl Wait till your certain.

I got my big one to cover a large scar on my thigh and butt and it has given me the confidence to wear swimwear again as I am looking at my beautiful ink not my nasty scars.

It does sting yes, but it more like a hot pain than an ouch pain. The bit on mine that hurt most was when it got to my ribs, smarted slightly. Good luck on what you choose to do xx

If you don't know what to get, I would hold off until you find something meaningful. As far as pain goes, my sister has 2, one on her thigh and one on her ribs. According to her they weren't too painful over all but ribs hurt a bit more for her. As for me, I'm more into piercings (11). I have commitment issues.