Tattoo Dilemma

This has to be a personal choice and not something your friend will understand espicaly with your choice of tatt.... I surgest you get a henna tatt and see how much you like it

I think you should ask for a temp tat where you want it and wear it for a week or so, then decide.

the tattoo (and meaning) is for you - and you alone. I have been planning to get another to commemorate the end of my Phd - my design idea is a bit out there, and most of those I've told think its silly and/or lame - but in the end, I will still get it since it is cool in my head, and in the end, that's the only person who matters ;-)

I got two very small, not-very-visible tattoos when I was 20. One is on the inside part of my heel (usually covered by a shoe, unless I wear flip-flops). The other is right on my hip bone. One is a daisy and the other is a floral/vine pattern. The daisy is as small as a dime. The floral/vine is also small - about the size of a half dollar. I've made it to 39 years old with most people having NO IDEA I have tattoos. Even some of my family (parents and siblings) have never noticed/seen them.

And you know what... I totally regret getting them. I wish they weren't there. If they were any bigger/more visible, I would probably spend the money to have them lasered off. They seemed like a good idea when I went to the tattoo shop with my sorority sisters in college, but it turned out to be a silly mistake. There were five of us who got tattoos that day, and four of us really wish we hadn't. We joke about what a bad idea it turned out to be.

Of course, not everyone goes on to regret getting a tattoo. Just my personal experience... :-)

If you want one, and it sounds like you've thought about it a long time, and even decided what you want, go for it! I was in my 30's before I got my first one. Mostly cuz of my parents! lol I know how they feel about it, esp' a woman! AND their daughter!! <gasp> :-) But I got it, it's a Pegasus about 2 inches on my right shoulder. Easily hid with most outfits! I love it, still love it (even though he's faded & needs to be redone) Your BF has her opinions & she's entitled. I'm not a fan of a female having tat's on her arm, but if that's what you want. My only thought was, when I was placing mine was, what if I was dressed up? Would it look hokey? Then I also thought, psht... when do I every get THAT dressed up?? Well, I'm in a wedding & guess what, we're wearing off the shoulder dresses! I asked the bride if she was offended or anything, she was fine, said, "it's you!" :-) So, think long & hard (which you have by the sounds of things) then go for it. My second tat is a paw print in memory of my first shepherd. That one is visible with a tank top on, he got it over a bit to far, but it's cool. I still want to get a couple more, all in places not visible unless by invitation! But I have a blood condition, so I have to see if they will even do it. One is waiting for my weight lose goal to hit, then I'm heading in! :-) Good luck with your decision.

It's a personal decision. I think the only way you would regret it, would be if you allowed some one else to influence your decision.

Let me know when you open the bar. I'm so there.

When I decided I wanted mine I waited FOUR YEARS to get it, just to make sure I wasn't going through a phase. I still love it!

Decisions like this are indeed highly personal. The fact that you have turned not only to your best friend but to virtual strangers for approval and opinions might give you pause for thought in itself. If you're not sure you want a tattoo, or THIS tattoo, and I mean REALLY REALLY sure, then you're not ready to go under the needle. No sin in that.

We are approaching the perfect time of year for what I consider the litmus test. You ready for this? Take yourself to the beach. Look at older people who have tattoos. It's easier to do at the beach because there's less clothing covering things up. But if the beach isn't convenient, figure another place to look. Consider that in 30-40 years your skin will look much the same as theirs. Factor in your diet and the way your body is going to change in the coming year and ask yourself, do you really want to get tattooed now, when you aren't sure where your skin is going to shrink and where it won't? If it were me, I'd at least want to wait until I got to my goal weight (it would be a sweet reward if you knew for sure you wanted to go that route.)

Now here's my confession. A few years ago I lost a LOT of weight. It was close to my 40th birthday and I thought a tattoo would be a great way to celebrate. I considered how tattoos age and decided to get something small in a place where most people wouldn't see it. And then I turned my mind to designs. I'm an artist. This wouldn't be hard, would it? But it was. After a year of trying I could not settle on piece of artwork I felt strongly enough about that I wanted it permanently applied to my skin. I was deeply disappointed, because I had really been looking forward to getting a tattoo. (How silly is that?) Then my best friend told me something kind of funny, she said "I'm not surprised, you've also never put a bumper sticker on your car, even when we were kids." so if everything else you've read hasn't helped you answer the tattoo or no tattoo question, maybe you should look at the back of your car and see if you're the kind of person who needs to put a message out there for everyone on the planet to see.

I love how you've compared yourself to Sailor Moon. She is awesome! I used to try doing my hair like her when I was younger as I too had very long blonde hair!
Don't let the opinions of others sway your decision. It's always a good idea to have a tattoo done in a place that can easily be covered but I think it's a beautiful idea. If you get this done i'd LOVE to see the end result!
Serena ftw xx

My advice is to make sure you really know the artist and preview their previous work. Also, I know you will be excited but really take the time to look at the placement and size.

I have one tatoo and it is on my lowerback.. It is rather large. I waited until I was thirty to get mine. It was after my grandmother passed away and it is a tribute to her and some advice that she gave me. It means a great deal to me.

However, I didn't want it as big as it is and I was so nervous and excited at the same time. If I would have taken a moment and a breath, to really take a look at the outline and placement, I would have realilzed it was much bigger than I wanted. That is my only regret with the tat. I want another one.. just not sure where, when or what.. = )

My 1st tattoo was of Kermit the Frog... my favorite of all time. He was (and still is) my favorite child hood memory. I don't care what anyone else says or thinks about it because it's between me and the Frog! Get what YOU want, don't worry about what anyone else thinks. If they don't like it there's a good chance their just jealous cause your idea is better than their idea... you're not asking them to get the tattoo so their opinion shouldn't matter. I have 7 tattoos ( I know it's not a lot especially since my hubby is covered) but 2 of them are things that I've always been attached to (pun not intended) and the other 5 are ones that I just walked in and said... hey I like that or hey, that's pretty or hey... draw something up for me... I want something here, whatcha got? A tattoo represents you... no one else. Be confident in your own decisions.

Take yourself to the beach. Look at older people who have tattoos. It's easier to do at the beach because there's less clothing covering things up.

maybe you should look at the back of your car and see if you're the kind of person who needs to put a message out there for everyone on the planet to see.

really i dont give a rats behind what people think of me..and if i dont now, i certainly wont when i'm 80.

and i cant stand this whole idea that people think we get tattoos to show off, or send a 'message'..really what message is a sailor moon tat saying? most people have tattoos today, so its not like its being anti establishment or anything..its the norm today, not the rebel ideal you think it is.

>really i dont give a rats behind what people think of me..and if i dont now, i certainly wont when i'm 80.

Maybe not - but just as bodyweight and form changes over time, so does how we think of things. I know I view a lot of things differently now than I did even five years ago.

As far as the tatts go, I'd say wait until the decision comes. Resist the urge to grab something off the flash on the walls of a parlour (most tattooists I know would agree with me there, even though it probably brings in a bunch of Friday night beer bucks) and really think about it.

I was in a position where I'd pretty much decided I was going to get one - I had a design I'd been working on, I'd researched it all, I'd chosen the artist I was going to use, based on their design history and interests, etc... and then it Just Didn't Feel Right. I realised I'd been sort of influenced by a lot of other people in the circles I moved in, and that I perhaps wasn't getting it because I wanted it - so I held fire, and finally decided I didn't need it after all. I still like the art, but prefer it on my wall than on my arms. But it took me a while to realise that - and I certainly know that had I had the work done, at this point in my life I'd be feeling a bunch of regret about it. I'm a cleanskin, and that doesn't bother me, though there are certain people I know who kind of feel like you need to have one in order to be 'real' or whatever.

Which is, of course, a crock.

I know a bunch of people with excellent tattoos, ones that completely fit in with them, and are carefully chosen and obviously have special meaning for them. But I also know a bunch of 'scene' people who have large chestpieces or sleeves that they've gone out and bought in one hit - and have regretted later. Think of it like a pair of pants you can't take off: you better love it, 'cos you'll be stuck with those culottes forever.

You know, unless you want to have some Goldfinger-style lasering. Or a belt sander.