There are many things to consider before going under the needle and many people are letting these factors fall to the wayside. Tattoo art is a fascinating subject, but we can’t get ahead of ourselves. It’s important to first discuss the information that is crucial to planning the most safe and pleasant experience. Why are you getting a tattoo?
Being inked is something that has exploded in popularity since the 90s. These days it seems like it’s harder to find people in their 20’s, 30’s, and older that aren’t tattooed. If you are contemplating joining in or continuing on with this trend, be sure you’re getting something that is meaningful or personally represents you – don’t settle on something that is popular at the time. Remember, this will be on your body for the rest of your life, and consequently a part of you. What are you getting?
As mentioned before, hopefully you’ll be getting something meaningful. But remember that you want your tattoo to be something unique that expresses your individuality–so get creative! Most tattoo artists are more than willing to collaborate to help you design something personal. Where are you getting it?
Although the general public is becoming more accepting of personalizing our bodies with permanent art, continue to keep in mind that not everyone – or every company – is as accepting. If you plan on getting tattoos on your hands, face, or neck, keep in mind that you will never be able to cover them. Will you still be proud of your body art in front of your grandparents? How about on your wedding day? In front of your children? There are still many companies that will make employees cover up your tattoos, even if the content is relatively tame. In addition, keep in mind that your body will change over time. So, if you plan on throwing down a good amount of money on your tattoo, consider the best possible location. For women, the stomach, hips, lower back, buttocks and upper legs are all areas that change naturally with age, especially after having children if you plan to conceive somewhere down the line. Of course any area of the body is subject to change over time–man or woman, regardless– and more so without upkeep. So, use your beautiful new tattoo as a good excuse to hit the gym. And then there’s the pain. Yes, there will be pain. It will vary on your tolerance level, and may also be dependent on where you decide to get it done. But, in the end the pain will only last the time it takes to get the tattoo and then you’ll have a beautiful piece of art on your body for the rest of your life. In other words, some pain is worth the end result.Once you’ve considered the tattoo’s meaning, importance, design, and the perfect location to get it done, take the dive and just do it. You could spend your life putting it off because of several reasons – the threat of unnerving pain, concern with future regret in your choice of art, or even a lack of funds – but don’t let that get in the way if getting inked is something that you feel strongly about.
