Dopers: Do you regret your tattoos?

In My Humble Opinion
21

  1. Do you have a tattoo/s? Yes. 4.

  2. How old were you when you received the first one? 30

  3. How old are you now? 46

  4. Do you regret it? No.

  5. If yes, Do you plan on having it removed or covered? N/A

  6. What is it of? I have a pink flamingo on my outside right ankle, a design called “Shaman’s Tears” on my inside right ankle, a dolphin on my left breast and a waterfall with flowers reaching from my left foot to my left hip.

  7. Where is it? See above.

  8. Anything else you’d like to add? I have a full leg piece - I had started getting tattoos and discovered that I liked it. I’ve never wanted any on my hands or arms, so I decided to get a leg piece I could work on as much as I liked. My artist and I developed a design working around the two flower tattoos I already had on my left leg and we’ve been working on it since 1995.

I like it because if I want to look “respectable” I can wear dark nylons or slacks and it is barely noticable.

I think most of the people who regret tattoos got them when they were very young and didn’t think enough about either the location of the tattoo or the subject they chose. I have advised many young people on tattoos. “Do you really think you are going to want a spider on the side of your neck when you are 40?”

I’ve never noticed that mine itch any more than anywhere else. I use liberal amounts of sunscreen.

22

**1) Do you have a tattoo/s?**No

**2) How old were you when you received the first one?**I dunno, 23 or so probably

**3) How old are you now?**38

**4) Do you regret it?**No

**5) If yes, Do you plan on having it removed or covered?**I have one I’d like to get recolored

6) What is it of? This from Jethro Tull Broadsword and the Beast on the shield arm and a wizard holding aloft a small dragon on the sword arm

7) Where is it? Deltoids? High on the arm where a T or polo shirt will cover them. Most people don’t know I’m inked.

**8) Anything else you’d like to add?**Itch? No.
I’d like to get the cover of No Mean City done somewhere, but that’s been vetoed by the missus. Kind of out of character for me, anyway. Maybe a scope reticule over my heart.

23

  1. Do you have a tattoo/s? Yes, one

  2. How old were you when you received the first one? 28

  3. How old are you now? 38 (and no Nava, we are not ancient)

  4. Do you regret it? Absolutly not

  5. If yes, Do you plan on having it removed or covered? N/A

  6. What is it of? A sort of abstact black snake I designed myself

  7. Where is it? Left shoulder

  8. Anything else you’d like to add? Yeah…I don’t get the whole thing about “Oh my god, don’t you know you’ll have to live with this the rest of your life!!!” Everything you do you have to live with the rest of your life. Where you go to college, who you marry, having a child. All of which have more effect on the rest of your life then a little bit of ink. And yet we make those choices.

That said, like college, spouse and child, a tattoo should be given a bit of thought. I’ve seen some bad ideas. Getting a crown of thorns on your skull (god that must have hurt). Getting a 12 inch green haired huge breasted comic book girl on your arm (will look great on a 40 year old.) Gettting your favorite band tattoo, which works till they break up or put out a really bad album, and will definatly look way cool when your 40. And of course the every popular name of girlfriend/boyfriend tattoo who you break up with 2 months later.

But me and my snake, we’re here forever.

24

1) Do you have a tattoo/s?
Yes, 3.

2) How old were you when you received the first one?
18

3) How old are you now?
32

4) Do you regret it?
No, none of them. There was a moment of terror when I was asked to stand up at a wedding, and I tried a bunch of cover-ups for the one on my chest. Nothing worked well, and I just decided to leave it. I’m irritated that the one on my ankle doesn’t wrap well - the ends weren’t joined in the pattern, so I may have that little bit covered up later on, but only that bit.

6) What is it of?
The first is a pair of serpents entwined in a Celtic design on my stomach. It was on a necklace I got as a child, and I always called it my Auryn (the protective symbol of the Childlike Empress in The Neverending Story.) I gave the necklace itself to my husband.

The second is another celtic knot design, around my ankle. It was done in ceremony, as a symbol of me reclaiming my maidenhood as part of a rape recovery.

The third is on my chest, just high enough to be seen over most women’s tshirt necks (really high tshirts cover it). It’s a purple crescent moon and a star, and at first glance is often mistaken for the Islamic symbol. But if you look closely, the star is in fact a cross, with four diagonal rays, and the whole image is flipped from the Islamic one - the moon is on the right for the observer. It’s a simple design, with a lot of complicated esoteric imagery. It was done, also in ceremony, when I accepted my role as Priestess within my community. It symbolizes my dedication to service of those in all religious paths. It was the hardest to have done, physically and emotionally/spiritually. And it’s So. Very. Visible. Which was the point, but that also made/makes it harder than the other two.

7) Where is it?
Stomach, ankle, chest

8) Anything else you’d like to add?
I’ve been planning a Motherhood piece, probably to go above the Maidenhood anklet (and also drape down and cover the join I’m not happy with.) I knew what it was going to be, (a ring of dancing, pregnant faeries, each one more pregnant than the last and the final one holding a baby faerie), but since I never got very pregnant with my daughter, it doesn’t feel right anymore. I don’t know yet. Any ideas?

Question 9: Do you find your tattoo itches more than other skin?
The one on my chest, absolutely. It’s also the most raised, and the only one with colored ink. And it definitely raises further in heat and in reaction to scratching. The others, not so much.

25

Hey!

Ok, even if Tull does someday suck (blasphemy, but we’ll pretend), the picture is still deeply cool and I don’t have the band name anywhere.

26

1) Do you have a tattoo/s?
Yes, two.

2) How old were you when you received the first one?
23, about 1.5 yrs later for the second

3) How old are you now?
34

4) Do you regret it?
No, I just wish I didn’t listen to the artist talk me out of a full arm band and took better care of them.

5) If yes, Do you plan on having it removed or covered?
N/A

6) What is it of?
The first one is a Canadian flag (now a pink/skin-toned flag), the second is a celtic knotwork 3/4 arm band.

7) Where is it?
1- right shoulder, 2- left bicep

8) Anything else you’d like to add?
Just to reiterate a couple things said above: 1) don’t get them on the spur of the moment, 2) if you ever envision working in a professional environment make sure they’re covered by normal work attire, 3) take care of them, colour fades badly

9) Do you find your tattoo itches more than other skin?
Not that I’ve noticed.

27

  1. Do you have a tattoo/s? One. Kind of.

  2. How old were you when you received the first one? 13

  3. How old are you now? 24

  4. Do you regret it? A little.

  5. If yes, Do you plan on having it removed or covered? It’s usually covered anyway. And its pretty deep; I don’t know if it could be removed.

  6. What is it of? It’s a grey dot. It’s exactly the size and shape of a cross-section of a standard yellow wooden #2 pencil lead.

  7. Where is it? On my thigh. Just above the knee. Right where you’d expect to accidently stab yourelf with a freshly-sharpened pencil when plopping down in a chair.

  8. Anything else you’d like to add? Be careful with freshly-sharpened pencils.

28

I tell people that as well. Mostly for their first tattoo. Get your idea down and wait a year. If you still like it after a year, get it done.

29

Bobotheoptimist

“I’d like to get the cover of No Mean City done somewhere, but that’s been vetoed by the missus”.
You are correct dear! :smiley:

30

:smiley:

I have exactly the same thing on my right wrist, right above the bone. Right about where a bored wee kid might try poking themselves in class. It looks like a larger dot with a smaller dot orbiting it.

31

You both are lucky. I have one in my leg thanks to Mike. Guy stabbed me! 3rd grade. Scared the hell out of me.

32

  1. Do you have a tattoo/s?
    I have my eyebrows tattooed. Permanent makeup.

  2. How old were you when you received the first one?
    Had both done at 21.

  3. How old are you now?
    26

  4. Do you regret it?
    Yes I do. My aunt was just starting out in the field and I offered to be a guinea pig. She’s absolutely fabulous with makeup and very artistic, so I didn’t think it would turn out badly.
    They were too dark from the start, even though the colour dye was supposed to match perfectly. They’ve lightened up over time, but they’re still not right. The shape isn’t near as good as it could be and one brow is thicker than the other. The ink shows in spots where my brow hairs are thin, and while no one knows until I tell them, I see it every day in the mirror.

  5. If yes, Do you plan on having it removed or covered?
    I’ve given serious thought to laser surgery, but I don’t want to take the chance I’d lose the hairs. I also don’t want to walk around with yellow eyebrows for weeks.

  6. Anything else you’d like to add?
    If permanent makeup is something you’re interested in, make sure you see lots of before and after photos!

  7. It doesn’t itch any more than other skin.

33

[QUOTE=Seven]
Just a quick poll and talk about tattoos and regret. Feel free to discuss the topics of tattoos as well.

  1. Do you have a tattoo/s?

Yes - I have a heart with my wife’s name. She has a bird with my name. Not tattoos, but when I was a young fool, I branded myself with words up and down both arms.

  1. How old were you when you received the first one?

Tattoo, about 27. Brands, about 22

  1. How old are you now?

33

  1. Do you regret it?

No. CERTAINLY not the tattoos, and the brands, meh. I was a kid. What is, is.

  1. If yes, Do you plan on having it removed or covered?

N/A

  1. What is it of?

See above

  1. Where is it?

Right forearm for tattoo, brands all over both arms.

  1. Anything else you’d like to add?

Nah.

Joe

34

) Do you have a tattoo/s?

Yes.

  1. How old were you when you received the first one?

Twenty-one.

  1. How old are you now?

Twenty-six.

  1. Do you regret it?

I regret one out of three.

  1. If yes, Do you plan on having it removed or covered?

If I can ever afford it.

  1. What is it of?

It’s a Japanese character that means “heaven” (and yes, I know it’s correct, I picked it out of an actual Japanese dictionary, not off the tattoo parlour’s wall).

  1. Where is it?

On my right upper arm.

  1. Anything else you’d like to add?

I have two other tattoos that I adore and don’t regret even one iota.
The fact that I am converting to Judaism soon means that I will likely have to have all of them removed before I can be buried; unless that changes in the years before I have the $$$ to remove them, which it might, who knows?
Anyway, that would be my only reason for having them removed, and even if I do have to remove them, I wouldn’t regret them and I’d miss them. They’re gorgeous and if I still have them when I am 60, I’ll love them then, too.

35

Glory,I just wanted to say that you’re amazing and, while I am not a huge fan of tattoos in general, I can’t help but smile and feel happy about yours. What a great way to celebrate your new self! Sort of inspiring.

36

  1. Do you have a tattoo/s? Yes, three.

  2. How old were you when you received the first one? 21

  3. How old are you now? 54

  4. Do you regret it? Nope. Not at all.

  5. If yes, Do you plan on having it removed or covered? n/a

  6. What is it of?

1- My initials in red and black script. Pretty faded.
2- Moon and Stars
3- My son’s initials in a script I designed

  1. Where is it?

arm, leg, arm

  1. Anything else you’d like to add?

I’d like to get the scales of justice, broken, so exemplify my journey through the divorce, custody and child support abyss.

37

1) Do you have a tattoo/s? Just one so far.

2) How old were you when you received the first one? 27? Maybe 28?

3) How old are you now? 31

4) Do you regret it? Not in the slightest.

5) If yes, Do you plan on having it removed or covered? Colored, maybe.

6) What is it of? My family crest.

7) Where is it? My right shoulder.

8) Anything else you’d like to add? No, I’m good, thanks.

38

Yes, I have three. I’ve had them from a few weeks back to a couple of decades ago. I regret nothing. Each has a special meaning to me and were done by friends that are tattoo artist.

BTW, mine don’t itch.

39

Mike was a brat. Mine is in my right arm, where the little monster stabbed me when I told him it was bedtime. His parents stiffed me on half the babysitting fee, too, and whined all over the neighborhood when I refused to sit for them after that.

As for real tattoos:
1) Do you have a tattoo/s? 1 group of 3 pansies on my left hip.

2) How old were you when you received the first one? 33

3) How old are you now? 42

**4) Do you regret it? ** Only the middle one. Looks more like a wilted orchid than a pansy.

5) If yes, Do you plan on having it removed or covered? I’d redo that middle pansy if I could find an artist who would admit to knowing what a pansy flower looks like. It’s always covered if I’m wearing anything more than a itsy-bitsy teeny-tiny bikini.

6) What is it of? 3 pansies

7) Where is it? left hip (high buttcheek)

**8) Anything else you’d like to add? ** The yellow part itches, is slightly raised and is more sensitive to the touch. No difference on the black, purple, or green parts.

40

  1. Do you have a tattoo/s?
    yes, 1

  2. How old were you when you received the first one?
    30

  3. How old are you now?
    33

  4. Do you regret it?
    Not at all, in fact I can’t wait to get more.

  5. If yes, Do you plan on having it removed or covered?
    n/a

  6. What is it of?
    a frog

  7. Where is it?
    right shoulder blade

  8. Anything else you’d like to add?
    I first decided I wanted a tattoo when I was 15. When I turned 30 and it still seemed like a good idea I figured I was safe. :smiley:

Oh yeah…I also have one of those neat pencil stabs in my thigh. I wish I could blame Mike, but that’s what happens when you run with a freshly sharpened pencil.