It’s something I’ve been considering for a few years, but I always talk myself out of it. Mostly because of what others would think.
If I got one it would be small and discreet.
Should I just go for it and hope that I don’t regret it? Or should I wait until i’m 100% sure?
Get it! Get it get it get it get it!
I decided to get one just recently. I’m glad I waited until I was in my 40s, actually. Had I done it when I was younger, I would have been doing it for the wrong reasons (rebellion, mostly).
Now I know I did it because I really wanted to, and I chose a design that had meaning to me, instead of something I might regret later. And I put it where it’s not always visible, either. In fact, as long as I’m wearing a shirt, no one can see it.
Since you’ve been considering it for a few years, I would recommend thinking more about your reasons for getting one. If you’re doing it because you think body art is okay and a legitimate method of self-expression, then go ahead. If you’re doing it to be scandalous or because you know that it’s “wrong”, or because someone else is pressuring you to, then reconsider. It should be something you want to do for the right reasons. And then the prospect of having it for the rest of your life won’t bother you.
Who cares what other people think? Live! You can always put it in a place where you can cover it up when you’re around people you care about who disapprove: upper arm, shoulder, back, upper thigh, stomach…
Of course, mine’s on my face. My next one will probably be mid-thigh.
what are you thinking of getting? where? in a wayside stories book by louis sachar, there’s a chapter where this boy is thinking and thinking of what kind of tattoo to get and where. finally, he decides to get a small potato on his ankle. that would be pretty cool.
I’m possibly misquoting Jimmy Buffett: “A tattoo is a permanent reminder of a temporary feeling.”
Do you give blood? Well, you can kiss that off.
Actually, in a lot of places you can give blood again in 6 months to a year after getting a tattoo.
As for talking you into or out of getting one, I can’t really do either. I like having a tattoo, because I know its something I did just for me, and even though its covered up 90% of the time, I know its there, and thats whats important. I have met people who have told me that getting a tattoo is the most disgusting, stupid thing you can do, and other people who have told me that they thought it was incredibly cool. You’ve got to be ready for all sorts of reactions.
Basically, its a decision you have to make - you’ve been thinking about it for a few years, and thats a good start. Now you know its not just spur of the moment, you just have to decide if you want to jump right in or not.
Both of mine have been prett spontaenous… I knew I wanted them, but I didn’t decide till the day of that I was getting them, and what they were going to be worth. I love them dearly (they are both in pretty discreet places on my back, but come out to play when I want them too).
As my peer group has always been made up of freaky artist-musician-types, I’m somewhat unique in that I’ve never had a tattoo. My thinking about it goes like this: I don’t particularly trust the Me of ten years ago, and I’m glad he didn’t make many irrevocable decisions regarding his body (weight gain through alcohol consumption doesn’t count, 'cause I could shed all that in a year with only minor lifestyle changes). Sure, I trust myself now, but what will a forty-year-old neofishboy think?
To be fair, I’ve never heard any of my tattooed friends express regret over their decision.
Coolest tattoo on a friend of mine: elaborate fish covering the left side of his head…only visible when he cuts his hair really short.
Coolest response to “Do you have any tattoos?”: Yes, I have a full body tattoo…looks just like me only taller.
I would add that, if you do get one, that you get one that has a personal meaning to you and not just something that looked pretty on the wall of the tattoo studio. Also, avoid areas that are going to sag badly when you’re elderly. 
You haven’t expressed any fear over pain, but I’m going to chip in my dva kopeks on it. I thought getting a tattoo across my cheekbone would hurt like bloody murder, but since the artist told me it would only take about fifteen minutes to do what I wanted, I thought, “Well, I can stand anything for that short of time.” I was completely astonished that it didn’t hurt hardly at all; the sensation was more of a sting, or a sharp tingle. Of course, people differ, YMMV and all that.
If I get one, it’ll probably be in honor of my son. Maybe a design with his name and birth date on it.
I’m not too worried about the pain aspect, I tolerate pain pretty well.
Well, as long as you’re not going to have too many more kids… an acquaintance of mine had her first two sons’ names and a rose for each tattooed on her lower calf, but by the time the third one came along she decided she didn’t want another one. I often wondered how #3 felt about that!
I’m a sissy about pain, so there’s no way I’d get one. I have a very vivid memory of a former coworker, a much older man, who had one on his arm. It was saggy, and disfigured because of a surgery. Pretty disgusting. That alone would dissuade me from having one.
My kid sister has 4. She’s planning to get one more. Each to his own, I guess.
I always wanted one on my upper arm, in a pale blue rectangular background that read, **
I almost got one in Georgetown a few days ago. It was the day before my 40th birthday, and I was SO sorely tempted. I didn’t know the shopkeeper, and wasn’t fond of the motifs of most of his offerings…
Cartooniverse
Your title says “…talk me into/out of” buit your post says “now or later”. That in itself is an indicator of doubt to me.
I often end up as a minority of 1, so I’ll take your title at face value. Don’t get a tattoo. You’re making a permanent change to your body and appearance to no beneficial end. There is some (admittedly small) risk of infection and serious health consequences.
If you put it in a place where you can hide it, you’re admitting there are times when you’ll want to hide it. Think about how much time you would want to hide it vs. how much time you would want to display it.
That’s my $.02. And, of course, I wholeheartedly support your right to get a tattoo.
I have 6 tattoos and I recomend you wait until you’re sure. Your idea for what it would be sounds like a good one though, as I’m a supporter of getting a tattoo that means something to the person and not just because they think it’s cool or looks cute or something.
Most of my tattoos can be hidden (except for the one that wraps around my wrist, and I can cover that with a watch if I really wanted to) when I want to hide them, so I’ve never thought of that as an issue.
As for the pain aspect, how much it will hurt will depend on where you get it done. The more padded the area is, the less pain you’ll feel as a general rule. On average, the level of pain is similar to a cat scratch or a skinned knee.
After my divorce I had to do quite a lot of thinking about my life… yadda yadda yada. Anyhoo… I became a lot stronger and almost a completely different person. I chose to get a tat to reflect the new me.
I have a large-ish (8" tall by 5" wide roughly) tiger behind some lillies on the left chest. The colours chosen reflect certain things as well. The tiger herself obviously represents strength and power. The lillies - one of my favourite flowers - represents beauty, as well as a secure hiding place if you will. The tiger is black and purple (to signify wisdom, gratitude, healing, personal growth, etc). The eyes are bright blue (clarity and insight). The lillies are purple with pink highlights (no special meaning there).
In other words, my inner strength hides behind the pretty outside, though I am able to see inside myself enough to bring out that strength if need be.
Or as the hubby says… Cut all the psychobabble, it’s just a purdy picture…
There is some hesitation in your OP. Please make sure it is something you truly want, not just a whim. It is difficult and expensive to have them removed if you change your mind.
If you’re interested it took over 4 1/2 hours to do my tattoo. I did it all in one go - first tattoo, no alcohol for bravery and had not eaten anything all day… It was definitely an exereince to be remembered. Am looking forward to my next one.
Good luck in your decision… and keep us posted
Here’s my question, and the thing that kept me from getting one (yes, I can be rather vain). What happens as the years pass, the skin sags, and the tatoos follow? Not so much as problem on the arms, but on the torso :eek:.
to me tattoos are way to perm. have you tried a temp. tattoo? you can go to the tattoo place with tattoo paints (or they may even have temp. tattoo paints) and try out the design first. they will paint on your design andyou can live with it for about 2 weeks.
i think that the temp tattoo is fantastic. you can have many different designs, and they disappear when you want them to.
I got my tatto a couple of years ago and did it hurt!!?
I’m glad I got it but I guess, in hindsight, I would have asked for something smaller and in a position easy to hide!
Take your job into consideration too, in my industry there are some really conservative views and as my tatt is on my ankle, I find that I usually wear pants to interviews -‘just in case’.
By the way - don’t drink alcohol prior to tatts - it increases the bleeding. Local anaesthetic cream numbs the pain and also can actually decrease bleeding.