Now, I am not the person who can preach against tattoos. I have 4 of them, 3 in highly visible locations. However, from my experience, I can say that there should have been some additional thought taken when considering two of the tattoos. They were incredibly painful, and every now and again, I wonder if I could not have put them in a better location. It’s not that I dislike the tattoos, but rather that they are so visible and they often appear less than professional on me.
Now, I have an excuse for my stupidity. The tattoo was free and I had a very limited amount of tie to consider the location and color of the tattoos. It was obviously too little time for me to consider. I opted to get two matching tattoos on my wrists. Even though I could see my tattoo artist’s wrist tattoos were up higher, I opted for the area right below the wrist joint. Mistake 1, that location is incredibly painful to have tattooed. In addition, the tattoo in that area is more prone to having the ink fall out since there is so much movement there. Mistake 2 was to have them done in black rather than grey. The black is very visible against my pale skin, making the tattoos appear bigger than they actually are.
Here are some things to consider when you are looking at getting at tattoo.
1. Do you really want the tattoo or are you getting it because it seems like a good idea and a cool thing to do. A great way to avoid the impulse tattoo is to make your self wait 6 months before committing to getting the tattoo. If the desire for that tattoo lasts 6 months and the design and location has not changed, then you can feel comfortable getting the tattoo done.
2. Will the tattoo interfere with your chances at getting a professional job? While most employers do not hold a tattoo against a prospective employee, there are several places that look down on the tattoo. Hospitals and public figures often do not encourage tattoos in that employees as this can hurt the image of the company as a professional facility. If having a visible tattoo is going to hurt these chances, consider getting one in hidden location, such as the shoulder, chest or back.
3. Will you feel uncomfortable dressed up with the tattoo so visible? I never thought that I might feel odd with tattoos showing while dressed well. I enjoy dressing up and I look good in a suit. Unfortunately, the tattoos on my wrists are clearly visible while I talk and move my arms. This does not bother me when I am with friends, but when I am meeting a customer, I am very conscious of it. It’s the same way when I go to the gym and participate in classes or discuss things with other professionals.
4. Will you like the tattoo years down the road? Everyone thinks about when they are senior citizens and wonder if they will still like the tattoos that they have on their body. Most people assume that they will no longer care whether they are tattooed or not at that point. However, some people get bands and teams on their body. What happens when the band breaks up or the team is sold? Will you still want that tattoo then? This is the thing that a person really has to think about.
5. Lucky tattoos exist, as do the bad luck tattoos. There truly is the 6 month curse when it comes to some tattoos. The number one tattoo that has the 6 month curse is the partner’s name on the body. Remember, the tattoo is nearly permanent. To have it removed is incredibly painful and often leaves a scar. For this reason, people often tattoo their spouse or partner on their body as a simple that the relationship will last forever. However, for some reason, as soon as the name is tattooed on, the relationship almost always ends. This leaves the person with a name on their body that they are no longer associated with. Talk about awkward.
While tattoos are becoming the norm in society, they still carry with them some stigma and concerns. It is only by addressing these concerns that a person can really feel comfortable having a tattoo inked to their body. Feel comfortable when addressing these concerns, then please, enjoy your tattoo and tip your artist well.
Being the enigmatic lover of all things that are related to body art, tattoos and getting inked, there are just some events that rarely come to Phoenix, Arizona that are ones not to be missed. Especially if you love tattoos and the related subculture that is directly associated with them! For all of you neophytes for getting tatted who happen to live in Arizona, or who are willing to make the trek out and endure the humid monsoon heats and drizzles of late August, there is one event that you should most certainly add to your calendar: The Hell City Tattoo Festival!
Being the neophyte and protagonist that I am for amazing body art, like the full sleeve tattoos that I enjoy brandishing on both of my arms, I always get asked many questions about my tattoos by numerous people that approach me who have never gotten one. This has prompted me, after quite literally being asked hundreds of questions regarding the subject matter, to write an article about tattoos and just what you can expect when you are getting one. Some things to keep in mind here—stuff that you more than likely already know—are that tattoos are not only art, they are a permanent fixture upon your body. So having a great tattoo and knowing what to expect and where to get one is pivotal to you being satisfied with your ink, and knowing that you are getting tatted in a safe, clean and legal environment. Perhaps these few tips can greatly aid you if you decide to get under the ink gun and add a crazy-cool tattoo to your body!