STORY BY HILARY PADAVAN
Getting a tattoo is one of the most permanent things you can do to your body, so it’s a pretty important decision to make.
There are a lot of factors to consider, such as placement of the tattoo, the meaning behind it, whether it should be in color or not and the size.
As someone who has a tattoo and plans to add to my collection in the future, here is my crash-course guide on how to decide if a tattoo is right for you.
First and foremost, make sure it’s something you actually want. Even if there isn’t any real meaning behind it other than you think it looks super cool, you have to be 100% positive that this is something that you’ll want on your body for the rest of your life.
My advice is to keep the tattoo design in a place (for example on your phone’s lock screen or hung up in your bedroom) where you’ll see it almost every day. Sit on the design for a few months. If you still love it and want it after thinking about it for a while, it may be something you want to seriously consider getting— but hold up, it’s not time to run out and get that tattoo yet!
The second and most important part of a tattoo is its placement. There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding where you want your tattoo. If you’re going into a career that is very business professional, you won’t want to get your tattoo anywhere that is easily visible—the neck or hands, for example. Most businesses frown upon tattoos and want you to look as professional as possible at all times, so make sure you choose an area that is easy to cover up.
Another thing to consider in terms of placement in the pain threshold for various parts of your body.
If this is your first tattoo, don’t get it somewhere that’s going to hurt the most. You don’t know how you’ll react to getting a tattoo and if you can’t handle a tattoo in a more mild area, getting one in a more sensitive area may not be the best idea.
Lastly, don’t cheap out when getting a tattoo. Tattoos shouldn’t be too cheap, and if they are, I would reconsider your choice of tattoo parlor. It costs a lot more money to fix a botched tattoo than it does to shell out a little more money for a higher quality tattoo.
Make sure the parlor you go to is reputable and clean. If it looks a little sketchy, that’s probably because it is. I’d so, you should reconsider getting a permanent image inked on your body from them.
All-in-all, getting a tattoo is a very personal choice that is not for everyone. Make sure your tattoo is something that you’ll still look at and enjoy for the rest of your life, otherwise there’s no point in getting it.
Your tattoo is your choice, so be creative with it and design the perfect tattoo for you.
