I want to accrue a new tattoo, formerly taboo. A clue?
September 12, 2013 12:49 PM Subscribe
I want a tattoo. I don't know what I want a tattoo of. Terrible idea or opportunity?
I spent the first two decades of my sentient life thinking that marking your skin permanently was a terrible, shortsighted idea. Now I am nearing my 30s, and — having made many friends with amazing tattoos, and recognizing that my own risk-averseness and fear of making permanent decisions has its downsides — I see the beauty in choosing to alter your body and focusing on making it beautiful now instead of worrying about what it might look like 30 years from now. (Also, I assume that in 30 years, tattoo removal technology will have advanced to the point where tattoos can be easily erased.) I want to get a tattoo: to remind me to focus on the present instead of constantly worrying about the future, to help me think about my body as something beautiful that I control, and to prove to myself that even if I do make a permanent decision that I might eventually regret, it's not the end of the world.
I'd like to get something small on the top of my foot or the ankle area. I'm an academic in a rather accepting field (the aforementioned friends with tattoos were all fellow grad students and professors) so I'm not worried about covering it up all the time at work — just at job interviews and in other formal situations.
And here's where my actual question comes into play: I don't actually know what I want a tattoo of. The only things I can think of that are meaningful to me are text, and I don't want a text tattoo. I think I'd be happy with something abstract and colorful designed for me by an artist. But is it a terrible idea to get a tattoo (especially a first tattoo) that isn't personally meaningful and that I haven't spent years planning? Tattooed Mefites, how did you choose your tattoos? What has made the difference between tattoos you love and tattoos you regret? Should my first tattoo be somewhere that nobody else ever sees? (To be honest, part of the reason I want to get a tattoo is to counteract the "super uptight goody-goody" vibe that I apparently involuntarily give off all of the time, so I'd like the tattoo to be visible. Is this a terrible reason to get a tattoo?) Am I overthinking this or underthinking this?
I spent the first two decades of my sentient life thinking that marking your skin permanently was a terrible, shortsighted idea. Now I am nearing my 30s, and — having made many friends with amazing tattoos, and recognizing that my own risk-averseness and fear of making permanent decisions has its downsides — I see the beauty in choosing to alter your body and focusing on making it beautiful now instead of worrying about what it might look like 30 years from now. (Also, I assume that in 30 years, tattoo removal technology will have advanced to the point where tattoos can be easily erased.) I want to get a tattoo: to remind me to focus on the present instead of constantly worrying about the future, to help me think about my body as something beautiful that I control, and to prove to myself that even if I do make a permanent decision that I might eventually regret, it's not the end of the world.
I'd like to get something small on the top of my foot or the ankle area. I'm an academic in a rather accepting field (the aforementioned friends with tattoos were all fellow grad students and professors) so I'm not worried about covering it up all the time at work — just at job interviews and in other formal situations.
And here's where my actual question comes into play: I don't actually know what I want a tattoo of. The only things I can think of that are meaningful to me are text, and I don't want a text tattoo. I think I'd be happy with something abstract and colorful designed for me by an artist. But is it a terrible idea to get a tattoo (especially a first tattoo) that isn't personally meaningful and that I haven't spent years planning? Tattooed Mefites, how did you choose your tattoos? What has made the difference between tattoos you love and tattoos you regret? Should my first tattoo be somewhere that nobody else ever sees? (To be honest, part of the reason I want to get a tattoo is to counteract the "super uptight goody-goody" vibe that I apparently involuntarily give off all of the time, so I'd like the tattoo to be visible. Is this a terrible reason to get a tattoo?) Am I overthinking this or underthinking this?
To be honest, part of the reason I want to get a tattoo is to counteract the "super uptight goody-goody" vibe that I apparently involuntarily give off all of the time, so I'd like the tattoo to be visible. Is this a terrible reason to get a tattoo?
If this is a primary reason, I'd recommend spending some time thinking about the tattoo you want, but in the meantime getting an interesting piercing such as a tragus or industrial. Those can always be removed, with only a tiny little hole remaining.
I PERSONALLY associate small foot and ankle tattoos with, well, women who want a tattoo but don't really want to take a big risk on it. I see young women with, like, stars and hears there all the time and if I'm being honest, I sort of think it's cheesy. In addition, those parts of the body are small and bony and oddly shaped, and therefore kinda hard to tattoo nicely.
An easily-covered but also easily-exposed location that I might recommend instead would be the shoulder blade.
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:59 PM on September 12, 2013 [6 favorites]
If this is a primary reason, I'd recommend spending some time thinking about the tattoo you want, but in the meantime getting an interesting piercing such as a tragus or industrial. Those can always be removed, with only a tiny little hole remaining.
I PERSONALLY associate small foot and ankle tattoos with, well, women who want a tattoo but don't really want to take a big risk on it. I see young women with, like, stars and hears there all the time and if I'm being honest, I sort of think it's cheesy. In addition, those parts of the body are small and bony and oddly shaped, and therefore kinda hard to tattoo nicely.
An easily-covered but also easily-exposed location that I might recommend instead would be the shoulder blade.
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:59 PM on September 12, 2013 [6 favorites]
Tattoos don't have to be particularly meaningful. They can be, but they don't have to be.
What they need to be is something you absolutely really, really, really, really, really like. And you need to be really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really into it and confident you want it.
I decided to get a tattoo about two months before I got it, and I looked at a lot of pictures of what I was going for, and I sent those to an artist friend who shaped it up, and I brought that into the artist (my husband knew of a really reputable place), and they adjusted it for body art. It is a bit meaningful to me, but I didn't spend lots of time on it.
There's also nothing wrong with looking at work that artists in your area have done --- figure out what kind of style you like and if you find an artist you particularly like, go in and tell them what you said here. Bring in some examples of what "abstract" means to you. Have some color ideas. Have the tattoo artist work it up for you and think about it for a week or a few days.
I don't think you should get one to stop sending off a goodie goodie vibe, because let me tell you, I have that tattoo that is visible when I want it to be and not when I don't, and it doesn't change my goodie goodie vibe at all. I do get a lot of compliments on it, though.
You should want a tattoo because you want it for yourself.
posted by zizzle at 12:59 PM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
What they need to be is something you absolutely really, really, really, really, really like. And you need to be really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really into it and confident you want it.
I decided to get a tattoo about two months before I got it, and I looked at a lot of pictures of what I was going for, and I sent those to an artist friend who shaped it up, and I brought that into the artist (my husband knew of a really reputable place), and they adjusted it for body art. It is a bit meaningful to me, but I didn't spend lots of time on it.
There's also nothing wrong with looking at work that artists in your area have done --- figure out what kind of style you like and if you find an artist you particularly like, go in and tell them what you said here. Bring in some examples of what "abstract" means to you. Have some color ideas. Have the tattoo artist work it up for you and think about it for a week or a few days.
I don't think you should get one to stop sending off a goodie goodie vibe, because let me tell you, I have that tattoo that is visible when I want it to be and not when I don't, and it doesn't change my goodie goodie vibe at all. I do get a lot of compliments on it, though.
You should want a tattoo because you want it for yourself.
posted by zizzle at 12:59 PM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Anecdata - I have an ugly tattoo that technically should be personally meaningful, but that I hate and want to have removed because 5 years later I don't necessarily want a daily reminder of the thing I originally thought was meaningful way long ago.
I DO however want many more tattoos, and I'm pretty sure that the best course of action this time around is to find a design or commission an artist to make something that I think is unbelievably beautiful to look at.
Takeaway - focus on pleasing design over degree of meaning it has to you. Or at least don't sacrifice beauty of design for the sake of meaning. You can tell anyone who asks whatever the hell back story you want about your tattoo(s).
Also, here is a good article about why you should definitely not get a text tattoo, in case you were having second thoughts.
posted by Gonestarfishing at 1:00 PM on September 12, 2013 [5 favorites]
I DO however want many more tattoos, and I'm pretty sure that the best course of action this time around is to find a design or commission an artist to make something that I think is unbelievably beautiful to look at.
Takeaway - focus on pleasing design over degree of meaning it has to you. Or at least don't sacrifice beauty of design for the sake of meaning. You can tell anyone who asks whatever the hell back story you want about your tattoo(s).
Also, here is a good article about why you should definitely not get a text tattoo, in case you were having second thoughts.
posted by Gonestarfishing at 1:00 PM on September 12, 2013 [5 favorites]
I'm sure other people will say differently, but it took me something like 8 years between "ooh tattoos are pretty" and "yes I want this one, and I'm ready to have it permanently affixed to me now," and I am not at all sorry that I waited that long. I definitely would have regretted getting any of my earlier ideas, even though all those things are still meaningful to me and would technically look nice. That goes double for a tattoo on your foot or something; mine is not usually visible to anyone, including me.
Also, I would not assume they'll ever be easy to remove. I mean they might be, but what if they're not? Get it expecting it to be forever, and talk to the artist about if/when the design/color you want will be likely to fade.
Oh, and in my experience this:
part of the reason I want to get a tattoo is to counteract the "super uptight goody-goody" vibe that I apparently involuntarily give off all of the time
Totally does not work! They will just be constantly surprised that you, supposed goody-goody, have a tattoo. (Sorry.)
posted by DestinationUnknown at 1:02 PM on September 12, 2013 [10 favorites]
Also, I would not assume they'll ever be easy to remove. I mean they might be, but what if they're not? Get it expecting it to be forever, and talk to the artist about if/when the design/color you want will be likely to fade.
Oh, and in my experience this:
part of the reason I want to get a tattoo is to counteract the "super uptight goody-goody" vibe that I apparently involuntarily give off all of the time
Totally does not work! They will just be constantly surprised that you, supposed goody-goody, have a tattoo. (Sorry.)
posted by DestinationUnknown at 1:02 PM on September 12, 2013 [10 favorites]
There was a recent episode of the Judge John Hodgman podcast that dealt with tattoos you might consider listening to. The case is less about 'do I get a tattoo?' than 'where do I put the tattoo?', but there's lots of general discussion about tattoos than just placement.
I want to get a tattoo: to remind me to focus on the present instead of constantly worrying about the future, to help me think about my body as something beautiful that I control, and to prove to myself that even if I do make a permanent decision that I might eventually regret, it's not the end of the world.
This might not be up your alley, but after reading that I thought "hourglass" so that might be something to consider as you go about finding a tattoo to get (if you do end up getting one).
posted by Green With You at 1:07 PM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
I want to get a tattoo: to remind me to focus on the present instead of constantly worrying about the future, to help me think about my body as something beautiful that I control, and to prove to myself that even if I do make a permanent decision that I might eventually regret, it's not the end of the world.
This might not be up your alley, but after reading that I thought "hourglass" so that might be something to consider as you go about finding a tattoo to get (if you do end up getting one).
posted by Green With You at 1:07 PM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
But is it a terrible idea to get a tattoo (especially a first tattoo) that isn't personally meaningful and that I haven't spent years planning?
I don't know a single person whose very first tattoo holds deep meaning for them, honestly. I can't remember which order I got all of mine, but at the very least the first two are irritating to me and will be removed when I get around to it.
(disclaimer: i was under 18 and everyone should avoid that scenario)
posted by elizardbits at 1:08 PM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
I don't know a single person whose very first tattoo holds deep meaning for them, honestly. I can't remember which order I got all of mine, but at the very least the first two are irritating to me and will be removed when I get around to it.
(disclaimer: i was under 18 and everyone should avoid that scenario)
posted by elizardbits at 1:08 PM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'll advocate for the "terrible idea" position. You evolved over your twenties to your current view. But I presume you want to be able to continue to evolve over your thirties, forties, and beyond. You may even want to totally re-invent yourself one or more times. A tattoo may not fit in well with that plan. So I would suggest instead you use non-permanent means, such as hair style, clothing, shoes, and jewelry, etc. if you feel a need to distinguish and define yourself in whatever current way you want to now and in the future. No tattoo = more freedom to evolve.
posted by Dansaman at 1:09 PM on September 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by Dansaman at 1:09 PM on September 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: Won't threadsit, but I wanted to add -- yes, I know ankle/foot tattoos are commonplace and have a sort of "sorority girl on spring break" vibe, which is one of the reasons I'd want to get a custom abstract art piece by someone really talented instead of a tribal ankle band or a bird or a rose or whatever.
Also open to suggestions for other locations, but I like the foot idea because a) it's easy both to cover up and to show off, b) it won't distort as much if I gain weight/get saggy (I assume), and c) because it's a small part of my body, a small tattoo won't seem like it's just randomly floating in the middle of an expanse of skin.
Oh, and I've thought tattoos are beautiful for about a decade at this point, and have known for a while now that I personally want a tattoo (at least a year, which I know is not so long in the scheme of things), so it's not an impulse I just had last week.
Thanks for the answers so far! Yeah, I had a feeling that goody-goody part would get some responses, but I figured I should be honest even about the motivations I'm slightly ashamed of.
posted by pluckemin at 1:09 PM on September 12, 2013
Also open to suggestions for other locations, but I like the foot idea because a) it's easy both to cover up and to show off, b) it won't distort as much if I gain weight/get saggy (I assume), and c) because it's a small part of my body, a small tattoo won't seem like it's just randomly floating in the middle of an expanse of skin.
Oh, and I've thought tattoos are beautiful for about a decade at this point, and have known for a while now that I personally want a tattoo (at least a year, which I know is not so long in the scheme of things), so it's not an impulse I just had last week.
Thanks for the answers so far! Yeah, I had a feeling that goody-goody part would get some responses, but I figured I should be honest even about the motivations I'm slightly ashamed of.
posted by pluckemin at 1:09 PM on September 12, 2013
Here is an awesome new franchise opportunity, Dr. Tatoff!
I am a non-inked person. This is the right choice for me and I'm content with it.
I would think (and I may be totes wrong here,) that once you get one, you're going to be obsessing about the next, and/or removing the old one and getting a new one, as your tastes change.
As wrong as it may be, I still think that easily 50% of the world still thinks of tattoos with some kind of judgement.
My personal opinion of an ankle or foot tattoo is that it's not cute or sweet, but that it's the wussy way to go. My sister's high school friends all got ankle tattoos in Mexico one spring break. (a palm tree and a dolphin respectively.)
As a person who appreciates art, I suggest that you find an image that really resonates with you. Then, once you have the image, have a tattoo artist draw it on you and wear it around for a few days--BEFORE you commit to it.
Yes, you can make mistakes and bounce back from them, but if getting a tattoo is a pre-meditated mistake...you may want to re-think the idea all together.
Go for some temporary tats first. Wear them around, see how you like them, see if they change your preception of yourself. You may find that you feel naked without ink. If so, awesome, now you're on your way to finding the perfect thing to engrave on yourself. You may also find that lots of people have tattoos, and that it doesn't make you special or different or speak to the world of your mystique. In which case, aren't you glad you saved the time and money?
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:12 PM on September 12, 2013
I am a non-inked person. This is the right choice for me and I'm content with it.
I would think (and I may be totes wrong here,) that once you get one, you're going to be obsessing about the next, and/or removing the old one and getting a new one, as your tastes change.
As wrong as it may be, I still think that easily 50% of the world still thinks of tattoos with some kind of judgement.
My personal opinion of an ankle or foot tattoo is that it's not cute or sweet, but that it's the wussy way to go. My sister's high school friends all got ankle tattoos in Mexico one spring break. (a palm tree and a dolphin respectively.)
As a person who appreciates art, I suggest that you find an image that really resonates with you. Then, once you have the image, have a tattoo artist draw it on you and wear it around for a few days--BEFORE you commit to it.
Yes, you can make mistakes and bounce back from them, but if getting a tattoo is a pre-meditated mistake...you may want to re-think the idea all together.
Go for some temporary tats first. Wear them around, see how you like them, see if they change your preception of yourself. You may find that you feel naked without ink. If so, awesome, now you're on your way to finding the perfect thing to engrave on yourself. You may also find that lots of people have tattoos, and that it doesn't make you special or different or speak to the world of your mystique. In which case, aren't you glad you saved the time and money?
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 1:12 PM on September 12, 2013
Wait until you have a great idea for something that you really want tattooed on yourself. Don't get a tattoo just to get a tattoo.
But then, once you have that idea, wait a year before getting it. As the year passes consider the sorts of situations in which you find yourself and whether or not your tattoo would be visible. Consider placement options. If at the end of the year you still really want that tattoo and think it's a great idea, get it! But if you have any doubt...
Building from elizardbits' comment, perhaps consider something small for your first one. If you find that it loses meaning for you, you can always get it covered up with something else.
posted by troika at 1:12 PM on September 12, 2013
But then, once you have that idea, wait a year before getting it. As the year passes consider the sorts of situations in which you find yourself and whether or not your tattoo would be visible. Consider placement options. If at the end of the year you still really want that tattoo and think it's a great idea, get it! But if you have any doubt...
Building from elizardbits' comment, perhaps consider something small for your first one. If you find that it loses meaning for you, you can always get it covered up with something else.
posted by troika at 1:12 PM on September 12, 2013
You know that foot and ankle tattoos can hurt quite a lot, yes? Skinny, bony areas hurt like fuck to get tattooed on. And because there's a limited around of real estate there, it's hard even for very good artists to get good detail to fit in. So think about that.
I have three. One is on my right deltoid, one above that on my shoulder and across to my back some, and one on my left forearm. In all three instances, I "felt" on my body where the tattoos "wanted" to go. I'm not entirely certain about what my next piece will be, but I know it's going to be on my right arm.
I did spend time talking with my artists about the best placement/angles for the general areas where I wanted them.
posted by rtha at 1:18 PM on September 12, 2013
I have three. One is on my right deltoid, one above that on my shoulder and across to my back some, and one on my left forearm. In all three instances, I "felt" on my body where the tattoos "wanted" to go. I'm not entirely certain about what my next piece will be, but I know it's going to be on my right arm.
I did spend time talking with my artists about the best placement/angles for the general areas where I wanted them.
posted by rtha at 1:18 PM on September 12, 2013
Then told there was a four-hour wait, thirty seconds before someone else walked in and was set up immediately.
That person probably had an appointment.
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:19 PM on September 12, 2013 [12 favorites]
That person probably had an appointment.
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:19 PM on September 12, 2013 [12 favorites]
Also as per your requirements, if you are a person with long hair, the back of the neck is a potential location option that you can cover/uncover at will and will also not get saggy from weight gain.
posted by elizardbits at 1:20 PM on September 12, 2013
posted by elizardbits at 1:20 PM on September 12, 2013
Yeah, what rtha said. A good tattoo artist will be able to make your tattoo look well placed, no matter where it is.
I don't think a small tattoo is necessarily the best plan, as small tattoos are more likely to look randomly slapped on. My tattoos (which I still love and would get again if they somehow fell off) are each larger than my hand, but because of how they're drawn and where they're placed they are unobtrusive.
So spend time with an artist, getting a consultation. When I got mine it was a long wait to get on the waiting list, then a long waiting list, then an appointment just to talk about ideas, then an appointment to see the artwork she'd come up with, and then the appointments to get the work done. Take your time, spend your money, get work you really love.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:22 PM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
I don't think a small tattoo is necessarily the best plan, as small tattoos are more likely to look randomly slapped on. My tattoos (which I still love and would get again if they somehow fell off) are each larger than my hand, but because of how they're drawn and where they're placed they are unobtrusive.
So spend time with an artist, getting a consultation. When I got mine it was a long wait to get on the waiting list, then a long waiting list, then an appointment just to talk about ideas, then an appointment to see the artwork she'd come up with, and then the appointments to get the work done. Take your time, spend your money, get work you really love.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:22 PM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
(Also, I assume that in 30 years, tattoo removal technology will have advanced to the point where tattoos can be easily erased.)
Firstly, don't count on being able to get rid of something that is meant to be permanent. If this is an "out" in your mind, don't get a tattoo. Removal is not only expensive, but painful.
(To be honest, part of the reason I want to get a tattoo is to counteract the "super uptight goody-goody" vibe that I apparently involuntarily give off all of the time, so I'd like the tattoo to be visible.
Second: This is not a good reason to get a tattoo specifically that is visible. I would say do something that can be covered somewhat easily. This is coming from someone who loves to show off tattoos. I knew though, from my first one at 16, that I may need to cover them for my work life. Now almost all of them can be covered. That means I wear dress socks and long sleeves to interviews. The ankle is probably fine, but bear in mind that there is a chance you might NOT be able to show them, and thus would have to wear pants or tights.
Third: I don't think having tattoos means you aren't a "goody-goody" and personally, I hate the stereotype of the tattooed rebel. You have no idea how many times someone asked me for a cigarette because I have tattoos. I am actually a very professional, hard working, sit-on-the-couch-and-watch-netflix person and I have tattoos because they express my artist interests and life story. So, personally I wouldn't make judgements on someone because they had a tattoo. That wouldn't put you in or out of a goody-goody box in my book.
Fourth: Do some research. There are like a million tumblr blogs that have tattoos. It's a good place to start for inspiration. Some I go to: (Warning, some nudity involved in some of these, but.. it's tumblr and tattoos... )
FYeahTattoos
InkYourBody
1337Tattoos
Fill Me Up With Ink
Tattoo Inspiration
Fifth:Whatever idea you come up with, put it on your bathroom mirror. Then you have to look at it every day. That can help you decide if you really want that design on your body forever.
Sixth: Get to a reputable artist. Check reviews. Talk to them about your design.
Seventh: I have 15 (I think?) tattoos. And actually all of them have some sort of meaning or function to them. I don't regret any of them. I don't plan on regretting any of them - or future ones such as the 6 or so more that I have planned at this point . When someone asks me "What if you regret them?" I laugh, because to me they are a permanent part of me, not just an extension. They tell my story. They show my life. This may be different for someone who just has one and not plans for as many as I have/will have.
Summary: Think long and hard and don't expect to be able to get it "easily erased." Don't get a tattoo to "change your image" to other people. There are plenty of people who I have met who don't know I have tattoos. My tattoos aren't for other people or to make people think a certain thing about me. They are for me, because that is how I want to look, for myself. (And sure, if my husband thinks they're hot, that helps!)
Get a tattoo because YOU want a tattoo for YOU and you know you won't regret it. Get something you can look at every day, and if it's your first, know that it will hurt and you may need to cover it more than you think.
posted by Crystalinne at 1:24 PM on September 12, 2013 [8 favorites]
Firstly, don't count on being able to get rid of something that is meant to be permanent. If this is an "out" in your mind, don't get a tattoo. Removal is not only expensive, but painful.
(To be honest, part of the reason I want to get a tattoo is to counteract the "super uptight goody-goody" vibe that I apparently involuntarily give off all of the time, so I'd like the tattoo to be visible.
Second: This is not a good reason to get a tattoo specifically that is visible. I would say do something that can be covered somewhat easily. This is coming from someone who loves to show off tattoos. I knew though, from my first one at 16, that I may need to cover them for my work life. Now almost all of them can be covered. That means I wear dress socks and long sleeves to interviews. The ankle is probably fine, but bear in mind that there is a chance you might NOT be able to show them, and thus would have to wear pants or tights.
Third: I don't think having tattoos means you aren't a "goody-goody" and personally, I hate the stereotype of the tattooed rebel. You have no idea how many times someone asked me for a cigarette because I have tattoos. I am actually a very professional, hard working, sit-on-the-couch-and-watch-netflix person and I have tattoos because they express my artist interests and life story. So, personally I wouldn't make judgements on someone because they had a tattoo. That wouldn't put you in or out of a goody-goody box in my book.
Fourth: Do some research. There are like a million tumblr blogs that have tattoos. It's a good place to start for inspiration. Some I go to: (Warning, some nudity involved in some of these, but.. it's tumblr and tattoos... )
FYeahTattoos
InkYourBody
1337Tattoos
Fill Me Up With Ink
Tattoo Inspiration
Fifth:Whatever idea you come up with, put it on your bathroom mirror. Then you have to look at it every day. That can help you decide if you really want that design on your body forever.
Sixth: Get to a reputable artist. Check reviews. Talk to them about your design.
Seventh: I have 15 (I think?) tattoos. And actually all of them have some sort of meaning or function to them. I don't regret any of them. I don't plan on regretting any of them - or future ones such as the 6 or so more that I have planned at this point . When someone asks me "What if you regret them?" I laugh, because to me they are a permanent part of me, not just an extension. They tell my story. They show my life. This may be different for someone who just has one and not plans for as many as I have/will have.
Summary: Think long and hard and don't expect to be able to get it "easily erased." Don't get a tattoo to "change your image" to other people. There are plenty of people who I have met who don't know I have tattoos. My tattoos aren't for other people or to make people think a certain thing about me. They are for me, because that is how I want to look, for myself. (And sure, if my husband thinks they're hot, that helps!)
Get a tattoo because YOU want a tattoo for YOU and you know you won't regret it. Get something you can look at every day, and if it's your first, know that it will hurt and you may need to cover it more than you think.
posted by Crystalinne at 1:24 PM on September 12, 2013 [8 favorites]
But is it a terrible idea to get a tattoo (especially a first tattoo) that isn't personally meaningful
Yes, it is a terrible idea. But not for the reason you think.
When you have a tattoo, people are going to ask about the tattoo, and you want to have a better answer than "oh I just got it because I thought it'd make me look less uptight" (which, to be clear, I think is actually a perfectly good reason to get a tattoo -- it's just not much of a story to tell people.)
Approach this the same way you would approach decorating a room: you know you have a blank space on the wall, you know it'd be nice to have a picture or something hanging there, there is no deadline by which you need to have a picture or something hanging there, so you can take your time, browse, sketch, ponder, shop around, find the right artist, keep your eyes and mind open until the right thing strikes you. This is a fun process! Enjoy it, don't rush through it.
posted by ook at 1:27 PM on September 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
Yes, it is a terrible idea. But not for the reason you think.
When you have a tattoo, people are going to ask about the tattoo, and you want to have a better answer than "oh I just got it because I thought it'd make me look less uptight" (which, to be clear, I think is actually a perfectly good reason to get a tattoo -- it's just not much of a story to tell people.)
Approach this the same way you would approach decorating a room: you know you have a blank space on the wall, you know it'd be nice to have a picture or something hanging there, there is no deadline by which you need to have a picture or something hanging there, so you can take your time, browse, sketch, ponder, shop around, find the right artist, keep your eyes and mind open until the right thing strikes you. This is a fun process! Enjoy it, don't rush through it.
posted by ook at 1:27 PM on September 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
Quality is the key. It is a wonderful idea to find a really good artist and invest in a unique piece of art. I would research the very best artist and go talk. Good luck. Oh and ankle wouldnt be my choice, I would go upper arm with a view to expansion.
posted by BenPens at 1:47 PM on September 12, 2013
posted by BenPens at 1:47 PM on September 12, 2013
I'm 53. I got my first tattoo at 20, when women weren't really doing it at all. I knew what I wanted at 14. It's on my hip and it's not saggy or wrinkly. I also have quite a bit more tattoo work.
At 40, I started getting facial piercings to promote truth in advertising -- I was pulling men who liked the librarian look I had going and were aghast when I disrobed and they saw what had been covered for work.
I too recommend a piercing as a starter for you. You can change your mind years later and it's no big deal. And it would support your goal of not looking too prim.
Think about this while you are considering a tattoo. Someone with no ink today is almost as unusual and daring as a woman with a tattoo was when I got my first.
I have a white tattoo on my forearm that is universally loved. I can't link a photo just now but if you're interested I'll do so tomorrow.
posted by janey47 at 1:48 PM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
At 40, I started getting facial piercings to promote truth in advertising -- I was pulling men who liked the librarian look I had going and were aghast when I disrobed and they saw what had been covered for work.
I too recommend a piercing as a starter for you. You can change your mind years later and it's no big deal. And it would support your goal of not looking too prim.
Think about this while you are considering a tattoo. Someone with no ink today is almost as unusual and daring as a woman with a tattoo was when I got my first.
I have a white tattoo on my forearm that is universally loved. I can't link a photo just now but if you're interested I'll do so tomorrow.
posted by janey47 at 1:48 PM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Also open to suggestions for other locations, but I like the foot idea because a) it's easy both to cover up and to show off, b) it won't distort as much if I gain weight/get saggy (I assume), and c) because it's a small part of my body, a small tattoo won't seem like it's just randomly floating in the middle of an expanse of skin.
Foot tattoos are pretty terrible in terms of wear (also bad: hand tattoos). You're almost guaranteed to have some degradation of the ink there over time--more than in other spots. This is especially true if you have it done in a season where you have to wear shoes.
On the other hand, I've had a tattoo that covers most of one side of my torso for about half a decade, through thirty pounds of weight change and now a pregnancy. It looks indistinguishable from when it first healed.
I am a heavily tattooed person. Some of my tattoos are meaningful; some aren't. Either way, I prefer the ones that are pretty and clear without my having to excessively talk about them (a la every episode of Miami Ink). Frankly, people don't really want to hear your "meaningful" story, but they'll ask because they feel obligated to do so or they figure it's what you, as a tattooed person, want to be asked. But my funny tattoos (left and right on my arms, because I have trouble with spatial orientation) or my pretty tattoos are much more appropriate ice breakers than my memorial tattoos. I love my dead grandpa, but sometimes I get tired of talking about him, and people never seem to want to hear about it, really.
Unlike ook, I think "I just really thought this image was beautiful" is a perfectly good and cromulent thing to tell someone about your ink.
A good tattoo artist will make any tattoo look like it belongs on your body. Generally, though, bigger is better for tattoo wear and tear and general beauty. Small tattoos generally look crappy and poorly integrated on one's body; I encouraged my artist to go smaller with my chestpiece at 19, because I was intimidated by the size she suggested. I eventually regretted it and had it added to and expanded to make it look better.
In fact, any tattoo that I've mildly regretted has been the result of not trusting my artist, or going to an artist I didn't trust. However, because I'm comfortable with big, beautiful tattoos, it's a pretty easy fix. Get it covered with something better, something you love. My favorite tattoo is a reworking of a design I wasn't happy with. That being said, they're a part of my body, like my freckles or my earlobes. The amount of thought I put into them on an average day is very, very low.
I say, go for the prettiest picture you can in a place and manner that a qualified custom artist thinks is best. Hell, if you're really open to it, custom artists love nothing more than to be told, "I really like flowers, and hourglasses, and certain types of birds, and botanical illustrations, but I'm not sure exactly what I want. Can you just design something beautiful for me?"
Seriously, you'll be their new favorite customer.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 1:48 PM on September 12, 2013 [12 favorites]
Foot tattoos are pretty terrible in terms of wear (also bad: hand tattoos). You're almost guaranteed to have some degradation of the ink there over time--more than in other spots. This is especially true if you have it done in a season where you have to wear shoes.
On the other hand, I've had a tattoo that covers most of one side of my torso for about half a decade, through thirty pounds of weight change and now a pregnancy. It looks indistinguishable from when it first healed.
I am a heavily tattooed person. Some of my tattoos are meaningful; some aren't. Either way, I prefer the ones that are pretty and clear without my having to excessively talk about them (a la every episode of Miami Ink). Frankly, people don't really want to hear your "meaningful" story, but they'll ask because they feel obligated to do so or they figure it's what you, as a tattooed person, want to be asked. But my funny tattoos (left and right on my arms, because I have trouble with spatial orientation) or my pretty tattoos are much more appropriate ice breakers than my memorial tattoos. I love my dead grandpa, but sometimes I get tired of talking about him, and people never seem to want to hear about it, really.
Unlike ook, I think "I just really thought this image was beautiful" is a perfectly good and cromulent thing to tell someone about your ink.
A good tattoo artist will make any tattoo look like it belongs on your body. Generally, though, bigger is better for tattoo wear and tear and general beauty. Small tattoos generally look crappy and poorly integrated on one's body; I encouraged my artist to go smaller with my chestpiece at 19, because I was intimidated by the size she suggested. I eventually regretted it and had it added to and expanded to make it look better.
In fact, any tattoo that I've mildly regretted has been the result of not trusting my artist, or going to an artist I didn't trust. However, because I'm comfortable with big, beautiful tattoos, it's a pretty easy fix. Get it covered with something better, something you love. My favorite tattoo is a reworking of a design I wasn't happy with. That being said, they're a part of my body, like my freckles or my earlobes. The amount of thought I put into them on an average day is very, very low.
I say, go for the prettiest picture you can in a place and manner that a qualified custom artist thinks is best. Hell, if you're really open to it, custom artists love nothing more than to be told, "I really like flowers, and hourglasses, and certain types of birds, and botanical illustrations, but I'm not sure exactly what I want. Can you just design something beautiful for me?"
Seriously, you'll be their new favorite customer.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 1:48 PM on September 12, 2013 [12 favorites]
Oh, also, I am a tattooed woman without even an ear piercing. They're different types of art, different types of pain, different commitments. Get a piercing if you want one, but don't feel obligated to get one as some sort of starter tattoo.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 1:49 PM on September 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 1:49 PM on September 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
I got a tattoo at 30 for some of the same reasons as you. The main difference was that I never really wanted a tattoo...until the day I thought of the design I wanted. It is very meaningful to me and marks a difficult, awesome, transformative time in my life. I'm a woman and it's an image that could potentially say "cheesy chick tattoo that lots of women have," so to counter that I made sure it was very big. It covers most of my shoulder blade, which is a nice location for flaunting it or covering it, depending on the circumstances. Also, n'thing the above comments that it won't change your goody goody image at all - it will just surprise the people who think you're a goody goody (but that's sort of fun in a way, too!). Once I decided I wanted my tattoo, I waited two or three months. I also felt confident that at age 30 I knew myself pretty well, and that even as I age, change, and evolve, I always want to remember and embody the person I was at the time that I made this choice. I have lived too much of my life being the person others wanted me to be. Part of getting this tattoo is about permanently committing to being the person I want to be. There's no wimping out of being authentic, now that I'm wearing this statement on my body.
posted by TrixieRamble at 2:07 PM on September 12, 2013
posted by TrixieRamble at 2:07 PM on September 12, 2013
I've got five tattoos. I got my first on my 18th birthday and it has no meaning other than, "hey, I super like tattoos." (The first tattoo is on my left ankle.)
I got the other four last year at age 39. The four tattoos (two on each inner wrist) I got last year are all based on illustrations by Marc Johns and they all have personal meaning to me. These tattoos sometimes confuse people because they look like watercolor illustrations and not so much like tattoo flash. I give zero fucks what anyone else thinks of these tattoos. I love them.
You don't need a reason to get a tattoo other than you like tattoos. However, I would advise you that getting one because people see you as uptight is *not* a good reason. This is something that will be with you forever most likely and if you change your mind in the years to come it will be an expensive mistake you've made.
Make sure you scout out tattoo artists, that you view their portfolios, make an appointment (put down the deposit), and choose wisely.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 2:17 PM on September 12, 2013
I got the other four last year at age 39. The four tattoos (two on each inner wrist) I got last year are all based on illustrations by Marc Johns and they all have personal meaning to me. These tattoos sometimes confuse people because they look like watercolor illustrations and not so much like tattoo flash. I give zero fucks what anyone else thinks of these tattoos. I love them.
You don't need a reason to get a tattoo other than you like tattoos. However, I would advise you that getting one because people see you as uptight is *not* a good reason. This is something that will be with you forever most likely and if you change your mind in the years to come it will be an expensive mistake you've made.
Make sure you scout out tattoo artists, that you view their portfolios, make an appointment (put down the deposit), and choose wisely.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 2:17 PM on September 12, 2013
> I love my dead grandpa, but sometimes I get tired of talking about him, and people never seem to want to hear about it, really
Oooh, you need a cover story. Everyone thinks they know the meaning behind my tattoos (it's really obvious!) but the true reason is a secret that nobody will ever know but meeeee.
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:44 PM on September 12, 2013
Oooh, you need a cover story. Everyone thinks they know the meaning behind my tattoos (it's really obvious!) but the true reason is a secret that nobody will ever know but meeeee.
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:44 PM on September 12, 2013
n'thing all of Cristalinne and PhoB's advice. I think your reasons are as good as anyone's.
I strongly feel that the best tattoos are chosen with primarily aesthetic goals in mind: I ran a snarky tumblr for a very short while that chronicled all the different 'meanings' people ascribe to their various tattoos. For whatever reason, most of these tattoos were of birds. A gorgeous, carefully done tattoo of a bird is a beautiful and lasting thing. A cruddy tattoo of a bird is still a cruddy tattoo, regardless of your exhaustive explanation of how it represents the time in your life when your grandma held your hand and told you she loved you, or whatever. As a direct result of running that tumblr, I threw away all my high concept tattoo ideas and just chose the most striking design I could find, and I'm glad I did. Really good tattoos 'work' without explanation.
I would take the next six months or so and start checking the blogs that Cristalinne suggested, saving ones that strike you as appealing in a folder. I'd also just start paying particularly close attention to all forms of art and other imagery that catches your eye. Something I most enjoyed about my tattoo 'research' process was how for almost a year I was looking at the world through this very particular lens, and I paid attention to visual material in a way I wasn't used to. Do you like complicated patterns? Simple primary colors? A certain artistic period? I went to the Picasso museum in Spain during this time and I looked at his line sketches in a very different way than I would have otherwise.
In a few months, I would start looking around your area for the most reputable tattoo artists and begin researching their portfolios. How do their styles match with what you've come to realize you like? The best artists often have month-long waiting lists or more, so you should secure a consultation appointment well in advance. Nearly all artists will work with you on your design if you show up with samples of other kind of work you like and basic ideas about size, placement, imagery, and so on. They are more likely to agree to do this if the tattoo you want is a little larger or more technically ambitious.
My last suggestion is this. Aim to spend money. Hire a good artist and don't go for the tiniest tattoo you can squeeze into the most private spot on your body. Commit to it and think of it as art. If you find someone you actually respect as an artist and give them some leeway to work, that is meaningful - a lot more meaningful than quoting a poem you like or memorializing a trip to Ireland by getting its flag tattooed on your butt. Take your time, do this thoughtfully, and you will not end up with a tattoo you regret.
posted by pretentious illiterate at 2:45 PM on September 12, 2013 [4 favorites]
I strongly feel that the best tattoos are chosen with primarily aesthetic goals in mind: I ran a snarky tumblr for a very short while that chronicled all the different 'meanings' people ascribe to their various tattoos. For whatever reason, most of these tattoos were of birds. A gorgeous, carefully done tattoo of a bird is a beautiful and lasting thing. A cruddy tattoo of a bird is still a cruddy tattoo, regardless of your exhaustive explanation of how it represents the time in your life when your grandma held your hand and told you she loved you, or whatever. As a direct result of running that tumblr, I threw away all my high concept tattoo ideas and just chose the most striking design I could find, and I'm glad I did. Really good tattoos 'work' without explanation.
I would take the next six months or so and start checking the blogs that Cristalinne suggested, saving ones that strike you as appealing in a folder. I'd also just start paying particularly close attention to all forms of art and other imagery that catches your eye. Something I most enjoyed about my tattoo 'research' process was how for almost a year I was looking at the world through this very particular lens, and I paid attention to visual material in a way I wasn't used to. Do you like complicated patterns? Simple primary colors? A certain artistic period? I went to the Picasso museum in Spain during this time and I looked at his line sketches in a very different way than I would have otherwise.
In a few months, I would start looking around your area for the most reputable tattoo artists and begin researching their portfolios. How do their styles match with what you've come to realize you like? The best artists often have month-long waiting lists or more, so you should secure a consultation appointment well in advance. Nearly all artists will work with you on your design if you show up with samples of other kind of work you like and basic ideas about size, placement, imagery, and so on. They are more likely to agree to do this if the tattoo you want is a little larger or more technically ambitious.
My last suggestion is this. Aim to spend money. Hire a good artist and don't go for the tiniest tattoo you can squeeze into the most private spot on your body. Commit to it and think of it as art. If you find someone you actually respect as an artist and give them some leeway to work, that is meaningful - a lot more meaningful than quoting a poem you like or memorializing a trip to Ireland by getting its flag tattooed on your butt. Take your time, do this thoughtfully, and you will not end up with a tattoo you regret.
posted by pretentious illiterate at 2:45 PM on September 12, 2013 [4 favorites]
I am heavily tattooed. I got my first one at 29 to commemorate my thesis on memento mori that I finished when I was 25. It's an hourglass and I love it. It took me four years to know how much I wanted that damn tattoo. The rest came after.
My husband has a tattoo he got at 19 because "Hey, tattoo!" He hates hates hates it, even though he has other tattoos that he loves.
You need to LOVE your idea. I mean love. Like you couldn't imagine your body without it and meaningful. At least for me, I LOVE my ink and I'd not like my body nearly as much if I didn't have it - BTW, some of my ink is in my avatar if you'd like to have a look.
posted by Sophie1 at 2:48 PM on September 12, 2013
My husband has a tattoo he got at 19 because "Hey, tattoo!" He hates hates hates it, even though he has other tattoos that he loves.
You need to LOVE your idea. I mean love. Like you couldn't imagine your body without it and meaningful. At least for me, I LOVE my ink and I'd not like my body nearly as much if I didn't have it - BTW, some of my ink is in my avatar if you'd like to have a look.
posted by Sophie1 at 2:48 PM on September 12, 2013
Hello. I have one tattoo and have appointments for two more TOMORROW!! (I'm very excited.)
- My current tattoo is the pawprint of the first cat who was truly mine. It's on my upper back, and every time I see it, I smile. It's just a black outline, very simple. It boggles my family, which I think is fun.
- My next ones are going to be a daffodil on my left ankle and a shamrock on my right foot. Both small and feminine.
- I choose places that are easier to cover, yes, because sometimes I don't want people all up in my business. This is also why I wear t-shirts without any writing - because strangers feel the need to comment on my clothing, and I don't like that.
- You can get a tattoo for whatever reason(s) you want.
- Do make sure it's beautiful, but as long as it's beautiful and you love it as that, and not as something "meaningful", I think it'll work out fine.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 2:53 PM on September 12, 2013
- My current tattoo is the pawprint of the first cat who was truly mine. It's on my upper back, and every time I see it, I smile. It's just a black outline, very simple. It boggles my family, which I think is fun.
- My next ones are going to be a daffodil on my left ankle and a shamrock on my right foot. Both small and feminine.
- I choose places that are easier to cover, yes, because sometimes I don't want people all up in my business. This is also why I wear t-shirts without any writing - because strangers feel the need to comment on my clothing, and I don't like that.
- You can get a tattoo for whatever reason(s) you want.
- Do make sure it's beautiful, but as long as it's beautiful and you love it as that, and not as something "meaningful", I think it'll work out fine.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 2:53 PM on September 12, 2013
I have six tattoos. All of them are incredibly significant to a part of my life (the title of the first song I sang at Carnegie Hall) or a lifelong passion (the Greek comedy/tragedy theatre masks). I would never get a tattoo that's flash off an artist's wall, although people do. The bottom line, for me, is can I find something that I will want to look at every day for the rest of my life not because it's beautiful (tats change, need touch ups, etc), but because I'm beautiful.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:03 PM on September 12, 2013
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:03 PM on September 12, 2013
I concur with others - foot tattoos will blow out* most likely and not look well, over time. I have ten or so tattoos, and I do regret some, and I love others, and that's just how it goes.
In terms of placement: look for an area with low clothing interaction. My tattoos on my finger, wrist, nape of neck (okay, that one's sun exposure) and shoulder (under bra strap, specifically) have not held up as well as the tattoos over my collarbone, hips, and breastbone. The breastbone one is only visible when I wear a low-necked shirt - think a deep cowlneck, so very easily concealed for interviews, as is my collarbone (turtleneck). Similarly, no one at work has ever seen my shoulders. Anything covered by a t-shirt is a starting point.
In case you like it, ensure that whatever you get is something that will fit in with a larger piece. Each one of my tattoos is piecemeal and, should I ever manage to get it together and finish my Grand Finale, they will have to be covered or incorporated in some way. Mea culpa.
And get something that resides in your heart, that you could look at every day and feel - if not love - at least a rush of memory and emotion.
*Blow out: losing the distinct outlines, edges becoming fuzzy and indistinct. Seems to happen on body parts with a lot of movement + clothing rubbing.
posted by Nyx at 3:08 PM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
In terms of placement: look for an area with low clothing interaction. My tattoos on my finger, wrist, nape of neck (okay, that one's sun exposure) and shoulder (under bra strap, specifically) have not held up as well as the tattoos over my collarbone, hips, and breastbone. The breastbone one is only visible when I wear a low-necked shirt - think a deep cowlneck, so very easily concealed for interviews, as is my collarbone (turtleneck). Similarly, no one at work has ever seen my shoulders. Anything covered by a t-shirt is a starting point.
In case you like it, ensure that whatever you get is something that will fit in with a larger piece. Each one of my tattoos is piecemeal and, should I ever manage to get it together and finish my Grand Finale, they will have to be covered or incorporated in some way. Mea culpa.
And get something that resides in your heart, that you could look at every day and feel - if not love - at least a rush of memory and emotion.
*Blow out: losing the distinct outlines, edges becoming fuzzy and indistinct. Seems to happen on body parts with a lot of movement + clothing rubbing.
posted by Nyx at 3:08 PM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Couple of things that stand out to me:
"But is it a terrible idea to get a tattoo (especially a first tattoo) that isn't personally meaningful and that I haven't spent years planning?"
Nope! Get something you think is beautiful and you won't regret it. Fuck all the feeling like it has to be "meaningful" stuff -- I've seen a lot of ugly "meaningful" tattoos. It's aesthetic first and foremost, people aren't going to look at it and see all the stuff you've tried to shoehorn in there.
Other tips:
- You'll always wish you had gone bigger. "Big and bold holds."
- Tops of the feet hurt, but not as much as I thought. It's the bruising a couple of days after, that feels like a horse stepped on your feet, that'll get you.
posted by fiercecupcake at 3:08 PM on September 12, 2013
"But is it a terrible idea to get a tattoo (especially a first tattoo) that isn't personally meaningful and that I haven't spent years planning?"
Nope! Get something you think is beautiful and you won't regret it. Fuck all the feeling like it has to be "meaningful" stuff -- I've seen a lot of ugly "meaningful" tattoos. It's aesthetic first and foremost, people aren't going to look at it and see all the stuff you've tried to shoehorn in there.
Other tips:
- You'll always wish you had gone bigger. "Big and bold holds."
- Tops of the feet hurt, but not as much as I thought. It's the bruising a couple of days after, that feels like a horse stepped on your feet, that'll get you.
posted by fiercecupcake at 3:08 PM on September 12, 2013
To be honest, part of the reason I want to get a tattoo is to counteract the "super uptight goody-goody" vibe that I apparently involuntarily give off all of the time, so I'd like the tattoo to be visible. Is this a terrible reason to get a tattoo?
Solely in the spirit of answering your question, and not to criticize anyone in this thread or to open any type of derail, I'd point out the belief that "marking your skin permanently [is] a terrible, shortsighted idea" is not exclusive to people under the age of thirty. And while I question the wisdom of assuming what removal treatments will look like in three decades, I can guarantee you that people will still feel that way in three decades. It isn't some archaic belief confined to a generation that's dying off. It's a belief that is common among all ages.
Tattoos are insignificant to some people, who will perceive you as a goody-goody (or not) based on your behavior and irrespective of body art. For other people, any type of visible tattooing is significant and will send a message that's independent of what you hope to convey. Sometimes that message will be positive. Sometimes it will be very, very negative. Put differently, tattoos are a heavily loaded concept in our society and that is unlikely to change any time soon. Therefore I'd say yes, getting a tattoo because you hope it will convey one targeted message is probably a terrible reason because it's an unrealistic expectation.
Good luck with your decision.
posted by cribcage at 3:14 PM on September 12, 2013
Solely in the spirit of answering your question, and not to criticize anyone in this thread or to open any type of derail, I'd point out the belief that "marking your skin permanently [is] a terrible, shortsighted idea" is not exclusive to people under the age of thirty. And while I question the wisdom of assuming what removal treatments will look like in three decades, I can guarantee you that people will still feel that way in three decades. It isn't some archaic belief confined to a generation that's dying off. It's a belief that is common among all ages.
Tattoos are insignificant to some people, who will perceive you as a goody-goody (or not) based on your behavior and irrespective of body art. For other people, any type of visible tattooing is significant and will send a message that's independent of what you hope to convey. Sometimes that message will be positive. Sometimes it will be very, very negative. Put differently, tattoos are a heavily loaded concept in our society and that is unlikely to change any time soon. Therefore I'd say yes, getting a tattoo because you hope it will convey one targeted message is probably a terrible reason because it's an unrealistic expectation.
Good luck with your decision.
posted by cribcage at 3:14 PM on September 12, 2013
I got two tattoos at the age of 30. Lower back, about hand-sized, based on Japanese woodprints.
I got them because I thought they were pretty, and I still do. They still look great 11 years later. I love them and have no regrets.
I found the artist I used by, basically, complimenting people who had tattoos I really liked and then asking where they got them. When I found that a high percentage of the people who had gotten theirs locally were going to the same guy, I went to him.
To pick what kind of tattoo to get, you may want to ask yourself, what do you like in a tattoo? When you see a tattoo that you particularly like, what does it tend to be?
Most (but not all people) are actually drawn to a artistic expression or beauty of a certain kind rather than meaning, per se. For them, meaning is icing on the cake if it happens to be there, and it's fine if it isn't. There are also some people who would not get a tattoo unless it had both meaning and artistry. And a (significantly) smaller percentage of people are drawn to meaning first, and the artistry is the cake icing if it happens to be there.
Good luck, and I hope you love yours!
posted by kyrademon at 3:20 PM on September 12, 2013
I got them because I thought they were pretty, and I still do. They still look great 11 years later. I love them and have no regrets.
I found the artist I used by, basically, complimenting people who had tattoos I really liked and then asking where they got them. When I found that a high percentage of the people who had gotten theirs locally were going to the same guy, I went to him.
To pick what kind of tattoo to get, you may want to ask yourself, what do you like in a tattoo? When you see a tattoo that you particularly like, what does it tend to be?
Most (but not all people) are actually drawn to a artistic expression or beauty of a certain kind rather than meaning, per se. For them, meaning is icing on the cake if it happens to be there, and it's fine if it isn't. There are also some people who would not get a tattoo unless it had both meaning and artistry. And a (significantly) smaller percentage of people are drawn to meaning first, and the artistry is the cake icing if it happens to be there.
Good luck, and I hope you love yours!
posted by kyrademon at 3:20 PM on September 12, 2013
If you want to see how people react to you having art on your skin, consider trying henna first.
posted by yohko at 3:46 PM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by yohko at 3:46 PM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Overthinking? Not at all. You are considering putting something on your body that will (presumably) remain with you for the rest of your life. I think that gives you permission to overthink things so you can be absolutely sure it's something you want. After all, to echo an earlier comment: You can't depend on tattoo removal improving as a way to 'reverse' your choice.
That said, I currently have a single tattoo and plan on getting more. My first tattoo, though it's not something I exactly regret, I do wish I would've had more forethought about. It was definitely a tattoo that was done for the sake of getting a tattoo. I'd have done it differently if I knew then, what I know now.
So my suggestion is to think really hard about what you want. Give yourself a month or two and if you still want it--then find yourself an artist. You can generally find plenty of artists on art gallery websites (such as Deviantart) who can draft a design for a reasonable fee. Take it to a reputable shop and let them do their thing. Also, let the tattoo artist offer their opinion--they do tats for a living and surely have an eye for what looks good or not.
posted by stubbehtail at 3:51 PM on September 12, 2013
That said, I currently have a single tattoo and plan on getting more. My first tattoo, though it's not something I exactly regret, I do wish I would've had more forethought about. It was definitely a tattoo that was done for the sake of getting a tattoo. I'd have done it differently if I knew then, what I know now.
So my suggestion is to think really hard about what you want. Give yourself a month or two and if you still want it--then find yourself an artist. You can generally find plenty of artists on art gallery websites (such as Deviantart) who can draft a design for a reasonable fee. Take it to a reputable shop and let them do their thing. Also, let the tattoo artist offer their opinion--they do tats for a living and surely have an eye for what looks good or not.
posted by stubbehtail at 3:51 PM on September 12, 2013
Well, for what it's worth I got my tattoo because I really wanted one even though I had no idea what I wanted to get. I wound up going to a tattoo parlor and looking through four books of designs until I found something I really liked, sat on it for about a week before I got it done, and 8 years later I'm still very happy with it. So I don't think getting a design that doesn't carry huge amounts of personal meaning will inevitably lead to dissatisfaction, it's more about "could I handle it if this design was stuck to my body for the rest of my life?"
I got mine done on the outside of my leg just above my ankle so that it would be easy to hide and (hopefully) not prone to distortion and I would definitely recommend that location for those reasons. You can go bigger than you think; my tattoo is roughly the size of my palm and many people have gone months or even years without noticing it even though I only purposefully cover it up for job interviews.
posted by fox problems at 4:16 PM on September 12, 2013
I got mine done on the outside of my leg just above my ankle so that it would be easy to hide and (hopefully) not prone to distortion and I would definitely recommend that location for those reasons. You can go bigger than you think; my tattoo is roughly the size of my palm and many people have gone months or even years without noticing it even though I only purposefully cover it up for job interviews.
posted by fox problems at 4:16 PM on September 12, 2013
I have a handful of tattoos, including half sleeves that covered up a couple of shit tattoos I got in my late teens. I wouldn't say I'm addicted since I literally go years without getting one. Take a few years if you need to. The most rewarding tattoos I have were the ones that were bouncing around in my head for a couple of years. Take your time and do some research.
posted by futureisunwritten at 4:30 PM on September 12, 2013
posted by futureisunwritten at 4:30 PM on September 12, 2013
DestinationUnknown: "Totally does not work! They will just be constantly surprised that you, supposed goody-goody, have a tattoo. (Sorry.)"
And seriously, their eyes will occasionally gloss over the very visible ones. My first tattoo was on the inner curve of my left wrist and people still, after anywhere between 3 and 6 years of knowing me or working with me will be shocked when they finally notice it, or I talk about it. The fact I have two others (one somewhat extensive up my thigh, a palm-sized spiral on my shoulder) that are rarely seen doesn't help. The thigh gets more attention if I wear a shorter skirt or it rides up, far more than my wrist. I actually was a librarian, and while I've recently funked up my hair, I look like what I am - a 32 year old librarian mum who is ostensibly middle class, responsible homeowner who talks about taxes and cleaning products and craft. The tattoos don't change that, not really - they are simply a contrast.
And 30 kilos of weight fluctuation later, the thigh is fine. Boobs and belly seem to be the major areas for tattoo shape changing.
But yeah, I've always found that an image settles in my head. I can find something beautiful and want it but once it settles, that's it. And I almost forget it when I have it because it's somehow part of my internal self-image before I get it. As an example I fell in love with the idea of some EH Shepard Winnie the Pooh work as a half-sleeve - so the picture as it appears, wrapped around my arm. It's a lovely lovely image. But it never settled. Then I was thinking of an art deco style half-sleeve pair of the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalen and that was it. That's my internal image. Once I thought of it, that's what it was. But it's been bouncing around in my head for 12+ months now, as a concept. I've picked the artist, and the inspiration images, but I'm letting it percolate.
posted by geek anachronism at 4:44 PM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
And seriously, their eyes will occasionally gloss over the very visible ones. My first tattoo was on the inner curve of my left wrist and people still, after anywhere between 3 and 6 years of knowing me or working with me will be shocked when they finally notice it, or I talk about it. The fact I have two others (one somewhat extensive up my thigh, a palm-sized spiral on my shoulder) that are rarely seen doesn't help. The thigh gets more attention if I wear a shorter skirt or it rides up, far more than my wrist. I actually was a librarian, and while I've recently funked up my hair, I look like what I am - a 32 year old librarian mum who is ostensibly middle class, responsible homeowner who talks about taxes and cleaning products and craft. The tattoos don't change that, not really - they are simply a contrast.
And 30 kilos of weight fluctuation later, the thigh is fine. Boobs and belly seem to be the major areas for tattoo shape changing.
But yeah, I've always found that an image settles in my head. I can find something beautiful and want it but once it settles, that's it. And I almost forget it when I have it because it's somehow part of my internal self-image before I get it. As an example I fell in love with the idea of some EH Shepard Winnie the Pooh work as a half-sleeve - so the picture as it appears, wrapped around my arm. It's a lovely lovely image. But it never settled. Then I was thinking of an art deco style half-sleeve pair of the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalen and that was it. That's my internal image. Once I thought of it, that's what it was. But it's been bouncing around in my head for 12+ months now, as a concept. I've picked the artist, and the inspiration images, but I'm letting it percolate.
posted by geek anachronism at 4:44 PM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
I've gotten several tattoos over the last decade -- some I still love, some I love b/c of what they meant to me at the time (but am not super fond of now!), and to be honest, my favorite tattoo is the one where i went in to the artist for a consult and told him, "I want a tattoo of [x] in [y] style," and when I came back in a month, he freehanded a general design on me with a sharpie and then went to town. It's beautiful, I get tons of compliments on it (though I have other visible tattoos), and although I was nervous (b/c I DID plan my other tattoos out meticulously), I love how it looks -- it makes me feel like my left arm should ALWAYS have looked that way.
So that being said, I don't think it's weird at all to trust your artist -- provided you actually trust your artist! I was lucky -- my husband has had tons of work done by the guy so I knew he wasn't going to screw it up -- but definitely check out a portfolio and try to go with someone whose style matches what you have in mind (not everyone's good at abstract art, for example).
posted by oh really at 5:12 PM on September 12, 2013
So that being said, I don't think it's weird at all to trust your artist -- provided you actually trust your artist! I was lucky -- my husband has had tons of work done by the guy so I knew he wasn't going to screw it up -- but definitely check out a portfolio and try to go with someone whose style matches what you have in mind (not everyone's good at abstract art, for example).
posted by oh really at 5:12 PM on September 12, 2013
I'm a bit purist about tattoos and fall more into the only get them if they're meaningful camp. But that is just me, I agree with others that getting a tattoo because of its beauty also seems like a very good reason. Ultimately it is up to you and the reason has to be good enough for you.
I have two tattoos, one I got at 19 on the back of my shoulder. I had drawn it on a piece of paper as an example, thinking I would get an artier one at the tattoo shop, and much to my surprise the tattooists didn't know what it was (an ankh) and wound up putting my quickly-sketched picture on my shoulder, forever. Hey, I was young and wanted the tattoo more than I wanted it to be perfect. I got it fixed up a bit a few years ago. Anyway, it's meaningful to me (not necessarily what you think) so I don't mind that it isn't the most beautiful tattoo art ever, and I like that I drew it.
My second tattoo extends over my shoulder blades and again, I drew it. I'd been thinking I wanted another for years and had been coming up with excessively complicated designs. After a while, I noticed that I kept doodling the same kind of shape over and over again, and used that as the base for the design. It also wound up having a lot of symbolic meaning for me as well, and again, I'm pleased that it's my drawing. I also researched the tattooist more carefully and made sure they could do what I wanted. Turned out beautifully. I definitely recommend doing your research on the tattooist!
I remember interviewing a tattoo artist once who said that she would never tattoo someone with something that they hadn't drawn themselves. She was a bit odd and arty, but that kind of stuck in my head anyway, FWIW.
posted by Athanassiel at 6:17 PM on September 12, 2013
I have two tattoos, one I got at 19 on the back of my shoulder. I had drawn it on a piece of paper as an example, thinking I would get an artier one at the tattoo shop, and much to my surprise the tattooists didn't know what it was (an ankh) and wound up putting my quickly-sketched picture on my shoulder, forever. Hey, I was young and wanted the tattoo more than I wanted it to be perfect. I got it fixed up a bit a few years ago. Anyway, it's meaningful to me (not necessarily what you think) so I don't mind that it isn't the most beautiful tattoo art ever, and I like that I drew it.
My second tattoo extends over my shoulder blades and again, I drew it. I'd been thinking I wanted another for years and had been coming up with excessively complicated designs. After a while, I noticed that I kept doodling the same kind of shape over and over again, and used that as the base for the design. It also wound up having a lot of symbolic meaning for me as well, and again, I'm pleased that it's my drawing. I also researched the tattooist more carefully and made sure they could do what I wanted. Turned out beautifully. I definitely recommend doing your research on the tattooist!
I remember interviewing a tattoo artist once who said that she would never tattoo someone with something that they hadn't drawn themselves. She was a bit odd and arty, but that kind of stuck in my head anyway, FWIW.
posted by Athanassiel at 6:17 PM on September 12, 2013
Don't get a tattoo until you find a piece of art that you *have* to have on your body. The only person you have to justify it to is yourself.
posted by theora55 at 8:54 PM on September 12, 2013
posted by theora55 at 8:54 PM on September 12, 2013
See an artist who uses tattooing as a medium, rather than some bozo wielding a tattoo gun who traces other people's pictures onto your skin.
posted by theraflu at 9:04 PM on September 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by theraflu at 9:04 PM on September 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
As far as I'm concerned, "to display a part of my personality that others don't usually see" is a perfectly fine reason to get a tattoo. If you go to a good artist with lots of experience who works in a well-run (ie, clean, sterile, etc) shop, it's probably one of the less risky ways you can try out different parts of your identity.
I am 28 and got my first tattoo a few months ago. The experience made me realize that the "ZOMG it's PERMANENT" advice is mostly to dissuade teenagers from getting ugly tattoos from bad artists on their 18th birthdays. I don't know anyone who regrets a well-done tattoo from a skilled artist that has some meaning ("I wanted something beautiful" is a meaning.). I know of a lot of people who regret their badly-inked tattoos. Some people get tattoos impulsively, but getting a tattoo doesn't make you impulsive.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 9:35 PM on September 12, 2013
I am 28 and got my first tattoo a few months ago. The experience made me realize that the "ZOMG it's PERMANENT" advice is mostly to dissuade teenagers from getting ugly tattoos from bad artists on their 18th birthdays. I don't know anyone who regrets a well-done tattoo from a skilled artist that has some meaning ("I wanted something beautiful" is a meaning.). I know of a lot of people who regret their badly-inked tattoos. Some people get tattoos impulsively, but getting a tattoo doesn't make you impulsive.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 9:35 PM on September 12, 2013
I don't think you're crazy for considering this.
I am getting a tattoo next year, and i don't know what it is yet. I found an artist who I love, and they are going to create something for me. I'm going to give him some guidelines, but in the end, I found someone who creates art I really love and want to have on my skin.
I found this artist basically by poking around lots of tattoo blogs, and when I found this particular guy's art, I fell in love with it (sadly, he's got an 18 month waiting list at this point, but I'm coping).
posted by inertia at 6:57 AM on September 13, 2013
I am getting a tattoo next year, and i don't know what it is yet. I found an artist who I love, and they are going to create something for me. I'm going to give him some guidelines, but in the end, I found someone who creates art I really love and want to have on my skin.
I found this artist basically by poking around lots of tattoo blogs, and when I found this particular guy's art, I fell in love with it (sadly, he's got an 18 month waiting list at this point, but I'm coping).
posted by inertia at 6:57 AM on September 13, 2013
Look online at artists portfolios. Be willing to travel for a really good artist--maybe look at your nearest city instead of your hometown for better options.
Have a basic idea of elements, like "I want something about dancing, I love dancing. I also enjoy trees and art nouveau style art" A good artist would be able to draw you something unique and amazing.
This blog has a bunch of amazing tattoos--look up a few artists behind them, and see if any that you love live nearby!
posted by Grandysaur at 8:52 AM on September 13, 2013
Have a basic idea of elements, like "I want something about dancing, I love dancing. I also enjoy trees and art nouveau style art" A good artist would be able to draw you something unique and amazing.
This blog has a bunch of amazing tattoos--look up a few artists behind them, and see if any that you love live nearby!
posted by Grandysaur at 8:52 AM on September 13, 2013
> I look like what I am - a 32 year old librarian mum who is ostensibly middle class, responsible homeowner who talks about taxes and cleaning products and craft. The tattoos don't change that, not really - they are simply a contrast
Depending on where you are, they might not even be a contrast. I'm a middle-aged, middle class mom and so are most of my day-to-day friends, and I'd guess the majority of us have tattoos. I can think of only a few who have sleeves, but almost all of us have a tattoo or two somewhere.
A new friend who moved here (I'm near Seattle) from Louisiana said it was a nice change to be where tattoos weren't unusual, so they might still make you stand out in your neighborhood. But here in my suburb the cashier at Safeway has full sleeves, my kids' teachers have tattoos, the moms have tattoos, the dads have tattoos, and we're all driving around in minivans and shopping at Costco.
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:29 AM on September 13, 2013 [3 favorites]
Depending on where you are, they might not even be a contrast. I'm a middle-aged, middle class mom and so are most of my day-to-day friends, and I'd guess the majority of us have tattoos. I can think of only a few who have sleeves, but almost all of us have a tattoo or two somewhere.
A new friend who moved here (I'm near Seattle) from Louisiana said it was a nice change to be where tattoos weren't unusual, so they might still make you stand out in your neighborhood. But here in my suburb the cashier at Safeway has full sleeves, my kids' teachers have tattoos, the moms have tattoos, the dads have tattoos, and we're all driving around in minivans and shopping at Costco.
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:29 AM on September 13, 2013 [3 favorites]
I'm in academia, I got my first tattoo at 37. It's a full sleeve. It doesn't particularly mean anything to me. I doesn't signify anything deep and meaningful. I got it because I had an idea and talked it through with an artist whose work I admired who thought he could do something nice with it. He convinced me to go bigger (which is pretty conventional advice especially for a first-timer) which I'm glad he did and now I have a full sleeve that I love.
posted by ob at 10:25 AM on September 13, 2013
posted by ob at 10:25 AM on September 13, 2013
Oh yeah, and I'll back up the advice of those who have said that you should pay the money to get some top quality work done. A good tattoo costs money. As it's something for life, this seems only right. The only tattoo regrets I've heard are from people who got shoddy work done (this applies both to the work itself and its placement/size.)
posted by ob at 10:37 AM on September 13, 2013
posted by ob at 10:37 AM on September 13, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by PercussivePaul at 12:58 PM on September 12, 2013 [6 favorites]