Fuzzable
Whilst the art of tattooing is more than 6,000 years old, it’s only in the past fifty years or so that the practice has really taken off. Today, it’s hard to walk down the street without seeing a tattoo, or watching a music video without seeing stunning body art on your favorite musician. Indeed, tattooing is more popular than ever; 30% of all US college graduates have one, and in the United Kingdom, 35% of those aged between 30 and 39 have at least one tattoo.
But getting your own tattoo is a different story. Before you do, we’ve rounded up five key considerations to ensure you’re making the right decision – one you hopefully won’t regret!
Making sure you want one
It’s easy to jump on the bandwagon and decide that you want a new tattoo, but did you know that 17% of people who have a tattoo regret it? More women regret getting their tattoo than men. The most common reason for that is getting a lover’s name tattooed on your body, so make sure you’re definitely going to stick with your partner before getting their name inked on your skin. Tattoo removal is expensive and painful – but not as painful as carrying an exes name on your shoulder for the rest of your life! If in doubt, choose a tattoo without words.
Choosing the right design
Once you’ve decided you want to get a tattoo, the next step is choosing the right design. The chances are that your tattooist will have a whole host of generic designs that you can choose from, and many will offer to create a custom design for an additional fee. You can also buy templates from the internet, or design your own using a pen and paper. Remember that this design will live on your body forever – it’s best to work with a professional to get the job done!
Looking after your tattoo
Before you get your tattoo, you should take a moment to think about tattoo aftercare and buy the necessary products required to look after your new ink. If you’re not careful with the new design, then you could cause it to rub, fade, or worse still, become infected. Swot up on everything you need to know before you head to the tattoo parlor – buying creams and extras on your own will also be cheaper than waiting for your tattooist to recommend products, too!
Telling your family
If you’re young, then getting your family to say yes to a tattoo can be tough. Obviously, you must be 18 or over, so you’re free to make your own decisions, but it’s important that you have approval from your loved ones. You may decide to warn them in advance and show them your design to get feedback and ideas, or you may choose to get your tattoo and then break the news to your loved ones when you’re back home. Whatever you do, best of luck!
Thinking about the future
Whilst having a tattoo obviously doesn’t the same effect on one’s career or job prospects as much as it once did, that doesn’t mean it won’t have an effect at all. Indeed, in some industries or professions, being tatted up could damage your chances of securing a job or climbing the career ladder, no matter how much you might think it doesn’t. Be mindful of the tattoo you choose, and consider one somewhere it can be hidden if necessary, to ensure you can still look professional and smart when you’re in an office or working environment.
There you have it – a few things to think about before you get a tattoo. Whether you’re going for a dolphin or something totally unique, we wish you the very best of luck with it. Tattoos look good, give you confidence and help you express yourself, so get creative and have fun!
