Choosing a tattoo can be stressful because it's so long-term a tattoo is so permanent. Making the wrong decision can be painful, costly and inconvenient.
There are so many factors to consider before making the final decision, including size, color, meaning, style and placement of the design as well as the artist you choose to help you get the tattoo you want.
The bottom line, however, is to take your time and get plenty of information about tattoos and the designs you might get before choosing.
This hub offers a few steps I've compiled for choosing your tattoo design and tips before making your decision. There are also links for more information and video and images to supplement your ideas. The information in this hub is presented based on what I consider most helpful after my own tattoo-choosing experience not too long ago, and on what I've heard from other people as well.
I love my tattoo and I hope you end up loving yours too! Please take the time to learn about tattoos before you end up with something forever.
Start deciding!
Pay heed to these steps before making your final decision:
1. Ask yourself why you even want a tattoo in the first place. Do you want to have something you love ingrained in your skin forever? Are you doing it for someone else? Are you happy you're old enough to get a tattoo without parent permission? Are you getting a discount? Think about each reason why and why not.
2. Ask if a tattoo will affect you in the workplace and other scenarios. It's most likely not worth losing a job over. Also see if there are rules against tattoos in other organizations your participate in, such as sports or volunteering.
3. Choosing a design:
* Make sure the design has meaning to you and that it is inevitably a reflection of the self. Thus, the design should represent something that you love, enjoy or are attached to. It may be in honor of another. Why are these things meaningful to you?
* Consider tattoos with writing even more. Make sure you know and understand the meanings of words, their origins, etc. If you're choosing a quote, make sure it represents you completely. Don't forget to pick the perfect font (or make your own)... typefaces create moods and feelings.
* Look at other tattoos and designs that exist already, though don't restrict yourself to what's already out there. Check books, posters, stationary, stickers and anything else out there, not just the designs on the tattoo parlor walls.
4. Choosing where you want it:
* The placement of your tattoo on your body is very important. Do you want it to show up every day or do you want it covered up most of the time for whatever reason, whether for work or recreation? Think about the clothes you wear, how your hair is worn and the activities you participate in and how they will affect how often your tattoo shows.
* You can try getting a printout of the design you are considering for your tattoo artist to recreate on your skin temporarily.
* Try getting a henna tattoo of the design you're thinking of before you get the real thing; henna is more temporary (lasting at least a week and up to a month) and, though you won't be able to get the colors and exact detail of what you want, you can get an idea of how it feels in a certain place at a certain size.
5. Choosing color: Do you want your tattoo in black or gray? Do you want a full-color tattoo? White? Will the color fade faster in certain places on your body? Consider the pigment of your skin and how well the color goes with it.
6. Creating the design:
* Be creative. Sometimes it just takes a little practice to draw your own design.
* You don't have to create the design yourself; you can ask a tattoo artist to do it. Many are conventional artists that can at least copy a picture you find that you might want to base your design on. They can also reproduce it onto your skin temporarily as well as redesign a drawing you do.
* How big do you want this tattoo to be? Think about where it's going and if you want it to show at all. How expensive will it be? Sleeves can cost up to $300!
7. Choosing an artist:
* Consider what style of tattoo you like best, then find a tattoo artist that specializes in that style; even though many can achieve a wide range of looks, they usually have specialties. There are natural, Asian, black and white, comical and other types of looks to consider.
* The recommendations of others really help! Make sure that the artist you go to gets good props from former and/or current customers; don't just go to the nearest parlor. Look at tattoos people got from the place you're thinking about going to and see if they have the kind of look you're going for.
* Also consider prices. Try to get a quote before you get it because you don't want to be disappointed or angry once the tattoo is done.
* You may want to consider the experience the artist has. It doesn't hurt to ask.
Finally, don't be afraid to take your time in choosing. The most important thing is that you yourself are happy with the finished product. Take as much time as possible! This is something I stress.
I have wanted a tattoo since I was 10, but I knew I had to wait before I made my decision. I always thought I wanted a tattoo of my name in Korean characters and then settled on where I thought I wanted it. However, as the time approached for me to go and get my tattoo, I started to change my mind. I talked to others and looked at a lot of other tattoos before I found a design to base my tattoo on. By the time I was 19 and in the parlor I had completely changed my mind as to what I wanted (though I still wanted only a black and white tattoo). It had taken me more than eight years to make up my mind, but I'm glad I took my time.
Tips
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Remember:
1. You can change or alter any design you find to base your tattoo on. You might only want a piece of a picture or you might want to change the colors.
2. Tattoo artists are there to draw for you if you want... don't be afraid to ask for help on creating a design.
3.Your imagination is the limit!
4. Consider how your tattoo would be perceived across cultures. Will it offend anyone? Does your tattoo symbol mean something bad to others?
5. Of course, choose Asian characters wisely. Not only might your idea of what a character might mean be completely wrong, there might also be a double meaning or some other aspect to it. Don't trust the interpretations on the parlor walls.
6. Think about the kind of tattoo or design you would have gotten 10 years ago and ask yourself if you'd like that now. If not, then maybe you shouldn't get a tattoo. Perhaps you're too finicky to choose a design you'll like in 10 more years.
7. The No. 1 tattoo type that people want removed or covered up (besides homemade tattoos) are names! Unless the name is of someone dead or your child, then they're too testy to deal with!
8. You might want to get a tattoo with another family member (friends might be too temporary to chance it) that matches or go together. You might also want a tattoo of a family symbol, such as a crest or last name.
9. Your tattoo doesn't have to have a deep meaning. Don't be afraid to get a cartoon character if you really love it!
10. It costs more to get foot, hand and face tattoos because they need more touch-ups and require more time and attention to heal. Some artists may also refuse to do these types of tattoos if the person doesn't already have tattoos in more visible areas.
· If you feel hesitant at all for whatever reason, don't go through with it!
General tattoo risks
* Of course you should choose a design you like so you don't have to resort to removing your tattoo. Laser tattoo removal is very expensive, painful and time- consuming... it might not even work completely. If you want a tattoo cover-up, it's cheaper, but make sure you find an artist who specializes in it. Remember: don't be afraid to take your time in choosing a tattoo design so you won't regret it later!
* As tattoos can become infected, make sure that you take special care and listen to what the tattoo artist says. Oftentimes they may offer a page of instructions for your reference.
* As you grow older, tattoos may lose color or quality and may require touch-ups, often after 10-30 years. Using sunscreen or skin moisturizers can help retain the look of your tattoo.
