Where to ink?
 

I want to get a tattoo. I have the image picked out and everything, along with the artist and coloring. I had the location of the tat picked out, but I am having second thoughts.

I was going to get it on my upper arm. But, I looked at myself in the mirror as I was getting ready for work this morning, and tried to imagine what it would look like. It looked pretty silly with my work skirt and a tanktop on.

I don't want to get one on my back, because not only would no one else ever see it, but neither would I. I don't want to get one on my chest, because I hate those, and even fewer people would see that.

I am trying to decide between calf, ankle, or maybe something else that I am not imagining right now.

Anyone here have any ideas, or places that you like to see tattoos on other people?

Quadrette has hers on her left shoulder, but then again, she only sees it in the mirror. Tons of other people see it, though. :) Sounds like you'd be good with an ankle tattoo. Or just below your hip, maybe? Then only the right people would see it. :)

Out of those places left over, what area is best suited for the design? Upper arm is not all that bad and depending on how uptight your work is it shouldnt be much of a problem....but you never know. Do you have a stencil of it? If so I would place it on those areas to get a good idea of what the final outcome is.

Tattoos on your ankle, from what I understand, hurt like a bitch, because there's less flesh there, but the benefit to the ankle, is you can hide it is you need to.

Try a temporary tattoo for a few days in various locations and see what you are comfortable with.

Those are all good ideas. Thanks for the input.

Right in the middle of your forehead. You'll be able to see it, and so will everyone else :D

Seriously though.. I don't know. I like the hip idea. But you want people to see it, so if you don't dress like Britney Spears on a daily basis then chances are people won't see it.

Nope, I don't. It may be showy or flashy, but I just don't see the point of getting a tattoo that people won't see.

What's the size of the tattoo?

What about something like the front of your shoulder. If you wear something strapless or with spagetti straps it could show but if you want to cover it that wouldn't be too difficult.

Or how about the back of your wrist? It would depend on what the tattoo is and how discrete you want to be.

I think tattoos on ankles and feet are pretty hot. That's really the only place I appreciate them, though.

Personally, the only place I would want to put a tattoo is my ass.

And this is the one I would get:

http://aurig.us/images/lips_small.jpg

Reason: I wouldnt want anyone to see it unless I was sure to show them. My ass is one place that I wouldn't mind letting people see, but my grand-kids will not be looking at it, even accidentally.

Even though it's cliche every girl needs a tattoo on their lower back.

It's sexy.

I was getting ready to say, "Please don't get it on your lower back like every girl in the US." Now I'll continue: please don't get it on your lower back like every girl in the US.

My mom got one on her ankle and threw up because it hurt so bad getting it. I can't really think of any other places besides your arm. I'd probably go with the ankle.

-Lasereth

You might also consider whether or not you think you'll be a repeat offender or not, so to speak. I personally would advise against getting one on hands or feet areas, despite how hot and bothered it'll make RatBastid ;) Reason being, your skin tends to stretch there more as you grow older and is worn a lot by repeated use, so the tat gets distorted fairly easily - at least this is what I've heard. If you think you might get another, I'd consider the shoulder area - I rather like the idea of being to cover it up when necessary.

Depending on the size, you might also consider the forearm area. I would personally vote against the calf, unless you've already got a bunch of tats.

I've seen a fair number of guys with tattoos on their calf, and it's definitely a nice, flat-ish place to get something done that you can choose to show off either in shorts or in a thug manner of one pantleg curled up.

And I agree with Lasereth and half agree with OK: Tattoo's on the lower back are too cliche.

That's funny Journeyman. Opposite opinion seconds apart.

/personally loves the lower back tat ;)

I've thought about getting a tattoo, and the thing that keeps me from getting one is thinking about how it'll look when I'm 60 and saggy. That's a pretty good argument for getting it somewhere only people you love will see it :)

Lurkette, I think that's great advice, at least for a first tat. No need to go to extremes right at first. In the same line, I would also advise selecting a design that has personal meaning...that way you can look back at when you're 60 and it looks like a big blob, and it still has meaning to you.

/cue Springsteen "Glory Days"

Temporary Tattoo - excellent idea, wish I had tried that...

Coming from someone who has tattoos (for over ten years now), the ability to cover up (if needed/desired) is proving to be very important. I have the choice to display the tattoo or not to (handy in a professional environment).

Also, a quick warning, tattoos are VERY addictive. You get one and I bet money that you will want another one, etc. They tend to grow on ya.

Location is key, for a girl/woman/lady/insert PC term here (my opinion). Personally I like the ankle and near the bikini line (both areas that can be shown off or covered up). Stay away from the lower back as that will cause more problems then it is worth. I think the back-side of the shoulder (up high) looks cool as well.

A tattoo can be painful regardless of the location; I don't consider pain when determining location (if pain is an issue, don't get a tattoo). Keep in mind, regarding my opinion on pain, that I have several piercings as well (which hurt worse than any tattoo I have).

well, i think it depends greatly on how big it is and what the tattoo is of. if it's an image of your child (assuming you have children) or something like that, you'd likely want to show it off and wouldn't want it in an intimate area... but if it's something simple like a heart or butterfly, maybe it would be better in a more intimate area.

if it's small or can be scaled down, i say go with the bikini line. if it needs to be bigger because of detail, then i vote for the ankle region. i find shoulder tattoos really unattractive, same with arm and/or chest tattoos on ladies.