tattoos: any regrets?

[evilbeefchan]

I've always had this obsession with tattoos and body art ever since I was in the 4th grade, and I know for sure that I will get a tattoo someday. So I was wondering how many TFPers out there have tattoos, and to please share any stories about them. And, as stated in the title, have any of you regretted the decision and had it removed? Thank you for all of your opinions. I would love to hear your experiences, and hope to be joining the club soon.

[CinnamonGirl]

Getting my tattoo was not so much fun--it hurt like hell, and I blacked out for a few seconds. However, I'm glad I got it. It's my own personal memorial for my brother, so it's not something I'd ever regret.

I've considered getting another one, but it's a matter of finding something I wouldn't mind on my body for...well, pretty much the rest of my life. My husband and I have discussed getting matching ivy designs (or something similar), but I'd want to get something like that on my ankle, which of course, would hurt a lot more than say, my arm or something.

When it comes to needles, I'm a huge wuss...so if I can do it, I'm pretty sure anyone can

[*Nikki*]

I am regretting one that I have only because I have to keep it hidden with clothing so much. It is in a pretty odvious place (my upper arm) and it is a pain in the ass finding clothes to cover it up during the spring and summer months.
I was actually thinking about getting it removed but it is so damn expensive.

[~springrain]

i designed more tattoos than i can count... but only one finally made it on to my body... and not until i was 30 years old (i'm a pretty big procrastinor )
... i am VERY glad i waited... only because it seemed that i changed my mind alot... not only about what i wanted... but WHERE... and i do think the WHERE is most important.
if you are female anyway.
i would never get one that i couldn't easily cover up when necessary...
and it's not that i don't like to show mine off or talk about it... just that in certain situations, job interviews, etc. you might not want to show it.

as far as the pain... mine didn't hurt at all... but i got it on my rear hip... so it's pretty fleshy there... from what i'm told, places right on the bone hurt worst of all.

if you really want one... just do ample research... find a QUALITY tattoo artist... and go for it!

[Cynthetiq]

I have never gotten a tattoo. I did want to about 16 years ago when I was living in Singapore. I'm glad that I didn't because like the ear piercings I have, well they don't really represent who I am anymore.

[krwlz]

I would consider getting some sort of celtic knot, designed by myself. If I ever do it, it will be on a trip or something, so that I have a memory to associate with it, not just becasue it looks cool.

[Redlemon]

I considered getting a tattoo for a while, then I was in Key West and they had people on the sidewalk selling temporary henna tattoos. So, I paid a few bucks and got a temporary version of what I was thinking about.

I quickly forgot it was even there, and would only notice it occasionally. And I wasn't impressed. So, I saved myself a bunch of pain. I highly recommend a henna tattoo as a way to consider your next step.

[ShaniFaye]

I waited until I was 32 to get my first one and I dont regret it or the two I've gotten since then. All three are designs that I did myself (or rather conceptualized and had someone else draw, cause I couldnt draw a straight line if you put a gun to my head lol) and I had them placed in areas where they only show if I WANT them to, the tops of both of my thighs and the back of my shoulder..all three say something about who I am, and even if in 30 years I'm not that person anymore, I wouldnt be whomever I was without being what I am now (if that makes sense)..my point in saying that is that I wont ever regret the designs I got.

Also, there is something vey cathartic (sp?) about the pain from a tattoo, and the fact that I managed to get thru all 3 of them without crying or making them stop hehehehe

[GSRIDER]

The only tattoo I have that I regret is the only one i got while drunk. I did the classic white trash "knuckle" tattoos.

Now it's not so much that I hate having tattoos on my hand. But it's the fact that they suck. The first tattoo I had there sucks and the cover up I got sucks, the cover up was free so I wan't arguing.. i need to get the statement off my fingers. I wanted siloette bones or card faces (spade diamond....) but he talked me into this crazy shit that has now blurred out to all hell.

That is my only tattoo regret.

[SiN]

I've got one tattoo, i've had it for a few years, thought about it for a few months before getting it.

designed it myself, then had one of the artists 'refine' it.

the placement is perfect, on my lower back.

no regrets.

*if* i were to get another one...i've considered a little star on my belly.

[evilbeefchan]

Originally posted by redlemon
I considered getting a tattoo for a while, then I was in Key West and they had people on the sidewalk selling temporary henna tattoos. So, I paid a few bucks and got a temporary version of what I was thinking about.

I quickly forgot it was even there, and would only notice it occasionally. And I wasn't impressed. So, I saved myself a bunch of pain. I highly recommend a henna tattoo as a way to consider your next step.

I have had a few henna tattoos done, and they are so much fun!! I've mostly stuck with the flash that they have already, so I haven't really seen what I'm looking for (half sleeve - polynesian/japanese influence).

I was thinking about getting one of those henna kits and try to make it myself. Anyone have experience with them?

[miko]

I got a tattoo on my ankle in September. Still having trouble with it itching and forming a rash. It's 95% gone, but odd that its taking this long. I just have that skin type where if a leather watch strap is bothering me and i start itching it quickly builds up a heat rash of some sort. My ankle just seems to be so dry. If I put lotion on it it feels much better. Not sure why its wanting to stay so dry and itchy since the tattoo??? But i do love it and no regrets. Full color and hurt like hell too.

[sixate]

Three tats.. Didn't hurt. Don't regret it.

Hell, I don't even notice mine any more. They're just a part of me now. Kinda like an ear. Something that's there that'll never go away.

nope, no regrets. the key is to pick something that you know you will enjoy the rest of your life. Mine is original- i designed it in college and got it when I was 18. I plan to get another one, probably a japanese symbol.
Two things that usually never last: cartoon characters & names.

[miko]

Originally posted by :::OshnSoul:::
Mine is original- i designed it in college and got it when I was 18.

That sounds backwards! I didn't start college until 18.

I also designed mine. I just brought the guy a sketch of what i wanted and he re-drew it. I didn't like his first rendition. It didn't hold true to what i was after. So i made him re-draw it closer to what i wanted. I think it's VERY cool to have art permanently on your body, and even cooler if it is somehow your own.

[Cynthetiq]

Originally posted by sixate
Three tats.. Didn't hurt. Don't regret it.

Hell, I don't even notice mine any more. They're just a part of me now. Kinda like an ear. Something that's there that'll never go away.

I dunno. I met some old man on the train he showed me pics of his burly self when he was younger, the green splotch on his waif of an arm was a tatto that he had when younger. He had to stretch out the skin to read it, but yes, it was still there.

[mtsgsd]

A long time ago I had an old man working for me at a store. He was retired, and just making some extra money. Anyway, he had a lot of old green tattoos on his arms from when he was a kid on the streets. Dice, skulls, daggers, naked women etc.

Hard to explain this but what was kind of funny is that this guy was one of the smartest people I knew, and talked like it while at the same time he constantly amazed some "former" gang-bangers with his street smarts. He was very embarassed by his tattoos now, but at the time about the only way to erase them just left light or white spots in the shape of the tats.

He always told me to make sure I knew what I was doing if I ever got one because it was there for life. Still haven't made up my mind!

[Journeyman]

Family crests of my surname in both English and Gaelic (Irish), one on each arm. Haven't regretted it, and I got it knowing that... well, I'll always have the same last name, so it's a safe bet that I'll still be happy with it when I die. As far as covering it up, it's... well, a conversation starter at the gym. It's not a tattoo that I would even worry about if a prospective employer saw it. Good stuff.

[rockzilla]

The first one I got is a Maple Leaf on the base of my neck, I got it when I was 18, and I definitely don't regret it. I also have the Japanese character for strength on my left arm and a dragon on my right, I don't regret those either, but the Maple Leaf is my favorite.
I kept my tattoos small and easily coverable for employment purposes. I'm thinking about getting something larger done, but I don't know what yet.

[Kaos]

I've got 2. For the two bands whos music has been a huge influence in my life, and had got me through the hardest times in my life. I don't regret getting either tattoo.

On my right arm, I have The cover of Alice Cooper - Welcome to My Nightmare. I had the tattooist add Alice's face makeup (He doesn't have any on the original cover) to make it more original.

On my left arm, I have the Overkill Skull Bat. I took a picture of it and drew the wings out and made it a little different than the original picture.

I plan on getting probably 2 more, haven't totally decided what I'm getting though I have a bunch of ideas.

[VitaminH]

Originally posted by :::OshnSoul:::

Two things that usually never last: cartoon characters & names.

A friend of mine got a spongebob on his pec about 2.5 years ago. I said from day one he was going to regret it. While he doesn't admit he does now, I suspect he might, and if not, then I'm sure he will one day.

[majik_6]

I've got 3 (two hearts on my left shoulder), and a half-sleeve on my right arm.

The only thing I regret is a tribal piece (now re-done). Not because of the tattoo itself, but just because it was very poorly done.

[wrongfullyaccuzd]

I got a tattoo when I turned 18 and I love it. It was a fun experience, and there are no regrets...granted, it wasn't even a year ago yet.

[manupimp]

A lot of younger people i know got animals tattooed and regret it now that they are older. Really thing about what you want before you do it,! and the more you see your tattoo the more you might regret it later.

[gilada]

To be honest, had I my druthers, I'druther have a tattoo. The wife won't cotten to the idea.

All that being said, I am reminded of a bit from Red Vs. Blue that says, roughly...

Reasons not to get a tattoo.
You are a dumb ass.

10 years ago you were a dumb ass. Think about it, if you got a tattoo 10 years ago, would you think it was as cool now? Now project 10 years forward.

But I'd still get one in a second if I could.

[Cordachine007]

I have a dragon across my back. It's in a position that nobody sees it except me in the mirror, or when i take my shirt off. It is an awesome tat and im thinking about getting another, but I still have to cover it up everyday, tats haven't exactally become mainstream in the business world.

[Redlemon]

Originally posted by gilada
All that being said, I am reminded of a bit from Red Vs. Blue that says, roughly...

Reasons not to get a tattoo.
You are a dumb ass.

10 years ago you were a dumb ass. Think about it, if you got a tattoo 10 years ago, would you think it was as cool now? Now project 10 years forward.

I was going to link to that public service announcement, but I couldn't find it.

Originally posted by miko
That sounds backwards! I didn't start college until 18.

I was in the Running Start program my Senior Year of HS, so I was able to attend & get credits for both college and high school.

[MSD]

I'm too indecisive and picky to put bumper stickers on my car. There's no way in hell I'd get a tattoo. If I got things that I would have gotten three years ago, I'd have stupid shit all over my body. Three years from now, I'll think whatever I would get now is really fucking stupid. No matter what I got, there would be some point in time at which I'd have to cover it up, and I wouldn't want to have to bother.

Just keep in mind that whatever is drawn on you is going to get dull and wrinkled when you're old.

[high_way]

i only have one and i dont regret getting it. i got it as a way of always remembering a friend who killed himself last year. it is a phrase that he gave me years ago.

as for getting another one, i probably will get one when i know what i want. not going to rush into it.

[Loup]

I have two and don't regret them.
They are both things that represent me and are both covered with a t-shirt.
So if I didn't want you to know that I have them, you wouldn't.

[ZILLAH]

I have 5 tattoos and do not regret them at all. I am having a artist friend working on making some additons to one of them. If i had the money I would have more. They are addictive to me.

[Bob Biter]

Same here. I love the feeling I get when getting a tattoo. I have 2 already (one on each upper arm) and I plan on getting another one in Japan, but I still haven't been inspired yet. I do know that it won't be a Japanese / Kanji character. These things have run their course.

[charlesesl]

Never did and never will. The idea of puncturing myself to leave a perminent scar on my body isn't a very pleasing one.

[Boo]

No tattoo here. I was never one to decorate my body. I did 21 years in the military and had numerous chances. I never could see it as other than a waste of money and possible expensive mistake.

I also watched a friend marry a girl with numerous tattoos. They spent a fortune getting rid of her past. She actually looked 100 times better without them.

The "most tasteful" tattoo that I have ever seen was a guy I knew in Okinawa. He was Irish and had a Leprechaun about 1-1/2 inch tall on his ankle. Very nicely done with vivid colors. Great guy to have a beer with.

[World's King]

It's not that I regret getting any of mine (I have lots) it's just that the only reason I have so many is that I bever knew what I wanted so when I came up with an idea I had to get it done because I know if I never did I would never have a tattoo.

Did that make sense?

[aphex140]

I have two.

My though were that I can hide them with shorts and a t shirt and no names.


I saw a guy back in 2001 who was a large 'new age traveller' type who had U2 's jopshua treee on his back. I now wonder how he gets on that they have become a pop band rather than the angry Irish lads they were.

By being able to hide them then they are for people to see when I want them to see, it makes it more personnal.


Always think hard about where and what, spur of the moment is not cool, nor drunk, although I have friends who had to get drunk to get them done ( on their lower back, it is ment to kill).


Take time over the selection, like clothes you do not want everyone to have what you have.

[ubertuber]

Originally posted by The Original King
It's not that I regret getting any of mine (I have lots) it's just that the only reason I have so many is that I bever knew what I wanted so when I came up with an idea I had to get it done because I know if I never did I would never have a tattoo.

Did that make sense?

I hear you - this is exactly like me, although I haven't taken the plunge. I have wanted to get one for a while, but nothing in particular has grabbed my attention. I guess we solved the problem in opposite ways!

[Jay Francis]

An artist friend of mine made a comment about tattoos, that hadn't occurred to me, but now, is one of my main arguments against tattoos. She said that she hates them because the colors are so bad. And she's right.

[SabrinaFair]

I got one after my first year of college...it represents a time in my life. I don't regret it yet...I don't know if I will, because I think that every mark, every scar, every tattoo I ever get will help tell the story of my life. I have a small (maybe one square inch) four-leaf clover on my right hip. Represents my Irish heritage...oh, and always gives me something to show off when I'm drunk.