majik_6

I'm just curious as to how the colors are always bad?

I'm studying fine art at school, and I've seen tattoos to rival almost any painting as far as design, color, etc.

I do agree that there are some tattoos, especially older ones, that didn't have great color, but some of today's most talented artists can replicate any color needed, and can blend colors as well as a fine painter working with oils.

If you'd like examples, PM me and I can send you a few links.

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it's all about self-indulgence

thingstodo

I regret the one on my pecker in honor of a one time girlfriend. We met in Jamaica.

It says: "Welcome to Jamaica man and have a nice day."

Sometimes it says Wendy (her name) and other times the whole sentence.

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If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves.

Stangers have the best candy.

WarWagon

ROFL, this one made my day.

StephenSa

I have no tattoos so no room for regret there. My SO has on one her shoulder. Its not very good and I don't like it. I wish she didn't have it. Its not a deal breaker but it sort of bothers me. Oh well, my hang-up.

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Thousands of Monkeys, all screaming at once. Pulling God's finger.

hyperrust

my friend tried got the idea of getting a tattoo of ALF on his ass when he was drunk. we went to the sleaziest place in town, i.e., the one that was mostly likely to tatt a drunk kid. fortunately for him, the place was closed. that's one most people would regret...

crewsor

Tattoos never held any appeal to me. I have seen a couple that didn't look too bad when first done, but I have never seen an old one that has held up. I know you can have them refreshed, but if it's me, I would rather buy the image and hang it on the wall than have it permanently on my body.
I know too many people who wish they had never gotten the one s they have, and many more who just won't admit they are sorry because there is nothing they can do about them. Also there is the idea that they used to be novel, but now it seems more people have them than not.
Just my opinion though, apparently many people find them appealing.

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We all have wings, some of us just don't know why.

Devilinmypants

One thing I love to see in tat mags is the Metallica logo big across someones back with pictures of the band; things like that never get old.

I've got one small one that i tapped into my ankle with a straight pin stuck through a pencil eraser during highschool. I used the wrong ink and it scabbed up and fell off, then i used the right ink and it scabbed up and fell off. By the fourth time I did it it was ontop of scar rissue and it stayed. I still have it and while it doesnt really resemble what i intended (a four-leafed clover) it was a big part of who i was at the time. I am glad that I didnt give myself sleeves or a big calf piece. It doesnt hurt, it didnt hurt at the time. I'll almost certainly get another one. Family crests are something that wont go out of style, I've thought about getting my mother's and father's crest on my shoulder blades or a portion of our family tree on my back.

As far as getting one in relation to a SO go with something ambiguous if you do, like a rose, or maybe a heart inside your buttcheek. One thing I don't get is people having asian caligraphy on themselves when they have no ties to asia. I just dont understand it. The only cool asian tat i've seen outside of the yakuza was on a member of Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies, it said bean curd with green beans.

Astrocloud

I have the devil on my back. It's my "scary" tattoo and I have occasionally gotten comments about it when my shirt is off.

I'm not sure if "regret" is the right word because most of the time it doesn't bother me. In fact sometimes I really like it. It's just the occasional old guy asking me about it that bugs me.

Thusfar I have this answer to this question:

"What does that tattoo mean?"

Me: "It's there so you could ask me about it." -with a big smile usually wins them over.

Tholo

I'm actually getting one in a week. Viva la youth!

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"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me."

majik_6

I have a Coop devil as part of my half-sleeve, and I've gotten some the same reactions. Especially from people that know me pretty well.

"Why'd you do that?"

"What's it mean?"

"Are you a Satanist?"

It's hard to explain to some people that I'm just an art major that's greatly inspired by Coop's work. The tattoo is my homage to his work, and to the hotrod/tattoo scene in general (two of my biggest passions).

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it's all about self-indulgence

Astrocloud

Mine is based on Charles Burns cover illustration for Hell with the Lid off. At the time I WAS an art major I was inspired by Burn's work and MC 900 -forgetaboutit.

Here's the inspiration:

Astrocloud

P.S. Coop Devil

majik_6

That was actually the one I was going to get, but later decided on one of his more obscure renderings that I found in the "sketchbook" portion of his page.

I figured that since I had found a devil that was actually a small portion of an unfinished piece, that I'd at least have a semi-original Coop piece...then, Sunday I found someone with the same idea.

Yep, they had the exact same devil, although done differently enough for most people never to notice.

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it's all about self-indulgence

westothemax

I got one when I turned 18. I had an idea for a long time of a tiger and a dragon but I am not a good artist at all. When I went to Toronto for my Uncle's funeral, I was talking with my cousin about it. He helped me get it onto paper, told me he knew a good place, and talked me into it. It turns out with the exchange rate for US$, it was a lot cheaper than if I had gotten it done here.

My artist was this big, intense looking guy who turned out to be one of the nicest people I've met (ahh those Canadians...). I was getting it on my left shoulder blade area. When he started, it felt like he was cutting me open. After a while it started tickling in certain spots. I don't remember exactly but I think it took 3 to 4 hours straight. Unfortunatly someone decided to put Kid Rock in the CD player because I told them I was from Michigan. I think that was the worst part.

But seriously, it wasn't that bad, and right after I felt like I wanted more. My cousin said I looked like I was going to cry though. 3 years later, I still like the way it turned out.

Anomaly77

I have two. I got the first one when I was 19 and still living at home with my mother. She hates tattoos. So I got it on the back of my left hip, just below the pant-line. Well, I made the mistake of wearing low-ride jeans and an short tank top one day and she saw it. It was quite the production.

Honestly, that one really hurt. It took me a little over 3 years to suck-it-up and go back for my second which was the one that I had always wanted. It's an anklet and I designed it myself.

I've been considering getting a third on my upper back; something tribal but, I haven't decided on a design yet. I love the one on my ankle so much and I'm glad I did it. The one on my lower back...I like the design but, I regret it slightly only because of the placement. Now it would be stupid if I got something across the middle of my lower back, with that one being on the left. Also, it is a tad too high. You can see just the tip of it over most pants and it was really ment to be hidden.

No regrets though. I would suggest getting a tat somewhere you can cover-up if necessary or display if you like. (like the one on my ankle...and that one did not hurt nearly as much as my first).

santafe5000

I have one on my upper right shoulder. Got it in 1968, in the Navy. It is just a banner with my initials in it. I was fixing to go to Vietnam and thought it would be a good identifying mark. ,just in case. A lot of the guys in my Patrol Boat group got them. Now, i don't think much about it. It's there and i don't care if anyone knows.

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When all else fails, QUIT.

Angel

I don't have any that I think would officially count as the kind of tatoo you are speaking of. My eyeliner is permanent. A very thin line on both the top and bottom lids. And I don't regret it one tiny bit. Nuthin' better than having a touch of accent on my eyes when I don't have time to do my makeup.

When my niece was 16, her 17 year old boyfriend had her full given name, middle and all, tatooed across the whole upper part of his back in 2" high letters. Hulloooo!?!??!
When he so proudly showed me his brand new tat in front of everybody, I said "man your wife isn't gonna like that."
He obviously didn't like my response.

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In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was within me an invincible summer.
~Albert Camus

evilbeefchan

My mom and my aunts have that done as well. I think that the eyelid tattoos seem like the most painful and dangerous. Just one slip and your blind. ::shudder:: I have nothing but respect to anybody who has those done.

Angel

Actually, mine wasn't done in a tattoo place. It was done in a cosmetic surgeon's office who specializes in doing facial re-construction on accident victims and facial deformities but he also does the general public. So it is different. And it is done in a series of 3-5 treatments (depending on how well your pigmentation takes it) and there is no bleeding or scabbing or anything like that. It is truly an entirely different process.

And the guy that did it, well, I can say I knew him when, he's in Hollywood with the big time now.

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In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was within me an invincible summer.
~Albert Camus

evilbeefchan

I've decided to go ahead and get a tattoo this Friday. I figure instead of going for something intricate for my first, I should get a smaller one to see if I really like it. Henna is alot different from the real deal, and the results aren't always the same. I talked to the guy and he agreed that it's best to get something small before "collecting" more art. It's a waste to spend all that time and money inking something that you'll end up hating. Any last minute advice I should know? What not to eat before hand? How much to tip? I'll try and post pics when it heals.

Bobaphat

I don't have any regrets. I would recommend that you really know what you are going to want before you make it a decision that is going to last forever. I picked what I wanted 2 years before I got it. I wanted to make sure my mind wasn't going to change about it.

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--size matters not-- yoda

woodhead

So are there any biodegradable inks that would give you a tat that would disappear after 5-10 years? I know half of the mystique is to commit to a permanent disfigurement, but hasn't someone come up with something a little more practical that still demands more commitment and pain than henna?

zaiaz

I have 5 tats and no regrets. Still in the process of finding another dragon tat. If you do plan to get a tat please don't drink alcohol it thins the blood and makes it harder for the color to take. Because the color will bleed out of the skin. Make sure you can live with your decision for a lifetime....because that's how long they last.

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Self destruction - "Its my Nature", said the Scorpion...

evilbeefchan

Got myself "inked" last Friday at <a href="http://www.mytats.com" target="_new">My Tattoo</a> here in Alhambra.


I guess I can best describe the pain as scractching yourself really bad with a safety pin/cactus/rose thorn/etc. The actual scratch itself doesn't hurt as much as the stinging and soreness that arrive right after. That's kinda how it felt to me. Just really uncomfortable, but bareable. Your body naturally wants to tense up and curl up, but you gotta control yourself otherwise it'll be a mess. One he got going, it wasn't so bad.

Every so often he would take a break to spray some medical cleaning solution and wipe away the excess ink. Maybe it's because I chose an area where it wouldn't hurt so bad. Another Asian guy came in wanting some Asian kanji on his abs/lower abs. Man smiles and tells him to prepare for the worst. The guy looked like he was in total pain, and had to stop him a couple times. His friends were laughing and taking pictures.

I thought the actual filling in part would be the worst, since he would have to go over it more than once. But maybe it's because my chest was already numb, but it felt better than the outlines. He did them nice and smooth, without putting too much pressure. No blood during the whole procedure, but a little bit after the scabs started to form. The whole tattooing itself probably took around 1:30 - 1:45 or so, not including the sterilizing, transfer or interruptions.

It was a great experience for me. I've loved tattoos for a while, but barely got the courage to get one now. If there ever comes a time that I regret it, it'll be the time when I regret life and living itself. I'm not going into any bs about what the tattoo symbolizes, or any crap like that. I genuinely like tattoos. Yes, I've wanted one for more than just a week. Yes, I know it's permanent. Yes, I know removal is expensive. Yes, I'm taking a chance. And yes, I'm funking satisfied.

<a href="http://www.livejournal.com/users/deathpop5000/182980.html#cutid1" target="_new">LJ tattoo pics</a>

majik_6

Glad to hear that you're happy with your decision!

It's definitely something that you need to think about before doing, and it sounds like you did just that.

In response to what was said earlier about starting small: for some people this may be a good idea...but if you're planning on getting extensive work, sometimes a small piece can be in the way of larger more intricate work later on (I've got that problem on both arms, and I'm having to find ways to integrate the smaller pieces, which I love, into the larger designs).

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it's all about self-indulgence

Devilfish

I was a varsity athlete in college, and got my college athletic logo tattooed on. I've never regretted it, and may get another. The important thing, for me, is that it is easily concealable, so most of the time it isn't an issue at all.

cherriesue

I have a good friend that had his girlfriends name put on his shoulder...she turned out to be a total bitch...screwed him over pretty bad...but he had it covered up.

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we die only once and for such a long time

canuckguy

i have one, my little girls name, with love written below it near the top of my arm.

00111000

I don't have one that I really reget, just one I wish looked better. I got it when I was around 20 or so, it was free since I helped the guy build his shop. The linework is pretty bad, as is the coloring. I guess I could get it touched up, but I gotta get my sleeves finished first

bouray

I have three tattoos---First one, is of my father's name (he died when I was 10)...I got it when I decided to drop out of college and trying to find myself, it represented his being with me through the struggles of my life that I knew I would have.

#2--Japanese symbol for spirituality, also is my wife's name---represented my gaining new status in life and new committments, when I graduated college and got married.

#3--private design--after being married for 2 years, it was just a reminder to keep things in perspective and out of the ordinary to keep my marriage strong. Didn't work, though.

Getting ready for another, either it will be to describe my life after marriage or because my marriage has been saved after 2 years of struggling with trust and fidelity issues.

Hondasport19

I have 2 (for now) and they are:

my middle name (Kiyoshi) in Japanese on my right shoulder and the other is a celtic knot design on my left shoulder. Being that I am half japanese and half irish, it works.

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MBowe#19

guinnessgurl

I have three tattoos, two fairly small and hidden (hip and ankle) and one large and visible (lower back). I don't regert any of them...I still love the look of them, and each one brings back memories of certain times, and happy days, so i love that. one of them actually has deep meaning to me (its a kanji symbol that means 'to live for today' - my motto in life) but the others are just designs that I love. So ya, I would say no regrets and I recomend it for anyone who really truly wants it. btw, keep us posted, did you end up getting a tattoo?

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Don't go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail - George Eliot

bookerV

I have one of a dragon on the back of my shoulder.

No regrets. sometimes I even forget it is there. I have even forgotten which shoulder its on sometimes.

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"That's why you're the judge and I'm the law-talking guy."

Lionel Hutz

ARTelevision

I have one and it's fairly stupid and was a stupid thing to do.

Seeing how one can change through the years, I'd venture to predict that the overwhelming majority of the tattoos sported by young people today will be the objects of "what the hell was I thinking" -type regrets.

The difference between being young and getting beyond being young is a vast and unanticipated eventuality.

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create evolution

BooRadley

And, in other news, everyone is either Asian or Irish, or a member of a Native American tribe. Or all of the above.

And, 98% of females aged 18-25 have tattoos.

For those of you considering a tattoo, please don't take this the wrong way. If you want a tattoo just to be different, you should reevaluate your motives.

For those of you with tattoos, I'm glad to see that most of you are putting personalized art on your bodies, instead of the cookie cutter tribals and butterflies.

This is not meant to be a flame. This is an honest opinion, as I've seen quite a few people doing things for the completely wrong reasons.

Esco

I've got three tats and zero regrets. The tats were of personal stuff in my life that will always be there, not items simply for decoration.

I've been wanting another one though and have been thinking what to get for a long time now. I'm now a father and would like something to honor my new child.

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The user formerly known as BlingBling

flamingpeach

I have five tattoos, my favorite is seven stars that go over my left shoulder and down my back.

I only have one that I regret, a very small canadian maple leaf on my right hip. More or less, it was "trendy" and I will be getting it covered up with something else in the future.

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I've eaten my veggies all my life so bring it on, I am educated and strong for the revolution.

pinkie

Well, right after my daughter's dad was killed I had his name tattooed in a band around my arm. It was an emotionally driven decision that I made because I loved him so much, and I wanted to have or keep a part of him... It sounds kind of weird. Anyway, it's his nickname that I called him. The only problem is that now, people ask me about the tat. "What does that say/mean?" It puts me in a position to make us both slightly uncomfortable for a moment, and people always say, "Oh, I'm so sorry, which makes me feel bad for being too personal with a stranger. However the deep significance of the meaning of it forces me to explain it's meaning instead of just saying, it's my daughter's dad's name...

onodrim

I'va always loved tattos, however, I would never actually get one. They are just far too permanent for me. I might love it now, but maybe not in ten, twenty years. My sister learned this lesson the hard way - she got a tatoo in college that she was certain she wanted at the time. However, now she's married with children and she hates it and wishes she no longer had it. Unfortunately she doens't have the time or potentially thousands of dollars to get it removed. So I would just say if you're going to get a tatoo be sure you want it with you for a good long time.

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"The world is so exquisite with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there’s little good evidence. Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides"
-Carl Sagan

ngdawg

I am of the thought that, if they dont know you well enough to know what is what, they have no right to ask a personal question. An answer of, 'it's personal to me' is so much easier than trying to explain something so deep and sensitive. It relieves everyone of being put in a position they'd rather not be in. I don't understand why people just can't say, 'beautiful tattoo' and leave it at that.

Now, back on track-I have only had mine since July and I love it. I will eventually add a small detail to it I had wanted but could not figure out how to do-the roses were supposed to have my children's initials on them, but I and the artist couldn't figure out how to do it without distorting the design. Someone suggested small dewdrops with their initial inside each and I hope to have that done very soon. Absolutely NO regrets at all. I love it.