To Ink or not to Ink?

@ harlequin. girl.
You're taking this way too personally. No one bashed you; no one has animosity towards you, no one said "how dare you," we simply disagree. You cannot expect to be able to post your opinion while no one else is allowed to. This is an open discussion board and any number of people may reply to you, in agreement or disagreement.

You dislike how commonplace tattoos have become and we think it's irrelevant in the decision making process of getting a tattoo. That's all there is to it, there is no need to accuse us of bashing you.

I just went back and read all my posts. They came across as pretty friendly to me - that phrase "to me" I actually used quite a lot to emphasize that I know these are my own feelings any no one else's. I legitimately tried to apologize if I offended anyone because I do feel like some people took my posts personally and that was not what I intended. To me, tattoos are just all or nothing and I haven't decided if I want sleeves yet haha. There are a lot of quotes id like to get if I ever decide to get anything. My aunt also has a cactus flower because they bloom despite their environments and our family has been through some crazy shit. I DO like tattoos I just know a lot of people who get them solely to show off to people so sometimes I'm a bit weary. I really really am sorry if I offended anyone. I don't think I expressed my argument as well as I should have in my first few posts since they were all from my iPhone. I didn't mean to come across as so hostile. That's just something I've been thinking about. Don't hate me! Aha

I got my first tattoo a few months ago, in April, for my 20th birthday. I had been wanting it for a long time, like five years. The tattoo.

It's the band logo for Hollywood Undead, but for me, the dove and grenade represent so much more than just that. To me, it represents me moving on from a very chaos-filled past. I had a lot of really, really bad stuff happen to me when I was younger and a lot of what got me through that was the strength I found in Hollywood Undead's lyrics.

I'm an utter geek and I jumped on that band wagon of harry potter lovers. I quickly attached myself to the phrase "I solemnly swear I am up to no good". You can see the tattoo by click here

First I suggest that you make sure everything is right. I know how absurd that can sound and you're like "duh..." but I just know that that's the first step I wish I had told myself. And I did tell myself but my nitpicking personality did not transcend far enough to note that he put the dashes, which are supposed to be trails behind the foot prints, in front of the foot prints.

I'm not entirely upset with this, as it is permanent and it isn't going anywhere, but it's just something I noticed. :P I'm quit content with this tattoo and I'm planning on future ink settings. I will probably be a walking book at the end of the road, as I want mainly quotes. I do have illustrations and such to go with those quotes too!

The pain was minimal, but I have a nice pain thresh-hold. My friend who went with me got fairy wings behind her ears! That was awesome, and supposedly a painful place but she was so calm during it all... maybe we're a strange breed? :P

Getting my next one in about two weeks. It'll be tattoo number nine. :)
Still undecided about what I'm getting, though. I have three different ideas that I'm jumping back and forth on, and I very badly want all three; I'm just not sure which to do first. Pretty sure I know which one I'll end up choosing, though.
Gahhh, I'm so excited. It's been like, two months since I've gotten a new tattoo lmfao.

@ chai latte
I'm so jealous. I would love to get that tattooed but I just know employment would be a bitch. What did you get? Do you have pics?

@ part of dru's world.
Aha yeah, I'm lucky to have landed a good job despite the tattoos. I'm so fucked if I ever get fired, though. But it's worth it, or at least I tell myself it is lmfao.
And nah, no pics any more since I recently deleted all the pictures I used to have, unfortunately. I'll probably get around to taking some when I get my next tattoo, though.

As for what I'm getting in two weeks--I'm trying to decide between this version of the White Rabbit; or this version of the Cheshire Cat; or the Edward Gorey figbash; or the Joker and Harley Quinn slow-dancing, which I'll have my artist draw up. Ahhh, decisions.

I read a quote somewhere that said "A cheap tattoo ain't good and a good tattoo ain't cheap." And while I do know some good artists work at affordable prices, I'm inclined to agree. When searching for a place to get a tattoo, don't just jump towards the most affordable. Remember that this is something that stays with you forever and you want some good quality work. Every time I get a tattoo I do a little "tattoo fund" and save up for a while and calmly search for a place and an artist (though lately I've been getting mine done at the same place).

Don't be in a hurry to get tattooed. You have your whole life to get inked. And really, it's a great experience.

I want to get a tattoo for my 18th birthday as well. I have an idea of what I want which was like on my pelvis but I started thinking about it and I started thinking about the fact that it would stretch if I got pregnant when I was older. I want to be able to see the tattoo though because its for me right? But Im not sure where to get it so that I can see it and it wont stretch. But I really want one and Im really keen on getting one but Im still not sure where to get it and if what I want is a good idea

@ descendents
I very much agree with this so, so much. I'm always trying to explain this sentiment to people. Almost all my friends are covered in these horrible tattoos that they either got at some dirty no-name shop, or in someone's kitchen. Like, I have a friend who got his entire sleeve done for $150 and he thinks it's so awesome but it's so god-awful.

My cheapest tattoo was $100, not including the tip, and it's just tiny Greek lettering across my knuckles. My friends berate me for paying so much for my tattoos. They're always telling me shit like, "Yo, I got this friend who'll do it for like ten bucks an hour," and when I tell them I refuse to go anywhere except the three very high-quality (and very expensive) studios that I trust, they say I'm just being a snob. No, I just don't want my tattoos to look like a four-year-old's art project.

@ chai latte
Definitely. It's not about being snobby or anything, it's about making sure you'll never regret it and loving the art you're covering your body with. Everyone knows someone that does $10 tattoos, but they're shit-ugly and done in his living room.

For my most recent I found an artist that kinda worked with me for the price, and he's amazing. He designed it himself and gave me exactly what I was looking for. I've only had one session done, and it was $170, so overall the tattoo might cost me $290 - $320. Totally worth it.

I want to get an octopus/squid/tentacles all over one of my shoulders. I'm obsessed with nautical stuff.

For the last few years, I've been wanting to get a tattoo of the tree of life on my back. I still have to wait a year, but I'm really excited about it. I don't think - for most people - it's a good idea to just go out and get something, you just really think it through.

@ descendents
Oh my gosh, that's gorgeous! And it's not even finished yet?! Holy shit, it's gonna look fantastic when it is finished if it already looks that good. Proof that quality is more important than cheapness.

Anyone got any new stuff lately?

I'm covered in tattoos, got both full sleeves, in the process of finishing my left leg. got my neck done, hands, fingers.

I think as long as you plan on not regretting them then go for it.

I don't really know if they hurt. heard tats over bones are painful. I want birds on my arms.

@ Lost_In_The_Echo
All tattoos are somewhat painful. Most of mine didn't hurt that bad. My wrists didn't hurt that bad, which always surprises everyone. It has to do with you, your pain tolerance, etc.

@ Missand
And as long as you know you can get a job. I want to have my arms covered, but I'm not going to start now. I'm going to wait until I have a stable job/career or that the tattoo can be covered. Being homeless/unemployed is not worth a tattoo, imo.

@ harlequin. girl.
I don't think tattoos started out as rebellious. Modern day tattoos maybe.

Tattooing was a very cultural thing, sometimes even concerned a healing practice, that has existed since at least 3300 BC. While I'm sure children rebelled against their parents at all time periods, that wasn't the reason it was being done then.

Tattoos to be rebellious is a new thing and therefore, in and of itself, is just a "fad". Tattoos weren't created to be rebellious.