Tattoos: Good or Bad? (church, bible, bless, Satan, God)

[Ceridwen018]

That's awesome, C1. Hey--do you have any advice for a tattoo newbie?

[Majikthise]

At some point I'd like to get my kid's names tatooed on my arm.I'd also like to have Marvin the Martian tatooed somewhere ,but I can't decide where.My friend has cool tattooes of sharks and a marlin.But we sell boats to rich people for a living so the tatooes have to be somewhere they can't be seen.

Then there are people who should be forced to have big "Ls" tatooed on their foreheads!!!

[Circle_One]

What kind of advice would you like Ceridwen? I'll be glad to give you some.

[Majikthise]

What is the best mindset to go into it with?

[Druidus]

C1, for someone looking only for a design tattoo (I can't see myself liking a picture, certainly not forever), is there anything I should worry about? How do you find a good tattoist? What if they mess up?

[Circle_One]

Ok, let's start

What is the best mindset to go into it with?

Hmmm...I'm not really sure. Personally when I go to get a tattoo, I'm just extremely excited. I trust and love my tattoo artist, so basically the only mindset I've got going in there is one of excitement and thrill. I'm just happy to be there and happy to be adding to the canvas that is my body. I think that's a good mindset to have. Going in their nervous or worried, or going in their with uncertainties about what you're getting or about your artist will show in your body language and will make the artist nervous as well.

C1, for someone looking only for a design tattoo (I can't see myself liking a picture, certainly not forever), is there anything I should worry about?

I don't really think there's anything to worry about. When looking for a tattoo, personally, I would try to draw it myself of find someone I trust to draw it for me. I wouldn't go to a parlour, point to one on a wall that looked nice and decide to get that one done. If you find a design you truly love and truly think you could live with for the rest of your life, you should have no worries whatsoever.

How do you find a good tattoist?

SEARCH!! Go to as many parlours as you can and ask to see the artists portfolios. If they don't have one, move onto the next parlour. Most good tattoo artists will have one and will be more than happy to show you, because they prefer to tattoo on someone who's thorough about what they want and what they're looking for rather than someone who picks something off a wall. They take more pleasure in people who want their tattoos to be original and who take the time to find the right person to do it for them.

What if they mess up?

If you've been thorough in your search and have found one that you feel you can trust and you've seen they can do amazing work (and of course if the parlour doesn't look sketchy) chances are they won't mess up. However, if, on the .001% they do mess up, the only thing you can do is find another artist to fix it for you. But take it from me, I've had 8 tattoos done over the years, from 3 different artists and I've never had any of them screw up. Out of all my friends who've had multiple tattoos done, they've never had anyone screw up. You just have to make sure you find an artist with a great portfolio and one whom you feel you could trust and feel comfortable with.

Hope that helps. If anyone has any more questions, please feel free to ask. Tattoos are a passion of mine, so answering questions for those who wish to get them is great.

[michel]

Originally Posted by Jensa

I think tattoos aren't good or bad. There just there, and can be used for whatever purpose the person wants.

I agree; I wouldn't have one, but then that's just me. It's entirely up to the individual, as is everything else in life.

[Melody]

I have a butterfly on my ankle and I seriously considered getting another one, but have decided not to. I've had my tattoo for 20 years and I've never regretted it. Actually it's been a great barometer for weeding out self-righteous snobs.

For those considering a tattoo....do it for yourself...not because it's the latest fad and not as an act of rebellion.

[Dinogrrl]

Also, on the note of 'what if the artist messes up?', most parlors have a policy that if your tat needs touching up, they'll do it for free (or a minimal fee). I should actually go to get a couple spots on mine touched up, but I have a feeling I waited too long for that 'guarantee' thing XD;;;.

[martha]

I have no problem with tats at all. I love to see them and always compliment those people whose tatoos I really like. Unfortunately if they are really intricate I just want to keep looking at them. I met a young fellow once, didn't know him from Adam, and within a few minutes I had him pulling up his pant leg and his shirt so I could view them better, right there in the vestibule of a very public place! We must have made a pretty picture! He didn't seem to mind at all and neither did I.

As for me, I prefer temporary tatoos. I can enjoy them for as long as I want and when I want to change them, a little alcohol will remove them. There is a growing variety of very good temporary tats. I was actually thinking of looking into sources for them and perhaps selling them on the net. I am not real good with getting needles so getting a real one is not an option for me. I have a very eclectic taste in art that changes all the time. Sometimes I love contemporary, other times I prefer fantasy or abstract. Temporary tats give me the freedom to change.