Tattoos; Good, Bad, Ugly, Pretty...?

[Whispering Winds]

I love them, don't have one, but have been seriously thinking about a teeny fairy with the word Believe above her on my ankle . . .just think really hard about putting it on your lower arms, or neck because if you get a high end job someday, they will not be happy about tattoo's being visible. My DD almost lost her job in a hospital kitchen, of all places, because of her yellow rose/vine on her neck she just had to have done.

 

[The Wolf Queen]

As long as your positive that this IS a tattoo that you want to remain with you forever I would say go for it. I'm under age but when I get older I'm going to get a full moon between my shoulder blades then on my left shoulder blade a golden wolf with gold eyes and on my right blade a reddish brown wolf with green eyes. Both the wolves will be looking toward the center of my back and out so that if they were real their lines of vision would cross, oh and they wouldn't be full body wolves they will be the heads and chests. For me this tattoo has a really big meaning in my life and I cant wait till I can get it/afford it lol. I just hope my pain tolerance works

Like I said if this is something that your sure you want and wont mind still having it along time from now get it. Ive heard of many people who get tattoos and absolutely love them.

 

[SillyChicken]

I've got 4, all of them American Indian pictograph like. The one that people comment on the most is my sun on my wrist... of course that's the one most visible. What ever you get, it should have some sort of meaning to you... I love the dark stuff too and may get a few celtic tribal peices yet. These would have meaning because of my heritage... But, I wouldn't get a big ol vampire bite on my neck... know what I mean? I don't want to be an 80 yr old woman with that kind of tattoo...(besides, gravity isn't kind, lol!)

Also, find a really good tattooist... I see so many tats.. that look like a kid could have done a better job on it.... I have one special tat I want done of my dog (actually died 2 yrs ago tomorrow) and I've researched to find a guy I felt worthy to do the job. ($$$$$) (Bob Tyrell in MI http://www.bobtyrrell.com/ You'd like his stuff, it's very dark and macob) But he travels all over the world so he could show up in your area.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

I think tattoos can be pretty in certain situations, but in other situations they don't "fit," at least to me (for example, while wearing a wedding dress, working in a formal business situation, etc.). Many companies in the US have a dress code where they don't want tattoos to be visible. I think tattoos are personal and should be okay to have if the person wants them, but they should be smart about where they have them done so that they can be covered up if necessary.

 

[PotterWatch]

I agree that you should only get them where you can cover them up, unless you work at a tattoo parlor

or in a very laid-back profession, most employers don't care for visible tattoos. I have a couple but they are not visible when wearing regular clothes as long as I don't wear those really low-rise jeans they are making now (of course I wouldn't wear those jeans anyway with my body shape...). My husband has talked over the years about getting one and I am fine with it as long as it will be covered up when he is wearing his normal, everyday clothing.

 

[Sunny the Hippie Chick]

I have a tattoo. I got it after I was a mother. I see no problem in it. But before I would get a tat think on it for a long time. Make sure it is where you will want it forever. There is a tattoo that I have been wanting for 15 years. But I am so picky that I cant seem to find the exact picture that I want. I want a dragon, that is my chinese symbol on the chinese calander. But I havent found the one I like. I like the head on one, the body of another. Wings of a different and so on. So I havent got the one I want drawn up yet. I will one day. But then the search goes on for the perfect tat artist. I wont settle on just any one. I want to see lots of their work first. Not in their picture that they have in the shop. But in real life on the person who got it to see what it looks like in person. Pictures can be altered. But I figure that most tat artist wont do that. But you never know. Better to be safe than sorry. Also make sure they are using good ink, not cheap stuff that will fade fast.

My tat on my ankle.. Sorry for the stubble, picture is when tat was 2 days old. Cant shave until its completely healed. I dont have a current pic of it.. You see my name is Sunshine, so I wont regret my sun ever. It is who I am.

Here is my DH tat that he got the same day as me. He drew the sun outline. I drew the tiger in it. The tat artist said I should do flash art. What do you think.. Sorry the pic is not that clear.

I want to get my beloved heeler tat on my left ankle. That way she is always by my side. But I dont have that drawn up either. Maybe one day when funds are not so tight.

 

[Mandalina]

As someone who has a lot of tatoos I find most to be lovely pieces of art that just add to the uniqueness of you.But with that said, do your research, find a great artist, have the highest expectations possible and pick something you will love when you are 90 and covered in wrinkles.

 

[shadowpaints]

i have a tat for each of my daughters, Mackenzies is Tigger dancing with her name above his arms. Kaylas is A teddy bear with her name underneath it. i also have Faith, Hope, Love tattooed accross my shoulder blades. i have 4 other tats planned... just gotta get the money to do it!.


tats are wonderful, if you really want it. i respect the fact that my parents think tats are gross. since all my tats are discreet, they only see 2 of them if im wearing shorts * they are above my ankles* and the others, are only visible if i wear a tank top.

one of the ones that are planned is a chest peice, i havent found the right one yet.

i you really want a tat go for it. make sure you really think about it tho!!!


BTW love all the pics of the tats on this thread!

 

[Ferrret]

I have always taken into consideration where I would put a tattoo. All the tattoos that I have seriously considered have had placement where I could cover it with a shirt or pants. In a bathing suit just about any tattoo is going to be visible, but I don't go swimming or lounging on the beach too often (fair skin, I burn up fast) so I'm not too worried about that situation.
If I got the tattoo on my lower leg, I'd have to be careful about what situations I wear shorts in, and for the most part I don't wear shorts unless it's unbearably hot. Skirts are another sort of deal. Being with BF I have gotten more comfortable in skirts, so a tattoo on the lower leg would be obvious, unless I wear dark stockings or knee high socks.
The other position I have considered is on my side, starting at my underbust line and going down to the top of my hip. I don't wear a lot of shirts that show off my belly, and even if I did, only a small portion of the tattoo would be visible. The design would be altered slightly to make it flow better, but the same premise kept.

Right now, I have no plans on getting a tattoo anywhere on my back, lower arms, hands, neck, etc. If I get a job that is relaxed about tattoos, maybe, but only if the design is right. The werewolf bite would be a tattoo on my shoulder down onto my back, something I could cover with a shirt. The way I want it done though I would have to find someone who does really well with making tattoos look like fresh scars. The werewolf bite is more than just a show of love for the classic monster, but also a reminder of the fact that we all have a monster of some sort inside us, a dark side we might even be unaware of.

Each of the skulls in the current design is about the size of a quarter and all together the design is about 7.25" tall and 3.75" wide. I have been thinking about getting each skull done individually over time. I know very well that it will be forever and that I should pick something I won't regret. Skulls have always been a big design for me and a lot of it is for the Halloween flair, but some of it is a reminder of mortality. I have been reminded on several occasions that life can be cut abruptly short and that you should never forget that. I don't want the skulls to be drear and depressing, so I'm adding color to them to add that life should be lived and enjoyed while you still have time.

The artist I want to do it right now is BF's artist. I have watched her work on BF's tattoos and all but one have been her work. She does really well with skeletons and skulls and has done some excellent shading work. She's a very clean and professional artist and she uses good ink. If the work is something she couldn't do, mostly due to size, then I would ask if she could recommend someone. She has been in the area a long time and has worked with good and bad artists, so I trust her opinion.

I'm sorry for not offering a lot of specific detail about the design. I have this weird thing, that whenever I come up with something I really like and feel original about, I end up finding out that a lot of people have already done it. I don't want a generic, typical tattoo design, which is why I have taken to drawing them myself. I am a capable artist in most cases and if I can, I want my own art on my body. It just means that much more to me if it's my own work. If I know it is crappy artwork, I would have the tattooist redraw it. If the tattooist can't draw, then I'm finding a new tattooist.

 

[CrazyFowlFreak]

I love tattoos that are done nicely. I have 8, well 7 and a half sleeve that will become a full sleeve. I have some bad tattoos and some beautiful tattoos. Just make sure you research the artist before you sit in their chair. Tattoos on your side are one of the most painful tattoo placements to get, be prepared. Discuss with your artist multiple sessions for something that large, also. I love hearing about tattoo virgins getting their first ink.

To the poster that wants to get a tattoo over a scar, it may not take the ink. It will also fade very quickly and basically ruin the integrity of the tattoo. I'd suggest getting it next to, or around, or some other way. I think tattooing over a scar sounds like a great idea, but after having done the research, I learned that it is not a good idea. It will also hurt more than another place. Please do research and find an experienced tattoo artist if you are sure you want to try tattooing over your scar. Be prepared to pay much more than a regular tattoo and also be prepared that it may not still be there after a year or so. Good luck with whatever you decide.