Tattoos: What You Should Know Before You Get Inked

Getting a tattoo is a major decision, especially if it’s your first one. If you’re going to go through a painful process to put something on your body that will most likely be there forever, seeing as removal is expensive and typically leaves a scar, it’s important to consider the decision carefully. The first thing you should know is that if you’re having doubts, you should wait on getting the tattoo. You can always return later after more time and consideration, but you can’t take a tattoo back so easily. Consider a few of these factors before you make your final decision.

Know What You’re Getting
Don’t ever get a tattoo just because you like the way it looks, unless you’re completely sure what it means. This is particularly applicable to Asian, Hebrew, Arabic and other language symbols. If you don’t speak that language or read that alphabet, you may think it means one thing when it actually means something else.

It’s also important to avoid tattoos of names or images that you may feel differently about in the future. For example, you should never get the name of your significant other tattooed on your body, even if you think you’re going to be together forever. We’ve all seen embarrassments like Johnny Depp’s “Winona Forever” tattoo that now reads “Wino Forever,” which he originally got for Winona Rider.

Placement is Paramount
The spot you choose to get tatted will greatly determine how happy you are with it. Think about whether you might need to cover your body art up to get jobs in the future, and how uncomfortable it might be to wear a turtleneck in the summer. Even tattoos on ankles and upper arms can be hard to cover up with certain clothes. Also, if you’re a little leery about the painful aspect of getting inked, you may want to consider the fact that tattoos will hurt more on the backs of the ankle, hands, feet, joints, neck and spine.

Consider Your Artist Carefully
The first thing you want to do is check that your tattoo artist uses clean and sanitary practices. Make sure the shop uses an autoclave, fresh latex gloves and sterile needles; and that the workspace is clean, with sterilized equipment freshly packaged for each customer. Anything less is a health risk. It’s also important to get a feel for your artist, so you will be comfortable collaborating with him or her. After all, designing or choosing your tattoo should be a team effort.