Tattoos - should I get one?

Looking for people's experiences with tattoos. I've been toying with the idea for a while, but I'm a big wimp.

Did it hurt?
Do you regret it?
Why did you do it?
How long did it hurt afterwards?
What did it feel like?
How did you choose your design?

Basically, tell me your story. BTW, I'm terrified of needles so I need the truth! I'm only considering a small one (like the size of a quarter).

Thanks!

Whatever you do, do not get a weed leaf. Polling my friends I would have to say that is the major regret.
Make sure you get some colour and complexity is key. If possible you should draw it yourself so it has a meaning and a story you can share with people. Like almost anything, quality comes with a cost. And it hurts, despite what anyone says. Be prepared to spend a while at the session. Good tattoos take a few sessions to complete.

My advice, get one. Reason: Why not?

www.belowtopsecret.com...

[Edited on 6-3-2004 by SE7EN]

I got them all over me, legs arms and back and the only one I regreat is the one on my back, we were both drunk and it shows

I've got a small tattoo on my shoulder thats been there for about 4 years. It's a butterfly.
It only took about 5 minutes to have done and was quiet painful to start with. I didn't feel the needle go in and out cause it's too quick, it felt more like having a scalple just being dragged through your skin over and over which sounds bad but after a while you kind of get used to it. It's good to have something to grip while it's being done, I just squeezed my thumbs in my hands. Afterwards it just stung mildly for a little while and I had to make sure that I rubbed baby oil into it until it had healed properly.
As I say, mine was only small so I don't know what sort of experience it would be to have a big one done.
I don't regret having mine done , I had wanted it for years so it wasn't a spur of the moment thing in fact I waited until I was nearly 30, it's out of sight in the winter, in fact I forget it's there most of the time.
I have thought about having another done on my foot ankle or toe but I will wait until I'm totally sure of what I want first. Also I've heard that it is more painful if it's done over a boney part of the body so I've got to wait until I feel brave enough too.

Originally posted by Lady Lily
Looking for people's experiences with tattoos. I've been toying with the idea for a while, but I'm a big wimp.

Did it hurt?
Do you regret it?
Why did you do it?
How long did it hurt afterwards?
What did it feel like?
How did you choose your design?

Basically, tell me your story. BTW, I'm terrified of needles so I need the truth! I'm only considering a small one (like the size of a quarter).

Thanks!

I have a tattoo on my leg that didnt hurt one bit, but I also have a half-sleeve that hurt a little bit (shoulder and armpit area mostly).

I dont regret them at all. But Im the type of person that doesnt regret anything.

I did it because I love tattoo's. Its like you undergo a transformation. And they look cool.

Afterwards it doesnt *hurt* at all, just a slight burning sensation. It would also depend on the size of the tat.

It felt uncomftorable and annoying, to tell you the truth. It doesnt *feel* like a bunch of needles digging into your skin.

I picked my leg tattoo out of a book, I drew the design for my half-sleeve.

I was hoping for an answer like yours (not that I don't appreciate all the others)! I'm thinking about getting a lily on my ankle. I'm am going into my mid-30's and I feel like I need to do SOMETHING!

no problem! glad I could help. A lily on the ankle sounds nice, and it's not too conspicuous a place, easy to hide if you need to. Let us know if you do go ahead with it .

Originally posted by Lady Lily
Did it hurt?
Do you regret it?
Why did you do it?
How long did it hurt afterwards?
What did it feel like?
How did you choose your design?

1.) Depends on where you get it and how big it is. I have one on my chest next to my nipple and it was extreamly sensitive. Normally I would say that it is more annoying then painful, but if you have a lot of colour and they have to go over the same spot several times then ya that's some pain.

2.) I don't regret any of them (7), but I wish I knew that I was getting all of them before hand in order to arrange them better in relationship to one another.

3.) That's a silly question! I just wanted to.

4.) Like I said it is more annoying then painfull. Kind of like a bruse.

5.) See #2.

6.) I designed all of them myself except for my milleniem snake (circle of a snake eatting its own tail, Death/rebirth). It is much more personal to design your own instead of picking something off a wall.

Now that I think about it, if you have to ask if you should get one or not you probably shouldnt.

If you *really* wanted it, you wouldnt care about what we think, or if it hurts.

Anyway, you should really re-think this.

It's so trendy it hurts.



almost as much as getting words in japanese chrs!

[Edited on 8-3-2004 by Lysergic]

Originally posted by Lysergic
It's so trendy it hurts.



almost as much as getting words in japanese chrs!

[Edited on 8-3-2004 by Lysergic]

AHHHH! Death to kanji and tribal tattoo's!!!

Anyway, yeah, kanji tattoo's suck, theyre a waste of ink, very generic and cheesey, blah blah blah...

Same with tribal tattoo's, blah blah blah...

Some tattoo's are trendy, but not all. I would say it's *trendy* to get a kanji tattoo, or a tribal or a butterfly. Lower back tattoo's seem to be trendy. Anyway, people rockin sleeves, big ass back pieces, etc, are generally all about the art/experience, not about being *hip*.

If I wasnt so high I'd argue more, and the bowl's a callin...

I was just being an ass.

I am just sick of seeing tribal and asian lettering.
What was funny is I read an article that this awesome artist would put the wrong words on people who requested japanese, lol have stuff like "stupid whore" on their back

I myself wouldn't mind an alex grey painting as a tat.

instead of a cookie cutter tat.

or you know one of my penis, on my penis, only larger.

Originally posted by Lysergic
I was just being an ass.

To be expected

I am just sick of seeing tribal and asian lettering.
What was funny is I read an article that this awesome artist would put the wrong words on people who requested japanese, lol have stuff like "stupid whore" on their back

Thats hillarious dude! I was thinking about doing that (Im starting my apprenticeship soon), but I dont want any lawsuits.

I myself wouldn't mind an alex grey painting as a tat.

instead of a cookie cutter tat.

My first tattoo was from a book of flash in the studio, but I dont care about that because the tat is so badass.

or you know one of my penis, on my penis, only larger.

Ah, tattoos like that should be mandatory.

Tetsuo-51,

I'm not looking for anyone's approval on getting a tat or not. I have met people that have regretted it years later. I just wanted to know about the "pain factor" cos (like i said in my initial post) I am a big wimp!

I appreciate all the advice I have received from y'all. I just need to find a place to get it done as I live in a sort of rural area.