Member Advice on Tatoos

*** Intro
Let me start by saying, I have two tattoos, one is just below my knickers line and is about the size of a 50pence piece, it’s a small ‘A’ in swirly lettering and below it is the outline of a small heart.
I got this when I was 18 on impulse, and as much as I thought I’d regret it, I don’t, I still like it. Most of all I like it because it is tucked away. So I don’t always have to look at it. Not every one can see it etc.
You may wonder why I got the letter ‘A’,
1. My name is Amy
2. My name will always be Amy, so I will never have to get the tattoo changed!
3. I was scared when I went to get it and went completely blank!!!
4. The main reason I got it was to remind me that at one point in my life the only thing I had was I, I was living alone, with no money or family, looking after two younger brothers nearly full time as well as working 7 days a week. And I coped.
I have to say it was the lowest part of my life so far and my confidence dropped, so I think this tattoo is really just a reminder to me, to remind me to love myself, and that I can do it.

My other tattoo I got 4 days ago and it’s at the bottom of my back all the way over on the right side. It’s about 1cm across and about 7cm down my back. It’s Japanese writing.
Now first of all let me just tell you…if your going to get writing in Chinese or Japanese, please make sure that you go somewhere nice and that you no what it means!!! Or you could end up with ‘chicken tikka masala’ written across you!!!
My Japanese writing doesn’t look Japanese because it is in Japanese calligraphy so it’s swirly and quite pretty, and it means ‘this Capricorn is free’ which really means something to me, due to something personal that happened last year which finally is over now!!
I got it done in a beautiful tattoo parlour and it was a custom design that I got a Japanese teacher at my friend’s college to design me.

All in all I love both of my tattoos!!!

*** Parents
Most young people fear that their parents will be upset, if they even think about getting a tattoo. This wasn’t a problem with me as I do not have contact with either of my parents. But obviously I still had the worry of if I ever talk to them, will they be disgusted!! Have I just defaced my body!!!????
Don’t let anyone’s opinions stop you from getting what you want! Ever, but do consider what you want, don’t get a tattoo without thinking about it or get a design that doesn’t mean anything because you will regret it!!
Parents and family are mainly concerned that their children are just acting out on a phase, and this is what makes them angry. Which in my opinion is fair, a tattoo should not be got, just because they are in fashion, or your best friend is getting one, or because you really like Tupac and want to get his name written across your chest!! YOU WILL REGRET IT!!

But seriously, if you’ve already go one, and your mum or dad is fuming about it, and your worried that they will hate you forever, think of this…How many people have you heard about.. That have split up with their parents forever... OVER A TATTOO???? NONE!!! The moral of this story is…they’ll get over it. But that doesn’t mean they will ever like it!!

*** Design
What you get and where is important.
Something meaningful is always good. If you really want a tattoo but can’t think of anything meaningful then try not to get one, or get your star sign!!!
Black tattoos are more timeless, and I’m saying this because, colour fades. Colour is bright. Black can look neat and smart.
Try to think ahead before getting a tattoo!!
I wanted to get one on the back of my neck, but I thought ‘I won’t be able to see it!’ and I go to a lot of work balls and posh do’s and I wear my hair up a lot, I didn’t want to risk it looking tacky!!
Also if you’re going to get one on your wrist then think about whether you mind looking at it all day!!!
A tattoo is personal, and it should be kept personal, so getting a design that doesn’t mean anything defeats the object.
Also the size of the tattoo should be heavily considered, I know someone who had a big star design on her chest, and she only has small boobs, so it looked like the design was overpowering her boobs!!!
But then some designs look really silly if you get them too small.

*** Price
Getting a tattoo can be really expensive, all Tattoo parlours will have a minimum price, this is usually around £20, but the last one I got had a minimum price of £30, this price covers the cost of the fresh needle, and a cartridge of ink. Any tattoo that is any bigger than around two 50 pence coins, and take them more than 10 minutes to draw will usually be more than the minimum price.
Getting one that covers the whole of your back in details and colours can cost About £1000 and will take hours per session, and have to be done in sessions, and touched up every few years…..expensive huh!!!

*** What is a tattoo?
A tattoo is basically an injection of coloured pigment into the skin be using a needle gun. This pigment then becomes part of the skin and will tan and scar and stretch like all your other skin. It is also permanent. And no matter how much you think you can get rid of it…you cant. The removal treatment is expensive and not 100% successful it leaves scars and burns and often leaves a faded tattoo or a patch of very lightened skin.

*** Does it hurt?
WELL YEAH!!!
Whether your able to bare the pain is a personal thing and completely depends on your own personal thresh hold. I cannot bare the pain. It’s more of an uncomfortable sore feeling than excruciating ‘im going to die pain’ but never the less it bloody well does hurt.
Another reason for me only wanting small tattoos is that it is not a pain you can get used too and therefore I didn’t want it for too long.
Oh...and you bleed!! Not for long though.

*** Aftercare.
Simple, leave it alone. DON’T PICK IT. DON’T RUB IT.DONT PUT ANYTHING SCENTED ON IT. DON’T WEAR TIGHT CLOTHES AROUND IT.
I have two things to recommend…Vaseline and savlon. Oh and if it gets wet then dab it dry. You have to do this for around two weeks and then just treat it like normal skin!!

If you’re going to get one, make sure you go somewhere clean, and make sure they use a new needle for your tattoo. Also don’t go somewhere because it’s cheap…this is your body and your health and appearance is not cheap!!!

Good luck