Are You Thinking About Getting a Tattoo?

The acceptance of tattoos has come a long way in the last few years thanks to shows like L.A Ink and Miami Ink. They seem less shocking to some people although they are still a major taboo in corporate America and even in some higher end retail shops. I was recently watching an episode of "Splint Ends" (Style Network, check your listings) a show where hairdressers swap salons for a few days. Recently a girl was taken out of a rocking punk-style salon and sent to a calm higher-end salon. She has one full tattoo sleeve and the girls at the salon she was sent to were less than receptive. They made her cover up the first day saying her tattoos made the customers uncomfortable and that tattoos made the customers distrust the stylist. It was such a sad statement of discrimination and lack of understanding. She caved the first day but the second day she came back and said she was not going to cover up. She was dressed appropriately (the only wear all black) but she did not wear a long sleeved shirt. They had a discussion and reached a compromise and she was able to focus on her work with her tattoos exposed. Now considering the conditions of the show I am surprised they tried to get her to cover up so much, if she was a new hire to the salon then I would understand because she would have been made to understand the dress code. However since the point of the show is to expose each salon and each hair dresser to a different way of doing things I thought it was unfortunate that the first reaction from them was for her to cover up.

I personally have two tattoos and I am waiting eagerly to get my third and fourth and fifth. I actually submitted an entry to LA Ink to see if I could win a spot to be inked by either Kat Von D or Cory. All the artists in the shop have great skills and I would be lucky to be tattooed by any of them; however, Kat and Cory would be my top two picks if I had to choose. I currently have a butterfly on my top left shoulder blade and a set of stars shaped into a comet on my right hip.

Picking a Tattoo

I honestly think people put way to much thought into the 'meaning' of their tattoos. Tattoos are art and a great way to express yourself and it doesn't always have to have some serious hidden meaning. Sometimes stars are just stars and they don't have to each represent something special to you. I think you are less likely to regret your tattoo if its an image you really admire rather than if its something you have put a world of meaning into. Now there are exceptions to this. Memorial tattoos are obviously not going to lose their meaning. However, just because you are madly in love with Green Day today doesn't mean you should get the bands name scrawled on your neck. You may hate Green Day in a few years and then what? I don't think in the future I will have a day where I hate butterflies. But that guy you dated for 6 months named Biff? Yeah, not a good idea. Placement is also very important.

I'm in my late twenties and I know that I will be in corporate America for a long time. I am focused on my career and while I would love to get some tattoos on my wrists and arms I know that it will be hard for me to find a job if I'm covered in ink. My tattoos are currently in well hidden places. You can't see either of them when I'm dressed in a short-sleeved shirt or business suit. I have been toying with the idea of an ankle tattoo because I tend to wear pants and rarely wear skirts to work. However, because of those rare occasions I do wear skirts I have been hesitant. It's a shame I'm willing to miss out on something because I'll be judged by someone else by something that in no way affects my ability to perform. However you have to realistic about other peoples expectation and the role you are going to play in your life.

If you are in fashion or art or something creative you can get away and enjoy decorating your body with any designs you want, however if you plan on going into the stricter side of the business world you have to accept the fact that people will judge you. It's unfortunate that this is the case but for now it is. Stereotypes are being challenged every day and eventually it may be more accepted. You also have to think of where you live and where you may live in the future. I was living in Boston, Massachusetts a very liberal area when I got my last tattoo. I was able to show my co-workers without a second thought. I now live in fairly conservative North Carolina and so I don't see myself marching in and proudly showing off my next design.

For some getting a tattoo is a well planned, almost synchronized event. Both times I got my tattoos they were completely spontaneous. I had known I wanted a butterfly and one day I was out with my best friend Brenda and we had just gone horse back riding. Afterwards, we were talking about tattoos and just a few short hours later we were inked. We went to Claire's, picked out a package of fake tattoos and went to a tattoo shop that another friend of mine had recommend. We got our tattoos on the same shoulder and they are very similar. The size, shape and placement are the same but the colors and inside designs are a little different. It was an incredibly fun experience and I will never forget it.

The second time I got tattooed was just as spontaneous. I was actually out with my husband and his mom and cousin. We somehow got on the subject of tattoos and one of us said "We should go get tattooed now" and off we were. My mother-in-law had been wanting a bumble-bee for a long time because her nickname is Bee, my husbands cousin had been wanting a giant tribal design on his arm and I'd been wanting something on my hips. I had been toying with the idea of stars and when I got to the shop they had a great starry comet on the flash wall.

If you have been wanting a tattoo it's a good idea to search images on a regular basis. You can find plenty of tattoos on the Internet on tattoo search engines like http://www.bmezine.com/. You can only search this site for a limited time without having to purchase an account but you can still see plenty of images. You can also check out http://tattoojohnny.com/ which is a site that sells flash images. You can purchase them and then download and print them out. You can even purchase transfer paper (like for fake tattoo's) so you can print out your design and "test" it on yourself. I have yet to do this but I will in the future because it seems like a great way to test a large design. You can also just use the Google images filter by typing in key words like "butterfly tattoo" or "star tattoo" and plenty of images will come up.

Getting the Tattoo

If you think you might ever get a tattoo go ahead and just start looking for ideas that way if the opportunity arises for you get get one you will have a clear idea of what you want rather than just winging it completely. I know for my next piece I want to get some wild mushrooms on my back and I have an image picked out. I'm also wanting to get some more stars on my hips but different from the ones I have now. I plan on scouting some of the tattoo shops in my area as I am unfamiliar with them. I was lucky both times I went because the shops were recommended by friends who had had work done in them. If you do not know anyone who has had work done near you, start visiting your local shops. I have ventured in many times just to go through artists books and check out what they have on their walls. This is a great time to see if you will be comfortable getting tattooed there. Sometimes you can actually watch someone else getting work done on them and this is a great way to observe the process. And yes it is going to hurt but how much depends on the location and your pain threshold. My butterfly tattoo barely hurt at all but my stars hurt a lot partially because I requested sharper edges than on my butterfly which mean a smaller needle was used (and therefore longer to cover the same area). Make sure the shop is clean and when you actually go to get your piece done be observant of how the artist takes care of his/her equipment. I have been in many tattoo shops and have always observed the most diligent care and cleanliness; but, it's up to you to keep yourself safe. Another good way to find out if anyone around you is good is to simply ask people you see on the street. I've had people ask me where I got my butterfly done at and I've done the same to others who have large pieces that I loved. People are usually proud to discuss their skin art with you.

Tattoo Care

Definitely listen to your tattooer and follow the instructions on the sheet they give you when you are leaving. I unfortunately, the second time, misread my directions and used the antibiotic ointment for more than one day which caused it to heal too quickly. When it heals too quickly it scabs up which results in color loss. So I have a tiny spot on one of my stars with the no color, but when I get my next tattoo I will be getting in fixed. You also don't want something rubbing up against your tattoo when its fresh. I had an artist tell me he worked on a friend once for several hours doing a fairy on her lower back and she proceeded to wear tight jeans afterwards which rubbed all over the freshly tattooed ink and destroyed it. After your tattoo is all healed up treat it nicely when you venture into the sun. Put sunscreen on it or cover it with a big ace bandage. Moisturize the area frequently so your skin doesn't get dry and flaky and if you ever get an insect bite on it don't pick at it!

Finally, remember that regardless of the lasers and creams that are advertised you should consider your tattoo to be permanent. If you are going into getting it thinking you can always remove it later, then you should not be getting it done. Tattoos are a great way to express your self, memorialize something important, or just decorate your body in a way that makes you feel more unique about who you are. They are permanent which is why it is important to be sure you look through the work of the person who is working on you and always think about the long term. Happy Inking!