Should I Get a Tattoo or Not?

Are you thinking about getting a tattoo? There are a lot of things to think about before getting a tattoo. I have two tattoos and got them while I was very young and didn't know any better. I thought that it was cool to get a tattoo and wanted to break out from my shell since I was going through a divorce. To me, it was a rite of passage that I had to do for myself. I am going to give you some pros and cons of tattoos if you are thinking about getting them or not.

Pros:

1. They look cool if you get them in a spot where everyone can see it. Guys usually get them on their biceps and it looks nice if they flex their muscle. A tribal band is usually a popular design for the men. Actually, anywhere on a man's chest is a good spot for a tattoo because in the summer they can take their shirts off and all the ladies will go crazy.

2. Tattoos are works of art. If you get a good tattoo artist then you can show off a design on any part of your body. Or you can even design your own tattoo and have a tattoo artist put it on your body. I know that some men will get tattoos of their children's names on their forearms or somewhere on their arm so that their children will always be with them.

3. Some married couples will get tattoos of their wedding bands. That why they will never risk losing their wedding rings or have to take them off. Especially to wash their hands or around dangerous machinery. This is a unique way to show someone that you love them very deeply.

Cons:

1. Tattoos are very painful to get. I'm not sure about the arms but I have two tattoos. I have one on my left thigh and one on my lower back. I remember my first one and how much it hurt. The lower thigh doesn't hurt as much but it is still painful and you do bleed. After you get a tattoo done, you have to make sure that you take care of it so that you don't get an infection and you need to keep it clean. At first, it does itch like crazy but you have to keep from scratching until the tattoo scabs over.

2. Tattoos are permanent designs on your body. When I got my tattoos, I was very young and rebellious. I wanted to do something different and dangerous. I thought that this was the best thing for me after my divorce to prove that I was no longer tied down. However, now that I look back on it, I'm older and what was I thinking having designs on my body for the rest of my life. I'm not going to be young forever and when I'm older the tattoos that I have won't look as flattering as they once did.

3. Some people get tattoos of their girlfriends or wives. I think that this is a bad idea because tattoos are permanent. You can get cover ups to try and change the design and name but it would cost a lot to do. I would never get a significant other's name tattooed on me just in case something happened and we broke up. I don't want to have to explain in each relationship why I have another person's name tattooed on me.

4. The most important con about tattoos to me is how I'm going to tell my daughters not to get a tattoo when my husband and I both have them. My oldest daughter is going to be 11 and I remember that she saw my tattoo when she was about five years old. She had asked me why I let someone color on my back. I was at a lost for words. But now that she is older, I need to find a way to explain to her about not getting permanent designs on her body.

As you can see, there are several things to think about when you decide to get a tattoo. Please read over my pros and cons and decide if you are ready to get a tattoo or not. When I got mine, I thought that I was ready but I really do regret making a spur of the moment decision. Every person is different and they have to decide what they can or can't do to their own bodies.