In response to the Tat-Four article on Wednesday I have thrown together a few guidelines to consider if you are thinking about a tattoo.
Is there purpose to the pain?
Can you clearly articulate why you want a tattoo? Talk to someone who has a few tattoos, tell them why you want one and see what they think. Tattoos are not for everyone. This thing will be with you forever. Make sure you are not getting one for shallow reasons. You tattoo should be an outward expression of an inward experience.
Life experience should be required
I highly doubt someone under the age of 21 has a clear understanding of why they want their first tattoo. And don’t ever get a tattoo on the fly. Make sure you’ve thought about it for at least a week before you go through with it.
Cover your Bases
Get your first tattoo in a place that can be covered. If you come to regret it you can at least cover it. (This is especially true depending on the career you plan to pursue. Some places of employment do not look kindly on body art).
Pay the Price
It costs about $75 to $150 an hour for a good, experienced tattoo artist.
And
It hurts. You are puncturing your skin hundreds of times. Imagine a hive of angry bees aiming for a sunburn. If you have a low pain tolerance, forget it. If needles freak you out, stick with press on tattoos.
For the love of Michelangelo, this should be art
Don’t get a lame tattoo like a butterfly, a logo from your favorite product, or a Chinese dragon. Know what you want and what it represents. If you can’t explain why the symbol is important, don’t get it permanently pasted to your epidermis.
Be creative. If you’re going to do it, make it interesting. Find something original.
It’s not worth dying over
Find a legitimate tattoo parlor. The parlor should be clean. If it is dirty on the outside or in the front lobby, it’s probably unsanitary in the back. To be honest, a quality parlor looks like as clean as an operating room in the back. Make a health conscious decision. Internet research will help with this.
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