All About Tattoo

So you wanna get ink โ€™d ? โ€“ Everything you need to know before you get tattooed.

Getting a tattoo is not something you ought to get on a whim or when you are drunk. It is a life long commitment and must be treated as such.

Of course if you are me โ€“ you might wake up one morning, decide to get a tattoo, harass your friend to find a tattoo artist in the city โ€“ and be the proud owner of tattoo in two weeks. But I was 14 (im pretty sure getting a tattoo at that age without parental consent is actually illegal now) so lets chalk that up to immaturity ๐Ÿ˜›

Tattoo
Tattoo

(sorry for the flash in this picky)
Apart from the fact they are so pretty, there are a fair few reasons why people decide to get ink โ€™d.

  • Change โ€“ You want a new look, you want to change a part of your image and a new hair color isnโ€™t enough
  • To commemorate a special event โ€“ Accomplished a personal goal, special events or people you donโ€™t want to forget or even as a constant reminder of a valuable lesson learned.
  • Self expression โ€“ body art is a great way to express yourself, and a great outlet for all the dark and twisty thoughts ๐Ÿ˜€
  • You got one and now you are addicted.
  • Just because ๐Ÿ˜€

Most people will find however that their first tattoo is generally a mix of all of the above.
So how do you know youโ€™ve picked the right tattoo?

Pick a design, and then ask your tattoo artist to do a temporary one on your chosen spot โ€“ live with it for a week. If it feels right, youโ€™ve picked a winner and if it doesnโ€™t feel right then you can make all the changes you want until you know youโ€™ve picked the perfect one.
However people change, personalities change so while picking your tattoo ask yourself a few questions โ€ฆ

tattoo

  • How will I feel with this tattoo when I am 60 years old ?
  • How will I carry this tattoo when I am older?
  • Consider the placement of your tattoo and where you want to be in life, a tattooed lipstain on your neck is all good and funky but chances are you might get turned down for a lot of jobs with a tattoo like that.
  • What kind of signals are you sending โ€“ ie Do you really want that tramp stamp (typically a butterfly at the base of the spine, right above the butt)? How would you explain a tram stamp to your children?

Tattoos can be beautiful and classy or they can end up being downright tacky and tasteless. A good tip to keep tattoos beautiful without being in your face with them is โ€“get one on a discreet part of you body. The shoulder, back, inner hip, or on the legs are great places where one can hide them easily as the occasion demands it. Having a tattoo on your wrists, arms, above the breast, on the neck, or behind the ear can be slightly obvious, and be very problematic once you have a serious career. The last thing you want is to be a banker with a tattoo on your wrist and to flash it every time you shake a clientโ€™s hand.

NOTE: This is a true story actually. I met this guy who worked for a bank. He also had dreadlocks and a tattoo of his ex girlfriends lip print on his neck. Management refused to let him deal with clients and they made him hide in the cafeteria every time senior management or external clients were visiting !

But like I said before, if it feels right it feels right, whether its on your butt or on your face ๐Ÿ˜€

People are often worried that tattoos hurt a lot. If you are sensitive to pain, yes it will hurt but if you are like me, used to the pain of waxing, you will be fine. Tattoos donโ€™t hurt in that OH MY GOD AHHHHH kind of pain you feel when you get your nosed pierced. It is surface pain, because the needle only pierces the top layers of your skin. So it is not bone deep pain. It is similar to the sting of threading or being scratched โ€“ but it doesnโ€™t stop during the processโ€ฆ.The actual procedure involves a machine with a motor that allows the needle to rotate a very high speed. The needle is dipped into ink and then run over your skin, effectively injecting the ink into your dermis โ€“ not the epidermis. This is because the dermis is more stable than your epidermis and it is what allows your tattoo to last a lifetime.

However before you get your sexy tattoo โ€“ ensure the following are in order.

  • Your tattoo artist is hopefully a senior artist โ€“ they may cost more but they are more conscientious and definitely worth the money.
  • A disposable needle is used. Make sure they open the needle in front of you and either hand it to you at the end of the procedure or dispose of it safely in front of you. I am sure you all are familiar with why this is necessary, HIV, STDS blah blah blah.
  • They sanitize the area before they begin the tattoo process.

Once you have you have been ink โ€™d, after care is very important. Vaseline will now be your new best friend. However most tattoo artists will give you a talk on their preferred method of after care.

Tattoos may be difficult to remove but they can actually be changed, or added on to after a while. If your tattoo starts to fade in a few years, a touch up is recommended so that it can go back to its dark and defined glory. Of course you can always change your mind and get them surgically removed but if you are so wishy washy about your commitment to body art then why bother with one in the first place? But if you are sure want one of these babies โ€“ jump right in โ€ฆโ€ฆ

In my experience most people who get tattoos are in love with them. After a few years your tattoos just become a natural part of you, like your nose or your lips. So while getting a tattoo might be a huge deal in the beginning, after a while its just one of those things, its special, its beautiful but most of all itโ€™s a part of you: D

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29 thoughts on “All About Tattoo

  1. Are both of the above your tatoos??? …… I’m scared of getting tattoos, always picture it as being very painful, but I really wanna get a butterfly tatoo, or stars like Kat von D’s :silly: ๐Ÿ˜› ๐Ÿ˜› …..

    1. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: si si both are mine – the butterfly is above my right ankle and the left is on my back, on the left shoulder :-))

      and don’t be afraid of the pain – it truly doesn’t hurt all that much ๐Ÿ˜›

  2. so u got ined at 14 O_o
    As a teeager when i asked my mom, she said get inked and leave home or stay put
    i chose the later option ๐Ÿ˜›

    1. LOL my mom was out of the country so I kind of guilt tripped her into letting me get one ๐Ÿ˜› besides I was a very very rebellious type of teen and very very headstrong ….. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

  3. I personally love tattoos. I’ve been interested in the whole culture for many years. But I still haven’t gotten one yet because I want it to be perfect and I need to find a great artist. This article is really great because a lot of people get tattoos for the sake of getting one, which can be disastrous. I have friends with horrible tattoos and I feel bad for them because if they had just taken the time to perfect the design and find a good artist, the tattoo would have looked much better. It’s all about the perfect time and the perfect placement. I think a good artist can make a very simple idea something beautiful and artistic. And not all tattoos have to “mean” something. Some people get very anxious to have their tattoos mean something and it can complicated the design.

  4. I so wanted to get a tattoo all my life but somehow I have given up the whole idea now. Guess getting a tattoo at such a young age would have been a better idea. Like you don’t think so much at that age na…I think I would have got it done then…cant get it done now. :((

    1. you i totally understand – like now to think of getting other piercings and all is like a big hassle n a bit daunting – tabhi at that age I didnt care – it was all in good fun – :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: but me loves my tattoos

        1. I Know ๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ˜€ although originally that used to be a dragon – then after a few years when I went to get it touched up, I got it covered with a big flying butterfly ๐Ÿ˜ฏ :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

  5. Just one question… out of curiosity… when you get a tattoo, what about waxing? I mean is it ok to wax over the tattoo? ?:-) ๐Ÿ˜• :-/ ?:-) ?:-) ?:-) ?:-) ?:-) ?:-)

    1. Hahahhhahah yeah you can wax – shave whatever, like one the tattoo has healed its no different from your normal skin ๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ˜€ ๐Ÿ˜€

  6. You know janhavi,

    for the first time I went outside wearing my PINKKK eye shadow… geeee… Just one single pink colour all over the lid and brown eye lining.. :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :clap: :clap:

    1. :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

      Only the black lippie was missing :giggle: :giggle: :giggle: :giggle: :giggle: :giggle:

  7. OUCH :-((
    ๐Ÿ˜ i will never ever get a tattoe
    1.because it’s not my thing
    2. because it pains
    3. My ideas change every year ๐Ÿ˜
    :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

    nice article Jahnvi :-*

  8. I looooobbbb my tattoo, and seriously forget i have it sometimes, just feel as natural as my freckles, thinking of getting a second though O:-) O:-) O:-)

    1. You should get one no …… Hahaha I know the feeling – I have been contemplating a third for years but I no longer no where on my body to put it so …… :-(( My mother on the hand went like “two is enough you dont need to start looking like a but case” so now I dunno :-(( :-(( :-(( I think Ive used up all my tattoo fun :-((

  9. Nice one girl! Your advice abt going for a senior artist is really good… makes a lot of sense… whats a temporary tattoo? can it be removed altogether?

    1. Temporary tattoos fade within a week or two – they are painted on you using certain inks (not paint) – people end up getting these at GOA alot – but most tattoo artists should be able to do one for you ….

  10. You dont need courage girl – you need conviction ! – seriously if you want one – go get one – there really is no real reason not to – unless u dislike the concept altogether ๐Ÿ˜›

  11. Really a nice post Janhavi ๐Ÿ™‚ Getting a tatoo just below my nape has been my dream but have always feared due to the safety factors. Your post really encourages me to try it. Might be after I deliver my baby next month I’ll seriously give a thought ๐Ÿ™‚ And any idea about colored tatoos?

  12. i’m TOTALLY addicted to tattoos! when i told my mom i wanted one she couldn’t believe her baby wanted to get inked! but after watching lots of episodes of miami ink and me convincing her that she could decide the design, i got her to agree. so i come home with my new ink and show mom and her reaction is: i want one too!!! the next time both me and mom got tattooed together – we even have matching tattoos! next up is an ankle one and somewhere in the near future a half sleeve of the goddess Saraswati (mom’s name means Saraswati). my granmom won’t be happy though – she thinks i’ll never be able to get married with all this ink :laugh:

  13. so i’m only 14 and i just got my tattoo yesterday and absolutely love it! if u r comtemplating getting a tattoo, GO FOR IT! its painful but 100% worth it! ๐Ÿ˜‰

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