Oh Geezus, I Might Get a Tattoo, Anyone Want to Talk Me Out of It?

One of my elder co-workers got a cute little rose tattooed on her side boob when she was in her early 20's. Twenty years later, that sucker is a long-stem rose that has petals the color of uncooked salmon.

So just don't get one there, ok? :)

I met a tattoed lady once. She is one of those ladies that carves bears with a chainsaw at the State Fair. She had tattoed, at 18, her hands on her chest, holding each of her breasts. She had the nipples pierced to look like rings on the hand with the fingers of the hand pointing toward each other. Well, I met her at 45. She lifted her shirt and showed us, without any warning at all. Now the fingers point straight down! That scarred me for life. No tatoos for me thanks.

Did that help?

I'm against them. No offense to anyone with tattoos, but I think it's a fad. I can appreciate the art form, but few have true "art" going on with tattoos.

Honestly, it takes me weeks to pick out new dish towels. I could never pick out a tattoo.

The ONLY thing I might commit to FOREVER is something including my son's name....

Good luck!

why put a bumper sticker on a Bentley?

Go find a 60 year old man or woman with a tattoo and see if you want something that looks like that on you.

Just my opinion...

Don't do it.

I wussed out of a few, and now I am so happy to have unmarred skin.

I have one (hidden) and regretted it. Still waiting for a new technology to take it off without pain. In the end, it's not feminine.

I don't know of anyone that has had a tattoo for 30 or more years and hasn't wished they could either take it off or wished they hadn't done it. They are VERY expensive to have removed. (Read what Luna said.)

If you love pain and needles sticking you, you'll love being tattooed. Then there is always the possible of infection or the transmittal of diseases you really don't want in you.

I wouldn't have a tattoo on me or a friend any more than I would want graffitti on a church.

Good luck to you and yours.

While tattoos are certainly more common place, I wouldn't make the mistake of thinking they are becoming universally accepted. Plenty of people still view them as trashy, especially on women. I would carefully consider the location depending on your professional setting. I have seen an accidently exposed tattoo raise quite a few eyebrows simply because of the work atmosphere/ethos.

Personally they aren't for me simply because I can't embue them with the necessary passion/meaning to make the gravity/aging factor, cost, etc. worth it. I think you should probably wait until you are 100% before moving forward. Maybe there is a deeper reason you haven't uncovered as to why you might be hesitating. Whatever you decide good luck.

Think about how you will look... when you are 70 years old etc. and WHERE you want it.
In a visible place or not?

I have one, gotten in college with my BFF's to celebrate our graduation.
We all got the same thing. But it is in a non-visible place. Small one.

Pain= depends on your threshold for pain.
For me, it was just uncomfortable. Hurt, but nothing to scream about.

I've never had a Tattoo done. Talk to Rachel D - she has a sleeve or two - so I can't tell you about the pain.

My best friend had one done on her tail bone/lower back. She started out with black and has now added color to it.

I love looking at the art work - but I can't see a Tat on me!! :(

I think you need to find one that you fall in love with as it's permanent and getting off is VERY painful l hear!! I hope you find the one that works for you!!! I think the anklet is a GREAT IDEA!!!

My pool maintenance man died a few years ago from Hepatitis turned liver cancer, which he contracted at a 'clean' tattoo parlour. He left behind a wife and 2 beautiful children.

Don't do it unless you're OK with the possible outcome of contracting AIDS or Hep A/B and prematurely leaving your family here.

It does sound pretty and I have to say that I am not against tattoos. I would never get one though. As a nurse I have the opportunity to see tattoos on all kinds of body parts and I have to say I have seen some amazing tatoos on young people, but let me tell you, they look pretty bad after you start to age, old, faded and wrinkled - I would never get a tattoo just for that reason.

I have nothing against tattoos but have never found anything I like enough to have for the rest of my life.

If I were you the only thing I would consider is are you going with good enough because you feel there is a time frame at work. If you aren't settling because of time pressures then go for it.

First off they are not that bad...more annoying pain then pain pain.

Ankle is a bit touchy, but not to horrible. Ok place to start off with:)

Make sure you take care of it when you are done. Use some type of vitamin cream . They may give you something.

Mind my screen name...I love Tattoos:) SO GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN:)

It sounds like you are half in/half out...so don't do it. This has to be something you really want and agree with.

So to talk you out of it, here is my husbands horror story. He had this tattoo artist he loved, so he went back for another tat. The artist must have recently taken up crack because the next tattoo was the ugliest thing I have ever seen. It is a flat skull. No dimension. My 6 year old can draw more flat than that ugly thing. It is colored in with so much ink I can't see any way to change it into anything else.

Anyway, revisit this thought when you aren't in a state of, "I don't know".

I got a tattoo almost 25 years ago and I have never regretted it for one minute. You've been thinking about this for 12 years. Just do it!! You'll love it.

And what's with all the ageism?? Yes, our skin will sag and wrinkle when we get old, so what? Enjoy the body art while you can!

Never have never will . . . and I rarely use the word "never."

There are religious reasons not to do it, and I've also read that it makes it extremely easy for cops to ID people (not that we have anything to worry about LOL).

So don't do it! :)

If you feel the desire for body art, get henna to scratch the itch. Nothing worse than being on the fence about something permanent then changing your mind after it's done.

I'm 33 and have had my tattoo image in my mind since I was a little kid. I've always loved birds, everything about them, so I wanted to get a feather tatted on my body somewhere but I've never done it because a.) I can't think of where I want it. b.) I can't decide on what kind of feather to get c.) I can never seem to justify the cost and d.) my mother in law showed me the butterfly she had tattooed on her upper thigh as a young lady and it was warped completely out of shape and all the colors had faded. It was not attractive and she showed it to me as a warning against getting a tattoo on any part of your body that might, at some point, stretch.

I have two tattoos. I want to get them removed some day. Incidentally, that's MORE painful. WAY more painful.

I wouldn't get one. It's not like you're making an artistic statement, or displaying a piece of art. It's feminine...until you get cankles and ankle wrinkles. Just sayin.

Think about how it will look on you when you're sixty-eight years old. Kinda lame.

How do you feel when you imagine your grandchildren tattooing themselves because Grandma did it?

Is there something just as interesting that you might do with all that money - that will make you happier longer?

People can get themselves decorated if they want to. I have friends who have gone through the other process - becoming un-tattooed - and they say it's even more painful and even more expensive.

Some of the artwork is well done, but do you want folks to notice how pretty your body art is or how pretty YOU are?

Since you asked for people to talk you out of it, that's my contribution. :^)

Heh heh heh... you want ME, to talk YOU out of a tattoo...

Oh, I'm still laughing ;)

I think that's a cool idea, and you've certainly waited a long time and sincerely thought about you want...

...go for it :)

LOVE, the woman covered in tattoos :)

I saw on pinterest the other day where a woman got a tattoo in white ink. I LOVED it... it was cool b/c it was kind of incognito (sp??) and wasn't too flashy. Just throwing that out there.

Mom with 2 tattoos... ;)

I got my first - and only - tattoo when I was 30.
16 years later and I still love it.

So, I am sooooo not going to talk you out of it.

Though, I will caution you that tattoos on ankles, arms, necks, are hard to cover up when the occasion dictates it, so you may want to rethink the location of your tattoo.

So hard to remove once done, so unless you are really, really sure, don't do it! If you're only fairly sure, get one where it won't ever be a problem if you want to cover it -- like your lower back or around your belly button. A friend has a really pretty tattoo ring on her finger. That way you could have one and see it often but put a ring on when you don't want it visible.
BTW - your subject line made me laugh out loud! Very funny. Good luck whatever you decide!

I just got my first Tattoo back in January. Mine had a lot of personal meaning. It might be the only one I ever get but It was almost therapeutic in a way for me. Its a dandelion with three birds. Its hard to explain without showing you. Each Bird is a loved on in my life... and the Dandelion represents a chapter of my life. It goes up the back right side of my neck.

In my humble honest opinion. Get a tattoo that means something to you. Don't get one for the sake of getting one. Its permanent and last forever.

As for the pain, Its more annoying than anything. Its not really pain. feels like a constant annoying sensation.

Good-luck on your choice. I say go for it and ROCK IT OUT : )

Nope, I have 4! :) Nothing to talk you out of!

But...the foot and ankle will hurt when it's on the bone. Just a warning. I have the top of my foot done, and mostly, it was easy - it's on the fleshy part. But the closer he got to the bone...I needed to take some breaks. (I have a pretty high pain tolerance..)

On the fleshier parts...it feels like dragging a needle across your skin. (and it is!) So you can practice at home to get a feel for what you're going to experience.
Also, your foot will swell for about 2 weeks while it heals. So you'll need to find shoes with any open top/side, depending on placement. I wore Mary Janes and it was fine.
Good luck! They're addictive!

I love my tattoos! I got my first little one on my ankle when I was 18. Then my best friend and I got matching ones, small on back. then I had my first daughter and I have always told her I lover her to the moon and back, so on the top of my foot I got her name with a moon outside of it. Then my second daughter came, I added her name on foot with stars! And just a couple months ago I had 2 little crowns put on my wrist for my 2 princesses!
I think it is hard in our genration, I am 35, to find anyone wihtout one. Get something that means something to you, like your children, and you will never regret it!!!!

Are you drunk? Wait till you sober up!

I've never loved something enough to commit to it forever.
Yeah, forever looking at that same cute, heart it whatever seemed like a great idea at the time, forever.

do an ankle one its the most painless area to do it. i have 5 tattoos and each one has gotten bigger. but you would never know because only the ones on my ankles are visable.

also my first is on my ankle it took the guy about 30 mins because i was laughing. it only stung for a minute. when he hit my ankle bone i didnt really feel pain but my whole foot vibrated.

Why not trying Henna first, and will also allow you to see the skills of the person that would put the real one if you decide to go for.
I personally don't have and don't think I will have one, but I am not against them, my husband has 5 and has being thinking on getting another one.
I like them all, besides one that he got when he was young, but he still likes it, so.

I am not against tattoos. I just can't commit to anything that I want permanently on my body like that. Folks have suggested that I get a tattoo honoring my two kids. My thought process is that I have enough stretch marks and other scars from having them. That's enough of a reminder... lol
If you want to be talked out of it, google Ugliest Tattoo. There is a site dedicated to tattoo failures. Scary!
If you want to do it, make sure it's something you love, and that you go to a highly recommended artist. Otherwise, you may end up on Ugliest Tattoo. :)

I have 4 and love them all. If you can come up with a design you absolutely love and carries meaning for you ~ do it :)

a tiny cross ~ done is college to remind me who I need the most.

above ankle bone on R ankle ~ my youngest sons name disguised in a fish with his d.o.b. (my husband designed it)

below the ankle bone on the inside of my L heel ~ my oldest sons name disguised in deer horns with his d.o.b. (my husband designed it)

top of L big toe ~ a pink daisy to resemble my favorite/wedding flowers.

my next one is going to be a lady bug (still trying to decided where to put it) in honor of my step-daughter.

Here's my take--since you SAID to talk you out of it. (so any of you responders who take this personally, please don't, this isn't for you, it's for Molly).

You said yourself that it "dawned on" you that you didn't NEED one. You were right. You don't. It is a passing fancy that intrigued you and you got over it. Now that you saw something you like, you are revisiting the idea... but you don't really want to do it, do you? If you did, you probably wouldn't be posting "Talk me out of it" on here. What if you change your mind later? Oops.. too late. Do you REALLY want to go through the discomfort for no tangible reason? What if you don't like it after it is done? Want to then have it removed?? Talk about $$$ and pain. It's worse having something removed than applied (or so I have been told by everyone that's ever had it done). Totally unnecessary.
What I would suggest to you, particularly since what you finally found that you really love is just a "copy" of a piece of jewelry, is to just go get that piece of jewelry!!
There are plenty of jewelers out there who can design an anklet with what you want on it. They LOVE doing that kind of stuff. Jewelers consider them selves just as much an artist as any tattoo artist.
Sketch what you have in mind. Print a copy of a photo that has Nicole Richey's "anklet tattoo" in it. Talk to a jeweler and explain what you want and see what they say. It could even be a "gift" your husband (are you married? I didn't go back and look at your profile, sorry) could give to you on mother's day. VERY feminine, VERY cool, and totally something you could show to ANYONE without ANY inhibitions about what their opinions of tattoos might be.
Then you can wear it whenever you want, and if you ever decide you don't want to have it "on", you can just take it off. Problem/dilemma solved!

Do it! Sorry, I can't bear to talk you out of it! I have always wanted a tattoo! :) Oh, and I hate pain too. My ears and my nose are pierced and that's the extent of my bravery.

Good luck in deciding!

I say go for it. If indeed you are ready for it to be on your ankle for the next 60 years. That means all shorts, swimsuits, dresses, etc .... you'll see your anklet. I think your kids initials or even names would be a great idea.

Personally, I don't have any tattoos b/c i am not ready for the permanency of anything. Picking a design plus a location that I'd be happy with forever and ever ... I've just never been able to decide. I stuck with piercings. And I have since taken out the tongue ring.

I love my tattoo! Go for it.

Mine covers almost the whole outside of my calf and it didn't hurt - just tingled.

I have two...one on my lower stomach it is a four leaf clover. I got it when I turned 21, even after babies it is not warped or anything. The yellow has faded and needs to be redone but since no one but my hubs sees it's not likely to get done.

my other is a Celtic Knot on my back in a triangle with the kids names off to the sides. It is bigger than I intended it to be. But I don't regret it now. It's beautiful and no matter where I am I love having my babies there with me.

Technology and the ink are very different now than they were 14 years ago...just as in 14 years it will be different then too.

Ankles hurt from what I've heard. My back was not too bad and the really the straight lines in tats hurt the worst...not so bad once the outline is done. IMO.

But if you have reservations then I would say don't get one. At least not until you are 100% certain you want to.

If you do, make sure to check out many tattoo artists and their work. They should have a portfolio and you can get a sense of their level of ability and style.

I've seen a lot of really bad tattoos come out of a lot of shops, and some absolutely gorgeous ones.

Don't drink before you go, it thins your blood (you don't want to bleed while getting inked, as the ink comes out) and they won't (hopefully) do it if you've been drinking.

Do make sure that the person you work with is someone you feel comfortable with.

Try drawing it on yourself first or having a friend draw it for you. No, it's not the end result, but it may give you a sense of how it will look on your body and where you want it/don't want it.

Look at lots of different art before you decide on one. If nothing else, it's fun. You may find a design or style that you wouldn't have thought of before.

Think about color. I, personally, like black ink tattoos. Heck, in the case that twenty years down the road, you hate it, black comes out the most easily. Also think about how it will look when you are wearing heels, jeans, work clothes, swimsuit, etc.

I (personally) don't think tattoos hurt badly. Like, at all at all, and I have a few in some very tender spots, so *personally* I wouldn't have that as part of the equation. I mean, you've given birth to three children. This is like getting a splinter in comparison.

Have fun!!!

It is your body and as long as you go someplace safe and sanitary...go for it! Ankles swell, but really don't change a lot over time, and it sounds like a tasteful tattoo. Go for it!

I have 3 and I don't regret any of mine.

The only noticeable one on me is my husbands name shaped in a heart on my left ring finger.

I have two more that Im going to get on my back/ shoulder blade... its for my grandparents. My husband drew out my kids name in the shape of foot prints.. still dont know where I want to put that one since it will be bigger being I have 5 kids, but some day I will figure it out.

On your ankle is a good place. Its some where that pants, socks or even boots will cover up when dressing up if you WANT to cover it. Especially with your kids names in it I doubt you will regret it mainly if you have waited this long to get it done.

Go for it and be proud of it :)

Not gonna talk you out of it.... I waited from 18YO to 24YO to get mine. It's not the most amazing piece of art, but it IS something I wanted, and drew myself and it's MY body - I can do what I want with it.
That said - if you really want it - my Mom got one on her ankle (when she turned 50YO) and she said, although it "stung", it didn't come anywhere NEAR having a baby... so go for it.
Find a good, clean tattoo parlor, and check out the artist's work ahead of time.

Good luck!

*Cracking up* at Luna's response!

I would never get a tattoo. Not because I don't like them, but I am a *total* baby when it comes to pain.

My best friend has the Kanji for "life" (inochi in Japanese) right in the middle of her back. It's super small and looks like a mole from a distance, but up close you can see it's a tattoo. It's cool and I like it.

I used to think getting a tiny spider on the back of my neck would be nice...back when I had time to style my hair and wear it down most of the time. Now that I'm 40 and have my hair up in a ponytail 90% of the time, that little spider would probably have been a bit less cool. Glad I never got it.

You have to decide if it's something you really want...I'd think that if you're a pain wuss, THAT ALONE would stop you from getting one.

I got my first tattoo a year ago on my 33rd birthday. I NEVER wanted one until I found something that I knew that I had to have. It's something that meant something to me and will be forever. I got mine on the top of right foot. That way I can cover it up if I want to or I can let it show.

The pain is nothing bad, like just hard scratching. If you want it and you can live with it forever, I say go for it!

I am fascinated by tattoos in that they truly can be works of art.
However, I would never get one. I will say that I have had great fun with henna tattoos though. They last quite a while but then fade away.

My sister and my daughter both got tattoos on their feet and ankles and they said it hurts like hell. My beautiful daughter now has to wear socks or thick stockings constantly to cover hers up for work. She wasn't thinking about "dress codes" when she got them. Now she's a mother and one day, she'll be a grandmother with the tops of her feet all inked up. I can't lie...I wanted to strangle her. I was furious.

I'm always amazed at the number of young women who apply for positions with us that have piercings in their faces and tattoos on their necks and hands. In our industry, most elderly people aren't comfortable with it. It can make them hard, if not impossible to place. It doesn't make them bad people.

If you really want to try a tattoo, get a small one in an inconspicuous place at first.
I've seen some absolutely beautiful tattoos and I've seen some that were terrible.
Case in point...I just saw some examples of bad tattoos on TV the other night and there was a close up of a woman with huge ummm, boobs. Just above that was a tattoo that said, "Stop Starring Bitches"
The person who did it didn't even know how to spell "staring".
Whoopsie.
It wasn't a small tatoo,either.

Do what you really feel drawn to do. My advise is to start with something non permanent and go from there.

That's just my opinion and I definitely mean no offense to anyone who has tattoos and loves them.

This is just my opinion.

i have two - one for my mom and siblings, and one for my child. i don't regret either, but it did take me several years to decide on EXACTLY the right thing, for both of them. so what i'll say is, sit on it and sit on it until you come up with EXACTLY what you want - and you really really want it - before you do it. if you're not sure, don't do it.

my question was never IF i wanted one, it was WHAT i wanted. but if i had been wishy washy about getting one at all (and i guess i was, at first, it took me till 24 to get my first one), i wouldn't.

**sam i am! ooooh! i just googled white ink tattoos - VERY cool. i already got all i want but if i ever get a wild hair...i love those!