Your tattoos should be something you’re proud to show off.
There are more than a few opinions out there when it comes to tattoos, and at least half of them are positive and supportive when it comes to accepting what they are, what they mean, and how they represent the thoughts and feelings of those wearing them. Then there are those that get out of hand and get addicted to the idea of inking every inch of their body, and there are those who stand in firm opposition to tattoos…but a lot of us tend to ignore those folks. The thing about tattoos is that from conception to the actual inking, they’re an expression of one’s self that is going to be permanent, which means they kind of need to be important, meaningful, and something that you’ll be comfortable with for a long time to come.
There is more to tattooing than just sitting or lying down and enduring the pain of the needle for an hour or more, and surprisingly, a lot of people don’t think past the pain of the process and the possibility of living with their design for years to come. But there is a lot to think about when it comes to tattoos since there’s a great deal of responsibility that comes with the practice, the designs, and how a person flaunts their ink. There are also cultural concerns, since like it or not, there are times when appropriation is very real if a person isn’t being careful and isn’t paying the proper respect to what they’re taking from another culture. There is such a thing as asking after all, especially when it comes to something that’s intrinsically linked to an entire group of people and has been for generations. In other words, knowing something about the symbols and images that you want on your body could help to avoid a mistake that you might need to cover up later.
There’s also the cost to consider since if a person wants a quality tattoo then they’re not going to be leaving without shedding a few dollars to make certain that their tattoo artist is giving them the needed work that they absolutely want. Any good artist needs to and wants to be paid for their time and effort, and we’ll get into why this is important in tattooing in another article since there’s plenty to still be said about why one should take a tattoo artist seriously and why they should treat these individuals with the utmost respect. After all, if you’re wanting to get your body covered in tattoos then you might want to find the person that knows what kind of images you want and can tattoo them with the type of precision and skill that you’re looking for. I mean come on, you wouldn’t want someone that’s proficient in nothing but doodles to try and recreate the Mona Lisa, would you? The point is, every tattoo artist has their own specialty, and while it’s important to have a wide variety of skills, a lot of artists do stick firmly in their wheelhouse since they know they can make money this way. You can have the grandest design in mind, but your selected artist might only be able to do so much.
So let’s take a look at some badass tattoos and talk a little about them, shall we?
For first-time tattoos, you definitely want to go small.
To be fair, that’s not a rule that anyone is going to hold you to, but if your pain tolerance isn’t great and you can’t sit still when someone is poking you, then go for a small tattoo and see how you handle it. It’s impressive to look at some of these designs, isn’t it? Flowers are a big thing, birds and other animals are a big draw, and there are many other designs that people tend to like. But keeping it small not only eliminates a lot of the pain you’ll go through, but it also allows you to try it out to start with, and see if you can live with this mark on your body for an extended period.
Do keep in mind that tattoos are permanent.
Nothing lasts forever, right? Well, tattoos are designed to last for a very long time, so if you’re having second thoughts before getting in the chair, it’s wise to let your tattoo artist know about it. A lot of folks won’t pressure you into a tattoo, it’s not their job and it’s not exactly ethical to do so. They might try to convince you that it’s not as bad as you’re thinking it could be, but at the same time, they’re artists, they want the business, and if you bow out, there’s always someone else willing to step up and fork over the money for a great design. There is always laser surgery if you get a tattoo you don’t like, but the fact is that this is supposed to be just as painful and costly as well. In other words, if you’re going to get a tattoo, make sure you know what you want and are ready to stick with your decision.
Tattoos do require the proper care after receiving them.
My hope is that people don’t think that they can walk into a tattoo shop, get inked, and then just walk out and show off what the artist did. I mean, yes, you can technically, but the moment you or anyone else runs a hand over your freshly-inked tattoo, you’re probably going to howl in pain, especially if your pain tolerance isn’t that high. Keep in mind that you’ve just been stuck repeatedly with a needle that’s been sinking ink into your skin. The typical human body doesn’t react with joy upon being pricked over and over again and will do whatever it takes to get it through your thick skull that you ARE IN PAIN. There are reasons that the artist will wrap the tattoo when they’re done and instruct you on how to take care of it. This is essentially an open wound that can become infected and seriously mess a body up if it’s not taken care of. Yes, they’re beautiful, yes, they’re exotic, and yes, you should be proud if your artists took the time and effort to make it perfect. But make no mistake, you will be in pain and will need to take care of this tattoo for the next couple of weeks so that it can heal right. If not, then you’ve wasted a lot of money on something that could become a huge problem if not taken care of properly.
Tattoos are not a quick process.
Whatever you do, plan out enough time for a tattoo, since depending on the size and complexity of your design, you’ll be in the shop for a while. Smaller tattoos that don’t have a lot of detail to them are, typically, the types of tattoos that don’t take that long. But if you really want something to be proud of there will be a degree of difficulty to the tat that will require a bit of time and ingenuity on the part of the artist. To be fair, a lot of artists do love more detail since it is how they make their money since they charge by the hour and not the tattoo. There’s a lot of pride in this art form, and most artists will want to give you the best design they can. But whatever you do, make sure you have the kind of time that’s needed.
Be proud of your tattoos.
There are those individuals who get a tattoo after losing a bet, and this is one of the worst reasons to ever get a tattoo since it’s likely that you’ll be stuck with something you hate or are embarrassed by for years. But if you know the design you want and are ready to flaunt it for all the tat is worth, then show them off and be proud. Don’t worry too much about what others might say since there are plenty of us out there that happen to think that your tats are an expression of who you are. So rock your tats and be proud.
Celebrities at every level have tattoos for their own reasons.
Just in case you don’t recognize the lovely woman above, this is Bailey Sarian, a makeup artist/storyteller/YouTuber that’s absolutely gorgeous and, as you can see, an avid lover of tattoos. Now, she might not be on the A-list at a red carpet event, but after listening to and watching Bailey for a while, I can personally attest that she does have the kind of manner that makes a person want to sit and listen for a while. Oh, and did I mention that she’s absolutely stunning? Too many people out there are adamant that tattoos don’t belong on women, that they mar their natural beauty, and yada, blah, yada. But the fact is that a person can feel any way they want about a celebrity with tattoos, some of them are enhanced by the body art and some make a person wonder wtf they were thinking. Trust me, Bailey is one of the former. Not that she needed enhancing…
At some point one does need to think about the cost of a tattoo.
The vast majority of tattoo artists are going to demand a hefty sum of money for their services. Hey, they’re artists, they’ve typically spent years honing their craft, and they deserve the pay that their skills command. Also, since they’re providing a service, don’t even think about getting cheap when it comes to a tip. If you want to build a rapport with your artist, since there’s a good chance that you might want to use their services again, then keep in mind that you’re going to pay for quality as well as the personality that an artist puts into their work. Don’t go cheap, and definitely don’t try to cheat them, they’ll call the cops on you quicker than you can blink.
Placement of your tattoos is important as well.
So why is placement important? Oh, I don’t know, do you want an awkward–looking tattoo? Or maybe you’re one of those that wants a cat’s anus to be centered over your belly button. Hey, if that’s your thing then so be it, but the fact is that the placement of a tattoo carries a lot of meaning to many people since it says something about their personality and their character, and such things are important when it comes to showing off the artwork that your artist has done. Hell, most artists will spend the extra time to make sure the placement is what you want, and what will look impressive.
Do you want a color tattoo or not?
This is a matter of personal taste in a big way….sorry, redheads and tattoos distracts me in a pleasing way….but, um…what was I saying?
Oh right, color and black and white are up to the canvas, meaning the person getting the tattoo, and whether or not they spend the extra time, money, and effort to get color added to their tats. Some people love their tats being vibrant and capable of being seen from a distance. Others don’t mind the darker, simpler tones that come with heavy blacks. Just keep in mind that once you make a selection you’ll be taking more time in the chair and spending more money depending on what you want.
Sleeves are popular when it comes to tattoos.
This should be rather self-explanatory, but a sleeve is when a person’s entire arm is tattooed from shoulder to wrist and/or hand. There are half-sleeves and partial sleeves, but the general idea is that a good chunk of your arms will be covered. More often than not this will consist of several smaller tattoos that are combined to create a type of mosaic on your arm, but then again, some folks get different tattoos to commemorate different times in their life. Sleeves aren’t a small undertaking though, and to be fair, one should enjoy being tattooed if this is what they’re looking for.
Keep in mind, your tattoos might need a touch-up now and then.
Over time a lot of things do tend to fade. Depending on the artist and their methods it could take a while for your tattoo to fade, but it’s going to happen sooner or later. Of course, you might want to try to add on to a tattoo or simply brighten it up after a while. It’s not nearly as bad to touch a tattoo up, but it’s important to make certain that your artist doesn’t mind it that much. Tattoo artists can get a bit touchy about covering up another artist’s work, but a lot of them will at least try to work with you.
At the end of the day, get a tattoo you’ll enjoy.
Remember, this is going on your body, so you need to be able to enjoy whatever it is that you’ll be getting. Your tattoo artist, whoever you decide to work with, will do whatever they can to accommodate your needs and wants, so be easy on them and be open to suggestions when possible and when needed. They’re not trying to convince you to not get a tattoo, they simply want the chance to turn you into one of their more impressive works of art, and if the two of you can meet somewhere in the middle it’s possible that you can come up with a truly inspired piece of work. Find something you can enjoy and rock it for all its worth.
WTR? (Why’s That Radass?)
Tattoos get a bad reputation for a lot of reasons, but the truth is that they’ve been around for longer than most people realize. They’ve evolved with the times, but as an art form they’re far older than a lot of what people think of as ‘high art’. So pick your tattoos carefully and let them show!
