6 ms·

> Wouldn't it make more sense to just be certain you want one before you get it and save hundreds of dollars? Sure. But how can you be certain? I have no idea

by zck 10y ago

> Wouldn't it make more sense to just be certain you want one before you get it and save hundreds of dollars? Sure. But how can you be certain? I have no idea what it's like to have a tattoo, or whether I'd regret it. Would I be too self-conscious about having it? Or would I enjoy seeing it in the dark? I've had one specific one in mind for most of my life, but I don't know if I want it. If I were able to get a fading one, I'd be way more likely to jump on it. The increased cost is nothing compared to being able to decide if I actually like the damn thing.

CX4048 10y ago
Just get a henna tattoo of what you are wanting. If you don't miss it after it's gone, then don't get the tattoo. Pretty straight forward and shorter waiting period for evaluation. I jumped the gun and got mine having been in the same predicament and don't regret it. Having thought about it for years, it was easy with just a little nudge.
- pbhjpbhj 10y ago
  But note some people are allergic to [black|] henna and some people get left with permanent markings/scarring.
Swizec 10y ago
> Sure. But how can you be certain? You're not. That's the whole point. You get a tattoo and then you live with it. It's a part of your body. It's just there. It's not something you really think about on a day to day basis. At least I don't. I have 3 tattoos and sometimes forget they're even there until something reminds me. The only reason I don't have more is that they're expensive and that you have to stop working out for a week or two when they're fresh.
- mbrameld 10y ago
  You're confusing the way things are now with the way things must be, for some reason. Just because things are one way right now doesn't mean they won't be another way in the future. Especially if new technology comes along that disrupts the field.
  - Swizec 10y ago
    This is true, I was responding to the parent post in particular. Right now, you can't be certain and that's part of the allure. Many (most?) people, for instance, get tattoos to commemorate important events or people. The entire point of a tattoo in those cases is that it's permanent.
    - thaumasiotes 10y ago
      The more fundamental point of a tattoo is that it's decorative. There is an entire genre of tattoo ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower-back_tattoo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower-back_tattoo ) which is definitely not supposed to commemorate anything other than the sentiment "hey, look at me!"
egypturnash 10y ago
About eight years ago, I came up with an idea for a tattoo I wanted: a pair of stylized dragon wings stretching from one elbow to the other. I drew up a first version of it, made a stencil, and got my then-boyfriend to draw the thing on me with a magic marker. It took a week or two to wash off, during which I could get used to the idea of having a pair of wings on my arms and decide if I liked it. Ultimately I ended up taking another four or five years before I finally settled on a version of the design I liked, and spent eighteen months getting it tattooed on me. It's been finished for about two years and I'm still delighted to see it every now and then. If you've wanted the same design for most of your life, I say go for it. Iterate on the imagery until you have a version that you look at and say "yes, this is perfect, I want this on me now because I have been waiting long enough already". If you're not an artist like me then find one whose work you like and ask if they're taking commissions. Then put it on yourself: stencil it on with a magic marker if it's a tribal thing, get it done in henna, or even print it out on temporary tattoo paper. Which is a thing that exists, that you can shove into any inkjet printer. No need for hassling with the incredibly slow and painful process of having needles stuck in the same part of your skin twice. Take ownership of yourself by putting your own mark on your body.

by zck 10y ago

CX4048 10y ago

Just get a henna tattoo of what you are wanting. If you don't miss it after it's gone, then don't get the tattoo. Pretty straight forward and shorter waiting period for evaluation. I jumped the gun and got mine having been in the same predicament and don't regret it. Having thought about it for years, it was easy with just a little nudge.

pbhjpbhj 10y ago
But note some people are allergic to [black|] henna and some people get left with permanent markings/scarring.

Swizec 10y ago

> Sure. But how can you be certain? You're not. That's the whole point. You get a tattoo and then you live with it. It's a part of your body. It's just there. It's not something you really think about on a day to day basis. At least I don't. I have 3 tattoos and sometimes forget they're even there until something reminds me. The only reason I don't have more is that they're expensive and that you have to stop working out for a week or two when they're fresh.

mbrameld 10y ago
You're confusing the way things are now with the way things must be, for some reason. Just because things are one way right now doesn't mean they won't be another way in the future. Especially if new technology comes along that disrupts the field.
- Swizec 10y ago
  This is true, I was responding to the parent post in particular. Right now, you can't be certain and that's part of the allure. Many (most?) people, for instance, get tattoos to commemorate important events or people. The entire point of a tattoo in those cases is that it's permanent.
  - thaumasiotes 10y ago
    The more fundamental point of a tattoo is that it's decorative. There is an entire genre of tattoo ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower-back_tattoo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower-back_tattoo ) which is definitely not supposed to commemorate anything other than the sentiment "hey, look at me!"

egypturnash 10y ago

About eight years ago, I came up with an idea for a tattoo I wanted: a pair of stylized dragon wings stretching from one elbow to the other. I drew up a first version of it, made a stencil, and got my then-boyfriend to draw the thing on me with a magic marker. It took a week or two to wash off, during which I could get used to the idea of having a pair of wings on my arms and decide if I liked it. Ultimately I ended up taking another four or five years before I finally settled on a version of the design I liked, and spent eighteen months getting it tattooed on me. It's been finished for about two years and I'm still delighted to see it every now and then. If you've wanted the same design for most of your life, I say go for it. Iterate on the imagery until you have a version that you look at and say "yes, this is perfect, I want this on me now because I have been waiting long enough already". If you're not an artist like me then find one whose work you like and ask if they're taking commissions. Then put it on yourself: stencil it on with a magic marker if it's a tribal thing, get it done in henna, or even print it out on temporary tattoo paper. Which is a thing that exists, that you can shove into any inkjet printer. No need for hassling with the incredibly slow and painful process of having needles stuck in the same part of your skin twice. Take ownership of yourself by putting your own mark on your body.