Tattoos: A Permanent Choice

February 2, 2010  
Filed under Opinion

Turning 18 is the coming of age, a milestone, the “big kahuna.” You can buy tobacco products, and lottery tickets! Technically you are an adult. So that means that you can also pierce and tattoo your body without your parents’ permission.  You have full rights to your body, so why not take advantage of them right?

Before you add a permanent and a possibly regrettable mark onto your body there are a few things you should think about. Number one, do you have a set idea of the tattoo you want? In all likelihood the idea of being able to get your own personal tattoo is so exciting that kids all over the place do not stop to think about what they want. A tattoo should have meaning behind it. It’s going to be on your body for the rest of your life. So instead of tattooing your present boo’s name to your bum, stop and think about what you really want. What will your future partner think when they see Butch or Sally tattooed in a bright red heart on your stark white…uh…seat? I bet you they won’t be too fond of it, and by that point neither will you.

Next you should consider where you want to get the tattoo. This all depends on where you want to get a job. It is well know that many people will not hire employees with visible tattoos. Unless you are a traveling rocker, or work at a coffee shop or bar for the rest of your life, you may want to reconsider the full arm sleeve, neck, wrist, face or hand. Also take into consideration your pain tolerance. Yes, ladies and gentleman, tattoos hurt. But they hurt more on places that have less fat to shield the nerves from pin-like stabbing feeling. So the wrist, ribs, feet, spine, face, elbows, and any other spots that are mainly skin and bone are prone to some pain. Also, if you are a woman, and plan on having kids, maybe your stomach and underarm area would not be the best choice. When you get pregnant the skin on your stomach stretches, therefore the tattoo will stretch. Once you return to your normal, or close to normal size, do not think that the tattoo be the exact same. It will be stretched and probably not look the way you want. Also, places like hands and feet, that receive a lot of friction from outside forces cause tattoos to fade more rapidly.

So after you take all of these things into consideration and really think about what tattoo would mean something to you, then go. Run to your nearest tattoo shop (provided they have good reviews) and mark yourself. Show the world what you got. Just remember, think it through first.

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Dana Peterson

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