Just think, think, think, think then think some more before you get one done! (Body Tattoos in general)

Member Name: sarah101

Product:	Body Tattoos in general
Date:	19/10/08 (67 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Wonderful if they mean something or are beautiful

Disadvantages: Can end up wishing you did not get it done. Expensive to remove, could scar

I got my first tattoo done at a stupidly young age (was still in school) and it is the only tattoo I have that I regret getting and do not like. It is a red devil and what on earth possessed me to get this thing tattooed on a part of myself that people can actually see if I am not careful with what clothes I wear it beyond me! I liked it at the time and must admit thought it was fairly cool at the time but it really wasnt! I have looked into getting it removed and probably will one day.

Then aged 17 I believe, in Dublin with a few friends for St Patricks Day for a long weekend. Woke up one morning with a tattoo on my shoulder and my friend had one on her hip and the other had one on her arm. Now to say we did not remember getting them is only a half truth. I remember walking past a tattoo shop, going in and being told they are not in the business of tattooing intoxicated young women. Obviously the next place we went were! I remember going in, signing forms to say I was over 18 and choosing a tattoo but for some reason I do not remember getting the tattoo done at all. This one I can live with, it is a chinese symbol that I am not at all bothered if people see or not. It is only embarrassing when people have asked what it means and I lie and say careless - in honour of my 17 year old self!

Now the next tattoo I had done was when myself and a friend took our then other best friend to get her first tattoo, she ended up not getting one and we both left with another tattoo each! This one however is one of my favourites it is a flower with the chinese symbol for friendship in - my friends paid for it for me as it was close to my birthday and was their pressie to me! (Shame I no longer speak to one of them!)

Now this is when I got a bit addicted and stupid with tattoos and I am literally sitting here now looking at what tattoos I have that I have not already mentioned!!

I have 2 strange symbols on my back. One right at the base of my spine - this one is a Celtic symbol and hurt like hell! It is one of only two that I can say hurt during the tattoo process and everytime I stretched my back for the following week. It is the biggest of my tattoos and if I could turn back time it would be the only one I would still have.

The second on my back is just under the top of my spine and its a sort of flower/spider looking design that I remember getting during my lunch break one day!

My final tattoo is a sunflower on the bottom of my leg just above my foot. I actually lied earlier if I could turn back time I would also keep this one too. It is just very pretty and at the time I believed it would remind me to show the children the right path to walk in life for them to grow into responsible adults (somewhat unlike what I probably would have classed myself at the time!)

I think the only advise I can give when it comes to tattoos is try to choose something that means something to you or a design that you really do like. Do not rush into getting one, no matter what age you are! If I am honest I would not want my children to get one until they are over 20, the reason I say that age is because I have not had any tattoos done in my 20's! I have considered getting another tattoo on my wrist for a long time but it would have to really mean something now rather than just be a tattoo, which is how I viewed them when I was younger.

I see some people covered in tattoos and notice that some people can stare at them and make judgements, that is something I have never and would never do. Each to their own is my moto when it comes to body art!

Summary: Each to their own when it comes to body art, but just remember they last!