Poll: Do you regret your first tattoo?

[Vault101]

Im going to get SPAWN

a great big picture of SPAWN covering my back

...ok no not really

I find it intereasting not many people regret their tats (so far) theres nothing more annoying being told by somone that your going to regret a personal disisicion...I dont think you find people with tatoos telling you your going to regret getting one

 

[FamoFunk]

My first tattoo was a tiny black star on my hand, I don't regret it at all. Some people still don't know it's there as they don't really look at my hands.

 

[SageRuffin]

Yes, but only because of the placement. I meant for it to be on the side of my arm instead of the front, and didn't notice it until too late.

But hey, that was 3 years ago. I've been rolling ever since.

 

[C F]

I'm among the "don't have one" crowd.

I'm pretty torn about my personal judgement on the matter. On the one hand, it's something I would have chosen, and there's a chance it might bring back fond memories surrounding the reason I chose it. On the other hand, I'm a seventeen year old. That part of me is saying "screw sentimentality", stating there's a much greater probability of regretting it sometime in the future, and is pretty much calling the first part of me an idiot right now. And I agree with me. If I want sentimental or otherwise endearing artwork, I can always hang it up on my bedroom wall and look at it. If I change my mind, I can always take it down with no price or consequences. Or I could slap the image on a T-shirt if I ever feel compelled to walk around flaunting it.

I don't think I'll ever be getting a tattoo.

 

[Vivi22]

I'd say it's very dangerous to approach tattoos as anything less than permanent, as will many artists themselves.

I don't regret my first tattoo, although I now have incorporated it into a sleeve on my leg (why aren't they called leggings? ). For anyone thinking of one I'd say pick an artist wisely, be prepared to travel and approach tattoos with a money-no-object mindset (within reason, £2,000 an hour might be unreasonable but £80 is not) - oh, and bigger tend to be better due to the ability to insert more detail.

Couldn't agree more with all of this. If you don't find a good artist, you will regret your tattoo in the future more likely than not. Even if you think your idea is so simple no one could possibly screw it up, pay the extra money, travel a little farther, whatever you need to do. Go in with the assumption that this is going to be there forever because the last thing you want is to have to pay to have it removed, or be left with something you hate. It's worth it to get it right the first time. So do your research, find out who other people went to and what they were like, and look at their work with a very critical eye.

And one final thing is to be patient. Don't decide you want a tattoo and rush to get the first thing that pops into your mind. I have two tattoos and I mulled over the designs and their position on my body for months despite them being quite simple tattoos. If you spend the time patiently thinking over every detail you'll not only be more likely to love the final result, you'll also be more likely to abandon the ideas you aren't crazy about and stick with the ones you are. If you still love a tattoo idea after thinking over every detail 6 months down the road then it's probably a keeper.

I've only got two tattoos myself. The Kingdom Come Superman "S" on my upper back, and another symbol on my right calf (http://www.symbolset.org/hands-of-god-symbol-2.html). I spent months contemplating both of them before I ever let a needle touch my skin and I don't regret them at all. I'd like to get some more tattoos, but haven't settled on any designs in the last 4-5 years since I got my second. I've had ideas here and there but nothing that held up in my mind over time.

As far as I know, my sister doesn't regret her first tattoo either which is cool. She got a frog tattooed on her left hip which I actually drew and designed for her, so it's cool that she still loves it. Even cooler that she came to me about the idea before she ever went to a tattoo artist.

 

[Therarchos]

No! Got tattooed

God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,"

I am going away for 6 months and this is the lesson I hope to never forget so...

NO!

 

[StBishop]

Sometimes I stare down at my gigantic friend and I see his eyes reflected in mine and I think, you fat bastard, you don't have legs, despite the fact I specifically asked for legs. You're like the fucking snowman from Timesplitters, except I don't have the money for an expensive carpet, mainly because you're not real, and I am, which means you have all my money. But then I switch angles and he looks like a debonair little aristocrat, which is stupid, so I bang my head against the phone but the men never come to tear him from me. Thank god I don't have a girlfriend, or I'd have to paint her up like a carnie and speak only in iambic pentameter. Oh for the release of my skin, get me out, get me out, I want a new friend on my skin.

Excuse me but, what?!

OT: I don't have one. I like the idea, there's just nothing really significant that I'd like tattooed on me right now.

I have a rule for every tattoo I get: when I get an idea, I put it in a folder with a date stamp. If I still want it a year from then, then I get it.

I love every single one of my tats, and I have a backlog of images that have made the 1 year cutoff but I just haven't been able to afford yet.

A guy I know does this but he prints it and puts it on his fridge. Then he sees it every day.

I think it's a solid idea.

 

[StBishop]

Thought I'd join in and post

[snipped images]

It's got a little bigger since then as that was just a session shot from the artist but you get the idea.

Liking my fellow forumgoers' tats in here as well, nice everyone.

The hand is really awesome. Where did you get it done? (on the off chance it was done in either Australia or the UK)
Not that the rest isn't awesome but I'm really digging the shading on the hand.

I'm getting my friend to do a tattoo for me in a few weeks or so. Nothing big as he isn't very good yet but as an artist he is fucking fantastic. I'm only asking for Chaly (the mascot for Overkill) on my back or arm. Any suggestions (besides not letting my friend do it)?

I recommend waiting until your friend has practised more. My brother in law is a tattoo artist and he spends about 33% of his time covering home jobs.

If you are set on having your friend do it (which I understand) go to a butcher and ask for some pig skin for tattooing practice, they should either have some or be able to get some. Let your friend practice on that first.

Would you let a painter who can't draw with pencil or graphite tattoo you? Probably not, because the skill isn't transferable. Same applies here. Skill isn't transferable to tattooing much at all.

 

[Bloodtrozorx]

My Marathon logo from back in the day? Nah no regrets. yet.

 

[StBishop]

Would you mind showing us a few pics? Your tattoos sound cool.

All the pictures I have of myself I seem to be wearing long sleeve shirts; I'll see what I can do in the future....

Do you not own a phone or laptop or camera able of taking digital images?

 

[Vampire cat]

Personally I don't like the idea or the look of a tattoo, and it's kind of a turnoff for me.

.. "This thread isn't about people that DONT like tattoos duh it's about people that have them!" Yeah well I felt like sneaking in my comment on this rather than making a new thread entirely in order to voice my opinion. I dont mind that people get them, but I wouldn't personally and I wouldn't want to engage in a realtionship with someone who's got one (shallow it may be, but it's a bit like dating someone with a butt for a face, and esthetic preference).

 

[EHKOS]

If I can ever muster up enough courage and put aside my terrible pain tolerance I plan on getting the PS1 original Sony symbol. It's been years since I thought of it and still want it so I guess I don't regret thinking of it.

 

[Tiger Sora]

I got mine last summer. A pegasus on the back of my right leg. Rainbow Dash infact. In 20 years when no one remembers the show. It's just a pegasus than, but to me I'll always remember why I got it and what it stands for to me.