�I really want to get a tattoo.... I think....�
Need help deciding on a tattoo? Ask yourself the following questions. Why am I doing this? What does it mean to me? Getting tattooed is one of those irreversible acts in life. You can't go back and pretend you didn't do it once it's done. To permanently alter your body forever is a very personal decision and should never be done nonconsensually.

How will I feel if other people see my tattoo? Like parents, grandparents, spouses, kids? Will it have any effect on your work and work life? Imagine in your head that every single other human that you interacted with knew that you had a tattoo. You may want to keep your body art private, but I say if you aren't able to handle the thought/concept of �what IF everyone else knew?� then you shouldn't do it.

I experimented with things like temporary tattoos as a teenager and a realistic one placed well will draw reactions as though you really are tattooed. I've had very little trouble with my body modifications in my history of having them, but also most of my adult life has been in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. When I've flown to Chicago to visit friends, people really stare at stuff that doesn't even get a blink at home. If you get any negative feedback that you totally can't handle while wearing a painted-on tattoo, you should probably take some more time to think about this before getting a permanent one.

If there's one area where people sell themselves short when it comes to picking a tattoo, it is when they pick the design. Remember, you're going to wear this for the rest of your life! I receive a lot of e-mail from people who are trying to find �a good design� usually something uncommon and yet they want to find this image for free. They don�t want an artist to draw something original as they think it would be too expensive, and yet they also don�t want to spend too much time looking for something. A tattoo is worth all the time and energy you put into it.

The last area that people balk at when it comes to tattooing is the price. Here are a few things to remember before you start to argue too much with the tattooist over the price of their work. Tattooing is as invasive as a medical procedure. The equipment should be maintained and used under clean technique conditions. You are asking this person to create a unique piece of art that is intended to last the rest of your life. You want them to do it without making any mistakes. And before they�ve done any of that, you want to argue that the price they are offering for this is too much. You want to argue with a person who is going to make this mistake-free artwork on your body with a motorized needle. I tend not to quibble over pricing with my tattooists, as I respect them as artists who aren�t allowed to screw up, and I don�t want it to hurt any more than it already has to. Be prepared to make a down payment for artwork drawn ahead of time or to hold an appointment if you are serious about getting tattooed.