To Tattoo Or Not To Tattoo? That Is The Question

I'll bet Shakespeare never asked himself this one!

Several years ago, I considered getting a tattoo. I had the design picked out and everything-a royal-blue cross with silver barbed wire. I was going to get it on the back of my neck, next to the collar bone. I ended up not doing it because I didn't have the money, but now I'm glad I didn't. If you're considering 'getting ink done', here are some things to consider.

• Remember that this is permanent! It's not something to do on the spur of the moment. Do not rush into it, and do not do it while drunk. I find it interesting that some shops in my home state of North Carolina will not give tattoos to drunk people; the stated reason is that alcohol thins the blood too much to clot properly, but it also serves as a 'preventative measure' for tattoo guilt. A good rule of thumb is to wait for a few months from the time you pick the design to make sure you're not just 'doing it on a whim'. 
  It's probably not a good idea to get the name of your boyfriend or favorite band tattooed, because these things may change. Getting a tattoo removed is often more expensive and painful than getting the tattoo in the first place. 
• On the same tip as above, think of the effects the tattoo might have on your life. It's estimated that a good 50% of people who get tattoos end up having them removed for various reasons, many relating to 'stigma'. Personally I could care less if my priest or doctor has a tattoo, but a lot of other employers aren't so lenient. Even if your job doesn't mind, 'regular people' such as your mother-in-law might look down their noses at you, so consider whether this will bother you. Also, a tattoo you get when you're 24 is going to look different when you are 64, especially on certain parts of the body. 
• Make sure you go to a shop that has a licensed tattoo artist; you're getting your skin pierced with a metal object that comes into contact with blood, so you want to be in a clean shop with someone who knows what they're doing. Know the health department's criteria beforehand and ask that you be shown the equipment. If the tattoo artist seems offended by this or otherwise makes you uncomfortable, go somewhere else.
• Consider that there will be pain. Like I said above, you're getting your skin pierced with a metal object over and over again. If this is something you don't think you can handle, move on. Also, it's more painful on some parts of the body than others. The rumor that it is more painful to get one close to the bone is true-another reason I'm glad I didn't go through with it. 
• Get a stencil. However talented a tattoo artist might be, you still want to give him or her something to follow to make sure your tattoo looks the way you want it to. Stencils can also help you 'test drive' what the tattoo will look like on your skin so you can get the proportions and colors right. You can usually find them at places like Tattoojohnny.com or Tattoostencils.org.

And above all:

• Don't get a cheap tattoo. There's no real way around it; you're going to drop some cash. There's nothing wrong with 'shopping around', but I think a poster I found in a local shop says it best: “Good tattoos aren't cheap, cheap tattoos aren't good.”