To tattoo or not to tattoo...that is the question...

So, hubby and I have been talking about getting tattoos lately. 

He's talking about getting barbed wire around his arm, but with fence posts, i.e., an old timey barbed wire fence around his bicep with a cowboy hat sittin' on top of one of the fence posts.  (He also said he may replace the cowboy hat with one of those steer skulls you typically see in movie desert scenes - whatever you call 'em).  I prefer the cowboy hat.  Either way, that would fit him to a T.  Cowboys turn me on and on so I think that would look great.  I'm thinkin' of getting one myself, but can't decide what I want or where.  I don't want it too big (like a whole shoulder or anything)...something I can hide if I want to...or not.  My only two thoughts so far were these:

A butterfly with one of my kids initials in each wing.  Bad thing is, I figure nobody is going to notice the initials unless I tell 'em and tons of girls have butterflies...and, no offense, but that seems so typical.  I want something unique.

My other thought was to get the words "weaker sex" in small letters under my bicep.  Strange, I know...  You know how lots of people, even guys, just end up getting a half a barbed wire around their bicep because it hurts more on the underside.  Well, I don't meant it to bash men at all, but sometimes I kind of like being underestimated as a woman.  Hell yeah, I'm proud to be a member of the "weaker sex".  I just thought the placement of that one would be kind of cool.  Or would that be lame?  I figure I went through a combined 27 hours of labor with my kids, I think I can take a tattoo, even if it is in a sensitive spot.  I mean, people who have tattoos, does it really hurt "that" bad?

Anyway -- other than that, I have no ideas.  I've looked at the Miami Ink albums and nothing interests me there.  So -- what do you think?  What should it be and where.  Should I even get one?  What do you think of tattoos on women?  You can read my bio to get a little more insight about who I am if that'd help.  (And if you're going there, let's just get this straight, I'm not putting anything in writing about me being mentally ill, ok?) 

I look forward to the replies.  Thanks!!

Oh cool...like the stallion.

I have wanted one for a long time, but the issue of what to get is the thing.  I think the only thing I would want on my body forever is something to represent my kids or something that means something to me personally -- like the "weaker sex" thing or something to do with music/piano.  I know they don't always have to mean something...but that is kind of cool.

I'm gonna' look some more online...

Hey -- if and when I get one, I'll let you know!  Thanks for the responses.

No tattoo!!

I think I am gonna get the one on my rib cage. Like - under my bottom part of my bra type of area. Purespark talked me into it!!!

I am getting the word "freedom" maybe in sanskrit. Or maybe another word. But definitely in Arabic or Sanskrit or something similar... just cuz it looks cool.

I agree w/ those who say that a tattoo doesn't necessarily have to have a lot of meaning behind it. It should look cool and be a piece of art!! Some meanings may not change over the course of your life (like, a symbol of your children for example). But other meanings definitely can change I think.

I love tattoos. I am definitely addicted. I would like to get to that place of really not caring what people at my job think about me so that I could get some that are more visible.

Original Post by huntermom2727:

Hey -- if and when I get one, I'll let you know!  Thanks for the responses.

 Post a picture for us if you do!! I will do the same... supposed to go for my third on Friday ;)

Hey - you too.  I want to see yours too!  Good luck. 

Original Post by thmheh:

My personal tattoo: I grew up loving the kids books about the Black Stallion, and I was about 11 when the movie came out.  For a tattoo I knew I wanted a horse and I loved the poster art for the movie, so that's what I got.   It looks like this:

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm4087521024/tt0078 872

 Now THAT is a very cool tattoo!! I like. One of my best friends is a horse person (owns, rides, shows, etc.). She drew her own tattoo. It's a flower and each petal is a dolphin, and a horse's head. It's kind of hard to explain but it's very cool. Very intricate. She got it on her hip/pelvis area.

Just unprotected my tattoo photo in case anyone wants to see it.  It's in my gallery.  :)

Edit - I wanted to mention that I still have at least three or four more hours to go, as soon as I can hook back up with the artist.  Can't wait!

Wow...that is a large / sensitive area.  It looks great though.  Why the guitar?

I'm getting a new one, I have one on my shoulder, but I want one under my right pelvic bone. I want my husband to write his name there and get it tattooed, then I want something around it with maybe yellow roses. It's a location that not many see, but it anything happens to him, I'll have a little reminder. (not that 4 kids isn't enough!)

I want the whole world to know who I love and who loves me. 21 years I've spent with this man, and I hope I get 70 more.

That's very cool, susie -- congrats on 21 years.  I'd love to hear your secrets.  We'll be celebrating our 10th in August. 

I actually thought of getting my kids to sign their names in their scribbly little writing and getting it incorporated into a tattoo...they are 6 and 8 years old.  Then when they're all grown up, I'll have their little signatures to remind me.

RE # 28:  It's a tribute to Dimebag Darrell.

I have two tattoo's of dragons. One is on my shoulder and one is on my lower back. I have always had a thing for dragons. Now that I have had all the kids I plan on having, (4) I would like to get a tat with their names. I was thinking a flower boquet, with one flower for each child. Maybe.

I would be careful for the "weaker sex" thing. Sometimes a saying that is funny now might not be so later. Also, if you get something in another language, make sure it really means what you think it does! I remember reading an article about all the japanese symbol tats that were so popular. something about how alot of the symbols don't really mean what the parlor tells you it does.

The cowboy thing sounds cool. Lookin forward to hear what you decide!

how about a bird of some description, with each child's name (or signature) in the wings? -theres a saying about children, that first you give them roots, then you give them wings....on that note, the bird could be carrying a twig or something to represent the roots...just a thought

I love tattoos and think they are a beautiful piece of art to express yourself. 

I have a dragonfly - on my back right  hip.  Its named after my son... done in stunning blue/green colours.  I let the tattoo artist freehand and have full control of colours (after some input) and he did an amazing job.  LOVEIT.

I also have some ancient chinese script on my back... vertical lines that say my birthday and a few other personal quotes that I like.  I love the look of chinese characters and had this done about 10 years ago before it became popular to do this.  I had this done in the middle of my back at the tail end of my spine.

Neither one hurt. LOVE them both. And looking to do another one.

 

Few tips - that I think  anyone thinking of getting a tattoo should do....

1.  When you think you know what you want - print out a picture - get it drawn up and put it somewhere you will see it every day.  On your fridge... on your bathroom mirror.  And stare at it for 3 months (minimum).  If you still love it after that - go ahead and ink it.  So many people get things they don't end up liking - a tattoo is forever.

2.  Let the artist have some say - in size/colour  or even design if you are open to some change.  They are in the business for a reason and the suggests they make *usually* end up making it that much better.

3.  Make sure you are happy about where you are going to put it.  Think long and hard that for the rest of your life that is where you want it.  While you may be young and firm now - your body is going to change and you want to put it somewhere that skin won't change/sag too much.

 

Enjoy!  

Here are my short, simple rules for tattoos:

1.  Nothing from the wall.  Flash is unacceptable.

2.  No tribal.  You, by all likely hoods, are NOT in a tribe.

3.  No Kanji.  Again, the language isn't relevant to 90% of the people who get the ink.  It makes as much sense as going to the shop and asking for "ONLY GOD WILL JUDGE ME" across your back in Tagalog. 

I have a few more, and I'll get to them in due time.

Original Post by deleseo:

how about a bird of some description, with each child's name (or signature) in the wings? -theres a saying about children, that first you give them roots, then you give them wings....on that note, the bird could be carrying a twig or something to represent the roots...just a thought

 That sounds like a very good/interesting idea.  I'll need to think on that one a little more.  All these tips/suggestions are awesome...thanks so much.

Hi! 

So exciting that you're thinking of getting your first tattoo!

However, as an admitted tattoo elitest, I highly recommend against getting a tattoo just for the sake of getting one and because you like the idea abstractly.

That's not to say you need to have a long story behind every tattoo (though I for one do), you can get it just because it looks cool or pretty, but don't do it lightly and don't settle for something that is merely okay just because you are desperate to get something.

I've just gotten my 4th (or 6th, depending on how you look at it) tattoo, and I can assure you that they hurt.  It isn't unbearable, but it does hurt.  And if you get a large-ish piece, by the time it's done you'll be exhausted and twitchy and just want it to be over.  Of course, some places hurt more than others, and everyone is different (e.g., my foot, chest, and belly were nothing, but my hips were EXCRUTIATING! Other friends have told me the foot and lower back are the worst, but had no trouble with hip tattoos...).  Bottom line: be prepared for some pain, and eat an hour or so before to prevent getting light headed.

I really like your "weaker sex" idea.  I think it's really original and badass!  It's genius, really.  However, that's a pretty visible place for a tattoo, and for your first one, you might want something a bit more discrete.  If you are ready to jump in with both feet, though, more power to you!

Some more ideas to incorporate your children:  doing their astrological signs is really "in" right now.  I've also heard of people doing kids' birth stones, or text in the color of their birth stone.  There are also flowers for each birth month, and that would be really cool.  Lots of people also get birth dates.

I would recommend against portraiture, just because I have never seen a portrait tattoo (even done from a photo) that didn't look at least a little creepy and distorted.  I also question whether you will want to get anything that will become "dated," like their scribbly 6- or 8-year-old signatures.  You might always find it cute, but it would be like getting something just to commemorate them as children, and not as the constantly changing and growing people that they are and will always be.  Plus, they might find it embarrassing in a few years.

I would also HIGHLY recommend against text in any other language.  (1) because you never really know what it says unless you have someone you trust who is fluent in the language, and even then you or the artist can screw it up (just heard a great story about this from my artist, actually) and (2) because it is kind of disrespectful and ignorant to get someone else's language on you just because it's pretty.  Unless you lived in Japan or majored in Russian in college, or something, it comes off really poseur-ish (sorry if that's rude, just my point of view).

Okay, enough of me! I hope you have fun with this process and find something you LOVE.  If you ever want to talk tattoos, let me know.  Obviously I can't shut up about it!

Thanks -- I really like the "weaker sex" idea too.  Only thing -- I work in a pretty stuffy lawfirm...don't know how they'd react to something like that.  I wouldn't get it very big though - maybe the size of a quarter to half-dollar.  The other thing is my kids -- 6 and 8 -- how could I explain getting a tattoo with the word "sex" on my arm...they know about birds and bees now....but it will be a few years until they could understand the motivation behind the tattoo.  Maybe I should wait until then to get that one.  That would give me plenty of time think about it.

I want one, but y'all are right -- it has to be the right one.

I figure I went through a combined 27 hours of labor with my kids, I think I can take a tattoo, even if it is in a sensitive spot.  I mean, people who have tattoos, does it really hurt "that" bad?

 

 As a mom to 2 myself, I can tell you that a tatoo is nothing like giving birth. You'd breeze through a tat, no matter where you put it!

Original Post by death_rocket:

Here are my short, simple rules for tattoos:

1. Nothing from the wall. Flash is unacceptable.

2. No tribal. You, by all likely hoods, are NOT in a tribe.

3. No Kanji. Again, the language isn't relevant to 90% of the people who get the ink. It makes as much sense as going to the shop and asking for "ONLY GOD WILL JUDGE ME" across your back in Tagalog.

I have a few more, and I'll get to them in due time.

Theres no rules for tattoos .