On getting your first tattoo: pros and cons of tattoos

So you’re thinking about getting your first tattoo. Well, you are not alone. Tattoos are more popular than ever. And getting a new tattoo seems to be on our minds more than ever. On a recent trip to the beach, it seemed like more than half of the sun worshipers were showing off a bit of skin art somewhere on their bodies.

These days tattoos are more common than ever. Tattoos have gained quite a bit of popularity over the years, giving people the opportunity to stand out and convey who they really are. Both men and women have tattoos, some covering the entire body. However, the choice is entirely up to you, as you can get a tattoo in virtually any size you want.

Now I’m not calling tattoos at all. You see, I was tattooed twice in my youth. So I know that the urge to get tattooed can be quite strong. I also know that tattoos can be addictive. But before you get tattooed, think about the pros and cons of a tattoo.

The pros of tattoos

Tattoos allow a person to show the world their personality. Tattoos allow a person to stand out from the crowd for sure. Depending on the tattoo design, it can have a symbolic meaning.

For the young person, a tattoo can definitely make you feel better about yourself. A beautiful young woman with a beautiful butterfly on her shoulder can be very sexy. And the well-known tramp stamp tattoo on a woman’s lower back can arouse passion in a male observer.

Yes, tattoos can make you feel good about yourself, but think about the downsides of tattoos.

The cons of tattoos

For the faint of heart, let me tell you: tattoos hurt. If your pain threshold is low, expect the pain to feel like red-hot needles piercing the skin. Now for some people, bread is no big deal. But yes, tattoos hurt for most mortal mothers.

You also run the risk of infection when getting a tattoo. Always check the tattoo studio for cleanliness and sanitation of all tattoo machines and inks.

Now here is the big problem with tattoos. PERMANENT TATTOOS ARE. Think about this for a second. Tattoos do not wash off. If you get a design that you later regret, then I’m sorry. it is permanent and it will cost you an arm and a leg to have it removed.

My Personal Tattoo Removal Story

Here’s a little personal note on tattoo removal.

When I got tattooed in Hong Kong while in the navy, I was 19 at the time, that beautiful tattoo cost me only $20 dollars. Later, back in the States, my tattoo was removed. (That’s another history). The tattoo removal cost $1,800.

And this was before laser tattoo removal. Back then, the only way to remove a tattoo was to polish it off or do a skin graft. My surgeon removed it (what is known today as dermabrasion). I still have the big, ugly scars on my forearms decades later.

Yes, there are pros and cons to getting your first tattoo. Take a little advice from a guy who has been there and done that. Think long and hard before getting your first VISIBLE tattoo.

You see, that was my big mistake when I got my first tattoo. I have it on my forearm.

Well, in the real world, that forearm tattoo got me a lot of complaints from employers, college admissions officers, girls I wanted to date (and especially their parents), and even got me in trouble for moving up the corporate ladder in healthcare management (my first job out of college).

Think far into your future…

Think ahead 10, 20 or 30 years. How will that tattoo fit into your career and lifestyle plans in 10 years? What happens if you dedicate yourself to a profession or to politics? Have you ever been treated by a doctor with a full sleeve tattoo? In all my years, I haven’t. Just think about it.

For your first tattoo, get it in a place that won’t be visible when you’re wearing everyday clothes and a short-sleeved shirt.

Yes, I know. You are determined and you are going to get tattooed anyway. Well, I completely understand how you feel because I’ve been there and I’ve done that. Just remember this article before getting a tattoo in a visible place on your body. And choose your first tattoo design carefully. You will most likely live with him for the rest of your life.