Photo courtesy of www.freedigitalphotos.net by posterize
Considering a tattoo? Some laser tattoo removal clients have shared some reasons they are seeking removal with us. We’d like to share their reasons in the form of some advice. Now before we start getting ugly comments about how you shouldn’t care what other people think about your ink, or if a job won’t let you have one then you don’t need that job, or whatever; we know there are many people out there who are extremely confident in who they are and despite changes in their lives or too many questions being asked about their tattoo(s) they would NEVER consider removal. We know that not everyone needs or wants this advice and that’s awesome! Be proud of your art! For some of us though who are perhaps a bit more reserved, this just might be something we need to prepare us to take the leap toward our first tattoo and perhaps will prevent someone from saying “I love my tattoo, but…”
One client of ours recommended getting the tattoo all drawn out exactly as you want it, colors and all, then go home and hang it on the refrigerator door or bathroom mirror where it can be seen daily. He said after 6 months if you still love it, go for the tattoo. Not everyone wants to wait 6 months or more, but remember a tattoo is meant to last a lifetime. What’s a couple of months? Well maybe if you’re 80 and ready to get your first tattoo (like Mercedes Erwin who just got her 5th tattoo at 91
), you might not want to wait 6 months more, but at that point you’ve probably been thinking about what you like for a while now anyway.
Placement seems to be a big reason people remove tattoos. Wrists, hands, ankles, and necks are some of the most commonly “regretted” positions for tattoos. With the military’s stricter tattoo policy that prohibits tattoos above the shirt collar or below the elbows for new recruits, many people are forced to seek removal before enlisting. Other jobs can also be strict on visible tattoos. Many companies are loosening their restrictions, but in today’s current economy, competition for jobs is high and a first impression can be key when qualifications of one applicant are very similar to another. Other clients complain that when they extend their hand for a welcoming handshake the other person immediately breaks eye-contact to look at a wrist or hand tattoo. For some, this can be more than they wish to tolerate so tattoo removal becomes an option. That reason though is a very personal one. If you want to experiment with tattoo placement, there are “design your own” temporary tattoo websites like this one https://www.straytats.com/ that can be great for experimenting. These temporary tattoos are custom made and can last for a few months. It can definitely help you decide if this placement works for you.
Make it meaningful. All too often it’s the cute little Pac-man or random butterfly that tends to be the victim of laser tattoo removal. If it has significance in your life, it is far more likely to stand the test of time. We’re not knocking Pac-man here either. If Pac-man has significance in your life, he’s probably going to be around for a while, but if you tattoo Pac-man on your arm just because he’s cute or cool, you just might decide one day that he’s not as cool as he used to be.
Double and triple check the spelling of any quotes you want tattooed on your body. Spelling is a HUGE reason people have all or at least part of a tattoo removed. Perhaps it’s meant to be misspelled, that’s ok, but be prepared to explain why…a lot! People are nosey and don’t have any problem making comments about things they think are wrong or silly. Make sure you’re prepared for people’s questions, comments, and occasional rudeness.
If you’re going to get a foreign language tattoo, make sure you know for certain that it says what you think it says. Don’t point to some flash on a tattoo shop wall and say “I want that.” If you don’t read that language, find someone who does. Find several people who do, or use a reputable translation company. Make sure you are getting what you want and not some entre from a Chinese menu, unless you want Kung Pao Chicken on your shoulder.
And lastly, know exactly what you want: size, shape, design, even the colors. Plan it out down to the very last detail unless you wholeheartedly trust your artist. This kind of brings us back to our first piece of advice. Too many times we hear “I wanted…, but my artist said … would look better” or “I wanted a tiny little thing, but I was told it had to be bigger to look good.” To an extent the artist does or at least should know what will hold up and what wont. They should know what colors stand the test of time and which ones have a tendency to fade. They know that tiny tattoos with lots of intricate designs will eventually look like a blob of ink. All that being said, if you want something little, find an artist who is confident and comfortable with tiny details. Don’t get talked into something bigger. We have seen several who thought “just a little bigger” would be fine, but instead of the quarter size they wanted, or the business card size they thought they were agreeing to end up with a softball size tattoo that just doesn’t represent them or what they wanted. Other times we hear that an artist or a friend insists that neon pink will look so much better than the muted pink that was desired. They give in, and from the moment that neon color touches their skin, they hate it. Not saying everyone hates neon pink, just don’t let someone else hijack your appointment. If you know what you want, stand your ground. Don’t let other people’s desires overshadow your own. A skilled artist can give advice on what will last and what may not, but all in all, you are the boss. Don’t be afraid to say “I understand what you’re saying, but I really want this.”