I like to think of when getting a tattoo it's a piece of art work getting added on you forever. Your skin should be considered a canvas, and every scar and mark tells a story. With tattoos you should have some sort of meaning such as something to do with your family, something that inspires you, a memory and more. But that's just my personal opinion. A tattoo shouldn't be a drunken mistake considering tattoos are VERY hard to hide and cover with another one. Here's just a few tips for before getting a tattoo that you should know:

1. LOVE YOUR ARTIST.

Don't walk into a random tattoo shop with a random artist. Before getting a tattoo you should look into artist around you and the work they do to make sure you're happy with what they do. Some artist specialize in certain things such as photo realism, american traditional, geometric and so on. When going to an artist with something completely out of their comfort zone you might end up with something you'll hate forever.

2. KNOW YOUR PAIN TOLERANCE.

I don't want to scare you but tattoos hurt, a lot. When getting a tattoo it is literally a needle poking into your skin with ink. A thing you should NOT do is sit through a tattoo in severe pain. If you sit there for hours at a time in pain and holding your breath back you could possibly pass out. Say your pain tolerance is extremely low, don't start off with anything like the ribs or the back of your knees. Start safe, and know your limits.

3. DON'T JUST GET IT CAUSE IT'S CHEAP.

Just because it's cheap does not mean it's the best for you. Take some of that extra cost to get something you're really happy with. Sometimes when you get that cheap costing tattoo it ends up looking like a cheap scratchy tattoo. But hey if you find a great artist for a cheap price good for you!

4. CHOOSE WISELY.

Make sure you think out what you want on your body before you get it tattooed on you FOREVER. You might be madly in love with your boyfriend/girlfriend at the time, but that does not mean you should get their name tattooed on you forever. You have to make sure you are one hundred percent content with the tattoo idea and design before you're stuck with it on you the rest of your life.

5. AFTER CARE IS SUPER IMPORTANT.

After getting your awesome tattoo, make sure you have anti-bacterial soap for when you're washing it for the first time and the time after that while it's healing. This way when washing your tattoo it's less likely to get infected. Also, buy some unscented lotion for the healing process. The most recommended is Aquaphor.

6. IT'S YOUR BODY.

People will make your tattoos their business, but no matter what if your tattoo means something to you and is right for you then what everyone else says doesn't matter. It is your body, and if you love it then that is all that matters. Don't let people tell you otherwise.