Yes, many people have ended up with tattoos that they got when they were drunk, while others have acted on impulse and gotten the name of their significant other permanently inked on their body, and broke up. You don't want to end up with a tattoo that you will regret, or end up with a bad tattoo in general.

Here are some things you should do before you run off to the nearest tattoo shop to get inked.

Do's and Don'ts of Tattoo Designs

• Don't get the tattoo the day you think of the idea.
• Don't choose a design just because it is pretty or tough.
• Don't get the name of your boyfriend or girlfriend tattooed when you’ve only been together a few months.
• Don't get tattoos that are offensive, tasteless, or relate to fads. It may seem funny at the moment, but down the line, it may not be.
• Don't get a tattoo of a show or band that you have only started liking recently.
• Don't get random tribal tattoos or Chinese symbols unless they are related to your heritage, or you know for a fact what they mean.
• Don't choose a basic design that everyone is getting.
• Don't go to a sketchy artist standing in the alleyway.

• Do thoroughly think about the design. Make sure it is something that you will want five, ten, fifty years down the road.
• Do make sure there is some meaning behind it, but that it also looks good.
• Do get tattoos reminding you of your kids or parents, or if you have been married a long time, maybe, and I stress the maybe, your husband or wife. Consider getting matching tattoos or ones that go together rather than their name. Maybe something that reminds you of the place you met, a vacation you went on, something that is important to the both of you, or ones that go hand in hand, like a lock and key, sun and moon or lion and lioness.
• Do consider getting a tattoo reminding you of a band, show or movie that has had a large impact on your life.
• Do make sure you spell any words correctly, then check if the artist spells it correctly, and check it when the stencil is on your body. The spelling likely will not be able to be fixed.
• Do make your design unique. Your artist doesn’t want to do the same tattoo five times a week. Reconsider the basic tattoo and how you can make it represent you. A dreamcatcher, flower or butterfly allow more of a variety in the “basic tattoo design” department, but you can even work on a design to make your infinity sign a bit different. Jazz it up a bit, add some color, make the symbol out of another object, or add words. There are so many possibilities to make even a basic design unique.
• Do go to a reputable artist that will be able to do your design the best, more info on this later.

Think About Placement

• Please don't get a tattoo on your face.
• If you do not yet have a stable career that you know allows tattoos, or if your career does not allow visible tattoos, get it in a place that will be hidden by your clothes.
  • Don't get it on your lower arms if you may need to wear a short sleeve shirt, or the back of your neck (if your hair is short or worn up), or anywhere it may be visible in your work clothes.
  • Upper arms, chest, back, legs, and feet are good places to start.
• Think about how the design will fit on your body and where the image will look the best. Think about how your body will change over time and how it will look many years down the road. How big or small do you want the tattoo to be?

Do Your Research

You will want a reputable artist, a sanitary shop and most importantly, a place that makes you feel comfortable. Not every reputable artist is perfect for every client or even every design on that client. Somewhere there is an artist who can bring your vision to life; you just have to find the right one. It may take a while, but the wait will be well worth it.

• Search online, whether it is on Google, Facebook, Instagram, anywhere to find shops within a reasonable driving distance or ask your friends! Once you find some shops or artists, do the following.
• Look at their designs, do they look professional? Are they similar in style to the piece you are interested in getting? Even if some of their tattoos are amazing, if they can not tattoo in the style you want, you should not go to them. If you are looking at a particular shop, look at all the artists, and find out if they have any guest artists coming in that may be a better fit for you.
• Check out the shop, either by looking at photos online or by visiting in person. Is it clean? Are they using good sanitary practices? Look for reviews of the shop from customers or ask your friends if they know anyone who has been there. The website isn’t going to say anything bad because it is designed to pull you in, not scare you away. While you’re there you could speak to the artists and check out their portfolios in person. Tell them your idea or show your design and see what they think. You can do this multiple times at different shops until you find a shop and an artist that you know is right for you.
• Considering going to a tattoo convention. Most of the artists there will be talented and reputable. Even if you don’t want to get one when you are there, you can check out dozens of artists, see their work and speak to people who love tattoos as much as you do.
• Most importantly, make sure you feel comfortable with the artist. Strike up a conversation with them. Think, is this someone that you want to be sitting next to for hours, and it’s not just at a movie theater; they will become a permanent part of you.

Work Out The Specific Design Details

If you are not doing a walk-in appointment, which you won't be if you're following this guide, email a photo of your idea to the artist, or even better, go to a consultation. The artist will likely require a deposit, but they will begin to work on a design based on your idea. One of the jobs of an artist is to bring your idea to life. They don’t want to always do an extremely basic design with no creativity of theirs into it. Your idea, no matter how abstract, will create a vision in the artist’s mind and they want you to love that vision. The design will be able to be altered as the artist works on it, either digitally or on paper. This is your chance to make sure the design is exactly what you want.

If you do not like something about the design, please, please, please tell the artist. It cannot be changed once it is on your body. This also goes for when they put the stencil on before they start doing the tattoo. Let them know if you do not like the exact placement.

Now you are ready to get your tattoo. Take a deep breath. Relax, and get ready to love your new, personal piece of art.