So you're thinking of getting a tattoo or piercing � or maybe you've already gotten one or two and you want to expand. Hopefully, since you're here and reading this, it means you are going about this correctly and researching BEFORE you potentially make a big mistake. You've asked your friends, your piercer or tattooer, and whoever on BME you can get info from. Can you stand one more opinion? I'm perhaps not a 'typical' modified person (if there even is such a thing) in that while I am heavily tattooed (both arms and legs about 80% covered; just starting on my back) and have 23 piercings (all in my ears), I am neither under 25, nor am I in the modification industry (I happen to be an administrative assistant for a large bank). So, here's a chance for you to hear some of the issues of being a modified person from someone who's got a different perspective on it. Here, in no particular order, are some of the basic truths I have learned, and some basic advice. You'll noti ce that most of this applies to tattoos, as this is my main area of knowledge. Please remember, while I am modified and consider myself relatively knowledgeable, I am NOT an expert by any means; what follows is just my opinion and experiences.
At A Glance Author Mrs. Penguin Contact Mrs. [email protected] IAM Mrs. Penguin When N/A 1. Tattoos are not as mainstream as everyone seems to be complaining about. The perception is that 'everyone is getting tattooed'. Yes, there are more people getting tattooed now than ever before, and a much higher percentage of people getting tats who would never have dreamed of it even 10 years ago. However, think for a minute � outside of a tattoo convention, how many heavily tattooed people do you see on a regular basis? Other than myself, outside of tattoo conventions, I have seen exactly 3 other women with full sleeves � and I live in New York, where you would expect a much higher level of tolerance and open mindedness to modifications. So don't think that 'since everyone's getting tattooed, I can go ahead and get covered because it's mainstream'. It's not.
2. Is your proposed tattoo in a spot where you can conceal it if you need or want to? And if it's not, are you SURE it won't come back to haunt you in the future? Your current job may not care if you have full sleeves, but down the line you may want to move on to something else � are you CERTAIN it won't be a problem? Yes, in a perfect world no one would judge us on whether or not we have tattoos � but it's NOT a perfect world. Expressing yourself with full sleeves is great, but please think carefully whether or not this will be at the expense of your ability to earn a living later on. And while there are a lot of jobs where being modified doesn't matter, there are more where it does � think very carefully before you decide you are willing to exclude yourself from this larger pool of opportunities.
3. Yes, tattoos can be removed with laser surgery. But getting a tat and thinking 'well, I can always have it lasered off later if I really hate it' is kind of like saying 'I'm not sure if I love this guy, but we can always get divorced if it doesn't work out.' Like marriage, a tattoo is cheaper, easier and less painful to do than to undo. And the results aren't always perfect. Please, don't look at a tattoo as something you can un-do at some future point.
4. Got your first tattoo? Great! Now wait! In my opinion, everyone should wait at least a year before getting another one. It will give you a chance to see what life is like as a tattooed person � and if you like it or hate it. You will have your whole life � hopefully to love living with tats, not to regret rushing things. (And I waited 2 years between my first and second, in case you're wondering.)
5. Hopefully if you've researched your way all the way to this website, you're aware that your tattoo choices are NOT limited to the flash on the studio walls. A good artist can draw up just about anything you bring to them. Someone who can't isn't a good artist, and you probably don't want to be wasting your time with them. And by the way, contrary to what some people say, there is NOTHING inherently wrong with getting a flash piece � IF that's what you really love and want. Everything was drawn by someone at some point, whether it's a custom piece or was drawn to be commercially available to the masses. While virtually all of my work is custom, I do have about 3 flash pieces, and I love them as much as my custom ink.
6. Should you shop around? Yes, for the best artist, not necessarily the best price � please don't shop a tattoo by who'll do it the cheapest. A bad tattoo isn't like a bad haircut; it's not gonna grow back and let you do it over. One of the best ways to find a good artist is to ask people who have tats that you love who did them. A satisfied customer really is the best referral!
7. And no, that doesn't mean that the most expensive tat is necessarily the best. This just my personal opinion, but while I am willing to pay top dollar for a great tattoo, I'm NOT willing to pay extra just to have a celebrity do my ink, any more than I am willing to pay extra to get a designer label on my clothing. Past a certain point, the price has less to do with quality and more to do with name.
8. Are you prepared and willing to become 'public property'? If not, then please do yourself a favor and don't get a lot of visible mods. As a woman with full sleeves and extensive coverage on both legs, I do attract a lot of attention when I go out with my arms and legs bare. I personally don't mind it most of the time. I love my tats and enjoy discussing them with people, and look at it as an opportunity to educate people about the subject. I think that since (a) I'm a woman, and (b) my tattoo imagery is pretty tame and friendly (i.e. cats, bunny rabbit, dolls, teddy bear) that people view me as perhaps more easily approachable than some big bearded biker dude. But you really do need to think about it and be aware that you will be stared at, asked a lot of relatively dumb questions to your face, have people want to touch your skin (I couldn't figure out that one at all � it's just SKIN for crying out loud!), shush their children when they say 'Mommy look, that lady's all covered with tattoos!'. If you are the kind of person who really values your privacy and hates to be noticed or made the center of attention, then you will probably want to get your mods in areas that are easily concealable by clothing.
9. Be prepared to be asked a lot of the same dumb questions (did it hurt, do those come off, etc). And remember that even though you've been asked this question 500 times, it's probably the first time the person has asked it.....
10. How's your family going to react? Yes, it's true that once you hit 18 you are your own person. However, that doesn't mean that your parents/spouse/kids or anyone else are going to be okay with it, and they just might give you a load of shit. The question isn't so much how your family will react � how will you react to and deal with their reaction? Just because you've turned 18 doesn't mean your parents, for instance, are going to be any more accepting of you getting tattooed or pierced � and while there's nothing they can LEGALLY do, they can still make your life miserable. Be aware of this BEFORE you get any work done and think it through carefully. You may still wind up going ahead with it, but at least you'll be prepared.
11. Please don't do anything on impulse. The few times I've had less than thrilling outcomes with tats or piercings have all been cases of 'I wanna get inked and I want it NOW'! And don't say 'I'm old and smart enough to know better' � because I thought so too.......and still have made mistakes. Life's too short to get bad ink or shitty piercings.
12.Your new tattoo or piercing is NOT a toy and can't be treated as one if you want it to heal right. This is even more important with piercings (in my humble little opinion), since these are puncture wounds rather than surface abrasions, and don't heal nearly as quickly. Listen to what the tattooist says � don't pick the flaking skin off a healing tat! Don't scrape crusties off your jewelry with your dirty fingernails! The best piece of advice I can give for healing a piercing or tat is to remember that you don't heal anything � your BODY does it. What you are doing with aftercare is not so much healing the piece, as creating the optimum conditions for your body and immune system to heal it. Leave it the hell alone � yes, do clean it as you are instructed, but more isn't necessarily better. Please don't trowel on bacitracin onto a fresh tat � a lot isn't better than a little! Please don't clean a new piercing 6 times a day � you're just gonna irritate it and keep it from healing.
Well, I've babbled on for long enough. I hope this has proven to be at least a little helpful and informative. Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions. Thanks.