What Tattoo Should I Get: 7 Tips On How To Pick A Tattoo

What Tattoo Should I Get: 7 Tips On How To Pick A Tattoo

Getting a tattoo is such an exciting and permanent decision that it's hard to know where to start. If you get one that doesn't mean anything to you or your life, it's pretty much a waste of money and time!

When getting inked for the first time, most people don't know how important it is to pick the perfect tattoo. A lot of people end up regretting their decision later on down the line.

The good news is that the tattoo industry has never been better, but with so many options out there it can be hard to pick the right design for you. We're here to help! Here are 7 tips on how to pick a perfect tattoo (or at least one you'll love).

Ask Yourself Why You Want A Tattoo

asking myself what tattoo should I get

 

Before getting inked, you have to ask yourself why you want to get a tattoo. Most people make the mistake of getting a tattoo because they think it's cool or because their friends have one. Tattoos don't work like that anymore…

If you want to get a certain tattoo, you need to examine how permanent body art is going to influence your life and how it will affect you in the long run. By asking yourself how a tattoo will affect your life and how you'll feel about it in the future, we bet that you end up changing your mind altogether.

The best tattoos to get are the ones that have a special meaning or which mean something to you. You want a tattoo that means something because when times get tough, having something close to your heart can be very therapeutic.

You don't want to be that guy that got a Bill Cosby tattoo because a friend dared him to get one.

Seek the Advice of a Tattoo Artist

Getting feedback from an artist can be invaluable. You might know how you want your tattoo to look, but that doesn't mean that the design will fit your body.

Tattoo artists are very experienced in what they do and how certain shapes and forms transform when they're applied on human skin. They've seen it all before, so don't think that you know everything about how tattoos will work on your body.

If you're not sure how to pick a tattoo, consult with a reliable artist and ask for their professional opinion. If it's your first time getting inked, then most likely they'll have an idea of how the design should look like considering where you want to place it on your body.

Also, there are tattoo artists that will do custom designs for their clients. This is how you pick an artist; they should be able to create whatever you want that compliments your taste and style. Once again, this is a very important decision so take your time when choosing a tattoo artist in the area.

Decide where to place your ink

a satellite tattoo on an arm

 

If this is your first time getting a tattoo, then you need to be familiar with the most painful tattoo areas. Once you know how painful a tattoo can be in a specific area, you can plan how big of a drawing you want.

Larger tattoos are typically more painful than smaller ones because the larger the tattoo is going to be, the more time under the needle you’re going to spend.

Also, get a tattoo that fits your body. It would be a waste if you got a large tattoo on your back, but then find out later on down the line that it doesn't fit how you thought it did. If you want an arm tattoo make sure it looks good with how your arms are shaped and how they can accommodate how big of a tattoo you want.

Have a preferred tattoo size

Size matters. Especially in tattoo art. You have to know how big or how small you want your tattoo to be before going out and getting a design.

But how do you pick a perfect tattoo size? The size of your drawing needs to fit how visible it's going to be on your body, how much people will see it, how crisp the lines will look like, how much it's going to hurt when getting one in that specific area, how large of a tattoo is socially acceptable for what you do for a living, and how much your wallet can handle.

No matter how small or how big the design is, make sure the lines and colors look crisp and clean. Look at how well-done tattoos are on YouTube and how professional they look. This is how you pick a good tattoo without knowing what it will end up looking like.

What kind of tattoo design do you like

tattoo on hands, fingers, and arms

 

Do you like quotes or do you want something that is symbolic? Do you want a tattoo that depicts how your life was or how it has been so far?

Your design should look great on you and how it reflects how you live your daily life. Is there a quote from a movie or song lyric that means a lot to you? A piece of design can have meaning or it can be just for the sake of being noticed.

If you are getting a tattoo because of how much you love how your life is, then show how your personality is to others with words that convey how you live. If you want something that is meaningful in your life, then pick out what design will work best for what you want to say.

If you have a design in mind already, then get it tattooed rather than just getting a random permanent mark on your skin. This is how you choose a good tattoo because sometimes how your life is right now will change and how the tattoo looks can seem out of place with how you live later on in the future.

Gather Inspiration

large back tattoo on a slender female body

If you are still not sure of the design then look up how other people have done their tattoos. You can use this information to get an idea of how to choose a tattoo.

Find out what kind of designs are in style right now and how you should incorporate your own personality into the drawing so it will be unique in how it looks for others. Doing a quick Google search for how other people have their tattoos can show you the possibilities of what your tattoo could be like, how it will look on your body, and how much money you might end up spending.

You should also use Instagram as a form of inspiration for checking tattoo designs. You can look at how well-done and captivating others' tattoos are. This is how you pick a perfect tattoo because how your tattoos will look can be based on how well they are done by the artist.

Think of the future

One thing is certain, we don't know what the future holds for us, do we? Life can take many twists and turns along how it's going to be. If you are concerned about what the future brings for how your tattoos look, then ask yourself how important they are to you now given how the tattoo will age over time.

Do you want something that is timeless or do you want something that reflects how your life is now?

These are how you choose a good tattoo because how the tattoo looks can be based on how much thought goes into how to pick an appropriate design. Tattoo ink fades over time and how well they are done will be how it will look like in the future. You should invest in tattoos that represent how you live your life in how you can have it looking how you want it to look when the tattoo is no longer new.

Final Thoughts

tattoo artist working on a client

Now that you know all these tips, you can confidently go forth and get inked! Gather some inspiration, think about where to place your ink, and make sure it is a size that will fit on your body with little fuss. Tattoos are often permanent decisions so be sure to spend time considering what kind of tattoo design (or designs) you like before diving headfirst into the process.

Remember- tattoos aren't for everyone but if they're right for you then we hope these tips help make getting one as enjoyable an experience as possible! Tattoo numbing creams also work to make the inking process more comfortable. We'll see ya when you come back from picking up your new piece of artwork!