Something about the interaction between the radiation and the ink in your skin. She's a History teacher, so she didn't get too much into the technical aspects of it. It's just something that I've been thinking about, and have to make a decision on before I get a tattoo.
I want to get two. One of a Panther, the other of a Cross. Im just keeping an eye out for the right designs.
I have some tattoos by myself and two of them are north pacific indian style tattoos. (I was a huge RHCP fan back in the days ) - I would not put on any girlfriends name - I would not put on your wife's face - kid maybe, but not the wife. You never know but a marriage is not always ment to last forever. Think about it. - buy yourself some tattoo magazine to check some styles - don't go to a tattoer who makes most of his tattoos for only-one tattoo customers. - do not take any flash out of the books, there will be too many people having the same or something similar - go find a cool tattoist who will draw something for you; go to him with some ideas, pictures, just any stuff you like and think is cool and would fit your style and personality; if it's a good tattoist then he will draw you something unique - For "beginners" I recommend to put in on a place where it is not seen when put on normal clothes (t-shirt, etc.) maybe you will have some problems at work - no tribals; there are toooooooo many around http://www.urbanprimitive.com/2004/menu.html
What he said. What are you going to do some years from now, when they are out of style, and getting them off is one hell of a lot more expensive than getting them in the first place, they may not really be removed, despite all the money spent, without scarring, and you end up hating whatever you did get put on your skin, after many years of looking at it, or dozens of other reasons. (your cousin in the Peace Corps is murdered by Mayan Seperatists... whatever. ) It's not like getting a piercing, which can close up if you stop wearing them, or are a slam-dunk for a plastic surgeon. Or just cutting, or growing back, your hair. Or growing, or shaving, a beard of some sort. Or buying a "different look" as far as your clothes go. I wouldn't do it. They have long lasting "decals" that can work for several days. Then, after the color starts to fade, which real tattoos do after many years, so I've heard, you can clean them off and replace them. Now, if you're a biker or a seaman, disregard what I said.
Back when only sailors and motorcycle gang members wore them, tattoos were tough and cool. Now, 13 year old girls have tattoos. It has no cachet left.
Get what you want. Do what you want. Do not give another thought to what others think. (including me ) I have some tattoos, I first started getting them in the '80s. Get ones that are very meaningful to you, and you will never regret them. My bestest pal is a great tattoo artist I get them basically for free. Mine are on my arms and back, nobody can see them unless I take off my shirt. I get them for me, not to impress others.
That isn't completely correct. The ink used for that past 20 years does not contain metal. I have had x-rays and MRIs perfromed and that wasn't even mentioned to me. Check out this article: http://tattoo.about.com/cs/tatfaq/a/mri_scan.htm
I am not really a tattoo type of guy, but if I had to get one, it would be a big ol' honking Garfield (from Books 4-6, the old school, legit Garfield, when he was actually fat) on my hip. Garfield would have a thought balloon saying "Is It Friday Yet?" I would get top notch colors, none of this Radio-Shack-Quality "Garfield printed with an orange nose because someone was too cheap to pay for pink ink" crap. My big Garfield tattoo on my hip would rule. It would kick serious ass. I am pumped up thinking about it.
Just make sure it's something that will look good over time and as you age. I saw a quote on another board that went something like this: "A friend of mine got a fox on her t!t. It's now an anteater."
If you are worried about how you will feel about your design years from now, get something setimental or really means something. I've always hated the idea tatoos for myself, but I have a 6-month old son and I really want to get a band tattoed around my upper-arm with his first initial and/or name in it. I guess it is kind of a way to show everyone, especially my son, that I will always be there for him since I am permenetly putting something of him on myself that will be there even after I have passed.
