Should I Get a Tattoo? 5 Women Share Their Stories (And What They Wished They Considered Beforehand)

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Published Dec 23, 2021

If you’re considering a tattoo but are still weighing your options, you’ve come to the right place. We consulted Shaughnessy Otsuji, founder of Studio Sashiko in Los Angeles about what you should consider before getting inked. We also asked five of our staffers about their tattoos—how they feel about them years later and if there is anything they would have done differently knowing what they know now.

“When deciding to get your first tattoo, it’s a good idea to take a look at many different artists’ portfolios. Most artists will offer a consultation to discuss your tattoo idea and placement beforehand. I also recommended bringing detailed reference photos to your consultation to help kickstart the design process with your artist,” says Otsuji.

Are there any specific tips you have around the size, color or placement of first tattoos?

According to Otsuji, “There are definitely certain areas of the body that tend to heal better and hold up longer over time. For example, hands are made up of rougher, more exposed skin, which can cause some blurring or fading over time. Since our hands are constantly used and washed throughout the day, a hand tattoo is subject to being bumped or scratched during the healing process, which can lead to pulling out ink before it has settled into the skin. This can cause gaps in the tattoo, which is why touch-ups are commonly required for hand tattoos,” she explains.

Another thing to consider: “Many tattooers will avoid tattooing certain areas like the hands, neck, and face, especially on people who are new to getting tattoos,” she says. “These areas are highly visible and harder to conceal with clothing, so we want to make sure before proceeding. Unfortunately, there are still many careers that don’t allow their employees to be visibly tattooed, so tattoo artists will approach these requests with caution,” she adds.

What are the best ways to prep for your appointment?

“It’s important to eat a good meal before your appointment and stay hydrated before and after getting your tattoo,” advises Otsuji. “Avoid drinking alcohol and consuming too much caffeine before your appointment, too, as both can cause thinning of the blood. You also want to avoid getting too much sun exposure before and after your tattoo appointment.”

What are the best ways to care for your tattoo afterwards?

After getting tattooed, you may shower normally, but it is important to avoid prolonged sweating or submerging your tattoo under water for too long. This means avoiding swimming, baths, hot tubs, and steam rooms/saunas, as well as intense exercise or activities that cause excessive perspiration. If the area gets wet, be sure to dry it off as soon as possible.

“When the tattoo begins to peel (which is normal), do not pick or scratch at the dry skin; let the flakes fall off naturally. Picking can cause scarring and premature loss of ink,” cautions Otsuji.

Exposure to the sun can cause fading and discoloration of the ink over time. “Once your tattoo has completely healed, you can and should apply sunscreen over the tattoo to further protect it from the sun and keep it looking as vibrant as possible,” shares Otsuji.

Otsuji’s parting advice: “It’s best to follow the instructions given to you by your tattoo artist as they have worked directly with your skin and will have specific directions based on your skin type, lifestyle, the type of tattoo, and the climate of where you live.”

What if you really don't like your tattoo? What are your best options?

“The most effective option for tattoo removal or tattoo lightening is laser. Depending on the age of the tattoo and the amount of ink saturation, it can take anywhere between three to 10 laser treatments to fully remove or lighten it drastically. This treatment is considered much more painful than receiving a tattoo, so it’s important to take as much time as you need before deciding on a tattoo design in the first place. Ideally, you want to love it forever,” says Otsuji.

Still on the fence? Here are five stories of women and their first tattoos.

Sarah Stiefvater for PureWow

1. The One With No Regrets (but Happy She Waited ‘til Her Mid-20s)

How old were you when you got your tattoo?

I got my first tattoo when I was 25.

What prompted the decision?

A few years prior I started seeing tattoos all over my Instagram explore page. Before that, I never had strong feelings about them either way, but all of a sudden I was like, "Omg. Need." I thought about it for a really long time and saved a ton of artists' work for inspo before finally making an appointment.

How did you feel right after you got it?

I loved my first tattoo immediately (it's the word 'Honey' in script right under the crook of my arm), but it was definitely a little weird to think about its permanence for the first few days.

How do you feel about the tattoo now?

I have four tattoos at the moment, and my first is still my absolute favorite. I love everything about it, from the placement to the font and size (it's been five years and I think it's aging quite well).

Is there anything you wish you considered before getting tattooed?

I'm really glad I got my first tattoo in my mid-20s versus the second I turned 18. I'm also happy that I sat with the decision for a long time. My subsequent tattoos have been much more spontaneous, but I think it was important that my first was carefully planned.

If you could do it all over again, would you? Why or why not?

A million times yes. I love all of my tattoos and, though I recognize they're not for everyone (my parents included, lol), they make me happy, and I can't imagine my body without them.

Sarah Stiefvater, Senior Editor

Stephanie Sengwe for PureWow

2. The One Who Woke Up On A Mission For Ink

How old were you when you got your tattoo?

I got my first one when I was 24.

What prompted the decision?

I had been ruminating on the idea for like two years prior. Then I literally woke up one morning, called my best friend to say I'm gonna do it and just got it done.

How did you feel right after you got it?

Like I should have done it way before then. It's small, so the entire process was like 10 minutes and not that painful, so I felt like I waited too long for nothing because there's really nothing to be scared of.

How do you feel about the tattoo now?

Love it! I've gotten several more since then, but nothing beats the first one.

Is there anything you wish you considered before getting tattooed?

My experience has been positive for the most part. But, I will say I didn't anticipate the level of itchiness that happens when the tattoo is healing. I had to exhibit some serious willpower not to scratch my tats when they were at that phase.

If you could do it all over again, would you? Why or why not?

Um, yes! I'm into the small, minimalist type, so I find tattoos to be super low maintenance. I know I can get a few more with no complications as long as I care for them the right way.

Stephanie Sengwe, Associate Editor

Taryn Pire for PureWow

3. The One Who Learned There’s No Such Thing As A Forever-relevant Tattoo

How old were you when you got your tattoo?

I got my first tattoo at 21 (I have four total now)

What prompted the decision?

My mom has a bunch of tattoos, and I always loved the look of them (I had a serious Johnny Depp phase in middle school...), so it was always something that I wanted to do once I figured out what I wanted done.

How did you feel right after you got it?

Brave! The piece was pretty damn big for a first tattoo, and I got through it with no issues; it didn't hurt anywhere close to as badly as I'd anticipated. I loved that from then on, I'd always have ink poking out from under a t-shirt so everyone would know how ~cool~ I was, haha. A lil' juvenile, but I felt like I'd finally cemented my edgy aesthetic.

How do you feel about the tattoo now?

I don't love her as much as I did at the time, but it was a loose homage to my mom and a band we both love, so I definitely don't regret it. Taking tattoos too seriously sort of takes the art and fun out of them, in my opinion. You shouldn't be the same person with the same taste at age 21 and age 41—if you wait to find a tattoo that defies time, you'll never make up your mind (and if that's really your bottom line, it might not be a good idea to get one at all).

Is there anything you wish you considered before getting tattooed?

I wish I'd spent more time looking for an artist that could really nail the design I wanted. My guy didn't do a bad job whatsoever, but I could've looked harder instead of going with the first recommendation I got. Also, all tattoos fade (read: WEAR SUNSCREEN or don't bother paying for a tattoo!), but some shops' black ink is black black, while others are kind of blueish and turn bluer over time...I know now that I like sharp, pure black, but I didn't know that back then.

If you could do it all over again, would you? Why or why not?

Yup! I used to think tattoos needed to maintain their personal relevance forever, but that's really not the case. I like to think of my tats as a little body scrapbook, tiny snippets of who I was at 21, 23, 26, etc. that I'll always be able to carry with me and look back on.

Taryn Pire, Associate Food Editor

Rachel Gulmi for PureWow

4. The One Who Loves When People Ask About Her Tattoos

How old were you when you got your tattoo?

I think I was 21 or 22 when I got my first one ("breathe" on my wrist), but I have seven total.

What prompted the decision?

I have bad anxiety and I wanted it as a simple reminder to take a moment to stop and breathe. How did you feel right after you got it? It was actually a spur of the moment decision, which is so unlike me. I was out to dinner with my parents, and it came up in conversation about how I'd been wanting this specific one for a really long time. My dad said, "If you go right now, I'll pay for it." So I took him up on it and did it. I'm honestly not sure if I would have ever gotten it without a gentle push because I'm so scared of needles and have zero tolerance for pain.

How do you feel about the tattoo now?

I still love all of my tattoos! Out of the seven, there's only one that I would have done a little differently but it's not a huge deal because it's in a spot that isn't visible 99.9 percent of the time.

Is there anything you wish you considered before getting tattooed?

Ha, I considered just about everything before getting tattooed! Obviously, these are on your body forever and I wanted to make sure it wouldn't be something I looked back on and hated. I did so much research about placements to see which areas are prone to fading, stretching and pain. I also thought about each one for a long time before committing to it. The one thing I'd wish I gave more thought about was finding an artist who really aligned with my style of dainty, single needle tattoos. I didn't end up finding her until my third one, so the first two are a little thicker than the rest, which is fine, because I still like them. But if I could go back I would do them in the single needle style.

If you could do it all over again, would you? Why or why not?

Definitely, but I would never get one for the sake of getting it. Each of my tattoos have a lot of personal meaning and they all represent a specific part of me. I think it's a fun way to express yourself without explicitly saying what it is, and I like when people ask about them because then I get to tell the story.

Rachel Gulmi, Managing Editor, Branded Content

Nicole Briese for PureWow

5. The One Who Hates The Awkward Back And Forth Of Too Much Prep

How old were you when you got your tattoo?

My first one? 16 to 18ish—a bit fuzzy—I have 9!

What prompted the decision?

I guess I never considered NOT getting them—my dad, who raised me, has them all over. It was always a matter of "How soon can I do this?"

How did you feel right after you got it?

Cool and dangerous.

How do you feel about the tattoo now?

Some I like, some I love, some I'd probably remove and do a different thing there if the removal didn't cost so much.

Is there anything you wish you considered before getting tattooed?

Red ink can react poorly with eczema—which I have—no one told me that and I learned the hard way.

If you could do it all over again, would you? Why or why not?

Absolutely! Ninety percent of my tattoos were spur-of-the-moment decisions—I saw a thing I liked, I went to the shop immediately and had them put it on my body. And for me, that's part of the experience! It's something fun, it's spontaneous, and I always remember those times and chuckle, even if the tattoo isn't my favorite. The ones I've liked less are the bigger pieces I've been forced to plan—which includes a consult, sending an image in, going to see the rendering in person (they won't send it to you beforehand, so you don't steal it)—that honestly sucks. If you don't like their artistic vision (which usually, I don't), they then have to change this big piece, and it's awkward, but you also don't want to get talked into something you don't like for life. But then if they change it, and you still don't like it, it gets more and more awkward—that's a less fun experience. Still, I don't regret those pieces—it's all part of the journey, the story, what have you!

Nicole Briese, Assigning Commerce Editor

Jenny Jin

Beauty Director

Oversees all beauty content at PureWow
Has over a decade of experience in writing and editing, both in print and digital media
Produces 'Youngish' newsletter, a guide to beauty in your 30s and beyond

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