Tattoos have always fascinated me—they are more than just pieces of ink. They represent memories, choices, and identities. For some, tattoos are just jokes or drunk mistakes. But if you are like me and want to pick something meaningful for the ink that will be on your body for the rest of your life, then you should follow a few basic rules:
- Make it original and sketch it yourself! Designing it yourself ensures that it will look exactly the way you want it to and creates a more personal image.
- Research local tattoo shops and artists.
- Decide where you want it. Visible or discrete?
- Consider color and size.
- Draw it on yourself with permanent marker.
- Don’t rush it. If you get sick of it after a week, you probably won’t want it on your body for the rest of your life.
I cannot wait to get my first (of many) tattoos, but I have been extremely indecisive about what to get. So, I reached out to one of my best friends, Anaïs Ranque, to find out more about her own tattoo. Most importantly, I asked her what her small music note means to her. She replied, “Well, did you know Selena Gomez has a similar tattoo?” Since I know Selena Gomez is her idol, I thought she might not be kidding. Then she said, “Seriously, though, it represents my love for her, my love for music, my career goals.” Impressed, I continued to listen to her perspective. Anaïs said, “I placed it on the side of my wrist so that when I hold my microphone people can see it.” Clever. With this inspiring information, I am more determined than ever to get “inked.”
Main image courtesy of Unsplash.
Photos by Sarah Raphael.