Written by Jenny Catton
No longer sported only by sailors, bikers, and rock stars; tattoos are more acceptable and more fashionable than ever before. But they are also very difficult to remove once you’ve got one. So, if body art is something you’ve been considering, should you go for it and get a tattoo?
Yes – Jade
A tattoo is a beautiful and creative way to express your individuality. I have five tattoos and they each mean something important to me and are part of who I am. All of them are fairly small and are in places where I can cover them up if I need to, such as on my shoulder blade and my ankle.
Some people worry about whether tattoos are safe but if you choose a reputable tattooist, you shouldn’t have a problem. Check that they follow good hygiene processes such as using proper sterilising equipment and make sure they have the necessary licences and registration documents.
Another reason that people may be put off getting a tattoo is because they worry that they will change their mind about the design they choose. However, this has never been an issue for me because I’ve always spent plenty of time considering the design before going ahead with the tattoo.
I got my first tattoo on my lower back five years ago and I still love it and always will. I get lots of compliments when I show off my tattoos. They give me confidence and help define who I am. I’d say if you’re sure a tattoo is right for you and you take time to choose the right tattooist and the right design, there’s no reason why you will regret it in later life.
No –Finlay
So many people get tattoos when they are young and then live to regret it later in life. What looks good on a 21-year-old often ends up looking silly or tacky on a 40-year-old.Fashions also change quickly and so what might seem like a cool tattoo at the moment won’t be in a few years’ time but by then it will be too late.
If you get a tattoo that you can’t hide easily, you may find that people make assumptions about you and having tattoos could harm your future career prospects.
Of course, aside from regretting the choice of design, tattoos come with a lot of health risks.If a tattooist doesn’t follow the correct procedures you could be putting yourself at risk of catching an infectious disease such as hepatitis or HIV.
Many people now think that if they regret their tattoo in later life, they can just get it removed. But removing a tattoo can be a very painful and expensive process with no guarantee of what the results will be.
I think it’s far better to be safe and just avoid tattoos completely. I’m sure more people live to regret getting a tattoo than regret not getting one.
