Do nice tattoos exist?

[ZombieSplodger]

I'd quite like to get a tattoo but am quite concerned that it could just look shit.

Are there any rules about getting a tattoo so it looks nice, maybe pretty, and minimises the risk of you regretting it?

I love that first one Goths!

Are you going to design it yourself?

Oh god the bugs in the first one are making itchy!

I have 7 tattoos and love them all. When I'm 70 I will most likely look like shit anyway with or without them.

Not on women, no, just my opinion.

Beautiful dress...oh a tattoo

I like mine. Whether they're nice is a matter of opinion.

totally non-manly tattoo

Personally I love tattooed women, I married one! The well thought out and designed tatts are an expression of who they are and add to their beauty.

I've been thinking about it for years but can't afford it at the mo
The nicest (and sexiest) one I've seen is this:
www.tumblr.com/tagged/jesus-christ-superstar?before=1347900064
Loving a tattoo round a nice bicep belonging to a sexy bloke....

I believe you can have nice and pretty. Like others have said take your time choosing a design or making your own and equally in choosing your tattooist.
I think my design took about 5 years to perfect and in that time I walked into a few parlours but then walked out because they didn't feel right. Eventually I ended up at my friends tattooist who had a cancellation and when she saw my design, added some tweaks that just perfected it and I knew the time was right...
Mine is a decent size on my back below the neck, so it's always covered up at work and its my choice if I want to show it depending on the cut of my top. It's an abstract interpretation of an angel, very simple and beautiful, with a lot of personal meaning for me.
Although I accept most people that don't like it probably wouldn't tell me but I do get a lot of compliments from those that think its pretty. Especially because I think I surprise people that I have one as I can come across as serious and conservative!

You know, I haven't even started to think about how much they might cost, hough the extra time while I saved up would give me extra time to be sure.

Jammy I think might have to get someone else to design it, I'm good but I'm not that good.

Jammy they are usually in the price range of roughly £90 an hour with a good tattooist

I love my tattoos- I have lots of moles, which I hate and feel are ugly, so a bit of decoration of my own choice inbetween makes me very happy.

I go to one of two studios (up north!) and it is about £60/£70 for an hours work (for custom pieces.)

They can be booked up weeks and months in advance, so if you want to time it for when you're off work (I usually do- so I can look after them well- was very glad I had a few weeks off when I had a foot tattoo) plan ahead!

Only ever seen one I like, a dragonfly on the back of my friend's calf. Very tasteful and simply done, only in black.

Generally I think they look ugly as hell and that bare skin looks a LOT nicer.

Goths, I love those.

My Grandad's looked fab at 85, but it was because they (like him) were a part of history: he was a desert rat in ww2 and they were faded blue indian ink and a reminder of his days in battle. The fact that one of them was a naked woman on his forearm mean't he had to wear long sleeves at all times when he was at work (heavyweight job)! My favourite was the eagle right across his back.

I have seen the tattoo on the arm of a holocaust survivor and it's the single most poignant symbol of man's inhumanity that I've ever seen. However, I think it's a bit mad to link all tattoos to that.

I think it's fascinating that what was once seen as a counter culture thing or a sign of the underclasses is now part of mainstream culture.
On the other hand I've not seen many tats that I like, but that's not really the point is it?I wear my rather dull wedding ring (never take it off) to remind me of my bond to dh and I respect people's memorial tats for the same reason. I think I'd always go for the inscribed jewelary option myself and the only people I'd like to remember would have hated me getting a tattoo!

The National Gallery is displaying photographs for the first time and there is a rather fabulous portrait of an octopus tattoo-do have a look.

I like this one

No

Those are gorgeous, MurderofGoths .

Crikey, do you mean this one defineme? Would love to pop to the National Gallery a bit more often but it's a bit of a haul from Up North.

Nope.

Hth

Actually, it's just a taste thing isn't it? I personally don't like them but I recognise an awful lot of people do. So long as no-one comes along and secretly (ha!) tattoos me, if a tattoo makes you happy, then that's great.

What a lovely tolerant attitude Rindercella :) Hope no-one sneaks up and tattoos you either.

No.

Partly because if I think how much my tastes have changed over the years, I wouldn't want anything permanent on me - just think of changes in fashion in hair and clothes styles.

But mainly because I really don't find them attractive. Sorry.

Generally I am not keen- especially now as they are so fashionable and have little meaning. I like the idea of a very deep and meaningful tattoo, something with real poignant memories.

When I was 18 I booked in for a tattoo on the base of my spine, I would have got something very tacky like a dolphin or a flower- something very meaningless and I would be regretting it now.

I am not keen on the appearance of tattoos myself but know a lot of people love them