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Original poster

Tattoo ... is this a terrible idea?

79 replies

Sickofpeppapig00 · 21/01/2015 00:28

Just got my decree absolute so finally divorced and would like to mark the occasion somehow. I have been waiting for this moment for a very long time (I was the one who left my abusive marriage, haven't regretted it for a second); the last few years have been horrid yet I have overcome a lot all on my own, and I'm proud of that. I'm often told I am fearless by friends/relatives so, I'm seriously considering having a tattoo made that says exactly that, 'fearless'. It would be fairly small, handwritting style, likely in my inner wrist.

Now, I'm a 40 year old mother of three fairly young DC. I like to think I'm 'cool' (hate that word btw!) enough to carry it off, but still ... am I too old to be even thinking of having it done? I do have quite a senior office job too so I would likely need to have it covered for important meetings etc... too much hassle? I would like to have it done somewhere I can see it all the time so somewhere more discreet would kind of defeat the purpose of it.

Should I go for it?

OP posts:
ghostspirit · 21/01/2015 09:11

i have a couple of tattoos i have a panthers head up top of my arm its the size of a 10p haha looks really crap. had that done when i was 18.. i have a holding hands one as well with the words forever holding your hand. thats in memory of my dad. but they are up top of my arm. i would not have one where it cant be covered. guess a wrist one can be if you wear long sleeves... im thinking about work interviews and things like that. should not have to think that way. but people are still very narrow minded over tattoos. but i would still say go for it

MrsLettuce · 21/01/2015 09:17

Meh, much as I dislike this text-tattoo-on-the-wrist fad (particularly the upside down thing) they are easy to cover. A chunky watch or bangle will do it with no fuss or bother. There's also body makeup that'll cover up such a tattoo with minimal fuss.

maybemyrtle · 21/01/2015 09:54

I haven't read the whole thread but just wanted to say that I got 2 in my 30s, forget-me-nots on my inner wrist and one on my hip. The one on my hip I LOVE, partly because I could do whatever I wanted without worrying about what anyone would think. The one on my wrist I am forever conscious of and yes it can be covered with bracelets/watch/etc but it's a faff. I had the wrist done first and I'm currently in the long expensive painful process of having it removed. Agree with a PP that the inner wrist tattoo is becoming a bit of a cliche.

Felyne · 21/01/2015 10:02

Actually, a friend of mine has some tattoos done in white ink and you have to look really closely to even see them, maybe a white one? (Depending on your skin colour - if you have darker skin I'm not sure how or if it would affect the way the ink shows up. My friend is white.)

MrsLettuce · 21/01/2015 10:07

White ink fades really very quickly unless it's really packed in (which isn't possible with a tiny text tattoo), unless you have very pale skin and never allow any tanning then the pigment in the skin over the ink gives a yellow-ish/brownish/pinky hue to the ink.

AgathaF · 21/01/2015 10:18

I'd say think about it for another few months, then if you're still keen then go for it. I reckon a beautiful image that represents how you feel, rather than words would be better though, but really it just had to be something that you love, not other people.

Judgemental people are just that. Not worth worrying about their opinions.

MrsMcRuff · 21/01/2015 10:20

How about an engraved ring, instead of the permanence of a tattoo? There are lots, if you google 'fearless ring', including this.

burnishedsilver · 21/01/2015 10:23

Don't do it.
If you were really certain about it you wouldn't have asked. Its too permanent a thing not to be certain about.

Original poster
Sickofpeppapig00 · 21/01/2015 11:00

Thank you all again for taking the time to respond. I still haven't made a decision, lots to think about. I do know that should I decide to go ahead with it it won't now be a word but some kind of art; also it wouldn't be on my wrist as I'm worried about it dating.

Lots to think about, thank you againSmile

OP posts:
CockBollocks · 21/01/2015 11:10

Ahh just came on to post, the wrist is not a great place as it will fade and blur.

Have fun choosing - I have tattoos on my forearm, back and feet. Suspect I will end up with more!

CockBollocks · 21/01/2015 11:16

Oh and look at pointers, hundreds of ideas.

CheeseBored · 21/01/2015 11:20

I got a tattoo (a symbol not a word) following a bad break up, and now, years later, and having completely got over it, am annoyed to be reminded of this relationship.

TheCowThatLaughs · 21/01/2015 11:24

I'm still getting rid of stuff from my house that reminds me of 2 exes and I feel a lot better not to be reminded, for example, every time I make a cup of tea and see a particular tea caddy. I wouldn't like to have the caddy strapped to my arm permanently!

Sidge · 21/01/2015 12:04

I got a tattoo on my hip after getting divorced - I'd wanted one for a long time but ExH said he'd leave me if I got one. (Oh the irony!)

Mine is on my hip/bum, is a design that is symbolic (to me) of my children, my new phase in my life, my strength. I like it on my hip as people only see it if I want them to (or in a bikini/undies) and it has meaning to me. It in no way reminds me of my Ex but is more a little backpat of how far I've come.

I wouldn't want a tattoo that is visible when at work (frowned upon in my profession) and I wouldn't have words, just symbols or a design that has meaning.

PrimalLass · 21/01/2015 12:46

This attitude to tattoos always makes me laugh, because women are still buying Uggs and yet they are everywhere but a tattoo is somehow viewed differently.

Hmm What a bizarre comparison. One is a permanent mark on your skin and the other is a pair of shoes. Hmm

CockBollocks · 21/01/2015 13:28

Pintrest I meant Pintrest!!

iloveeverton · 21/01/2015 13:37

I have 3 tattoos but all easy to hide although quite large.

Leave it 6 months and be certain. I pinned lots of ideas on pintrest and waited a year to be certain it was what I wanted.

MrsLettuce · 21/01/2015 14:12

That's good to hear OP! Research is vey important, I'm afraid. Choice of artist is all though. Good work isn't cheap though.

I'm sorry to say that a general search on Pinterest is a great way to find examples of tattoos that are faddy and / or wont hold up well! There's good stuff there too, of course, is hard to find though. Last Sparrow have a few boards of the good stuff but their forum is fab. Swallows and Daggers is a good place to look at tattoos too. In terms of tattoo history (WRT women) this is a nice browse.

LST is quite heavily biased to traditional tattoos (western and Japanese based) but that's because, well, tattoos look like tattoos for a reason - it's what lasts best of all. Not that that's the only way to go, it's just that the use of black ink is essential to hold everything together. The stuff here is 'modern' but most, if not all, of it is proper tattooing that'll stand the test of time.

Vintages Tattoos on instagram is great to browse - looking at all those 25+ year old pieces gives a good idea of what will hold up over time. Whatever style you end up liking best Instagram is the place to be for looking at tattoos TBH.

MrsLettuce · 21/01/2015 14:14

(sorry, should have proof read Wink)

specialsubject · 21/01/2015 14:26

amantes I would sincerely hope that no-one calls you cheap or tacky, or expresses a negative opinion about your tattoos unless you actually ask for an opinion. That would be very unpleasant.

The old adage 'nothing nice to say? Say nothing!' is the way to go.

if you want ink, go for it. Fortunately we are in a free country. And we can all think what we damn well like.

jeee · 21/01/2015 14:37

If you have to ask strangers on t'internet whether a tattoo is a good idea, you shouldn't get one.

Like other people have said, leave such a permanent decision for a few months - you can take this time to research designs/tattoo artists, or decide you'd rather use the money for a weekend in Rome.

ScotsWhaHae · 21/01/2015 14:47

I think people without tattoos are classless, tacky, common, boring and fart faces.

Lweji · 21/01/2015 14:50

Oi!

you have just shown yourself to be a high order twat, as the other twats who have said the same about people with tattoos.

TheTravellingLemon · 21/01/2015 16:23

mrslettuce I loved some of those links. I don't have any tattoos, but I can still appreciate some of them as beautiful. I love the really bright colours and the more abstract ones. I also like the really simple tiny ones.

specialsubject · 21/01/2015 16:24

nothing you wear or mark on yourself makes any difference to who you are or whether you are a decent person or not. Some people will think you look great, others will think you look silly. That's how it is. What IS rude is to offer a negative opinion to a particular person on a matter of appearance unless directly asked.

I don't like tattoos. So I don't say anything about them. Freedom of thought is allowed in the UK.