First tattoo, age of DS, DD?

[person]

It was a thing to do when I was in high school 25 years ago. Many of my friends got them as soon as they turned 18 or shortly thereafter. The large majority of them regret it now. I got my first tattoo at 35, my second at 38. I told my kids that they are welcome to get tattoos when they are 18, but it had better be something that they really want and has meaning to them.

So do you now regret at all not having started getting your inkings earlier than you did?

 

[EACarlson]

So do you now regret at all not having started getting your inkings earlier than you did?

Maybe by a couple years, but I'm well aware that if I had gotten tattoos at 18 or 20 or even 25 they would have been completely different than what I have now and I would probably regret what I would have gotten then.

 

[person]

Maybe by a couple years, but I'm well aware that if I had gotten tattoos at 18 or 20 or even 25 they would have been completely different than what I have now and I would probably regret what I would have gotten then.

Well, everyone is different, right? (Someone was posting a while ago that hers date from 20 years ago, none of them regretted at all.)

But sounds anyway like you're the first in your household to take the inking plunge, then?

 

[EACarlson]

Well, everyone is different, right? (Someone was posting a while ago that hers date from 20 years ago, none of them regretted at all.)

But sounds anyway like you're the first in your household to take the inking plunge, then?

Absolutely, I am no advocating everyone wait until they were my age to get a tattoo. I will advocate thinking about it and making sure that it is something you really want on your body forever. That is what I've told my kids since I got mine and when they've asked questions about them. It took me until I was 34 to determine what it was that I wanted to have on me forever after. Then another year to be able to afford and schedule it.

I was the first in my household to get one. I got my first one just over 4 years ago, my wife got her first and so far only one two years ago.

 

[person]

Absolutely, I am no advocating everyone wait until they were my age to get a tattoo. I will advocate thinking about it and making sure that it is something you really want on your body forever. That is what I've told my kids since I got mine and when they've asked questions about them. It took me until I was 34 to determine what it was that I wanted to have on me forever after. Then another year to be able to afford and schedule it.

I was the first in my household to get one. I got my first one just over 4 years ago, my wife got her first and so far only one two years ago.

Oh so she finally did it, too? No harm in waiting and planning as you did for years, of course; sounds like also your dw - like you - held back years until she truly knew she really wanted to take the plunge and do it, then?

 

[person]

My daughter is 16 (almost 17) and my son is 20. Neither has expressed any interest in a tattoo. DH and I don't have any either.

So, likely to stay that way also?

 

[person]

As of now no tattoos for us or our kids.

And likely to stay that way, do you think?

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

 

[person]

If I decide to go ahead with the next one, it will be Disney related for sure, and visible... I have a couple of ideas...that I have been thinking about... still not sure, and until I am 100% on it, I will wait. DH has started wanting to tat over a small one on his arm, and do something bigger.

So are the tattoo parlors in your area open yet? (for those that are - like you say - ready to get ink).

 

[person]

View attachment 568290

Thanks for the link! so are tattoo parlors in your part of Wales open yet? (a lot had to close temporarily because covid, in various places.)

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

Thanks for the link! so are tattoo parlors in your part of Wales open yet? (a lot had to close temporarily because covid, in various places.)

I have no idea.... Wales has only recently partially come out of lockdown and my ‘world’ is still long walks through the fields with the dogs and my gardens. I haven’t been near shops for over a year and just use supermarket online shopping and an organic recipe box delivery service AND today enjoyed the first salad leaves from my veggie plot (well greenhouse really).

 

[person]

I have no idea.... Wales has only recently partially come out of lockdown and my ‘world’ is still long walks through the fields with the dogs and my gardens. I haven’t been near shops for over a year and just use supermarket online shopping and an organic recipe box delivery service AND today enjoyed the first salad leaves from my veggie plot (well greenhouse really).

Sounds like in these times you are in some ways in an ideal situation with ready access to veggies, and opportunities for walks in wide open spaces...

Many years ago I visited Cardiff and in the arcades there were tattoo parlors which I expect are still there (probably even more of them now); I expect in Wales, as elsewhere, it's become ever more popular to have it done, right?

 

[person]

I got mine when I was 19. .....

So think you're done doing it, now? for some ppl it's a phase associated with a particular time of life only, of course...

 

[Aladora]

So think you're done doing it, now? for some ppl it's a phase associated with a particular time of life only, of course...

Well, I'm 49 and while I have thought of adding a pink ribbon (I had breast cancer when I was 34) to my original rose tattoo, I haven't done it yet and probably won't so yeah, I'm probably done now.

 

[person]

Well, I'm 49 and while I have thought of adding a pink ribbon (I had breast cancer when I was 34) to my original rose tattoo, I haven't done it yet and probably won't so yeah, I'm probably done now.

Sorry about your cancer episode. Clearly anyway you know all what it entails and as a longstanding ink veteran you must have by now a pretty good idea of your long term intentions for ink/ no more ink.

For some ppl it does grip them and extra ink comes much more easily, but for others having it done really is a one off, isn't it? and then that's it...

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

Sounds like in these times you are in some ways in an ideal situation with ready access to veggies, and opportunities for walks in wide open spaces...

Many years ago I visited Cardiff and in the arcades there were tattoo parlors which I expect are still there (probably even more of them now); I expect in Wales, as elsewhere, it's become ever more popular to have it done, right?

The Victorian arcades in Cardiff are beautiful and you can find lots of unique and interesting independent shops in them. I don’t have any tattoos. My profession did not allow it and I was never tempted. Even if I wanted to now, I think they would have a problem with the wrinkles.
Cardiff was a major port so tattoo parlours must have been important.

 

[person]

The Victorian arcades in Cardiff are beautiful and you can find lots of unique and interesting independent shops in them. I don’t have any tattoos. My profession did not allow it and I was never tempted. Even if I wanted to now, I think they would have a problem with the wrinkles.
Cardiff was a major port so tattoo parlours must have been important.

There are several arcades in Downtown Cardiff, aren't there? that I seem to remember. One could spend hours just wandering through them. Quite a variety of them, with all sorts of little shops and cafés. (Added to the pedestrian walk zone, where there's a statue of the man who started your National Heath Service...)

Yes, you're right of course that sailors have traditionally been a demographic that has gotten tattoos. Although in North America statistics now seem to show that women are even more likely to use tattoo parlors than men. (I don't know about in Wales, maybe there, too?)

 

[iivye]

I got my 1st on when I was 18 but I was also a sailor for 8 years.

 

[person]

I got my 1st on when I was 18 but I was also a sailor for 8 years.

Yes, not only sailors but also it's what women in the military typically do, isn't it? Seems like you visited Denmark; I think there are many tattoo parlors in Copenhagen, right? maybe you know them.

 

[mjkacmom]

So are the tattoo parlors in your area open yet? (for those that are - like you say - ready to get ink).

My kids got tattoos in January.