As we move ever forward in life from the classroom to the work place, we find ourselves asking questions about what we want and who we’ll be. Should we buy a car or get an apartment? Do we want kids or piercings or tattoos? In a poll taken in 2010, almost four in ten persons age 18 to 29 had at least one tattoo. Of the people with tattoos, seven out of ten have more than one and two out of ten have six tattoos or more. It seems that once the tattoo flood gate is open, it’s difficult to stop! The 31% that only have one tattoo may or may not regret that tattoo, and it’s usually well hidden from the public eye. Many students at JHS already have tattoos; they peek out of shirtsleeves, below the hem of our jeans, and peep out of v-neck shirts. Many people defend their ink with the important memories they represent of loved ones they have lost. People report that the decision to get the first tattoo was foreboding even if it was done without much forethought or planning. After the first tattoo, the decision to get subsequent tattoos was much easier for a number of reasons. Just like dents on a car, after the first one, the level of protection and preservation is much lower.
According to a 2008 Harris Poll, 83 percent of people with tattoos do not regret their decisions. But of those that do regret it, 20 percent say it is because they were too young when they got the tattoo. However, if you are very serious about getting an underaged tattoo for whatever reason, make sure you are doing it at a clean and reputable location. You wouldn’t trust a shady surgeon to remove your spleen, so why would you give an untrustworthy tattoo artist free reign of how you will look for the rest of your life? Unsanitary tattoo practices can result in teens getting serious skin infections and diseases including hepatitis C. It is perfectly sensible to meet with your tattoo artist to discuss his/her previous work and formal education. Most of all, get educated; research care and hygiene for after you get your tattoo. After spending so much money and going through the pain, the last thing you want is to mess it up forever by disrupting the healing process. On a final note, be safe and enjoy your body, inked or not!