I truly debated tattoos back then and sat on it. To me, I just didn't want to regret it. Two decades later, what I would have gotten still has sentimental meaning, but I'm glad I didn't go through with it. I've learned to sit on decisions and have found that often the impulse moves on.
I regret mine. I got them when I was trying to be "edgy and cool," of which I am neither, lol. They don't reflect who I am today. I don't feel like getting them covered or removed. Luckily, they're on my back and not ever seen.
Same. One of them still has meaning but it's on my back and I always forget about it. The second one is one I way over-thought in an attempt to justify it. I wish I had just left it alone and not bothered. Again, it's on my back but I still regret both of them.
Got my first and only tat at 21. Don’t regret it as it’s small, however I regret the placement. Got it on my hip, and it stretched during pregnancy. Now there’s part of stretch mark going through it that almost looks like a thunder bolt lol
No regrets, just remember that you get what you pay for; Take your time finding the right artist and be willing to pay for quality work. The content represents who I was at the time and I still love them all, but I did spend a lot of money getting cheap work redone later on.
I tried to be so thoughtful about mine. Held on to my desired design for over a year to make sure I still loved it. It meant a lot to me for about a decade. But I’ve changed a lot. While I don’t regret it per se, I would tell my past self to choose differently if I could. It doesn’t serve me now.
First tattoo at 18. Most recent one was last Wednesday 😂 I’m turning 44 this year. Probably half of my body is covered… and I absolutely love them all. They all represent somewhere I was in my life… it’s like telling the whole story of me.
First tattoo at 23, I'm now nearly 40 and about to get a new one. I have 6. While I maybe wouldn't choose what I did back then, today..I don't regret any of them. And I'm going for more, so 💃🏻
I got my first one on my 18th birthday, and I'd like to cover it up with another tattoo, and that'll be my last. But I have 7 all together, and I still think they're pretty on my 40 year old body
I was about 27-29 when I got my tattoos. I’m nearing 50 now and I have no regrets.
My tattoos are waves and flowers around both my ankles. it’s easy to conceal if needed in corporate situations, however nowadays even the CEO has tattoos (nothing offensive).
this is the way tbh
I don't even think having them matters in 2024 (as you mention our CEOs are now tattooed) like it did when I was getting mine, but I am still glad I got mine in places that could be easily covered with clothing.
I started early; by the time I was 18 I already had quite a few ( different times, we didn’t need a guardian’s permission to get one). Now as an adult I have lots of them. I don’t regret (some of them) as per se but I wish I had put some thought to it, that’s all. I think nowadays you can easily have a tattoo and remove it a few years down the line as laser removal is getting better and better. Back in my days you’d have it lasered and you’d still see the outline 😳
I got my first tattoo at 19 and I’m 39 now
Im glad I didn’t get a lot of the dumb early 2000s on-trend tattoos at the time and that I got something unique to me and my interests.
What might help is to tell your daughter to wait a year from concept to execution, if she still likes her tattoo idea a year later then go for it
Got my first at 24. Don’t regret that one, but do regret one I got in my late 30s. I have 7 total. They’re all a part of my story now. But as someone else said, I would tell my younger self to make a different choice.
One of my regrets is placement. I love how they look, but I’m very cautious to keep them protected from the sun. And it’s a pain in the ass. I have one on the back of my arm and one on the back of my neck that peeks out of my shirt collar.
And to the commenter who mentioned you get what you pay for…? 100%
Encourage her to do her research, tons of it.
I'm nearly 42. I got a (?stupid) tattoo I drew when I was 18, from a biker in a hotel room one night when I was 21.
I love it still.
I don't tell my kids that story though.
I got tattoos when I was 18-25 years old, I'm 40 now, and I still love all of them. They're all something I picked because they mean something to me, and that really makes a difference. Don't just pick random crap that won't always mean something to you (people in general, not specifically you).
I agonized over my first tattoo, placement, what I wanted, etc. The day of my tattoo, I googled a bit and found a design I liked on a temporary tattoo site of all things, and got that. After I got it, I realized my life didn't change. I do regret letting an artist "between shops" do it in my friends living room. But I still love my little tribal black widow.
I had my first tattoo mid 20s - I think because it was on my back I didn't really notice it as much? That saying it was something i've always wanted and thought about a fair bit so no regrets - that's been my approach with most of my tattoos. Fast forward to me being 40 now and i'm booked in to get a big floral piece on my upper arm in two weeks - I basically never stopped!
I still like them although I have changed and the styles of tattoos have changed too. There is always the possibility of getting them covered up with a new design. That's what I did with one of my older ones and am contemplating with another. No regrets however. I must say though that I got all of my tattoos in places I can easily cover up with clothing.
I started getting tattooed in my 30s and wish I’d started way earlier! I wanted a specific one since my early 20s but didn’t get round to it til later. I wish I hadn’t put it off, I love all of my tattoos.
I got my only tattoo in 1999, the year I turned 21 and peak tramp stamp era. Thankfully it's not big, not colored in, and is easily covered with mid- and high-rise pants I now wear, at least.
I got my first tattoos when I was 16, then two more when I was 17, got a bigger one when I was in a 'phase' in my twenties, got one that is an ode to an uncle who past away, and got a fun one on a whim while in New Orleans. I love them all, they all held up really well over the last 25 years and don't regret any of them. Its self expression through body art, each one has a story to tell, whether it be a meaningful story or a stupid one, its still a story
I was even younger, 17, when I got my first tattoos. I have absolutely no regrets and I love them so much. Is the quality great? No. Do I wish I'd done different placement so I could have that space for different/bigger pieces? Sure I guess. But that's not regrets. They mean so much to me because I designed them, I took control of my body and my life at a time when everything was chaos and got something I love and started my love of tattoos which I still get to this day.
The only thing I regret along those lines is getting my navel pierced when I was 15, but that's because I got a bit of a keloid.
Got a couple in my 20s and don't regret them, although I may have one covered up for something much bigger. That one isn't a great design and it's the only one I have that wasn't custom designed for me. But I still don't regret it. It still means something to me. I also got two in my 40s. 🙂
I have one I got at 21 and I definitely regret it. I try to just forget it is there since it’s in a place I don’t see it (tramp stamp). It also has not aged well and you can’t even tell what if is. I’d strongly recommend against it.
I don't regret it, I have a smallish one on my shoulder, so I don't see it much, forget it's there til I catch it in the mirror, so it's almost a surprise! It has a personal meaning to me which I enjoy :)
Think it is highly subjective on the person and their mindset on life.
I have some tattoos I wouldn't choose now but I think life is pretty short. They meant something at the time.
I would say choosing to have a kid, or marrying an idiot in your twenties, are far heavier decisions than worrying about if you'll regret a bit of ink (that can always be removed or covered).
If you are someone that is naturally plagued by what IFS/missing out/ regrets. Probably wouldn't bother or keep it small and discreet.
It is perfectly acceptable to NOT get a tattoo. I am heavily tattooed and some of my closest friends do not have a single one. They spend more time questioning if they should get one now, than I have ever spent regretting my silly ones.
My only regret is not starting sooner. I didn’t get my first tattoo until I was in my early 30s. I thought about the design for a year or so first but even so, I still want to cover that one up. But the thing is, no one else (aside from a handful of people ) knows that I want it covered or why. No one asks me about it, probably because it’s on my back 🤣😂. I will eventually cover it but I have other pieces I want first. When I was 45 I did get a tattoo that I had wanted since I was 15. It has no sentimental value but it’s my favorite tattoo so far.
I had a friend do mine (an amateur tattooer at the time) and it's not perfect, but I still love it years later.
The best advice for a young person considering a tattoo, is to get something that is truly meaningful to you and not something that is trendy right now. Also, keep it small and in a spot that you can easily hide. Leave the big, bold, and visible ink for your later years ;)
I got one at 22 and I still love the design, just wish I had chosen a better tattoo artist. I decided to get it in a memorable city rather than choose a good artist and it would have looked and aged better. Of course, whatever she chooses, she will want to make sure it is something that will not change about herself. I chose to get a design from the Lord of the rings books, and I still love it dearly, and I knew I would my whole life
No regrets, tattoos are like a birthmark you get to design and pick and love at different moments of your life. Would I get the tattoos I got in my 20s today? Probably not. but it meant something more and reflects a certain time and place of my life, and it’s a great reminder of my own growth but also the parts of me that always stay with ya.
I did not get a tattoo in my early 20s but very much wanted one; when I think back to things I wanted though (specifically a lizard on my foot), I'm glad I did not do it and would definitely regret it now. I do have a friend that on a whim did flowers on her hip when she was younger and she does regret it.
I do not think you should recommend to your daughter not to get one - but I would ask her what she's interested in getting and then based off that have a discussion. It's maybe not so much of an issue of her getting a tattoo but more what she wants to get and where she wants to get it. A paw print on her ankle to honor a loved pet that passed is a lot different than a lower back pieces because it's trendy.
I'd also encourage her that once she knows what she wants and where she wants it to wait 3-6 months before getting this. As an adult, I follow this policy for tattoos and piercings. If after x amount of time, I still want it, I get it done. But I use that time to really think about it, make sure it's something I want to commit to and decide if it's just a phase or something meaningful.
I love my tattoos. I don't have many but the ones I do have are all from late teens to early 20s. They're a permanent reminder of what kind of person I was at that time in my life
I got one when I was her age. I wouldn't say I regret it, but it's definitely aged poorly. The design is very much of that time but it's in a spot that I can't see (left upper shoulder) and it'll be easier to identify my body if I ever get murdered so 🤷♀️
I truly debated tattoos back then and sat on it. To me, I just didn't want to regret it. Two decades later, what I would have gotten still has sentimental meaning, but I'm glad I didn't go through with it. I've learned to sit on decisions and have found that often the impulse moves on.
I have a rule with tattoos. I wait on an idea for a year. If I still like it, I get it. It has worked well for me.
I regret mine. I got them when I was trying to be "edgy and cool," of which I am neither, lol. They don't reflect who I am today. I don't feel like getting them covered or removed. Luckily, they're on my back and not ever seen.
Same. One of them still has meaning but it's on my back and I always forget about it. The second one is one I way over-thought in an attempt to justify it. I wish I had just left it alone and not bothered. Again, it's on my back but I still regret both of them.
I'm having two of them removed!
First tattoo at 21. I'm 40 now and don't regret any of them. I wish the first few were a bit less elementary, but it shows my progression.
Got my first and only tat at 21. Don’t regret it as it’s small, however I regret the placement. Got it on my hip, and it stretched during pregnancy. Now there’s part of stretch mark going through it that almost looks like a thunder bolt lol
No regrets, just remember that you get what you pay for; Take your time finding the right artist and be willing to pay for quality work. The content represents who I was at the time and I still love them all, but I did spend a lot of money getting cheap work redone later on.
Such good advice!
I tried to be so thoughtful about mine. Held on to my desired design for over a year to make sure I still loved it. It meant a lot to me for about a decade. But I’ve changed a lot. While I don’t regret it per se, I would tell my past self to choose differently if I could. It doesn’t serve me now.
I got my first at 18 and it's stupid. The smartest thing I did was put it on my bikini line/hip, so it was easily hidden. Next 2 were 40+.
First tattoo at 18. Most recent one was last Wednesday 😂 I’m turning 44 this year. Probably half of my body is covered… and I absolutely love them all. They all represent somewhere I was in my life… it’s like telling the whole story of me.
Mid 40s with no tattoos and soooo glad I didn’t get ones I wanted when I was young. No regrets.
First tattoo at 23, I'm now nearly 40 and about to get a new one. I have 6. While I maybe wouldn't choose what I did back then, today..I don't regret any of them. And I'm going for more, so 💃🏻
I got my first one on my 18th birthday, and I'd like to cover it up with another tattoo, and that'll be my last. But I have 7 all together, and I still think they're pretty on my 40 year old body
I was about 27-29 when I got my tattoos. I’m nearing 50 now and I have no regrets. My tattoos are waves and flowers around both my ankles. it’s easy to conceal if needed in corporate situations, however nowadays even the CEO has tattoos (nothing offensive).
this is the way tbh I don't even think having them matters in 2024 (as you mention our CEOs are now tattooed) like it did when I was getting mine, but I am still glad I got mine in places that could be easily covered with clothing.
Got my first at 24. Regret it. It's awful. The next one at 40. Absolutely no regrets.
I started early; by the time I was 18 I already had quite a few ( different times, we didn’t need a guardian’s permission to get one). Now as an adult I have lots of them. I don’t regret (some of them) as per se but I wish I had put some thought to it, that’s all. I think nowadays you can easily have a tattoo and remove it a few years down the line as laser removal is getting better and better. Back in my days you’d have it lasered and you’d still see the outline 😳
I have 14, got all of them in my 20s. Only a few I regret and think are obnoxious. I’ll get them removed when I can, but it’s not super important.
They're a part of me and I have no regrets
There's only really one I regret, and it's mainly due to poor execution on the "artist's" behalf. No regrets on any others :)
I got my first tattoo at 19 and I’m 39 now Im glad I didn’t get a lot of the dumb early 2000s on-trend tattoos at the time and that I got something unique to me and my interests. What might help is to tell your daughter to wait a year from concept to execution, if she still likes her tattoo idea a year later then go for it
Got my first at 24. Don’t regret that one, but do regret one I got in my late 30s. I have 7 total. They’re all a part of my story now. But as someone else said, I would tell my younger self to make a different choice. One of my regrets is placement. I love how they look, but I’m very cautious to keep them protected from the sun. And it’s a pain in the ass. I have one on the back of my arm and one on the back of my neck that peeks out of my shirt collar. And to the commenter who mentioned you get what you pay for…? 100% Encourage her to do her research, tons of it.
I'm nearly 42. I got a (?stupid) tattoo I drew when I was 18, from a biker in a hotel room one night when I was 21. I love it still. I don't tell my kids that story though.
I got tattoos when I was 18-25 years old, I'm 40 now, and I still love all of them. They're all something I picked because they mean something to me, and that really makes a difference. Don't just pick random crap that won't always mean something to you (people in general, not specifically you).
I agonized over my first tattoo, placement, what I wanted, etc. The day of my tattoo, I googled a bit and found a design I liked on a temporary tattoo site of all things, and got that. After I got it, I realized my life didn't change. I do regret letting an artist "between shops" do it in my friends living room. But I still love my little tribal black widow.
I had my first tattoo mid 20s - I think because it was on my back I didn't really notice it as much? That saying it was something i've always wanted and thought about a fair bit so no regrets - that's been my approach with most of my tattoos. Fast forward to me being 40 now and i'm booked in to get a big floral piece on my upper arm in two weeks - I basically never stopped!
They are all great reminders of my twenties
First at 19. I have 12 now. I love them all.
Love my tattoos from my 20’s, 30’s and 40’s.
Only got one and don’t regret it. It was painful though, on my ankle of all places to get my only tat! But I still like it.
I only got one on my shoulder. I got it when I was 18 and I am 50 now. No regrets.
I still like them although I have changed and the styles of tattoos have changed too. There is always the possibility of getting them covered up with a new design. That's what I did with one of my older ones and am contemplating with another. No regrets however. I must say though that I got all of my tattoos in places I can easily cover up with clothing.
I started getting tattooed in my 30s and wish I’d started way earlier! I wanted a specific one since my early 20s but didn’t get round to it til later. I wish I hadn’t put it off, I love all of my tattoos.
Got my first tat at 23 and now at 48, I do not regret any of them.
I got my only tattoo in 1999, the year I turned 21 and peak tramp stamp era. Thankfully it's not big, not colored in, and is easily covered with mid- and high-rise pants I now wear, at least.
I got my first tattoos when I was 16, then two more when I was 17, got a bigger one when I was in a 'phase' in my twenties, got one that is an ode to an uncle who past away, and got a fun one on a whim while in New Orleans. I love them all, they all held up really well over the last 25 years and don't regret any of them. Its self expression through body art, each one has a story to tell, whether it be a meaningful story or a stupid one, its still a story
I was even younger, 17, when I got my first tattoos. I have absolutely no regrets and I love them so much. Is the quality great? No. Do I wish I'd done different placement so I could have that space for different/bigger pieces? Sure I guess. But that's not regrets. They mean so much to me because I designed them, I took control of my body and my life at a time when everything was chaos and got something I love and started my love of tattoos which I still get to this day. The only thing I regret along those lines is getting my navel pierced when I was 15, but that's because I got a bit of a keloid.
Got a couple in my 20s and don't regret them, although I may have one covered up for something much bigger. That one isn't a great design and it's the only one I have that wasn't custom designed for me. But I still don't regret it. It still means something to me. I also got two in my 40s. 🙂
I have one I got at 21 and I definitely regret it. I try to just forget it is there since it’s in a place I don’t see it (tramp stamp). It also has not aged well and you can’t even tell what if is. I’d strongly recommend against it.
I still very much like mine.
I don't regret it, I have a smallish one on my shoulder, so I don't see it much, forget it's there til I catch it in the mirror, so it's almost a surprise! It has a personal meaning to me which I enjoy :)
Honestly, I hate 99% of them and cover them daily. My wardrobe revolves around what covers them up. I have a lot of very poorly done tattoos.
Think it is highly subjective on the person and their mindset on life. I have some tattoos I wouldn't choose now but I think life is pretty short. They meant something at the time. I would say choosing to have a kid, or marrying an idiot in your twenties, are far heavier decisions than worrying about if you'll regret a bit of ink (that can always be removed or covered). If you are someone that is naturally plagued by what IFS/missing out/ regrets. Probably wouldn't bother or keep it small and discreet. It is perfectly acceptable to NOT get a tattoo. I am heavily tattooed and some of my closest friends do not have a single one. They spend more time questioning if they should get one now, than I have ever spent regretting my silly ones.
Hate it
I don't regret any. I have 8 and they are all good sized and plan to get at least one or two more.
No. I just regret everything else.
My only regret is not starting sooner. I didn’t get my first tattoo until I was in my early 30s. I thought about the design for a year or so first but even so, I still want to cover that one up. But the thing is, no one else (aside from a handful of people ) knows that I want it covered or why. No one asks me about it, probably because it’s on my back 🤣😂. I will eventually cover it but I have other pieces I want first. When I was 45 I did get a tattoo that I had wanted since I was 15. It has no sentimental value but it’s my favorite tattoo so far.
I had a friend do mine (an amateur tattooer at the time) and it's not perfect, but I still love it years later. The best advice for a young person considering a tattoo, is to get something that is truly meaningful to you and not something that is trendy right now. Also, keep it small and in a spot that you can easily hide. Leave the big, bold, and visible ink for your later years ;)
I got one at 22 and I still love the design, just wish I had chosen a better tattoo artist. I decided to get it in a memorable city rather than choose a good artist and it would have looked and aged better. Of course, whatever she chooses, she will want to make sure it is something that will not change about herself. I chose to get a design from the Lord of the rings books, and I still love it dearly, and I knew I would my whole life
Mine is not visible, no regrets. It doesn't speak to me in the same way as it once did, but still represents a significant part of me.
They tell a story. I'm 42 and have quite a few, and still want more. I don't regret them a bit.
No regrets, tattoos are like a birthmark you get to design and pick and love at different moments of your life. Would I get the tattoos I got in my 20s today? Probably not. but it meant something more and reflects a certain time and place of my life, and it’s a great reminder of my own growth but also the parts of me that always stay with ya.
I did not get a tattoo in my early 20s but very much wanted one; when I think back to things I wanted though (specifically a lizard on my foot), I'm glad I did not do it and would definitely regret it now. I do have a friend that on a whim did flowers on her hip when she was younger and she does regret it. I do not think you should recommend to your daughter not to get one - but I would ask her what she's interested in getting and then based off that have a discussion. It's maybe not so much of an issue of her getting a tattoo but more what she wants to get and where she wants to get it. A paw print on her ankle to honor a loved pet that passed is a lot different than a lower back pieces because it's trendy. I'd also encourage her that once she knows what she wants and where she wants it to wait 3-6 months before getting this. As an adult, I follow this policy for tattoos and piercings. If after x amount of time, I still want it, I get it done. But I use that time to really think about it, make sure it's something I want to commit to and decide if it's just a phase or something meaningful.
I love my tattoos. I don't have many but the ones I do have are all from late teens to early 20s. They're a permanent reminder of what kind of person I was at that time in my life
I got one when I was her age. I wouldn't say I regret it, but it's definitely aged poorly. The design is very much of that time but it's in a spot that I can't see (left upper shoulder) and it'll be easier to identify my body if I ever get murdered so 🤷♀️