If you’re like most folks, getting a tattoo is an emotional experience. It may be your first tattoo or your fifth, but you still get a little nervous and apprehensive. Excited yes, but there’s lots of other emotions stewing around in there. You may have been thinking about this for a long time, and you had to do your homework too. You’ve found your artist; you know what you want and where you want it. But who is it for?

As someone who’s had tattoos for over 20 years, trust me when I tell you that tattoo needs to be for you and you alone. You’re going to want to show it off, and everyone loves to get affirmation, but you’re going to encounter lots of people who don’t like it. They may suddenly become art critics, telling you “I wouldn’t have put it there” or “I don’t like that shade of blue.” This will not feel good. Or your significant other, who may have been supportive of your original decision, may one day change their mind. They may tell you years later they wish you didn’t have it, or show you pictures of when you didn’t have it and say “look how nice you looked without that thing.” At that point, you may start to look at your tattoo differently yourself. That’s the point I don’t want you to get to.

There are many reasons people get tattooed. One of the reasons LA Ink has been so successful is not just the quality of the tattoos and the lovely and talented Kat Von D & her friends, but the stories real people share for why they’ve decided on permanent body art. I believe all reasons are valid reasons if they’re your reasons. You may want a portrait of your mom, your dog or your son, but don’t be surprised if they don’t appreciate it. Well your dog will probably wag his tail and lick you.

Other tattoo artists may critique your ink as well! What drives this behavior is beyond me, but there are tattoo artists who just have a hard time showing your ink the love. They will be critical of the other artist’s abilities, color choices, line technique and other stuff you don’t really care about, nor should you.

You need to love your tattoo; the placement, the colors, what it means to you, etc. I don’t care if it’s a heart that says Mom on your bicep or a full back piece, the only one who needs to love it is you. Show it off with pride, armed in advance with the knowledge that you may be the only person who will appreciate it. Of course I will too, so feel free to send me your tattoo experiences, pics, etc. It would be great to swap stories.

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