Hello to you all! I am nearly 19, and considering getting a tattoo in the next year or two, but I can't seem to find a tattoo that is meaningful to me. I refuse to get a tattoo just to have one, so if I get one it must have meaning. I was thinking of getting something that symbolizes the beauty of youth, or representing my love of traveling and seeing all there is to life in this world. Something that personifies my restless spirit maybe. Could you please give me a direction in which to search? Maybe some wise words of wisdom or things to consider? Visiting a tattoo parlor would help haha. Also, my parents are extremely against getting a tattoo. I don't want to have to hide it from them, but I know they would give me tons of shit for it, and that is no fun from them. Any advice there as well?
Don't rush it and live your life until you find something meaningful..... Too many people are in a rush to get a tattoo and just pick something fleeting that is important to them today but might not be important in ten years. I wanted until I was 30 before getting a tattoo because I didn't know myself and what was important to me all through my 20s. You will know when you find what is meaningful to you
What Nationality are you? Delve into your ancestral past my friend. I'm sure we can find something culturally significant and personal to you.
Get the Chinese characters for I have no idea why I have a tattoo but all my friends have them and I didn't want to be left out At least that would be original.
I had a tattoo that means lots to me done, kind of my life so far put into one tattoo. You have to remember that these things are for life, if you rush then you might regret, a friend of mine got her first two tattoos at 15 and 16 and had them both covered at 19 because she hated them. Not only did she rush and get something completely random 'spur of the moment' and unmeaningful but she also went to a shit artist because she was underage! My tattoo represents 'the rainbow after the storm' really, I went through a lot of crap and then I had my daughter and life had meaning again. Just don't rush
I'm currently working on the idea of tattoos that automatically disappear after 10 years or so. Or ones that disappear much sooner and if you like it then you can permaink that fucker.
I agree with the others, I think you shouldn't rush into this and you should take time to find a meaningful tattoo. As for your parents, they'll just have to accept you tattoo, it's not like you're throwing your life away and doing drugs or something
I love that you insist on having a tattoo that means something to you. If you can't find anything meaningful enough, I would be happy to make a custom piece for you. I'm a tattoo artist and I woildnt mind whipping something up.
Merry Meet! I am nearly 20 and once faced the same decision. I, too, wanted something meaningful, not just some common phrase or picture. For a few years, I have worn an ankh pendant and realised this was my perfect tattoo; it really sort of spoke to me, in a figurative sense. The ankh is an Ancient Egyptian symbol for life/living/eternal life/fertility (of course depending on who you talk to and what you read), which could possibly fit into beauty/youth (again depending on interpretation). It could also sort of represent travelling or culture, since it is an Egyptian symbol. I have the tattoo on my right bicep, above an average t-shirt sleeve line. I am extremely happy with the way mine turned out. Perhaps the ankh can work for you, but perhaps also there is some symbol that you might run into that would be your perfect tattoo. I may have had this tattoo for only a couple years, and people do say that you might regret it later on, but it is something that truly is meaningful to me and I have strong confidence that it'll be something I will always be proud to wear. As for your parents, they will have to realise you are growing up, and you have to start making decisions on your own as well. If the right tattoo comes to you, you'll be sure to enjoy it, and if not, you might have regrets. But that is something you have to experience on your own. Perhaps explain to them this, and that you are sure not to just get something random or meaningless, that you are putting the thoughts into how you feel about what you want to do. And they, too, were at some time your age; I'm quite sure they didn't do everything quite as their parents wanted. I'm sure after a good talk, perhaps some time to think it all through, things will be alright. In any case, best of luck to you, and I hope that you find the right tattoo for you.
The best way to decide is to figure your idea of you want. Once you have the idea, go to a tattoo artist you trust and let their mind come up with the rest. That way you will have an original tattoo, and something that you exactly wanted. Tattoo Artists are indeed ARTISTS, giving them a sheet of paper from a tattoo you found online doesn't let them be creative. I personally think you'll both be much happier with the outcome if you go that route
You want something meaningful to you yet you're asking others to direct you... I think the idea will come to you when you're ready to get the tattoo. Did you get it yet? My idea would be a compass, but you shouldn't use other people's ideas. Maybe you could get the compass (to represent traveling) as a base and add things to it, around it or within it...
