Why do people have tattoos? If you have any have you ever regretted it?

Question

There have been some interesting answers and reasons, thank you. The reason I asked the question was purely out of curiosity - I like to know what makes people tick.

I mean no offence but personally I find tattoos, along with smoking, a huge turn off.

Answer 1

I've just always wanted a single red rose tattoo. I finally got one as an adult, it's on my lower stomach. Funny though, my mom told me it's going to wilt when I get older. HA HA
I got it for myself - if I want someone to see it, I will show it, otherwise it's just for me.

Answer 2

I have tattoos to represent big changes in my life, or people who've impacted my life in a big way. Each one is meaningful to me, planned and not done on an impulse.

So no, I don't regret my tattoos, because I spend time thinking about them, making sure they have some significance. I find it hard to fathom regretting something that stands for my greatgrandmother, father, or best friend who died in a car accident last year.

Will I ever get a tattoo on an impulse? Probably.
Will I regret it? No. It'll represent where I was at at the time. ..Sometimes being impulsive is more fun than planning anyway.

Answer 3

I have 15 and am planning on getting more I mean I help run a tattoo and piercing web site so I know that one of the artists are next to give me one:P anyways I have a few that have no meaning at all I just liked them a lot and thought hey how about getting that on me no I have several that me the world to me I have a teddy bear ballerina on my left calf with my daughters name under it and it represents the memory of her since she is deceased I also have both my parents names on my body I love them dearly for helping in the creation of giving me life I also have my nickname and a sun with a ying yang in the middle of it the balance of life I have my zodiac sign I have a half sun half moon represents the light and dark of all things so yes a lot of my tattoos have meaning even if they are just my meanings No I don't regret them I just wished I'd have thought it out for a better artist to do my work I have because I will always a pictures with me where I go that touch my heart

Answer 4

I have four. One on my foot done last year, one on my inner wrist done 7 years ago at 21, one around my arm done at 17, and one on my arm where it meets my shoulder done at 15.(I'm almost 28 now) I was a pretty wild child, had alot of piercings too. Thinking back on it, i think it's because I grew up it an unbeliveably strict household, and was made to go to church etc. My stepmother picked my clothes and hairstyles everything. I never even was allowed to have my hair really long which is what I wanted. Anyway, I soon ran away and I think the 'self mutilation' was my way of showing that this was my body and I could do what I wanted to it. Ironically, I also shaved my head, the opposite of the hair I really wanted(but I so get Britney on what she has done too).
Anyway, yes the first two were huge and stupid and horrible now! But they were right for me at the time. Unfortunatley unlike a hairstyle or clothing you are wearing the choice you made for a long time. I keep them both covered up now, honestly they really are disgusting, but I was off my face alot of the time, so I wasn't going to make a good choice was I?
The second 2 are really important to me. The flower on my wrist was a present from a boyfriend who lost his life in a car accident, and I love that I have something he gave me on my skin forever. The most recent on my foot is a sentence that really means alot to me. I had a long gap in between the one's I detest and the one's I cherish, and i think the secret to not regretting tattoo's is spend ages thinking about it, like months! NEVER pop in there and pick something on the spur of the moment. Also, the pain is a bit addictive you know, it's weird.

Answer 5

everybody gets tattoos for a different reason. i have tattoos because i admire the art that is involved with them and i enjoy having a talented artist's work on my body. i have never regretted getting a tattoo but i HAVE regretted not researching and finding a good tattoo artist when i first got started.
my first few tattoos were definitely not something that i would get again but i have since found a talented artist and many more that i would like to be tattooed by.

Answer 6

Mine has a lot of personal significance (as does the one I'm planning). I've also put about 10 years of thought into each one (mostly at the same time). I'd never get one spur of the moment. My only regret is that mine isn't bigger and/or easier to show off because I love the way it turned out and my tattooist did a fantastic job.

Answer 7

I have 4 and the only thing I regret is for the first 2, I didn't research the tattoo artist and his work enough, so one of them resulted in a cover-up.

Answer 8

I have tattoos because I find them interesting, and wanted them as a way to record and represent aspects of my life. And no, I've never regretted them. I think people are more likely to regret tattoos that they haven't thought about all that much, and I've always put a lot of thought into mine.

Answer 9

People get tattoos for a multitude of reasons, in multitudes of styles.....My only regret is not doing my research and getting an Artist to do my first tattoo. I would think that most of the people who do regret their tattoos do so because of hastily made decisions, or because their artist sucked......

Just one Tattooed Wise@sses Opinion

Answer 10

Ive got 5 and each 1 has a ,meaning i have 1 with my wife's name as i work with my hands and find rings uncomfortable that was another option we been together for 11 years so it wasn't rushed into i don't regret 1 and would like another just got to find 1 i want and they are for me and not just for show

Answer 11

hi, i have a tattoo on my lower back its a heart. Now i begin to wonder if it was such a good idea as when i get older its still going to be there. Although i can easily cover it up. So i don't have any regrets. I'm not to sure that i would think this if it was in sight. As i dint want to be old with a tattoo.