Thinking about getting a tattoo?

I’m thinking about getting a small tattoo on my back.
My dad actually has four tattoos himself, all from his days serving in the Army back in the day.
He keeps trying every trick in the book to talk me out of it, but I already told him that’s just not my style. Now, I’ve got all sorts of people filling my head with these horror stories about how getting inked can lead to skin cancer... as if God forbid I might eventually need an MRI or a high-tech scanner just to deal with unbearable pain in that spot because I decided to get a tattoo. On the flip side, my uncle is planning on getting the exact same thing, and we’re actually looking at doing it together. He insists all these warnings are complete nonsense; he even mentioned that my father used to do tattoos for him and others using nothing but ink and a needle. So, I’m calling on any doctors, tattoo artists, or even med students out there to weigh in on this—is this all just old wives' tales designed to scare me, or is there some actual truth to what everyone is shouting in my ear? What should I actually be looking out for?👍

I’m thinking about getting inked too, but I heard a rumor that if you deal with skin allergies anywhere on your body, you should steer clear. Like, if you want something on your arm but you get random rashes on your leg? Is that a no-go?
As for the MRI thing, I don't buy it. The only real risks are if the shop is filthy or if there's an allergy issue. Right?

I don't deal with any allergies, really... I haven't had a single rash or anything like that

I’ve wanted a tattoo for years, but after having four moles removed, my doctor gave me a serious reality check. He doesn't recommend getting inked—especially color work—for anyone prone to moles. His take is that people with sensitive skin or lighter complexions should probably steer clear, especially if they plan on ignoring medical advice and doing it themselves. It definitely threw me for a loop since he actually knows what he's talking about, but the urge to get one hasn't gone away.

nimblepanther23 said:I’m thinking about getting inked too, but I heard a rumor that if you deal with skin allergies anywhere on your body, you should steer clear. Like, if you want something on your arm but you get random rashes on your leg? Is that a no-go?
As for the MRI thing, I don't buy it. The only real risks are if the shop is filthy or if there's an allergy issue. Right?

You shouldn't get inked in those sensitive spots because the color shade and image quality will end up looking off. Don't worry, your leg isn't going to fall off.
Honestly, people, what are you even asking? A rash, a pimple, a scar, or an allergy on your hand has absolutely nothing to do with getting a tattoo on your hip, leg, or wherever else.

William Martinez36 said:You shouldn't get inked in those sensitive spots because the color shade and image quality will end up looking off. Don't worry, your leg isn't going to fall off.
Honestly, people, what are you even asking? A rash, a pimple, a scar, or an allergy on your hand has absolutely nothing to do with getting a tattoo on your hip, leg, or wherever else.

I'm just repeating what I've heard, not saying I actually believe it.

I’ve heard there are those ones that stay on you for, what, 12 months? Maybe even 24?

Apparently, they just peel right off, or you can wipe them away with some specific solution once they start looking faded and washed out.

Does anyone actually know anything about these temporary tattoos? Like, how do they work and where am I supposed to find them??

So, those so-called "bio-tattoos" that supposedly last like three to five years...
Total myth. Honestly, they aren't even a thing. It’s basically just a regular tattoo that fades way too fast, eventually leaving you with this ugly, permanent smudge on your skin that you can't get rid of. You're stuck with a stain for life unless you go back and cover it up with a real tattoo. These things are usually done at nail salons or beauty parlors where people don't actually know what they're doing—they just slap it on for the hell of it. I know a girl who went through with it... I won't even describe how bad it looks now.

As for actual tattoos, most of the stuff people tell you is straight-up garbage. I've got sensitive skin and a pale complexion, and I have two tattoos that look perfectly fine. You just have to take good care of them, and any decent shop will walk you through the whole process.
The real trick is picking the right person. Since I don't know where you're located, I can't give specific advice, but whatever you do, stay away from beauty salons. Go to a legitimate studio. Do some digging in your city to find the best spot, listen to the reviews, and talk to people who already have ink. Most reputable shops are strictly about hygiene, but you never really know until you check.
One more thing... summer is a terrible time to get tattooed. You can't go swimming in the ocean or a pool for maybe three weeks, and you have to avoid direct sunlight for at least a month or so.
If you're impatient and do it anyway... well, you're asking for trouble.
Good luck. 👍

Look, it’s fine, I don't have any allergies or anything like that... I don't have moles all over my body, just those tiny little freckles on my shoulders from when I spend too much time out in the sun... you know how it goes when you get a bit burnt. What I was actually thinking about was going to this guy who works on the street because there isn't a proper tattoo studio in my town. He told me he could handle it for me. I watched him work, and he had everything—needles, gloves, alcohol, all that stuff. It's just that he operates right outside on the boardwalk; you just sit down on a chair, pick out an image, and he gets to work.

I had a similar experience. A guy did mine at his house rather than in a shop—honestly, I wouldn't recommend doing it that way!!!
He used to work in a professional tattoo studio before he quit, and overall, it turned out great. We didn't go with color because he warned me the pigments might fade over time, even though they were high quality. It’s on my back, and after three years, it still looks fantastic. Everything was spotless and sanitized; he used fresh gloves and brand-new needles, so it was truly a five-star setup. You just have to follow the aftercare instructions. I wore clean cotton clothing and used Bepanthen and Vaseline to keep it moisturized. Since I got it in May and headed to the beach in August, I made sure to use SPF 40, and everything healed perfectly.

ruggedpanther64 said:Look, it’s fine, I don't have any allergies or anything like that... I don't have moles all over my body, just those tiny little freckles on my shoulders from when I spend too much time out in the sun... you know how it goes when you get a bit burnt. What I was actually thinking about was going to this guy who works on the street because there isn't a proper tattoo studio in my town. He told me he could handle it for me. I watched him work, and he had everything—needles, gloves, alcohol, all that stuff. It's just that he operates right outside on the boardwalk; you just sit down on a chair, pick out an image, and he gets to work.

😲 😲 😲
nooo... tell me you're joking... please tell me you're kidding me right now.
😲 😲 😲
man, you've totally lost it. Seriously. Getting tattooed under those conditions? In the middle of the street? Who knows what kind of gear he's actually using! You clearly haven't seen how a real tattoo is done... "alcohol," my ass. What kind of alcohol are we even talking about here??
Look, if you want to live in some total backwater nowhere, fine, but you could always save up enough cash to drive to a bigger city nearby and get it done properly... instead of doing it right in the middle of the sidewalk!!!
Sorry man, but that actually shocked me.
Where do you even live? If you're near Los Angeles, let me know and maybe I can recommend a shop... or maybe somewhere in Chicago, I don't know one off the top of my head but I can ask around..
It's definitely better to wait than to do it like this..👎

You’re not going to have any issues with an MRI. Tattoo pigments contain various metals, and while iron oxide is usually the main culprit that reacts to a magnetic field, the absolute worst-case scenario is just some minor skin irritation. It’s really no big deal.
I actually remember watching an episode of MythBusters on the Discovery Channel where they ran tests on this. They put pigment in a container near the scanner and even tested tattoos on pigs—nothing significant happened in either case.

On the street? Like they're just gonna ink some disease right onto you 😁 Look, man—when you actually go to a licensed tattoo studio, everything is as sterile as walking into a dentist's office.

nimbleviper142 said:😲 😲 😲
nooo... tell me you're joking... please tell me you're kidding me right now.
😲 😲 😲
man, you've totally lost it. Seriously. Getting tattooed under those conditions? In the middle of the street? Who knows what kind of gear he's actually using! You clearly haven't seen how a real tattoo is done... "alcohol," my ass. What kind of alcohol are we even talking about here??
Look, if you want to live in some total backwater nowhere, fine, but you could always save up enough cash to drive to a bigger city nearby and get it done properly... instead of doing it right in the middle of the sidewalk!!!
Sorry man, but that actually shocked me.
Where do you even live? If you're near Los Angeles, let me know and maybe I can recommend a shop... or maybe somewhere in Chicago, I don't know one off the top of my head but I can ask around..
It's definitely better to wait than to do it like this..👎

Well, I wouldn't know... my old man and one of his buddies actually tattooed each other themselves and they still have those tattoos to this day.... I don't live in the US..... there was this guy who did my son-in-law's tattoo who would just come over to the house with all his gear and get it done, but he hasn't been around for months now.....

honestly, you clearly have no clue... you didn't even bother to look into it, just rushed in thinking "oh man, I want a tattoo" and now you're scrambling to find someone. if you're gonna be this irresponsible, fine, just go DIY it then.
what your dad and his buddy did was old school, basically homemade stuff using needles, thread, and ink. they probably didn't catch anything from each other back then, but things are different now.
alright, so you're saying there isn't a single tattoo shop in your town. well, there's definitely one in a nearby city, and if you actually have the cash to get inked, you surely have enough left over for a bus ticket to get there and do it right. plus, btw, no matter where you go, they aren't letting anyone under 18 get tattooed, and honestly? I wouldn't recommend it anyway. you're too young.
I'm not trying to lecture you or act like I'm smarter than you, I just don't want to see you screw up. you live with the consequences forever. getting a tattoo removed is insanely expensive and painful as hell...
trust me, I've seen some absolute garbage work done by amateurs, and now those people are paying for it. I was stupid once too—didn't do my homework and ended up getting my nose pierced at a jewelry store when I was 13. consequence: cracked cartilage that just keeps degrading as I get older. then I got my tongue pierced at a beauty salon when I was 15 by some woman who had zero idea what she was doing. everything seemed sterile and all, but now my philtrum is totally crooked.
everything else I have pierced or tattooed was done at the best studio in Los Angeles, and it never even crosses my mind to settle for some random place just because I'm broke, impatient, or whatever.
this is just friendly advice. take it or leave it, whatever. if you listen, great. if not... well, damn.

Look, just hold your horses. Wait until you actually know what you're getting into. Save up your cash and head to a legitimate professional studio where they'll do it right, regardless of whether your dad or whoever else decided to go rogue with a needle. I’ve known plenty of people who tried DIY tattoos in their garages—some were stumbling through it under the influence of booze or drugs, others used makeshift equipment like ballpoint pens and amateur sketches because "hey, you're my buddy, let me try this on you." They’re all still breathing and healthy for now, but those tattoos? They're nothing more than a permanent reminder of how reckless they were. Just go to a real shop.😬

nimbleviper142, I did some digging and finally tracked down a tattoo studio... I'm actually heading over there this afternoon to see if they can pull off the specific design I've got in mind... as far as age goes, I'm 19

http://www.losangeles-tattoo.com/html/home_us/home.asp

Just go here and read the whole thing...

Hey there

🙏 🙏 Thank God you actually listened to me... honestly, I feel way better now 😁
So how’d it go? Did it look clean, sharp, or professional enough for you?
What's the verdict?
And what kind of design did they go with? Just curious 🙂