I noticed that a lot of the experiences that people wrote in were of how well their tattoos went, how great it was, how the healing went etc, but not many people were underage. Aye, it's ridiculously stupid to get tattooed underage, but it happens, and there's no point pretending it doesn't happen. When I was much younger, a tattoo was like something out of a fantasy dream. I had never actually wanted one to tell the truth, and I'm still not sure why I got it. I guess I was young and foolish (still am) but honestly, the feeling you get from being tattooed is like something you can't even imagine. I felt like I could conquer the world (still do)!
At A Glance Author labyrinth_child Contact labyrinth_child@bme.anon When A month ago I got inked on the 22nd of June, and just for kicks my friend and I got matching tattoos of a Maori-designed sea turtle with our horoscope, 'Pisces', in the center. Hey, it was wiser than getting someone's name. It's not too big- about the size of my palm, maybe? A rose or a lizard on my ankle sounded slightly cooler, because I wanted something I could hide. After all, if my mom found out... Let's just leave it at that. I had read up on tattoos a few weeks before that, and it didn't seem like too much effort. I come from a country where having a tattoo is another way of saying, 'You're never going to have a respectable job, loser!' I had travelled to the UK the week before, and everywhere I looked, people had tattoos. Talk about a cultural shock.
Anyway, back to the story. The shopkeeper gave us a form to sign, and I made up my age and handed it back. He didn't even check, but I'm sure he knew I was underage. Yes, stupid move number 1. My friend went first, and I sat biting my nails for an hour. When it was finally my turn, I really didn't know what to expect. I'm terrified of needles and any kind of pain, and although I find piercings to be terribly addictive, I'm a wimp, regardless.
He cleaned the area, before spraying some kind of yellow liquid onto my skin. He stuck a piece of paper to my stomach/hip, and when he removed it, a clear blue outline was imprinted on my skin. For a moment I was actually satisfied with just leaving with the blue outline, but I knew I would've had regret leaking of my ears if I had done that. Instead, I lay down, and he began to select which disposable needles to use. The actual tattooing wasn't too bad! There were some points when he went over bone which made me cringe and wish for it to be over, and I dug my fingernails into my stomach so hard that when he had finished, there were angry red imprints all over. After I while, I got used to the buzzing and the pain and it wasn't so bad. My tattooist was friendly, and he told me about his life and his job and everything else which I, an annoying little 15 year old, could come up with. Many of you would probably throw a brick at me or scoff at my naivety, but I don't regret getting a tattoo at all.
If any of you are thinking of getting one- Go for it. My pain tolerance level is pathetic, so if I could do it, anyone can. I even thought getting my tongue pierced was kind of painful, and that is arguably the least painful part of your body to pierce. As for my tattoo, I didn't even know what I wanted, or where I wanted to put it, till I got to the shop. I'm not going to give the same advice about thinking it over for a year, or knowing exactly what you want and where to put it, because I didn't do any of that. Yes, it was on impulse, and so what if it's permanent? It has meaning to it, I did it with one of my best friends and I'm eager for another one. Then again, if you have a habit of having extremely crap taste, then it's probably wiser to decide in advance. But then again, it's all up to you.
Getting a tattoo underage was a very risky ordeal, but what is life without risks? I don't think it would've been done any differently if I was older. After all, my tattooist gave me aftercare instructions, bandaged my tattoo and gave me a small pot of ointment to use. Some places don't even do that. Yeah, maybe I should've waited till I was legal, at least, and able to go to a respectable tattoo parlour. But it's done now, and a thousand 'if only's' will never be enough to undo the past. Besides, who's complaining?