I’ve eight tattoos, and in all honesty, if I have been to get up tomorrow morning with all of them magically gone from my pores and skin, I wouldn’t thoughts one bit. Sure, I’ve items that I do genuinely like; they imply one thing to me, I like the best way they give the impression of being, and I take into account them tasteful and stylish. Nevertheless, there are a handful that I f*cking hate. The one I remorse probably the most? My first ever – the tattoo I bought on my 18th birthday. This could come as no shock since I turned 18 in 2008, and what was in style again then is definitely not topping the charts lately. However man, do I seriously regret it.
Trying again, I want somebody had stopped me from getting my first tattoo once I was 18. Though I used to be into tattoos again then (and nonetheless am), I by no means would have made the identical choice I did, even when I had waited to e-book my appointment only a mere few months later.
On the time, I used to be courting a man we’ll name Steven, who was three months older than me and already coated in tattoos (some acquired illegally). And I don’t imply with dainty, fine-line tattoos individuals are seen with lately.
A few of Steven’s most notable tattoos included two enormous black and white shamrocks on his chest (assume the dimensions of your palm), his household crest on his higher left arm, and the Mickey’s Positive Malt Liquor brand (a form of wasp-looking insect) on his knee. Not solely did I feel these tattoos made Steven hotter, however I additionally thought they made him an skilled within the body-art subject, which is why I allowed him to make my first-ever tattoo appointment together with his tattoo artist.
I didn’t do an oz. of analysis by myself, and as an alternative thought that my mind screaming “yummy” each time I noticed Steven shirtless was sufficient to point that I used to be in good palms. (I imply, a Mickey’s Positive Malt Liquor brand? WTF was I pondering?)
I ended up getting a quote tattoo from the track “Your Glass Home” by my favourite rap group on the time, Ambiance. The road additionally doubled as a twist on a line from a Shakespeare play, and since I cherished rap and was majoring in English in faculty, I assumed the design was so me. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
Now, I not just like the design as a result of it’s enormous and I discover the font to be hideous. Plus, my physique has modified rather a lot since then, and my tattoo exhibits it. It’s blurry, the ink has bled a ton, and you’ll barely decipher what it says, even for those who have a look at it actually, actually arduous. (For the file, it reads “Heavy is the top that wears the crown.”) At this level, it would as nicely simply be two thick black strains working throughout my proper hip.
More often than not, I can neglect it’s there, however since I dwell in Los Angeles and spend as a lot time as attainable on the seaside and in my bikini, I’m continuously reminded of how a lot I hate it. At any time when I’m photographed in a swimsuit I attempt to angle my tattoo away from the digital camera or cowl it with my arm, which makes for some fairly awkward pics.
To make all of it even worse, do you wish to know what I’m doing now as a 34-year-old with a completely developed frontal lobe? I’m getting the tattoos of yesteryear removed. I begin the method subsequent month, and from what I’ve heard, it’s going to be fairly depressing. Not solely is it supposedly painful, however the course of is lengthy and arduous, and there’s no assure that my pores and skin isn’t going to look somewhat funky as soon as all is alleged and executed. I may be left with a tattoo-shaped scar fairly than heavy black ink, but it surely’s a danger I’m keen to take at this level.
Do I’ve an ideal plan for when folks ought to have the ability to begin getting tattoos? No. However I do really feel strongly that for me, 18 was method too younger. I bought three of my eight tattoos earlier than I turned 25, and I dislike all of them. Possibly you already know somebody (or you might be somebody) who’s a uncommon case and nonetheless loves all the pieces they have been into again after they have been in highschool, but it surely’s more likely that you just’re like me, and your tastes have modified rather a lot since then.
Renee Rodriguez (she/her) is a employees author and social producer for PS. She writes throughout all verticals, however her predominant areas of experience deal with vogue and wonder content material with an emphasis on evaluations and editor experiments. She additionally produces social content material for the PS TikTok and Instagram accounts.
