I've got two tattos, i had them both done when i was 17. One is an italic G (for Gerri) on my right ankle. I love that one coz its really pretty and delicate but people do seem to have difficulty working out what it is

My other is a small purple heart on by belly which i hate. I turned out a bit bigger than I'd wanted it and due to weight loss and gain its now a bit misshappen and looks IMO bleugh. So i'm gonna get that one covered with something else eventually or get it removed.

I really want a celtic design on my lower back, but I'm leaving that as a treat to myself when i get down to target. I'm also quite keen on the idea of getting a chiense symbol on my shoulder but i'm wary of choosing a symbol that's supposed to mean 'purity' and coming out with the symbol for 'slapper'

I don't think you nessesarily have to design your own tattoo to ensure liking it, but i'd recommend choosing a design and displaying a copy of it where you can see it every day, then wait for at least 3 months before having it done. If you've seen it every day for three months without getting sick of it then you are probably onto a winner.

As for the pain aspect... Its a funny type of pain involved in tattooing thats really difficult to explain to someone who hasn't experienced it - the best way i can put it is that its a nice sort of pain, but good rule of thumb is the fleshier the area the more it hurts or if you are having it done very very close to the bone.

Another important thing is to find a good tattooist - go off recommendation. Some places delight in making the process as painful as possible and these usually charge a fortune and they aren't very good. A good (gentle) tattooist will probably be booked up for ages in advance

I really want a tattoo, but I'm not old enough yet. I'll probably get my best mate to design me one, since she's very talented and it'll mean a lot to me to have something she designed. Either for my lower back or shoulder blade. Or both Just gotta get my arse in shape first.

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by Yally
Just gotta get my arse in shape first.

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LOL Buttock clenches ahoy then ???

ok, which hurts more, getting the black bits or the coloured bits?

coz this is kinda what i want: www.amybrownart.com/images1/tat2s/tattoosm.jpg

and if black hurts more i'll um...colour it in or sommit

Have a tattoo of a wolf howling on my left arm and got it done about a year ago. Always wanted one and finally saw a design i liked - now want another! No regrets - i really like mine!

Kt - the filling in part hurts the most - my whole tattoo took 2 1/2 hrs

I'd agree with DM there, there filling in bit doeshurt the most, but then having said that, I wouldn't say that hurts is the right word, I would say that it aggrevates more than anything, when mine was done, I just wanted to slap my arm as if I'd been stung type of way, but then again i suppose where you have it depends alot on the pain, I should imagine the ankle bone hurts
While were on the subject, does anybodies tatto ever sort of raise like sometimes go lumpy in hot weather, mine does

Mish , mine never has done , but for some reason this year when the sun got to it it did and was very sore , I ended up covering it with a plaster

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by Mishelisa
I should imagine the ankle bone hurts

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As a matter of fact it does. I've only had one done, so I've got no frame of reference, but it hurt a lot. I was flirting with guy who did it (I knew his son) [sarcasm] and that helped the 45 minutes just fly by [/sarcasm]

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by Mishelisa
While were on the subject, does anybodies tatto ever sort of raise like sometimes go lumpy in hot weather, mine does

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Yes!! Both myn have done that in the past. The first time it did it I totally freaked out

I freked too, thought it was bubbling off or something. (Another Jadesk moment for me)

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by Mishelisa
I should imagine the ankle bone hurts

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A tip if you want an ankle tattoo, don't have it done directly on the ankle bone, have it done a centimetre above - it hardly hurts at all then and the difference in placement is minimal really.

Basically anything that touches bone that is really close to the skin i.e. hands, wrists, ankles, feet and the spine really really hurt as do really fleshy parts i.e the underneath bit of your upper arm.

Well I'd still not decided on a tattoo, so I've scarred my body in a different way. I had my belly button pierced yesterday afternoon while I was visiting Teresa. I'd wanted it done for ages and just decided to do it last week. Its a silver bar with a purple stone (my fave colour) and I love it to bits