To ink, or not to ink? That is the question many collegiate men are asking these days. The tattoo taboo is slowing disappearing, but there are still some things that should be considered before putting yourself under the mercy of your local tattoo artist. For instance, what are you getting in the first place? Is it a memorial? Are you trying to impress the girl next door? Or do you just want one to have one? The number of factors you need to consider before dropping a few hundred dollars is astounding.
Personally, I’m all for decorating your body with artwork. I have tattoos of my own, and plan on visiting my local parlor again very soon. Note that I used the word artwork. That’s what a tattoo is. It’s an art form that has been practiced for centuries all over the world, and it should be treated as such. My heart aches when I see a misconstrued tattoo, or one done in poor taste. I’ve seen far too many guys walking around my campus with distasteful tattoos. The thought that people are perfectly content with just walking into a shop and getting a half-ass piece done is reason enough write about it. Let’s discuss how your tattoos should look, especially if you want a job after getting that degree.
That overpowering tribal tattoo crawling down your arm seems pretty cool at first, but when you realize that you’re not an ancient Polynesian warrior, it suddenly seems a tad silly. Those anchors and sailboats may seem fitting until everyone sees that you’ve never even been to the ocean before. I’m not even going to get into tramp stamps. I’m hoping that most of my readers have enough dignity to refrain from those. The first thing anyone should do before going to the shop is research what the hell their possible tattoo means. HERE! CLICK HERE! If you clicked there, you’ll find yourself a handy web page that goes through the traditional meanings behind classic tattoos. I love old school tattoos, especially pieces based off the work of Paul Rogers and Sailor Jerry (not the rum). Knowing what you’re getting will save you some embarrassment when you have to explain to your friends what the meaning behind your new ink is. More than likely, telling your friends that you were a Boatswain Mate in your past life will not be very convincing.
I’m just going to flat out say this nugget of wisdom that should be considered common sense. Scope out all of the possible parlors in your area, and look through the portfolios of the artists there. Being well informed on the talent will surely sway your choices, no matter the price. Price is another key point in the process. The difference between a $100 tat, and a $250 tat is astronomical. The more expensive the parlor, the more prestige it generally has. Go there. I don’t care how enticing the $100 joint sounds; your future self will thank you for the extra bit of cash invested.
Now that you know what you want, and picked out who you want to do it, it’s time to decide where you’re going to get your artwork put on you. You’re in college. It’s time to make mistakes and learn from them. However, don’t make this a mistake. If you’re going into a career field that still looks down on tattoos, don’t ruin your future with a one, plain and simple. It’s also not the greatest idea to get knuckle tattoos, unless you’re in a successful band of course. Any tattoo is acceptable in that situation. Tattoos that creep above the collar of your shirt are also something you should avoid. A general rule that I, and many of my peers follow is to only tattoo yourself in places that you can easily hide in a suit. If you can’t see it when you’re dressing to impress, then you’re in the clear.
Simply said, be smart about your tattoos, especially ones you get in a college town. You don’t want to risk your future for a tattoo of a forgotten ex’s name on your forearm. Most importantly, appreciate the art of it. Don’t be that guy who gets the typical cross on his shoulder, and then proclaims himself the biggest bad ass to step on Earth. Go about it in a humble fashion. Find a quality artist, and let them do what they do best. Don’t constrict their talent with an elementary design you had a family friend draw up. Shoot them an idea, give them examples of the subject matter, then step back and let their minds get to work. If you’re not a fan of what they draw up, ask them to try again or look for an artist who may be a better option for the style you want. You have to remember that you’re becoming a canvas for your artist. How do you want to portray yourself and your artist? He surely doesn’t want to advertise poor work on his part. Be kind, and don’t give him anything sub par to work with.
A College Gentleman 