I have a sun on my shoulder. Got it when I was 20. I am thinking to go and do more of the shoulder now and even a partial sleeve - well because I'm old now and can do whatever the hell I want!

Tattoos hurt. You get through it.

Not hard to take care of - but you have to be very strict about sunscreen. Mine still looks good after all these years because I take good care of my skin. No tanning - but use lots of sunscreen and moisturizer.

The design I doodled on a piece of paper.

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I have a single tattoo on the base of my spine, a circle with a triangle inside it. I had it done when I turned 44, and have never regretted it. The design is symbolic of certain principles which have shaped the way in which I live my life today.

Alright, Senyar - you're one of the last people I expected to see in this thread. Apparently I misjudged you. :)

I have some tattoos. The ankle was the most painful. But it's a pain that only really hurts while it's happening. For me, at least, it doesn't linger afterwards (compared with something like back in the day the ear piercing gun which hurt my ears for days)

My wife and I had talked about getting matching tattoos for a while, but never set a date or a deadline. After being married for over a year, she said "let's get tattoos," so we did. We wrote "Mine" on each-others's wrists, to be set in ink. It was my first, and her second of three. On the wrist, it felt like a cat sticking it's claws into you - quick, sharp, almost tickley jabs, and then it was done.

Neither of us wear watches, and she doesn't wear that many bracelets, so they're not covered unless we wear long sleeves. At work, o one noticed mine for a while, and when they did, most thought it was a sweet gesture. I still like catching a glimpse of her arm and seeing that, but I don't feel the same excitement about seeing her wedding ring.

Now I want more, and I like the play of hidden and not, so I'm thinking of my other forearm.

Still too chicken, maybe I'll get one for my fiftieth. I'm so pathologically indecisive that I'm not sure that even if I do get over the fear of needles, that I'd ever decide on a design.

My very conservative, very suburban mom got her tattoo when she was 67. Because she wanted one.

I think that's pretty cool.

How did you guys pick the tattoo parlor or artist?

Hah - I was thinking we should look around, check out various artists and chat with them. My wife, who I wouldn't consider a risk-taker or terribly impulsive, decided the place and was OK with the first guy we talked to. We didn't talk about the price or anything, we just went in.

The tattoo turned out well, though I'm still a bit miffed that it's hazy on the edges and a weird shade of dark blue/black, and with the $60 minimum I might have gotten a second tattoo to make the most of it, but that might have been a bad idea (no tattoos on a whim!) My wife had to have her tattoo tweaked (typo in a mathematical definition, on her back so she couldn't easily check for errors), and they were cool about not charging another $60 for a few quick lines, so I shouldn't complain. And for a simple things like ours, it all worked out well.

But if you're getting a specific art piece or something that requires detail and/or attention to design, check out the profiles of the tattoo artists. Some people specialize in styles, or have techniques down pat, and you'd want that person if that is what your art requires. And you should be comfortable with the artist, as they'll be stabbing you with a tiny, inky needle, over and over.

My little sister got a poison dart frog tattooed on the small of her back the week after she turned 18. I talked her out of a skull with a rose dripping blood and she liked that the frog was cute but deadly. After she died that fall, some of my siblings and I decided we wanted the same tattoo in her memory.

Mine is on my shoulder, but I can never remember which shoulder it's on until the mister tries to pick him up. It's smaller and more purple than my sister's was, and it still hurt like hell. I have very sensitive skin and I will never get another one because of the pain. But it was easy to take care of. I am very glad that I'm carrying a piece of my sister with me.

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My daughter and I have been wanting to get matching tattoos for a while. I think we just found the artist to use this summer. We've seen his work on friends. Now we just need to get him a sketch.

She already has a couple of tats, youngergirl, and she swears by coconut oil, especially in the healing days/weeks. Rub it in to relieve itching, and keep the skin moisturized so the colors stay bright.

I have three: an tree-of-life-vine-thing ankle band I got when I was 18 (it's sadly very blurry now), a 17th century Arabic ceiling tile design on my back, and a little kanji ("tree") on my right upper arm that I'm getting covered up soon with a huge, beautiful partial sleeve of beeeeees! Bees and flowers!OMG soooo excited for new ink.

I'm planning on visiting a few artists and discussing the design and looking at their work.

The ankle is a pretty sensitive spot to get needled: lotsa bones and tendons and thin skin.

The one on my back hurt the most: it's pretty big and took about five hours. The healing was a real bitch too: you don't realize how flexible the skin on your back is until you have a scab that's 50" square. And it itched like you cannot imagine, it was horrifyingly itchy. Oh god, it itched so much.

The one on my arm was small and wasn't very painful at all.

But the pain and dealing with the healing is SO worth it.

Healing: keep it moisturized and out of the sun, and do not pick at it at all. Keep it out of the sun for the rest of your life or it WILL fade and blur. Fine lines will spread over time no matter what you do, so avoid tiny, detailed work with small negative spaces.

My first tattoo is on the inside of my left ankle, it's a bee and a flower. It's faded a bit in the 14 years I've had it in spite of me avoiding the sun. On the outside right ankle is an Eye of Horus. I'd like to expand both into short socks/sleeves when I have the money and can find a good tattooist. The one that already has a bee would have more bees, flowers, ladybugs, dragonflies, vines, etc. The other would be done in an Egyptian theme with an ankh, Bastet, etc.

I've been wanting a dragonfly on my left wrist for a long time, in memory of my birth mother. Maybe at the end of the summer; I don't want to give up the beach.

Another I've wanted for years is a drawing of a fairy on tip-toes by Arthur Rackham from an old datebook I still have. I have skin issues sometimes, though, so I hesitate. But I think the wrist one would be okay.

First was a stylized Aztec coyote on my left hipbone.
Second was a doodle I have always drawn across my right foot.
Third was a strawberry under my navel.
Fourth is a tramp stamp. Really, I can't say any more about that because I never see it. It is also the only one that after ten years is still somewhat raised. My husband says that it is still smoking hot. (I'll take his word for it, he sees it way more than I do).

All were treated with coconut oil and generous doses of sunscreen. The only one that has really faded is the coyote on my hipbone. All were chosen on a whim, so no planning, thought or consideration was put into the process. Oddly, I was stone-cold sober for each one.

The only one that bothered me in the slightest was the one across the top of my foot. Damn thing TICKLED.

I've got 7 right now, and (at least) two more planned. Two on my chest (it all looks like one design now) one on each shoulder and three on my back. "Meatier" spots hurt less.

Definitely ask around for personal recommendations, check out on-line portfolios, etc. Depending on what you want, one artist might be better than another...most do everything, but some specialize in color or portraits or whatever.

Do not bargain hunt!

There are all sorts of different thoughts on "aftercare" but it all comes down to keeping it clean. It's a wound like any other.

As far as choosing a design...I've thought about each of my designs for at least 6 months before setting an appointment, some even longer. But then, I'm not the impulsive type.

What a lovely tribute rhapsodie.