Pros & Cons of Tattoos

Once the province of sailors, prisoners and rebellious, artistic types, tattoos have become more popular within mainstream America. Like most things in life, tattoo ownership has its pros and cons. While the cons are pretty concrete, the pros are more varied and less concrete. This is because tattoos mean different things to different people and what's good about tattoos for one person may not even be a consideration for others. However, there are a few pros that seem to apply to a majority of tattoo owners.

Pro: Self-Expression

Marking and altering the body is the ultimate form of self-expression and tattoos are a relatively cheap and creative way to tell the world who you are and what you believe. Tattoos are a way of expressing individuality or of showing solidarity with another person, group or idea.

Pro: Self Improvement

For some, tattoos are more than just images and symbols, they are a way to enhance the body with beautiful artwork. For many, the body is nothing more than blank canvas which comes alive with the addition of ink. And there are some very beautiful tattoos out there, from primitive-yet-intricate tribal markings to expressive Japanese tattoos.

Pro and Con: Permanence

Tattoos work well for commemorating important events because they stay on the skin forever. The down side is, if you commemorate the wrong event or person, you are stuck with that reminder until you die, tattoo over it or endure a painful and expensive removal. When getting a commemorative tattoo, think very carefully so that, later, you won't have to change "Winona Forever" to "Wino Forever."

Con: Health Risks

Some tattoo inks have been known to cause allergic reactions. In most states, reputable tattoo parlors are regulated and must follow standards of cleanliness---this includes using sterile needles and equipment. The only exceptions are New Mexico, North Dakota and Washington, D.C. However, there are still risks of infection and illness from tattoos. Even in regulated states, an unlicensed artist can set up a back-alley shot increasing the risk of infection from improperly sterilized needles. These infections can range from bacterial infections to hepatitis and HIV. There are also risks of infection if a new tattoo is not properly taken care of. Regulations vary by state so, when getting a tattoo, check the regulations for your area and make sure to use a reputable, regulated tattoo facility.

Con: Uncertain Quality

There are good tattoo artists and bad tattoo artists. It is important to find a good artist because she only gets one chance to get that ink down right. Some tattoo facilities require that all aspiring artists apprentice themselves to a more established artist and that they assist on a certain number of tattoos before flying solo. However, there is nothing to stop someone from opening her own shop, even if her work is less than stellar. When getting a tattoo, it is best to talk to people with body art that you admire and ask them where they got their tattoos. People who have a lot of tattoos are a great resource because they will have a lot of experience with tattoo artists and preferences. When getting a tattoo, keep your ear to the ground and shop around to avoid possible disappointment later.