Yes, they hurt. No, they don't all need to have meaning.
There are varying levels of being tattooed. Living life with one small tattoo is very different from having a bodysuit, or even full sleeves.
But even the smallest infinity sign on your wrist will let you dip your toe into the inked waters. You might notice an occasional look or have someone strike up conversation with you about it, but one thing you'll definitely notice is the amount of questions you'll be fielding almost immediately.
On behalf of every tattooed person out there, here's a guide for what questions not to ask tattooed friends (and strangers). Consider this a brief and woefully incomplete FAQ about having tattoos.
"What do they mean?"
Believe it or not, every tattoo doesn't need to have meaning. Sure, there are plenty of memorial tattoos and other meaningful ink out there, but there are just as many that mean little to nothing. Many tattoos are simply there to remind people of where they were in their life when they got them, and many more are just for aesthetic purposes. Whether they're to memorialize a person, event, or thing from the past or you just want to collect ink from some of your favorite artists, neither is a "right" or "wrong" reason to get a tattoo. A good tattoo is a good tattoo, regardless of the meaning (or lack thereof) behind it.
When you only have one tattoo, giving the meaning behind it (if there is one) isn't that bad. But after answering the same question for months or years straight, your answer begins to get shorter and shorter. For those with multiple tattoos, giving the "meaning" behind each one can become an exhausting process. Once you get 20-30 pieces on your body, you may not even remember the stories of them all well enough to tell them. Getting a tattoo just because you think it looks cool is perfectly fine.
Simple Answer: "They don't mean anything."
"How much did that cost?"
It really can't be overemphasized, but you should never price-shop a tattoo. Not only are you putting something permanently on your body, but going with a cheaper and sketchier option can mean an infected tattoo, bloodborne pathogens, and a whole host of terrible medical problems. Every artist charges a different price, so rather than worrying about exactly how much one will set you back, find the tattooer and talk to them about it directly. Just because your friend paid a few hundred for his dragon head, it doesn't mean you won't end up paying $1000 or more. Again, save up and get the tattoo you want. It's not the time to be bargain-hunting.
Simple Answer: "More than I'd like to admit."
"Why would you do that?"
"But you're so pretty!" "Aren't you worried about getting a job?" "How is that going to look when you're old?" There's a whole host of semi-offensive questions you get asked once you're tattooed. It's not to say everyone should go get their hands, throat, and face done immediately, but tattoos and other body modifications are ultimately up to personal choice. Tattoo-shaming isn't quite like body-shaming, but if looking a certain way makes someone feel better about themselves, that should be encouraged, not questioned.
Simple Answer: "Because I like it."
"Are you going to get more?"
Some people plan tattoos far better than others, but few people really know the moment they're done getting tattooed. Even the folks who only get tattooed to mark specific events (graduation, wedding, childbirth, etc.) can end up getting unplanned tattoos after an equally unplanned life event (divorce, death in the family, etc.). Most people don't intend to get tattooed until they're pressed from head to toe, but many are looking to keep going until they either run out of space or cool ideas, and the human body can support far fewer tattoos than the mind. Getting tattooed can be slightly addicting (just like most other things in life), but just because you enjoy adding to your collection doesn't mean you won't stop eventually. Your grandparents' worst fear of having their baby come to Thanksgiving with a neck tattoo may not come true, but it also doesn't mean you have to stop getting inked right this instant.
Simple Answer: "If I feel like it, sure."
"Didn't that hurt?"
Yes. Everyone has varying levels of pain tolerance and different artists/parts of the body bring different amounts of pain, but tattoos are rarely (if ever) comfortable. A couple of lines may hurt less than a 10-hour chest piece, but none of it really feels pleasant.
Simple Answer: Yes, it hurts.
