Have two, yes are where they are only seen when I choose them to be, yes I took it into consideration when I got them.

I love to look at nice ink but am also not in the least bit impressed by the coffee serving 17 year old waitress in the mid throws of a half sleeve. I still think women should think very carefully when getting a tattoo.

The invisible ink thing, not sure I understand what is meant by that. My three kids each share a glow in the dark tattoo that is invisible until exposed to black light. Which is very cool in itself.

I always try to shock ladies wanting some ink by telling them ‘don’t forget what you/they will look like when you take your child to school.’ Or, they are ruined from stretch marks. Of course I also find most who want exposed ink don’t care what anybody else thinks.

To each his own. It would be very nice if everyone felt that way but I don’t think that will ever be the case, there will always be a world of judgement.

Invisible ink is very interesting. Most people are shocked to learn that I’m not offended by tattoos, let alone have 3 on my body. Needless to say they are invisible until I choose to disclose.

People like to put others into categories. Good or Bad. Wholesome or unwholesome. This will change in coming years, but until then, the ability to conceal is important.

Funny story, my best friend HATES tattoos, couldn’t understand my desire to get ink and has given me a hard time about it for the last 12 years. She’s very vocal about her opinions, but somehow her daughter has been immune to her judgment because when my latest tattoo was revealed, the 3 yr old exclaimed, “Look Mommy! It’s beautiful!” My friend was mortified. When her daughter said it was a pretty picture, I explained that we can all appreciate art in different ways, and left it at that.

Thanks for letting us share.

- Small Sanskrit word on my left wrist that I wear a watch over 95% of the time.
- Small butterfly on my lower back. Got when I was 19.
- Trail of stars on top of my left foot.

And I plan on getting more.

I work in a professional environment – government contracting work. Almost everyone in my office has tattoos. Even my bosses. Even my BIG bosses. And I’m not talking about little tats either.

I get nothing but compliments on mine, especially the one on my foot. And I plan on getting more. I think ink on the body is beautiful and sexy. But I understand that not everyone does.

I like what Marc Jacobs says about them:

“I really have a good attitude about tattooing. When I first got one, two years ago, I was like, ‘I’m not going to overthink this or what it means, or what it’s going to be like when I’m 80. I want to get tattooed today, and in five weeks, I’ll get a Sponge Bob tattoo.’ Will I regret it someday? I don’t know, but I’m not going to deny myself this pleasure today because of what I don’t know in the future.”

While I appreciate the artistry of these and many other tattoos, I don’t find them attractive once applied to the body.

The trend toward tattooing is inevitably one that will reverse. I wouldn’t choose one hairstyle for life and I can’t see making any permanent commitment to adornment.

I have had mendhi (sp?) and loved that. Could easily see doing henna tattoos over and over again. Once they perfect an ink that lasts less than 5 years, I am back in the market for the perfect tattoo. Until then, I think I will spend the cash on jewelry and other accessories that I can change out.

That said, I’m afraid of getting one myself because knowing my tastes I’ll hate it within months. I’m sure this’ll change as I get older and, well, get an idea for one that has meaning to it!

I generally DO allow at least part of one tattoo to peek out discreetly during job interviews, because I figure I’d rather know up front if people are going to get all judgy-pants on me and make it an issue. I’d never survive in a conservative workplace; my personality would not be suited for it even if I DIDN’T have tattoos. So I also see the ink as a way of screening my life in different ways and finding compatabilities: the friends I choose, the places I work, the men I (used to) date, the city I live in. Tattoos in a way are little advertisements about what you’re all about as a person; those who mistakenly think they indicate a looseness of morals or a tendency towards criminal behavior can just as easily avoid me, and I’m fine with that.

I did not really worry so much about concealment when I got mine, although several have turned out to be depressingly difficult to show. It was more a matter of what area of my body was the right shape and size for the image, as well as where I thought the tattoos would be best preserved. I wouldn’t put one on my upper thigh because that area has more of a tendency to grow and shrink (alas!), and I thought that would destroy the integrity of the ink more quickly. Likewise I probably wouldn’t get one in an area that gets a lot of sun, such as my forearms. But I think it’s each individual’s right to reveal or conceal as they see fit; they should be primarily for the wearer and not the observer, after all.