Tattoo on my wrist; bad idea, or not?

I'm planning on getting my first tattoo around late September, for my 17th birthday - my mother's already agreed to come with me to give consent etc, because it's a very personal thing to me and has a meaning and I'd like to get it done now because it's relevant to the meaning. Anyway, my question is about where I'm having it done. Originally I wanted it on my left hipbone, but then decided against it because I rarely show my hips; I don't wear jeans often, I wear skirts mostly and with tights in the winter so my hipbones wouldn't be on show and I'd like the tattoo (although personal) to be on show.

Then I thought about my wrist. I'm planning on having it very, very small.. only just small enough to read. It's a latin quote, 'alis volat propiis' which, in english, is 'she flies by her own wings.' It'll be in an 'italic' sort of writing.. you know the sort! Basically, my question is; is this a wise place to have it? Even if it's very tiny? My mother doesn't like the idea; she seems to think it'll go against me in the future for jobs, etc.. my response is well, if they were so narrow minded as to not give me a job simply because I have a tiny mark on my wrist and not for my personality/talents, I wouldn't want to work for them, anyway! It's not as if I'm intending to be a doctor or anything like that, I'm planning on going into journalism/the media.

Any opinions/advice?
Thanks!

Reply 1

Laursy

10

i think you should go for it id love to have a tat thats got a meaning on show but mine were chosen from a book,

men have tattoos all over there arms and still get jobs, why not women, i was thinking of having something on my wrist but never got it done coz i didn't want something that someone else might have (coz it means nothing)

but yeh i think it would be really cool

Reply 2

Dutchmeister

First off, I think it should not be a problem whatsoever. It's small, its classy, nothing wrong with it in my opinion! If anything, for a job 'she flies by her own wings.' seems like quite a good incentive to hire you!!! :smile:

Reply 3

sauce

13

sounds really cute if you ask me

Reply 4

ChocolateEyes

Yeh I agree with the above posters. If it is just small enough to read then prospective employers are probably not going to see it unless you shove it in their face lol. Very interesting quote by the way :smile:

Reply 5

Emma_B

Yeah, I agree with everyone else, it shouldn't be a problem getting a job and you could always just hide it with long sleeves or a watch (if it's in the right place) if there was any problem with it.
Although I must warn you, my boyfriend got a tattoo on his wrist and he said it hurts there a lot because it's a really sensitive place. But he doesn't like needles so he might have just made it sound worse than it was :p:

Reply 6

prettyblueeyes

13

If it's that small, you can probably cover it with a watch or wide bracelet anyway! I love the quote. I didn't really like tattoos, but my sisters friend has just had 2 initials in really swirly italic writing on her inner wrist and it looks lovely!

Reply 7

liladriel

I really like that quote and as it's going to be very small it shouldn't be a problem at all for employers as would be very easy to cover up when you don't want it on show :smile:

Reply 8

Ironic_

Perhaps you don't want to hear this, but the law in the UK is that tattooing under 18 is illegal regardless of parental consent, as per the Tattooing of Minors act 1969. So if you do manage to get tattooed at 17, you'll be going to a shop who acknowledges the risk of getting a stiff fine or their license removed, and takes it anyway. And if they're willing to take this risk, what other risks might they be taking? http://www.skinfantasy.com/faq/ is just one of many links i've found to shops who enforce this policy the way it should be enforced.

Okay so chances are you'll have made the decision to get the tattoo anyway and me stating the law isn't going to do much good, but a tattoo is going to be on you for the rest of your life, why take risks?

As for the content/placement of the tattoo, I see no problems with a small wrist tattoo, it can be easily covered with a watch or a bracelet. I know you didn't ask for this, but for me not to point out the dangers associated with going to a shop who will break the law is not something I can do. Waiting a year will not harm you, and I personally would feel so much safer in a shop that didn't show blatant disregard for the law.

Reply 9

interlude88

8

I think you should go for it! I love my wrist tattoo, but be prepared for everyone to ask what it means! I get that all the time with my latin. You can easily hide a wrist tattoo with sleeves or jewellery. But wait until you're eighteen so that you can get it somewhere reputable.

Reply 10

La Trampa

18

not sure if you'll be able to be tattooed at 17...that's another matter. BUT, your tattoo sounds great and the wrist placement sounds really good BUT (another one) it's gonna hurt like a biatch. your wrist area is basically bone..so it's gonna hurt.be ready for that. :smile:

Reply 11

Ginger_Rogers

7

My wrist tattoo didn't really hurt actually. And I'm a pussy :biggrin:

Reply 12

L i b

19

I wouldn't. While it's pleasant, it's not really suitable for each and every location you could find yourself - anything that reduces adaptability isn't a great idea. That said, it's one of the more discreet sorts, so it shouldn't ever be too much of a problem.

Reply 13

her-own-wings

OP

Thank you everybody! :] I've decided I will get it done. As for the age thing, I thought it was 17 because I've got a lot of friends that had them done at 17 with their parents there with them.. hmm. They all seemed to be okay. Maybe I'll just go to the place they had theres done?

Reply 14

coloursonthetv

1

her-own-wings

I thought it was 17 because I've got a lot of friends that had them done at 17 with their parents there with them.. hmm. They all seemed to be okay. Maybe I'll just go to the place they had theres done?

If you're going to go to a place that will tattoo people under age then quite simply stay right clear.

Just wait until you're old enough to get it done by yourself and make sure you find a really good and reputable tattooist. I know you're trying to tye it in with your birthday, but why 17? What significance does that age hold to you?

September is only two months away, I'd leave it til next September so you're 100% sure it's still what you want.

Also, with it being writing, I think that it probably won't age too well with the writing being so small. It's a long phrase to fit onto your wrist! It's best to go as big as possible really :smile:

Good luck with your decision though. At the end of the day do what you like but please at least go somewhere that you trust the tattooist. There's far too many tacky designs and bad tattooists out there.

Reply 15

mudblood

1

Unless you're planning to work in a strict office environment for the rest of your days I really don't think it'll be a problem - it sounds lovely. :smile:

Reply 16

her-own-wings

OP

coloursonthetv

If you're going to go to a place that will tattoo people under age then quite simply stay right clear.

Just wait until you're old enough to get it done by yourself and make sure you find a really good and reputable tattooist. I know you're trying to tye it in with your birthday, but why 17? What significance does that age hold to you?

September is only two months away, I'd leave it til next September so you're 100% sure it's still what you want.

Also, with it being writing, I think that it probably won't age too well with the writing being so small. It's a long phrase to fit onto your wrist! It's best to go as big as possible really :smile:

Good luck with your decision though. At the end of the day do what you like but please at least go somewhere that you trust the tattooist. There's far too many tacky designs and bad tattooists out there.

Nono I'm 16 now, 17 in September; my mum's agreed to let me have it done when I'm 17. Hmm.. I'd hate to wait a year but I see where everyone's coming from!

It's significant because I've had a very tough few years (for many reasons) and it's now drawing to an end, especially with my exams being done and dusted and myself starting sixth form etc.. for me, it's the start of independence after a long period of having no choice but to rely on other people.. in the past few months I've just began to learn how to 'fly by my own wings'... hence the quote.

Reply 17

coloursonthetv

1

her-own-wings

Nono I'm 16 now, 17 in September; my mum's agreed to let me have it done when I'm 17. Hmm.. I'd hate to wait a year but I see where everyone's coming from!

It's significant because I've had a very tough few years (for many reasons) and it's now drawing to an end, especially with my exams being done and dusted and myself starting sixth form etc.. for me, it's the start of independence after a long period of having no choice but to rely on other people.. in the past few months I've just began to learn how to 'fly by my own wings'... hence the quote.

I didn't think you were 17 now if you actually reread my post :smile:

I realise that you are 16 and 17 in Sept.

It's cool you've chosen a meaning but I think it's best to just wait and get a tattoo that you can be proud of and really lives up to how beautiful the meaning can be rather than some shoddy job by a tattooist who doesn't care how old you are and just wants to make some money.

Also whether or not you choose to wait the tattoo will still hold the same feelings for you. It can still remind you of those times without having to be done around them.

If you've only had a tough few months which is the reason why you're getting it and it's only going to be a further two months to the time you get the tattoo then I'd definitely way and see if you still feel the same way when you're 18.

We're teenagers, we're fickle and feelings change in an instant. If you wrote a poem about how you felt the past few months and read it back a few years later, would you cringe because in fact you manage to grow and realise that that time wasn't whatever you thought it was shortly after....
if you see where I'm coming from :smile:

Reply 18

HANNAH1987

oooooh yer, i really like the idea of the tattoo! it sounds cute! The only thing that flashes in my mind when i think of having a tatoo is when i get married. I used to work at a wedding venue and i've seen so many brides all sophisticated and beautiful in their white dresses and diamonds then they have like tweety pie tatooed on their shoulder. But granted, your not having tweety pie, and yours sounds much nicer, its just personal opinion that they can be covered, which i suppose with a watch they will be able too? and is it under ur arm or on the top?

I want a tattoo on my foot actually, with lyrics that mean a lot to me, your mum sounds so supportive, im waiting till i move out of home because my mum says she'd kick me out if i had a tattoo, lol, seriously she's stuck in the stone ages where the only people who have tattoo's is thugs! hmmm! Anyhow.... hope it goes ok and let us know how it goes, and if it hurt! eek! x

Reply 19

Mr. Mortell

11

Don't you have to be 18 to legally get a tattoo without medical reasons?

Tattoo on my wrist; bad idea, or not?

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