Sexy. Tough. Cute. Trendy. Youthful. Pretty. Tattoos are done for many reasons, but one thing that is held in common is that they are done to add your appearance. So you’ve already decided they are cool, and that you could bear the pain and the permanent quality…don’t rush off to the tattoo parlor just yet! Take a step back and absorb some tips that will make the process much less stressful and boost your chances of having great results.

DO remember that getting a tattoo can be a longer process than you think. Generally speaking you will spend several hours at the parlor, not just physically getting the tattoo, but also talking with your tattoo artist and waiting time factor in much of the hours. If you want to get a multi-colored tattoo, you will have to go in for more than one session. The artist must do the colors in layers and leave time for each layer to heal before he/she starts the next one. Pain varies from person to person and design of course, but for your first tattoo, try a fairly simple design in one color. This all has to do not just with pain, but also with care of the new tattoo.

DO have the time and commitment to care for a tattoo. It’s not as simple as walking in, getting inked, and then hitting the beach to show off your tat in a swimsuit. Tattoos are literally scratches on your skin, you have to allow time for it to heal or infection/irritation is a guarantee. If you don’t properly care for the tattoo, you will mess it up! Care is not just a "safety" issue, it is essential to having a design that is worth the permanence of the procedure. A tattoo needs a lot of attention the first two weeks and is not really just a part of your skin for another few months. In other words, a tattoo is open to irritation from the moment it’s finished to many weeks after.

DO heed your artist’s advice. Aftercare instructions vary from artist to artist, some may insist on special creams, others on no cream. Whatever YOUR artist says, listen. They know what is best to preserve their technique. If you have your own ideas on what to do for the tattoo, consult your artist first. Avoid assessing the tattoo’s needs on your own especially if it’s your first tattoo. A remedy that seems logical to you can actually turn out to be quite disastrous. For example applying Vaseline to sooth and protect a new tattoo may seem natural, but in fact the Vaseline will fade most tattoo inks and dull your design. Generally speaking one technique works for most people, which is to tape clear plastic wrap over the tattoo when it is first done to avoid contact with garments, your hands, sweat, etc.

DO get a tattoo in the winter. Summertime may seem like an ideal season to get one, but the season’s activities, such as tanning and swimming, are the worst aggravators for a tattoo. Even if you are careful about avoiding these activities, you will likely be annoyed at having to miss out on them. Winter is the best time to get a tattoo, by the time summer rolls around it will be 100% ready to show off and be exposed to intense sunlight, chlorine, etc.

DO look past trendy spots for a tattoo. So many young college girls now have lower back tattoos that it’s become quite conventional and boring. Upper arm and ankle tattoos can get tiresome as well. Though these spots are very popular, they are oddly enough not a good choice for many people (from a physically appealing point of view). Here are some other spots you may have not considered, but are universally flattering: Front of the upper thigh, hip area, toes, upper back, back of neck, inner forearm ,stomach, front of foot

DO keep the design timeless and sophisticated. You don’t think a tattoo can be sophisticated? You have probably seen too many roses or snakes (though these designs can turn out well too). Tattoo artists really are artists. They have extensive abilities and creativity. The design’s limits are only your imagination (and your wallet). Tattoo artists love to help develop and/or pick a design, so don’t feel pressured to have a choice made already. Be open to any thoughts your artist may have on a design you present to them drawn by a friend or found in a magazine, they may improve on it greatly (as a tattoo at least). Culturally significant designs such as traditional Celtic or tribal symbols often make for original and appealing results. Very simple shapes such as stars, hearts, various flowers, and silhouettes or outlines of more complex ideas turn out better than other concepts. One great way to start brainstorming is to think about a piece of jewelry that you like, and take the main style or shapes in it for a design.

DO consider a small tattoo. Small means small, about the size of a thumbnail or a little larger. These shapes look great on just about everyone. They require simplicity and can be placed just about anywhere, unlike most tattoos. Trying out this approach will force you to think of a less complex design and allow you to place more importance of placement rather than the elaborate tattoo.

DO think twice about that Asian design you love so much. Chinese characters and kanji are very neat looking but they are a gamble as a design choice. As someone who can read Chinese characters, I cannot tell you how many times I have seen someone walking around with something they think says "friend" but really means "left." You may think that since your character was found online that you have a veritable source, but if you can check with someone who is fluent in Chinese or Japanese to confirm the character’s design. Never take the word of someone who just "knows" a few characters (such as the tattoo artist). Also keep in mind that if you are traveling to Asia (perhaps you want to show off your asian tattoo there) that in most Asian countries the only people who get tattoos are gangsters and criminals. Having a character that says "power" on the back of your neck in Japan is going to scare people.

DO work with the lines and contours of your body. A tattoo does not just have to sit there, as if someone has placed a little decorative postcard on your body. The best tattoos often look graceful and eye-pleasing because of how they work with your anatomical assets. If you place something on your hip, a more flat or horizontal design would work because your hip is aesthetically oriented this way. If you were placing something on the back of your neck, a longer design may work better with the vertical slope of your neck. Something more adventurous might be a vine that follows the curve of a shoulder blade for example.

Tattoos are an exciting and worthwhile addition, planning out your tattoo is well worth the sacrifice of some of the adventure and spontaneity of the tattoo fantasy. It is well worth it to devote a good amount of thought into this permanent piece of art on your body. Don’t skimp on cost or planning with this bodily décor, it is an unchangeable accessory (removal procedures are still not 100% reliable) that can be an asset to your looks if you go about it with a level-head and creativity.