To tattoo or not to tattoo, that is the question. And I, a bearer of body art for six years now, can only provide you with an opinion and a little advice before you go out and get inked for life.

The setting: San Diego, California. The year: 2001. The reason: I was 18-years-old, on my senior trip and acting out of spontaneity of course.

My first tattoo was cake in terms of pain. It also took three hours, cost 100 bucks and was luckily done by an experienced tattoo artist. Without the standard black outline (to discourage blurred edges), my bouquet of a gardenia flanked by apple blossoms is reminiscent of a “watercolor painting,” and spans three inches across my lower hip.

Do I regret this tattoo? Kinda sorta. Would I have done anything differently pre and post this procedure? YES!

Even though I was lucky enough to stroll into a random tattoo shop in S.D. and have a talented and experienced tattoo artist do my tattoo, this situation is rare. So many people end up with tattoos they hate, but if you are smart and prepare for the big event, you don’t have to be one of them. Doing an ample amount of RESEARCH prior to getting tatted is crucial! Consider these questions:

• -Who will do your tattoo? How many years of experience have they had?
• -Are they licensed?
• -Have you seen their portfolio? Have you seen their work in person?
• -What is their specialty? Traditional? Black and grey? Japanese?
• -What kind of ink do they use, is it natural based ink or synthetic? Are you allergic to it?
• -How much do they charge, by hour or by piece? Are they giving you a deal? Why?
• -Are they sanitary? Do they sanitize their needles/tools?
• -Where will you go to get tattooed? At a house or at a shop? (hopefully a shop…to be on the safe side)

The moment I stepped foot out onto Grand Ave., with my fresh ink slicked with Vaseline, glistening and bleeding under a protective sheet of saran wrap, I was already thinking about where and what my next skin adornment would be. It’s the strangest thing, but I feel compelled to warn you that tattoos can be addicting!

Don’t forget to ask your tattoo artist some at home tattoo-care questions too, like:

• -How do I take care of my tattoo?
• -How often should I cleanse it?
• -What lotion is best to use on my tattoo? How much lotion is too much?
• -What do I do if I break out in a rash in the area of my tattoo?
• -Should I pick/rub off the scab that forms over the tattoo? (NO)
• -Should I apply sunscreen to my tattoo? (YES! And you should put sunscreen all over the rest of your epidermis too!)
• -Will my tattoo fade? Will I need to ever have my tattoo touched up?

Like I mentioned before, I kinda sorta regret my tattoos. The reasons are varied. Here is a list:

• -I had no idea that the location of my tattoos (left hip, and lower back) would inspire commentary from the oh so clever funny guy in the beer aisle at the grocery store like, “nice tramp stamp.”
• -Some people have no reservations about asking: “Oh, can you pull down your pants a bit so I can check out your tattoo?”
• -My gardenia is going to be life size when I am pregnant someday. Lovely.

• -I feel the need to buy bathing suits that don’t clash with the colors of my tats.
• -My family members send me SNL clips about lower back tattoos. The theme of the skit? Regret.

Don’t get me wrong I like my ink too:

• -I love that my tattoos are sans any black outline and they look like they were just painted on my skin.
• -The artwork is original, not from flash.
• -I am able to conceal my tattoos thanks to their “tramp stamp” locales.
• -I feel pretty tough knowing that nine hours of my life was spent enduring almost unbearable pain. My legs shook uncontrollably, and I think I ground my teeth flat during my second tattoo sesh.

If you do decide to go under the needle, just remember that a tattoo is a visual representation of who you are. It's with you for life, so make sure you're gonna like looking at it, every day!