Art through ink

    How do you express yourself? Do you express yourself through painting, poetry, or dance? Do you express yourself through graffiti, singing, playing an instrument? There are many different types of self-expression. My personal favorite form of art and self-expression is tattoos.
    Tattoos have been around for quite some time. Even though tattoos are fun, expressive, and now widely accepted, in the past they were scarce and not often seen as a beautiful form of art. In present day, tattoos can be of anything your heart desires. Some examples of tattoos are portraits, names, quotes, or anything symbolic to the person receiving the tattoo. People sometimes go on a whim and get a tattoo or it could take years to build up the courage. So, what do you need to know about tattoos?
    Tattoos are a form of self-expression that are intended to be permanent. Though there are ways to get rid of a tattoo,.it is a very long, painful, and expensive process – so make sure you are 100 percent sure that you want a tattoo before you get one.
    When you first decide you want a tattoo, some things to consider are not only what design you want, but is it going to be black or with color? Another thing to consider is the location. People vary in their choices on black ink or colored ink. Black ink can be a great way to go because it stands out and you don't have to touch up the color as often as color.
Color ink is a little trickier. There are a few things to consider with color. If you choose to get your tattoo with colored ink, keep in mind that you might have to touch up the colors more as the years go on and the color fades. Another thing with colored ink is that the colored ink can be especially irritating to the skin; mostly red ink will do this.
    According to the Mayo Clinic, "Tattoo dyes — especially red dye — can cause allergic skin reactions, resulting in an itchy rash at the tattoo site. This may occur even years after you get the tattoo." The location of where one would get a tattoo is very important as well. There are places that are better than others to put a tattoo. The least painful places are the arm, thigh, behind the neck and back. The most painful places are the: top of the foot, ankle, chest, ribcage, or any place where there is less fatty deposits. You also want to take into consideration that if your body changes for some reason, that where you put your tattoo will dictate if the tattoo stretches or increases in size.
    The basic risks of tattoos are: allergic reactions to the ink, skin irritation (the skin can get itchy, puffy, and even secrete pus, scar tissue or raised bumps on skin), blood-borne diseases can be passed on through the needle, and general infections from the entering of the needle. Are these risks too much for you? Why not try something a little less permanent? Some alternatives to getting a tattoo are fake and henna tattoos. Some fake tattoos can last up to a month and are a great way to see if you really like having a tattoo on you. The great thing about henna and fake tattoos are that they wash off and fade over time!
    If you're really thinking about getting a tattoo, all of these things are important to consider. I think that they're a great way to show different aspects of who you are as a person. To see some tattoo designs, students are encouraged to visit Tattoofinder.com.