Tattoos are marvelous works of art. The modern tattoo industry is thriving thanks to an upward trend in acceptance of the art form with every new generation. Stigmas surrounding tattoos have slowly begun to disappear and many of us are able to comprehend that the condition of a person's skin has no bearing on their mental capacity or moral compass. Tattoos can be positive, but they can also be unquestionably permanent. Getting one for yourself should never be a split decision, because you probably will not feel the same way about your tattoo ten years from now.

1.The Chest Tat

There has never been an adult on the face of planet earth who has woken up in the morning, looked in the mirror at their bare chest, and said, "You know what? I've got a blank canvas here, let's make something happen." If you happen to be a pirate from the late-sixteen hundreds, then maybe a miscellaneous saying in enormous cursive lettering stamped across your sternum is acceptable and encouraged. However, anyone else who does not fit into that category should steer clear of these tattoos. They may look great when you are 17, but when you are 35 with a wife and kids, you probably won't want to have to explain to them why their parental guardian looks like they were cast in an episode of Gangland.

2. Brand Symbols

I love American consumerism just as much as the next guy, but people... there are limits. If you feel comfortable with walking into a job interview for that position at Goldman Sachs with that Wu Tang symbol on your neck or, Snap, Crackle, and Pop on your inner forearm, then by all means knock yourself out. I am laughing to myself while writing this because the idea of putting anything relating to popular brand names on your body seems outlandish. Never the less, people have done it. Your tastes will change as your age does, and I can personally guarantee that you will not feel the same way about the tattoo below when you decide to get into animal rights and become a vegan in your late twenties.

3. The Face or Name of an Ex

This one is a no-brainer. If you are in a committed relationship, take a step back and channel your inner realist: How committed is it? To be honest, there is no answer to that question that would warrant slapping a photo-realistic image of your significant other's face anywhere on your body. The late teens and early twenties are a time to experiment and find yourself; they are not a time to become someone else's property. Everyone has their share of relationships. It would be naive to believe that you have never been in an intimate relationship in the past, but your current spouse would rather not have to be reminded of that every time you step out of the shower. This guy not only used every font available in Microsoft Office Word, but when he ran out, he didn't stop there. If you look closely, he actually spelled out "BRENDA" with the word "BRENDA". I like to call this piece "Ink-ception".

4. Over-sized Religious Symbolism

I know for a fact that you do not know Jesus personally and he certainly was not a close family friend, so we are still waiting for a valid explanation for that ginormous image of Christ plastered on your back. Bigger is not necessarily better. Any religious symbolism tattoo has the potential to look amazing and retain cultural significance for its host, but it all comes down to moderation. Save some money and keep tattoo Jesus at a maximum height of six inches, as opposed to two feet. Oversized religious images have a tendency to look a tad creepy, and when you get older, you may even end up switching faiths. Not to mention that not all places on the globe are equally as tolerant of your religious views as where you live now. For example, you would not want to be caught in a radical section of the Middle East shirtless with this guy covering your back.

5. Anything and Everything Related to Your College Career

Yes, college is an extremely meaningful period of your life, but no, do not get your college mascot tatted on your bicep. After you graduate, you will most likely no longer be surrounded by people who also go to that university--and trust me, they will judge you. Tattoos on spring breaks are definitely off-limits, and tattoos done by your friends should not even have been an option in the first place. College generally is not the time in which most young adults are known for their decision making skills. The lifestyle you lead in college will undoubtably be different than the one that you choose to lead after graduation. Be mindful of the fact that life after college is vastly different and most of your decisions now are going to have a very real impact on your future. Life does not come with auto correct, so I hope you have either a good eye or a couple thousand dollars to have that removed.

While these are some examples of what not to do, there is no reason why you can't ignore my advice and go ahead with one of these ideas anyways. It is your body and no one has the right to tell you what you can or cannot put on it. As long as you are happy with the final result, nothing else should matter. Just be sure to put a great deal of consideration into what you want your tattoo to be and where you would prefer to put it. Think about what your life goals are and how you would like to be perceived. If you do not mind the idea of others making negative comments about your tattoo then feel free to put it on your face if that floats your boat. There is no problem with getting inked, and I would even go as far as to recommend that everyone consider getting a tattoo of their own.