Tattoos were always something I wanted and I just knew that they would happen for me, but I know other people aren’t so sure. A first tattoo especially feels like a big step. Some people may fear a tattoo will change their whole lives but I personally never felt all that different.

If you’re considering a tattoo but unsure if you’re ready for it, here are some things that I think are important to consider when knowing if your ready for some ink.

1. You’re ready to answer questions about logistics

Tattoos require great care in the weeks after their creation, as well as for the rest of your life if you want them to look good. Being sure that you are up for taking care of your tattoo is just as important as deciding what to get.

The same goes for the research of tattoo shops, styles, and placement. Just wanting a tattoo for the hell of it is totally OK, but make sure you know what you want. Otherwise, you might end up with something that you aren’t 100% happy with.

2. You can tell the story of its significance

People are generally curious about the significance of something you’ve chosen to put on your body forever. Once you get a tattoo, you’ll get many questions about when, where, and why you have it.

Unless your tattoo is mostly hidden from sight, you should be well prepared to talk about your tattoo and it’s importance in your life, even if you just got it because you like the way it looks (because that can be a reason too).

3. You’re OK if people will judge it (and you)

Some people don’t like tattoos; It’s that plain and simple. Some such people can still respect your choice to get one, though they may not want one and others will judge you for it.

I’m not saying that old ladies will accost you in the supermarket, but you should be mildly prepared for the possibility of stares and snide remarks.

4. You can be OK with your body changing

“How will you look when you’re old?” is something that anyone who has or has considered getting a tattoo hears. My response is, “like I did what I wanted when I was young.”

I am not a person who is worried about trying to preserve my youth and I can’t wait to see what my tattoo looks like on aging, lived-in skin. It is definitely a factor for some though, so consider if you’ll be OK with your tattoo aging along with you.

5. You’ve thought about it in every possible scenario

Along with aging, planning for the future of your tattoo also involves thinking about it in various situations. In class, at an interview, on your wedding day, at the beach, etc.

Would you be willing to cover it for a job? Would you be a parent with a tattoo? This is not all to say that you can plan your whole life, but some people have very strong perceptions of their future selves, and you want to make sure that you can see your tattoo as part of that picture.

6. You look at it as a mark of the current state of your life

My own personal belief is that it will be impossible for me to ever regret my tattoos because they reflect where I was in my life when I got them. It’s like a visual diary. If you want to get your current boyfriend’s name tattooed on your lower back, awesome! You get to look back on that and remember how amazing it is that you were ever that in love.

Regardless of whether you would or wouldn’t get a significant other’s name tattooed on you, you should acknowledge that you will change throughout your life, and you may not be in love with the same tattoo you love today, but it’s still apart of your story.