I am a tattoo collector; I have a handful of tattoos at this point and I plan to get more. Tattoos used to be super taboo but now they're fairly widely accepted. 40% of millennials are tattooed compared to 21% of Gen X. Getting your first tattoo can be nerve-wracking and it's important to do your homework before getting inked.

1. Do you want a visible tattoo?

Having a visible tattoo means something different to everyone. To some people, a visible tattoo might mean any tattoo not covered with a regular t shirt. To other people, a visible tattoo might mean a tattoo that's difficult or impossible to cover like a hand, neck, or face tattoo. Take some time to think about how important it is to be able to cover your tattoo. Keep in mind that if your tattoo is visible, people will probably ask you about it.

2. Don't pick your placement based on pain

The pain of getting tattooed is temporary but the placement is permanent. Plus, tattoos aren't unbearably painful. A lot of it depends on pain tolerance, but I'd compare it to being aggressively scratched by a cat. Not a fun feeling, but not the worst pain imaginable.

3. Map out your tattoos ahead of time.

You don't have to have a solid plan of exactly what tattoo you want where, but it's good to think about what tattoos you might want in the future.

For example, I know I eventually want a sleeve on one arm so I have put all my other tattoos on the other arm. When I talk to my artist about a new tattoo, I mention what other tattoos I plan to have in that area. It can help your artist plan the design accordingly and help things fit together better down the road.

4. What style of tattoos do you like?

Say you want a tattoo of a rose, which is super common. Traditional, neo traditional, Japanese, realism, dotwork, linework, and geometric style roses will all look comepletely different. Some styles, like traditional, geometric, dotwork, and script, can stand alone as indvidual tattoos, while others, like Japanese, neo traditional, and realism, look better as larger pieces.

5. Find an artist you love

Instagram is a great tool for finding artists! When you're scrolling through an artist's feed, pay attention to what they post. Do they gravitate towards certain styles or subjects? When I'm looking for an artist, I look for three things: both fresh and healed photos, craftsmanship, and designs I'm obsessed with. If I love every single piece on their page, chances are I will love the tattoo I get from them.

6. You are not the expert

Some people have a tendency to want to control every single little detail of their tattoo. My best tattoo experiences have been when I give my artist an idea of what I want and then let them work their magic. My favorite tattoo is the one I had the least control over. The artistry is phenomenal and it came out better than pictured it in my head.

Other times, it's good to listen to your artist for practical reasons. I had a tattoo that I had my heart set on getting super tiny but my artist explained why that wouldn't necessarily age well and we decided to make it much larger. In the end, I couldn't be happier.

7. Your tattoo is your business

Some people get tattoos that hold significant meaning or are symbolic. Some people get tattoos of pineapples because they f*cking love pineapples. Both of those are totally okay! It's your body so it's entirely up to you what kind of tattoos you want.