It's the stereotypical rebellion of many college students that has been imitated many times over in movies and television. The fresh faced 18-year-old student is away from home and feeling adventurous so they decide to get a tattoo in a sketchy parlor by a gruff looking tattoo artist covered in leather accessories. The tattoo is something they picked off the wall of samples and doesn't hold any meaning or thought behind it. In the end the student regrets the tattoo and shrugs it off as a learning experience like an after-school special; however, getting a regretful tattoo can be much more detrimental than something to shrug off. That is why its time for students to forgo the impulsive tattoos of Chinese words and butterflies and put some true meaning into their very permanent body art.
For some inspiration, below are some minimalist tattoo designs that you can customize for your interests and personalities. As with any permanent body markings its necessary that I advise long term planning for these designs and not to commit too quickly to one. Tattoos are about individuality and separating yourself from the crowd so make sure any ink on your body is a reflection of yourself but also have fun with it!
1. Less is more.
Sometimes you come across a quote in literature so profound that it speaks directly to your soul. You feel as if this quote captures you as a person, so it seems natural to want it placed on your body right? The trouble is that typical quotes can run on for many sentences and suddenly you struggle to find space on your body. Instead of trying to squeeze your favorite Oscar Wilde quote on your shoulder, maybe opt for keywords from the passage or condense it down to your favorite section of words. It may not make sense to others reading the tattoo, but it will hold true meaning for you and will definitely separate you from those other literary tattoos!
2. Shhhh, it's a surprise.
Subtlety is the goal when going for an impulsive tattoo; if you regret the ink then you can easily cover it up. But why not apply that train of thought to your favorite tattoos? Sometimes the knowledge that you have a non-visible tattoo is just as cool as showing one off. It's even greater when you reveal that you do have one and see the disbelief in peoples' reactions. To ensure that these tattoos stay hidden (unless you choose to show them off), try to keep them quaint and small. Making them more personal to your own interests and experiences will mean a lot.
3. If you like it, then you shoulda put a tattoo on it.
The fingers, or phalanges if you will, are very understated areas for tattoo placement. However, those that put symbolic meanings into finger tattoos end up loving the constant acknowledgement and vision they have of their ink. It's best to go with an understated tattoo or have a single word running across the side of a finger. It's demure, delicate, and very different. What more could you want in a tattoo?
4. Say my name, say my name.
What do we hear more in our lives than our own name? We say it, write it, identify by it – so it seems pretty natural that we would mark ourselves with it as well. This doesn't mean scribe your given birth name across your forehead like a personal license plate, but using your name can open up a lot of creative possibilities. Using your name, nickname, or even initials lets you play with fonts, design, geometric shapes, and also doesn't restrict the placement on your body. There is also little regret when getting a name tattoo as you probably like your name anyway.
5. In memoriam.
We've all loved and lost. This doesn't mean you should go tattoo names on your body, but it is a way to honor those truly important in your life. I would avoid getting full-on drawn depictions of those individuals because they usually come out looking more demonic than symbolic. A better alternative would be getting their names, initials, or something the two of you shared together. Make sure that a tattoo is truly the best way to honor this person because it could become troubling to have a constant reminder of their loss on your body.
6. NO REGRETS. Not even a single letter.
It can seem pretty cool to stay minimalist and get a single word or phrase tattooed on your body. However, I have encountered more horror stories than happy stories about getting single words as it usually spurs more confusion than awe. Unless you have a favorite word that you have loved for years, it can be hard to completely commit to one word. So, if you are going the route of simplistic tattoos, make sure to be completely sure of your choice. Also, avoid stereotypical phrases such as free, inspired, wanderer. It's already assumed that you are pretty open-minded to be getting a tattoo, so there's no need to emphasize that.
The best advice for any person considering a tattoo is to take time to think about what you would really want on your body permanently. Or in other words, think before you ink.
