I'm about to say something slightly controversial, but that's okay because controversy gets people talking. I say it's controversial because I know not everyone will agree, but since summer is finally making its way to us, I feel it's an appropriate time to write about it. Here it goes: a tattoo doesn't have to mean anything.

Since it's summer, a lot of people are about to be showing off more skin to deal with the higher temps. This is the time of year when a lot of people contemplate getting inked. Many will go through with it, and many will not. While a person completely has the right to decide what to do and not to do with their body, what is stopping us from getting some cool body art (besides the cost)?

A lot of people back out of getting a tattoo because they can't find one that means something to them. Usually, when people show slight disapproval for tattoos, they say something like, "I like tattoos, but only if they mean something." So people search for quotes, try to dig deep in their memories for something symbolic and when nothing comes to mind, they end up backing out of the choice to get a tattoo.

There is nothing wrong with getting a tattoo to commemorate something, but it should not be the only reason to get one. The first thing you should think of when you get an idea is, "do I like it?" then you should ask, "would I like to have it on my body?" If the answer to both of those is yes, go get that tattoo!

The way I see it, tattoos are personal art that will last on your body for a very long time with good upkeep. There are also many styles of tattoos to choose from, and sometimes just the style of art can take a tattoo to another level.

You can go geometric:

You can go watercolor:

You can go geometric AND watercolor:

Or you can draw your own tattoo and make your own style. The whole point is that the possibilities with tattoos are endless and artists push their boundaries when tattooing. Each of the tattoos above depict a lion, but all of the styles have a different feel to them. Sometimes the only thing you need to say about why you got your tattoo is, "because it looks cool."

While I support tattoos, I mean that I support the smart way to get one. I do realize that they will be on your body for quite awhile. I do realize that it can be scary, especially for the first tattoo. When making the decision to adorn your body, it should be done in a way that minimizes risk.

Always go to a professional. You want to make sure your tattoo turns out the best it possibly can, but you also want to make sure that sterile products are being used. Tattoos are done by a needle attachment on a gun and dirty needles are a biohazard. Make sure your artist uses a brand-new needle before they start turning you into the piece of art that you are.

Find out about pricing. Tattoos aren't the cheapest thing in the world and sometimes that guy that does 15-dollar-tattoos out of his van sounds enticing. Call different shops and see what their base price is (some places start at $50 for a tattoo and prices change depending on size and if you want color or just black). Also, don't be afraid to go into the shop and see what style of art a person does. No two tattoo artists are alike, so see what art style you like and go from there.

Are you getting ready to go on vacation? Will you be swimming on this vacation? If so, hold off on the tattoo until you get back. Swimming can distort a new tattoo when it's in its stages of healing. It'll be no fun watching your family and friends have a blast in the water while you're letting your tattoo heal--or even worse--messing up your brand new ink and having to get a touch-up.

It's half your artist's job to make a tattoo look great. The other half is your job. Aftercare determines how good the final product is going to look when it's completely healed. Tattoos get itchy, so it's important not to scratch and to use whatever product your artist recommends to promote healing. Many people freak out when their tattoo begins to peel and flake off--it's essentially like a scab. Let it do its thing, and in a few weeks, your art will be good to go.

So far this article has covered why you should get a tattoo and how to take care of it. The last thing I want to say is this: the first tattoo, in my experience, made choosing the second one much easier. I have yet to receive the second one due to financial strain, but I know that the first one is not the last. When I sat in that chair, in the middle of it, I questioned what the big deal was. I liked my tattoo. I didn't feel trashy, I didn't feel unprofessional, I didn't feel like I had branded myself in any way that could ruin my life. I made the decision to decorate my body, and to this day, I don't regret it and never will.