To ensure you get inked the way you want, you may want to take these tips into consideration before getting your next tattoo.

1. The meaning or purpose

As you know, tattoos are permanent… that means you should put considerable amount of thought into your tattoo. It shouldn’t be done on a whim and DEFINITELY should not be done under the influence. For example, 12-year-old me swore that I was going to get a One Direction infinity sign tattoo, however, 19-year-old me completely disagrees with that. That brings me to the next point, trendy tattoos. Odds are, if something is trendy enough for you to want to get a tattoo, in three years, the story won’t be the same.

2. The cost

Make sure you have the funds for a tattoo. Tattoos can be fairly expensive depending on size, time, and color usage. In most cases, you can get an estimate from your tattoo artist. Reminder, you’re going to need to tip your tattoo artist, so make sure to account for that when you’re saving up for your tattoo.

3. The tattoo artist and style

Just like all other artists, each tattoo artist will have a different style or different specialities. Make sure you do your research on the tattoo artists that you are considering to see if they are the right fit for you and can help bring your vision of your tattoo to life.

4. Go to a consult

A consult is important so that you can explain to your tattoo artist what you would like put permanently on your body. Its important to set aside around 30 minutes for your consult, then you can show them images if you have any and ask questions. You will most likely have to have more than one consult. While you are there, you can build a relationship with the artist. Some artists will allow you to be able to see the design of your tattoo that they have come up with. This is your time to voice your opinions or add some changes to the design.

5. Placement

The placement of your tattoo is entirely up to you. It’s important to consider your pain-tolerance, as some places on the body are more painful to get tattoos then others, such as bony areas. And although I completely disagree with this, some workforces do not allow tattoos to be visible. So, if you're planning on going into one of these fields, I would recommend placing your tattoo in a spot that is easily hidden by clothing.