My friend called me last week and asked me if I wanted to go with her to her tattoo appointment. I've always wanted to get a tattoo and I was interested in the process of getting one, so I said I would go. She asked me if I wanted to get a tattoo with her while we were there, but it was something I wanted to think about first. Where would I get it? What would I get? I thought about quotes, initials, and symbols. I also didn't know anything about the tattoo artist except for her reviews on him, which were good. But I ultimately couldn't go through with it because I needed more time to make a decision.

If you are indecisive like me, you should do your research before you get a tattoo. You should find out what kind of design you want and where you would get it because a tattoo is a lifetime commitment!

Here are some things I considered while doing tattoo research and hopefully they can help you too:

1. Choose a good tattoo artist.

When choosing a tattoo artist, find out any relevant information that will make your experience that much better. Where is the artist located? How is the artist's artwork? Does he/she have a waiting list? Look at their previous work and customer reviews. See if their customers have been satisfied with the service to decide if you want to use that artist. Most importantly, make sure that the artist is sanitary. New and clean supplies such as needles and gloves are imperative to having a smooth tattoo process.

2. Don't be cheap.

"A good tattoo isn't cheap and a cheap tattoo isn't good." Keep this in mind when looking at the prices of tattoos. Some tattoo artists charge more because they believe in the quality of their work. Some tattoo artists charge less because their work isn't up to par with others. Don't be cheap when it comes to the artwork on your body. It'll be worth the extra $100 for a higher quality piece of work.

3. Consider your future.

Will this tattoo prevent you from getting a job? Think about this. You don't want to get something on your body that will affect you in your workplace. If you plan on becoming a lawyer, think twice before getting a tattoo on your face. Many places of business do not allow tattoos to be shown while at work. So if you are certain that a tattoo is what you want, at least get it in a place that can easily be covered up.

4. Be aware of your pain tolerance.

If you have a low tolerance for pain, you should not start off by getting a big tattoo. It would be best to start with a smaller tattoo to test your tolerance. You should also avoid areas such as your ribs, spine, and feet. Those places on the body tend to hurt the most.

5. Some relationships are temporary, but tattoos are forever.

Before you tattoo his/her name on your chest ask yourself, "Do I really know if this relationship is going to last forever?" You do not want to spend the rest of your life with "Ricky" on your arm when you are now married to Chris. No one wants to see another person's name tattooed on their spouse.

6. They are permanent!

.If you are not willing to deal with the pain of having a tattoo removed, then it is forever! It means no matter what, you have to live with it. So choose wisely when picking a tattoo artist, design, and placement. No matter what you choose, just be sure that you'll be happy with it for the rest of your life.