Tattoo Books

Going through tattoo books can help you decide on the tattoo design you want to get if you don't already know. Getting a tattoo is a semi-permanent thing since you'll be stuck with it for a very long time. Yes, you can have your tattoo removed, but many would rather not go through the hassle and pain. Therefore, it's important to choose something that you can live with for a great many years.

I went to a local tattoo parlor last month just to browse through the pictures in some of the tattoo books they had as I decided to get a tattoo for my birthday. I'm a late bloomer compared to my friends when it comes to getting a tattoo. Most of them got tattoos when they were teenagers.

I actually almost got one myself when I was 15 but changed my mind because first, I was afraid of the pain from the tattooing itself and second, I was afraid to get in trouble with my dad should he find out I had gotten atattoo. I'm over 21 now and I'm free to decide what I want to do with my body.

Anyway, I flipped through the tattoo books looking for the perfect ankle tattoo design. I never wear shoes (I either go barefoot or wear flip flops at most), and I thought a tattoo on my ankle would be a perfect complement to my toe rings and ankle bracelet.

After going through a couple of the tattoo book I was starting to get a little frustrated since I hadn't seen a single artwork that I liked. Most of the tattoo designs were either childish or cheesy. I wanted something feminine and cute on my ankle. Something that would represent me for many decades.

I continued thumbing through the pages of the tattoo books and saw a few interesting tattoo designs. Some of the pictures looked scary and even hideous although a number of them were rather brilliant, I must admit. However, there was none that jumped out and said "I'm yours!"

I had been in the tattoo parlor for over 20 minutes and still had not decided on what I wanted. Finally, one of the tattoo artists approached me and asked if I needed help choosing a tattoo design. He tried to help by asking me a few questions about what I liked, my interests, and even my beliefs.

After going through the Q and A trying to figure out who I was, the tattoo artist, who by the way, was quite an attractive guy, dug through some of the tattoo books that I had not yet had the chance to go over. Finally, he picked up a book and smiled saying, "I have just the perfect tattoo book for you."

So I opened the tattoo book and saw some new age and pagan related tattoo designs like pentacles, zodiac symbols, moon and stars, and fairies. I thought those were really cool. Finally, we were getting somewhere! Seeing my face light up, the tattoo artist smiled again and stood beside me while I browsed through the pictures. He then pointed to a design and said, "I think this will look great on your ankle."

By Tanya Robbins