Now that you have decided to get a tattoo, the next thing to consider is what design you want and where you want to put it. There are several things to consider when deciding on design and location and sometimes the two go hand-in-hand.

The pain factor: One of the first questions that people who don't have tattoos ask people who do is whether or not it will hurt. There are some parts of the body that are more sensitive than others. The small of the back, for instance is one area that's not very painful. The ankle, although a popular area, is very bony and can cause slight pain on occasion. The thigh and stomach areas are also not as painful s other areas that contain more nerves, mostly because they tend to have more flesh.

Your job: Although it might seem like you're taking the fun out of it a little bit, you should really keep your profession in mind when picking your tattoo. Some companies won't allow their employees to have noticeable tattoos. If this is important to you, you might want to have it placed somewhere that can easily be covered up. Likewise, if you work in a fairly conservative environment, having a tattoo with satanic images or of another controversial subject matter might not be the most appropriate way to go. Of course, it's up to you.

Permanency: Although tattoos can be removed, which is very painful, or adjusted, you should really remember that tattoos are permanent. Therefore, when choosing one, you should ask yourself whether or not the design and location are something that you think you can live with for the rest of your life. When you're on Spring Break from college in Cancun and that tequila bottle on your chest sounds like a good idea, is it really something that you're going to want when you're 80? Also, keep in mind that your body will change. If you gain weight and your skin stretches, the tattoo will stretch, too. You might not want that ring of dolphins around your bellybutton to look more like whales somewhere on down the line.

Location and design: If you know where you want your tattoo to go on your body, then you might want to think about designs that would be suitable for that part. A small rose, for example, would fit well on an ankle. A large, complicated landscape design would not. Likewise, if you know the design that you want, you might want to think about body parts that it would fit well on.

Your personality: Above all, your tattoo design should be a reflection of your personality. Picking something just because it is pretty and it speaks to you is fine. But try to refrain from picking something just because it's popular. Body art in general can be a form of expression and the permanency of tattoos is one of the best forms of expression there is.

Finding a design: There are many places in which to search for tattoo designs. A simple look on the internet will literally yield thousands of results. A good tattoo parlor will also have many designs on hand to choose from. A good tattoo parlor will have no problem in you coming in and looking around. If you're an artist yourself, you might want to design one. Talk to the tattoo artist first about recreating a design. Inspiration can come from anywhere-cartoons, comic books, advertisements- even stickers.

Remember that when picking your design, it is up to you what you get and where you put it. You're the one that has to live with it and despite where your friends put theirs, and what they choose, it's ultimately your decision.

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