People Share 50 Things They Really Wish They Knew Before Getting Inked

Getting a tattoo is a big decision—one that stays with you forever (literally). Some people get inked to mark a special milestone, honor a loved one, or showcase their personality.

But let’s be honest, plenty of tattoos also happen on impulse. And while that spontaneous little design might seem like a great idea at the moment, regret can creep in fast.

To get a better understanding of what goes into a great tattoo (and how to avoid the dreaded regret), Bored Panda spoke with Harkesh Rajpoot, a seasoned tattoo artist with over a decade of experience.

With 33K followers on Instagram and a background in mehndi artistry, he’s seen it all—from beautifully thought-out designs to last-minute choices that didn’t age well.

"There are so many people who come in without a clue about what they want. They’ll ask me to suggest a design, and while I try to help, a tattoo is personal. It should be something meaningful to them, not just something trendy," he explained.

While Pinterest boards and Instagram trends can be great for inspiration, they shouldn’t be the only reason someone gets a tattoo.

According to Harkesh, the details matter just as much as the design. "People rarely think about things like color, placement, or how their tattoo will look in five or ten years.

For example, red ink fades faster, and certain shades don’t sit well on all skin tones," he said. These small but crucial details can make a huge difference in how the tattoo looks down the road.

Placement is another key factor. "People love intricate designs on fingers, wrists, or behind the ear, but they don’t realize that these areas experience a lot of wear and tear. Over time, the fine details blur, and the tattoo can end up looking like a smudge," he pointed out. It’s something many people don’t think about until it’s too late.

And then, of course, there are the clients who completely ignore advice. "I had a client once who got a tattoo just for fun, without much thought. A year later, they came back asking if I could fix it. Unfortunately, not everything can be ‘fixed’—sometimes, the only option is laser removal, which is painful and expensive," he shared.