I actually prefer being slightly manic when making a decision about tattoos; it gives me the push I need to go through with it. Being manic doesn't automatically make every decision a bad one, sometimes it gives a boost of confidence to make the right decision.

I was 18 for my first tattoo and placed a butterfly on my right ankle. I wanted to show off my first tattoo so I put it where everyone can see it when I'm at the pool or wearing heels, but can cover it up when I'm at work. My second tattoo was when I was 19. I woke up one day, felt like getting a tattoo, then got a second butterfly and a rose on my right hip. It still has meaning to me even though I randomly decided I wanted a tattoo, I placed it there so only lovers can see and it was a very feminine and sexual tattoo. I don't regret either of them, though it's hard to regret a butterfly. I do recall having changing thoughts after I got it, like "Oh, maybe if it was a little higher and a little to the left." I also told the artist to shade an area he didn't want shaded and had second thoughts after I made him shade it. But in the end, I got used to the way they were and don't regret them.

The pain on my ankle was nothing, the first five minutes hurt, then it was a dull dragging like a knife. The first only took 15 minutes. The hip, however, was almost unbearable. Not only was it on the bone, it was on a cluster of nerves that made me want to cry. (However, the foot is said to be the worst pain offender of all.) But I got through it and felt better when it was over. When you get the tattoo, it doesn't matter if you don't like pain. Because once he starts, you have to lay there and take it until it's over or you won't like the result.

If you don't like them, there's not much you can do. Removing the ink isn't perfect and it still shows. Plus, it's very costly. When you get a tattoo, you live with it, because there's nothing you can get that will be so regrettable that you have to remove it, unless you tattoo a penis, your boyfriend's name you later break up with, or gang or political symbols. Trust me, there will more than likely be something you don't like about your tattoo, like a color or shading you don't like or how it was placed, but that's nothing to be regretting.

I can tell you are worked up, and it's natural to be nervous about a first tattoo, but I would recommend going through with it and your fears will be over. In fact, you might feel addicted to them once you start which is again a very natural feeling that most people feel. I only have two but the first couple weeks of having a tattoo makes you want more.