Tattoos are, classically, forever. They’re on your skin for the rest of your life, whether you like it or not. That’s the reason you get one, so you can be reminded of [insert design choice here] for the rest of your days. This is why it is not a decision to take lightly. You want to really mull it over from all angles, think about it for a long time, and even try it out on your skin for a couple of days before you commit to the full thing. But tattoos are often an impulse decision. 

You might get one in a moment when you’re feeling chaotic and you just need to do something about it. Getting a tattoo can feel like cutting bangs or buying a plane ticket to another country. It scratches the impulse itch and scratches it well. And that isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes, though, it really is.