Choosing a design can be a long and personal process. And it should be! Remember that even though nearly all tattoos can be completely removed by laser treatments or other removal processes, removal is a long, potentially painful, and expensive process. It will cost much more money and cause you more pain to remove the tattoo than to get it, whether you rushed off and got your tattoo on a whim or pondered it long and hard. So be sure that you'll be pleased with the results before you mark you skin in what is essentially a permanent process.

There are many things to consider, but they all have to do with the effects the tattoo will have on you, and the effects it will have on others.

Let's start with the effects your tattoo will have on others, since that category is a bit shorter and a bit easier to sort out. In the long run, the effects your tattoo may have on others will also effect you, so they are all related.

Your tattoo could result in giving offense to others in several ways: some people don't like tattoos at all, or in some job situations, your employer may frown upon visible tattoos; you could put a serious damper on romance with a potential new partner if you've got the name or initials of a former love on tattooed on your skin; the meaning or style of the tattoo could offend for other reasons (tattoos depicting nudity or even symbols about certain beliefs can offend others); or, rarely, you could contract some disease (such as hepititis C) from a tattoo when you got it in unsanitary conditions, and that would also impact the lives of others.

Of course, you may not care what impact your tattoo will have on others. That is your right, and maybe you shouldn't care at all! Unless you have poor health that effects the lives of your loved ones, the impact your tattoo has on someone else is unpredictable and debatable.

Still, if your tattoo is in an area of your skin that is easily visible to others, surely you are deliberately projecting some image or other that you want others to be aware of. So if you are projecting an image, make sure it's one you want.

If you want to express a certain image or emotion or belief, take that into consideration as well. What kind of picture would express it well? What colors would best enhance it? If the picture is important to you, look at examples of something similar before you decide on your own tattoo. These are ideas to consider when getting a tattoo.

You may want to commemorate or remember someone with your tattoo. While choosing the tattoo, consider what image would best remind you of that person, or project an element of their personality or memory. What did he or she love? What image would best portray what he or she meant to you? Look at the tattoos in our gallery, or look at the tattoos you see on other people. A good tattoo artist can also help you by making suggestions, or by improving your idea.

What appeals to you for a color scheme? Do you prefer black, white, and gray? Or would you like some bright colors in your tattoo? The styles available range from old-style, traditional ones consisting of mainly bold, dark colors, to newer ones with many bright colors. Tattoos can be cute and sexy, or strong and simple, with eastern symbols and characters, or butterflies or animals.

Check out our gallery of tattoos. You will find many examples of the various styles, traditions, and colors there. If you don't find exactly what you like, you should certainly find the beginnings of an idea that an artist can help tweak for you.

But you can't change your tattoos the way you can change your clothing, so be certain that you will like looking at it day after day, month after month, year after year.