How to convince my parents and boyfriend...

[Lisacooper91]

*sigh*
I've been thinking about an Alice tattoo for a few years now and even though I became 18 last month... I want my parents to support me.
Even my boyfriend doesn't want me to have an Alice tattoo and of course, I want him to support me as well.

"what if you're a 80 year old lady? imagine how a tattoo looks then"
"what if you don't like Alice anymore after a few years?" They always tell me these things.

so yeah.. what could I say to them to convince them?
As a little start... I was thinking to let Alice sign my arm or something... and then turn it into a tattoo a day later or so...
I mean, that would be the perfect reminder of the day I met my hero...

oooo.. I so want his face tattooed on my arm.... want to look at him everyday, everywhere I am...

[TonyfromNH]

Even though my wife has a HUGE Alice tattoo that is signed, amongst another one of her favorite performers, I personally would not do it at your age.

I got one when I was 18 (24 years ago)and am in the process of having them removed which will cost me 40 times what I paid for them back then. I hate how they look (as the inks used back then were not "time friendly") now my daughter "suffers" for it, in terms of I hate going to beaches, waterparks,etc.

Don't get me wrong, with higher quality inks they look great, and the colors will hold much longer, but not forever. As for your parents commenting about how it will look when you are 80, well: they are in a sense correct. A woman that gets a small bird tattooed on her breast, will most likely have a condor to tend to when she reaches her senior years. Tight skinned areas not so much.

Another good idea if you do is put it in a place that you can conceal if you want. Hers is on her back, and whereas she works in a professional field it has to be concealed according to policy...another thing to think about is your future employment. At your age you have many options that will present themselves to you.

...and at your age, the morticians will probably wonder "who is that guy on her"?

[damiennalice]

Im not sure you can convince people in the way you are looking for. To me,tattooing is a personal thing. It needs to be something you'll want to have for a lifetime (even though they now can be removed but at a hefty price). The questions being thrown at you do have some merit,being all of 18 and all. You're not going to be able to please everybody. The 2 I've got I've had for about 20 years but they are something that still holds true to me today.

I read your small print. It reads like a schoolgirl crush.

You say you want the approval of others and it looks like it wont happen. Im one for an individual in doing as they wish - however,one must always think of potential consequences of those choices. Not much help from me,sorry. Ultimately I think you get final decision. I do suggest patience.

As a personal story,I once wanted to put a cool red patch streak in my hair as I saw one of my fav artists had at the time. I was shot down and let me tell you Im glad I was.

[Somwhere In Auckland]

If I was your boyfriend, I would support you

[Shoesalesman]

My advice: think long and hard about a tattoo, give yourself a year and ask yourself again if you want one, let alone an Alice tatty. Take the picture you really want done in ink, put it on your fridge and look at it everyday for a year, then if you still feel that strongly about it... GET-R-DONE! I think something that's going to be on your body for life should have at least a year's consideration.

Then again it's your body and you're at the age of majority now and can make those adult decisions.

Good luck and I hope whatever you decide is right for you.

[SKULLBOY]

*sigh*
I've been thinking about an Alice tattoo for a few years now and even though I became 18 last month... I want my parents to support me.
Even my boyfriend doesn't want me to have an Alice tattoo and of course, I want him to support me as well.

"what if you're a 80 year old lady? imagine how a tattoo looks then"
"what if you don't like Alice anymore after a few years?" They always tell me these things.

so yeah.. what could I say to them to convince them?
As a little start... I was thinking to let Alice sign my arm or something... and then turn it into a tattoo a day later or so...
I mean, that would be the perfect reminder of the day I met my hero...

oooo.. I so want his face tattooed on my arm.... want to look at him everyday, everywhere I am...

I waited until I was 21 to get my first Alice tattoo, but I had been a fan for 10 years by then and it was my third tat. Also, that tat was the Death Head insert that came with the "Raise Your Fist and Yell" record. The day I bought that album when it first came out and saw that picture I marked it as a tat. Nine years later I had it put on my skin.

As for the "when you're 80" thing, here's the best response to the question (for any tattoo) that I've ever heard--I just don't remember where I heard it:

Question: "What will your tattoo look like when you're 80?"
Answer: "Like crap, just like the rest of my body!"

[Somwhere In Auckland]

I think you can get carried away, A small tat somwhere hidden, what the heck is wrong with that? Its hardley the mistake of the century.

If YOU want a tat, sure go for it. Its kind of a decision that only YOU can make really.

And yeah skullboy, I think at 80 you will have more to worry about than a momento tat you got 60 years ago

[alicestrash]

Question: "What will your tattoo look like when you're 80?"
Answer: "Like crap, just like the rest of my body!"

HAHAHAHHAHAHAH thats frickn' gold.

i have a rolling stones tattoo on my lower hip and it can always be concealed which was a huge bonus for me. the stones are and always have been a huge part of who i am and really mean a lot to me and so the day i turned 18 i went and had it inked. i rushed into it but luckily i don't regret it and don't think i ever will. it's awesome.

my mum has a tattoo that goes around her ankle as a rose vine and an inch down her foot. she rushed into it because of my stepdad and i had to tell her the truth and say that i hated the original design or else god knows what it would be now. people vocalized to her in her office negatively about how it looked in a professional environment and now she can't wear skirts etc or anything that shows her ankle which is a real downer in summer..

i always thought about getting other tattoos, especially an alice one. but i was never 100% sure and still am not which is why i will not rush into it and neither should you. it's going to be with you for life so there is absolutely no reason for you to have to stress about it and if you're stressing about it then it might not be a good idea.


just a perspective. if it's awesome and you're 100% sure, do it. just remember you've got a lifetime with it.


p.s FWIW my boyfriend hates the idea of me getting another guy's face or name tattooed on me but luckily i couldn't give a crap.

[Lisacooper91]

thanks for the replies people
been thinking about the tat for more than 3 years now... but I think I'll wait a few more years for a bigger tattoo but having his autograph tattooed on my arm, leg or whatever... that shouldn't be a disaster, right? I mean, that could be hidden and it's not big.

and SKULLBOY, I'll remember that!

I always draw on myself and yes, I often drew Alice on my arm just to see how it looks like. then I always look in the mirror and feel really good about it.

and 1 year ago I drew his eyes on both of my arms.. I even went to school with it, haha, thought it looked awesome! (of course, I could cover it up with clothes)
don't have a picture though... but I got a picture of a Skinny Puppy related drawing on my arm, for who's interested: http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii23 ... 6_8Xa0.jpg

@ damienalice:
you said "I read your small print. It reads like a schoolgirl crush."
what do you mean with that? you mean that it's just all a crush? well, if you think that.. you're wrong
Alice's been in my life since I was 12 and he + his music is just very important to me. had some shitty times and listening to the music... it just always cheered me up and made me feel good.
Alice is my hero, my idol.. someone I really look up to.
(sounds a bit stupid and cheesy I know... but I'm sure I'm not the only one, ey )

[Somwhere In Auckland]

After reading that, I am convinced enough to support you

[Gunner]

Personally, I think to have an illustration of a rock star (or anyone for that matter) on your body elevates that being into a 'super being', a God, an idol to worship. He sings, writes decent rock lyrics and has good stage presence. I don't think any human being should be elevated to some sort of deity, especially a pop star. Just my opinion.

[Mr. Skull]

Considering your boy friend I would advise you to try the mirror methode :
would YOU mind him having a tattoo of a famous female rock star with a boys name ? Like euhh or ...
If not go ahead with your plan !

[sparkinthedark]

If your parents / boyfriend don't like the idea then chances are that there's probably nothing that you can do that will change their mind. I have four tattoos (three of them Alice themed) and each of them are in an area that can be covered up with ease, should the need arise. I would say think good and hard about it, because however much you like Alice, what you think is the perfect design now, you may feel differently about in as little as five or six years. It's certainly notmy intention to "talk down" to you, far from it, but I know that I am an incredibly different person now at 26 than I was at 18/19. I am not suggesting either that your admiration of Alice is just a phase, so please don't think that.

For about two years solid I had it in my head that I wanted a tattoo of a portrait of Alice but made myself wait. Over time, the appeal of it faded and now I'm glad I didn't act on impulse at the time.

For the record, my fiance is not a fan of my tattoos and occasionally feels the need to tell me so. I don't take it personally, as he just doesn't like tattoos in general!

[TonyfromNH]

I always draw on myself and yes, I often drew Alice on my arm just to see how it looks like.

@ damienalice:
you said "I read your small print. It reads like a schoolgirl crush."
what do you mean with that? you mean that it's just all a crush? well, if you think that.. you're wrong
Alice's been in my life since I was 12 and he + his music is just very important to me. had some shitty times and listening to the music... )

I thought the same thing. Yes, you are of legal age but to some people, you would come across as "young" by drawing on yourself and by the words in small print. Kind of "impressionable."

DA refered to 2 tats that still "hold true" today. In my case, I did it without really thinking about it. I was an 18 year old kid that knew it all. I kick myself for it now.

As for just getting a signature tat, that would look worse. If you really want to get a tat, maybe consider something like the standard "School's Out" heart&dagger. I have seen many of those in my years and "our" tattooist would probably recommend something like that as it is easily could have a "cover up" worked into it, should you someday changed your mind, a portrait...not so much.

Also, it is rather inexpensive (around $200 + tip)) as it is approximately a 1 1/2 hour tattoo. I am just using that tat as an example. There are many smaller scale Alice tat's you could consider.

The choice is ultimately yours, nobody else. If you do go forward with it remember:

"Good tattoos are not cheap, and cheap tattoos are not good"

[Baz]

I have never regretted getting tattoo`d but like someone said, it is a personal thing, and you know deep down whether you want one or not.

Can I offer one piece of advice, if it`s a portrait you are thinking of having done, for Gods sake go to a tattooist who specialises in portraits. I`ve been wanting an Alice portrait for years now but dare`n trust any of the tattooist around here to get it right. The last thing you want is for people to be forever asking you who it is.

[RemarkablyInsincere]

I got one when I was 18 (24 years ago)and am in the process of having them removed which will cost me 40 times what I paid for them back then. I hate how they look

Yea, but who wouldn't be embarrassed by a Liberace tattoo.

[Baz]

[MadameBondage]

I have never regretted getting tattoo`d but like someone said, it is a personal thing, and you know deep down whether you want one or not.

Can I offer one piece of advice, if it`s a portrait you are thinking of having done, for Gods sake go to a tattooist who specialises in portraits. I`ve been wanting an Alice portrait for years now but dare`n trust any of the tattooist around here to get it right. The last thing you want is for people to be forever asking you who it is.

Sound advice Bazzy

[Lisacooper91]

Can I offer one piece of advice, if it`s a portrait you are thinking of having done, for Gods sake go to a tattooist who specialises in portraits. I`ve been wanting an Alice portrait for years now but dare`n trust any of the tattooist around here to get it right. The last thing you want is for people to be forever asking you who it is.

I already looked for someone like that and there appears to be a good one here in the Netherlands, saw some work and woa :D


ah well, thanks again folks.
think I'll just continue with designing a personal AC tattoo and if I still want one later (when I got a real job and such) then it'll be mine!

but... the autograph tattoo is so tempting... I mean, it'll probably the only time I'll ever get to meet him

[AC Collect]

Get on your parents good side
That's what my Brother did then finally they said 'Yeah Ok then', and he taped it just so he had proof