Photo: Sincerely Media
We recently shared a post with Grief Collective follower stories about tattoos they’ve gotten in memoriam of someone they’ve lost. Getting a tattoo can be a beautiful way to pay homage, but it’s also a big commitment, and a few followers reached out wanting to know if there were any tips or bits of advice to share with someone considering getting inked.
Here’s what the community had to say.
Think on it for a while.
“Grief can be so fickle,” one community member wrote. People often say not to make big life changes within the first year of a loss, and while a tattoo may not fall into that category (depending where you get it!) it’s still a big and permanent decision. Only you can decide what’s right for you, but it never hurts to take your time and make sure it’s a decision you’ll feel good about years down the line. It may even take a while to figure out what the right words or images are to remember that person. As other community members shared, there’s no rush.
Research your artist to find the right person.
Finding an artist whose style you like and who has availability can take time. You can research most artists online through tattoo shop websites or the artist’s social media accounts. Look through their work — does their style match your aesthetic? Do they specialize in a certain style? Familiarize yourself with different styles to get a sense of what you like and find artists who match that style. Another good reminder — great artists will usually charge accordingly, so be prepared in your budget. As one community member shared, “quality is an investment,” and when it comes to permanent art on your body, it doesn’t hurt to invest more.
Have the story down.
Often when people get tattoos, the art is symbolic rather than literal. If the tattoo is going to be on a visible place you can expect people to ask about its meaning. When it comes to something as personal as a loss, one community member recommended having a response ready to go — for times you want to share and times you don’t. This can help you control how open you want to be with your story, and it may also be a good litmus test before you get a tattoo of how you expect to talk about it.
Don’t slack on the aftercare.
Getting a tattoo can be an exhilarating endeavor, but it’s not finished the second you leave the chair. There are important aftercare steps for tattoos to ensure that they heal properly, and if you don’t follow them it can be bad for the longevity of the tattoo and…well, your health. Your tattoo artist will give you do’s and don’t’s (e.g. do use clean sheets; don’t hot tub or shave), and it’s important to follow them. Some even say it’s the most important step of getting a tattoo.
Do it.*
Resoundingly, for all the tips and advice in the community shared about getting tattooed, the most common one was: go for it. Of the community members who reached out, many had positive stories to share of getting tattooed to remember their lost loved one. The post sharing 6 memorial tattoos also shows it can be a beautiful tribute - if you’re someone looking to decide.
*Grief Collective is not recommending anyone get tattooed. Tattoos aren’t for everyone, and it’s okay if that isn’t how you choose to honor your loss. This post reflects sentiments from the community who was asked for advice specific to this topic.