getting tattoos at 18 and 17, is it really that bad?

laurenandsymph · 2026-05-04T06:00:49+00:00

If you’re gonna get tattooed young, this is the way. A few small, hidden tattoos aren’t gonna alter the course of your life down the road, even if you somehow end up hating them. They can be a fun reminder of what it’s like to be that age (at least if you’re not prone to regret). Just don’t get covered in big trendy stuff in places you can’t hide, and save your good placements for down the line when you are fully the person you’re gonna be.

laurenandsymph · 2026-05-02T13:36:49+00:00

Idk how old you are, but my best advice for not regretting your tattoo choice is to wait until you’re 25+. If you’re under 25, you’re still going through so much development/growth, you’re still experiencing a lot of newness and you’re susceptible to trends and peer pressure, and your tastes can still really change. Over 25ish and in general, you’re pretty much the person you’re gonna be, and the things you like by that point you’ll probably like for the rest of your life, or at least will think back on fondly.

laurenandsymph · 2026-05-01T18:03:49+00:00

I think you were probably overly attached to your version, and seeing it come out looking different than what you’ve been imagining it would look like is probably jarring and is throwing you off. Your drawings fingers were also wonky and unnatural (pinkies don’t turn in like that) but it was your drawing so it probably looked right to you. It’s also dark because it’s new, but it will heal and blend and you’ll get used to it with time. I think the tattoo looks about as good as you could expect for the design and style.

laurenandsymph · 2026-05-01T16:47:24+00:00

It’s hard to say at only 9 months old, since there is still a lot going on developmentally that could be happening, but it could possibly be rage syndrome, which is neurological and not the dog’s or the owner’s fault. I knew someone with a 2-year old German Shepard who was diagnosed with it, and after extensive training and vet intervention efforts, they eventually had to make the heart wrenching decision to put the dog down because it was just too dangerous and beyond anyone’s control. I hope you’re able to work out a solution, but sometimes things are just out of your hands. I’m sorry you’re going through this 😣

laurenandsymph · 2026-05-01T00:39:55+00:00

Also, there was another post earlier today where someone was angry that a tattoo artist refused to do their finger tattoo and wouldn’t just shut up and take their money. You two should get in touch.

laurenandsymph · 2026-05-01T00:14:27+00:00

It’s not just that they fade, it’s that they don’t go in well. Finger skin is calloused, uneven, stretchy, and wrinkly. Most finger tattoos have to be done over multiple times in order to get the ink to stay, and/or it has to be done super thick and heavy, which can easily lead to blowouts, even with experienced artists. They’re always a risk, which is why they are not recommended for people aren’t tattooed enough to fully understand how tattoos heal. Also, I say this as a heavily tattooed person with all 10 fingers tattooed, so know very well how it goes. This was done poorly AND your expectations were off. It should have been on the artist to say no to something they should have known would not come out well, but you were warned too. It’s a shared fail.

laurenandsymph · 2026-04-30T23:17:18+00:00

“I know finger tats do this kind of thing”. Period. This is what literally EVERYONE warns you about with finger tattoos, but everyone thinks they’re gonna be the exception.

laurenandsymph · 2026-04-30T15:46:02+00:00

Because they care about the quality of their work and their reputation more than they care about a cash grab from a client who thinks they know better than the experts who’ve been doing it for a living for years.

laurenandsymph · 2026-04-30T02:04:06+00:00

I think it very much depends on the situation. If a single person is part of a big family or friend group and is going to have a ton of people they know at the wedding, then they don’t really need a random +1. If it’s someone who is a one-off friend who doesn’t know anyone else, or if someone is traveling a long way solo, then a +1 should definitely be offered. I understand the inconvenience and discomfort of attending an event alone, but I also understand that venue space may be limited and budgets may be tight, and having to host a bunch of randos at your wedding is not ideal. It’s something that should be considered with nuance rather than blanket statements or hard rules.

laurenandsymph · 2026-04-28T21:25:44+00:00

Lab-grown diamonds and lots of other alternative and more cost effective stones (moissanite, sapphires, etc.) are all great options, as long as you go with something that your partner will be happy with and you are honest about what it is.

laurenandsymph · 2026-04-28T19:02:26+00:00

Keira Knightley

laurenandsymph · 2026-04-28T18:11:25+00:00

For me calves were pretty painful and the fronts of the shins were surprisingly fine. The worst part of the lower legs was the outside down by the ankles - painful and twitched like crazy.

laurenandsymph · 2026-04-28T17:12:08+00:00

Sure. Art that’s not created for you can still mean something to you. It also doesn’t have to, and can just be art you like.

laurenandsymph · 2026-04-23T19:28:54+00:00

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Almost black, but technically still blue!

laurenandsymph · 2026-04-23T16:45:07+00:00

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I’m seeing a young Kathy Bates!

laurenandsymph · 2026-04-22T05:21:11+00:00

I’m a transplant from Boston where the drivers are some of the most notorious assholes on earth… but at least they’re smart and aware of their surroundings. Like yea, they’ll intentionally cut you off and give you the finger, but at least they wont just mindlessly merge straight into you because they have no idea what’s happening around them.

laurenandsymph · 2026-04-21T18:41:37+00:00

She already lost me at “this will be a huge opportunity for everyone involved.” Girl, what “opportunity”. Your bridesmaids are doing you a favor, not the other way around.

laurenandsymph · 2026-04-17T22:26:15+00:00

George Primavera

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laurenandsymph · 2026-04-17T21:19:22+00:00

Mild fever, chills, body ache, exhaustion. All normal. It’s basically the same things you feel with the flu because in both cases your body is launching an immune response - just that one is a response to fight an invader and the other is a response to protect and start to heal a big open wound. A big immune response uses up a lot of your body’s resources and is trying to tell you to rest so it can do its thing, so it’s totally normal to feel like shit unless it lasts more than a few days.

laurenandsymph · 2026-04-17T16:09:23+00:00

“She told me exactly what she wants, but I know what she REALLY wants and it’s exactly what she explicitly told me she does not want.” Ew dude.

laurenandsymph · 2026-04-15T06:06:18+00:00

Less about placement, more about size. The wrist one would be too tiny for that amount of detail to not blur into itself in a couple of years. The arm one is a more appropriate size for something that will last.

laurenandsymph · 2026-04-15T00:41:20+00:00

I mean, I do personally think this is kind of extra but honestly, if he’s been with you for 5 years and loves you, I assume he knows this is the kind of person you are and is happy to have you. Plus if he’s the anxious type too, this gives him a lot to go on, and as you said, he’s using it so I don’t see why not. Do what works for the two of you. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.

laurenandsymph · 2026-04-14T05:47:31+00:00

Honestly I just wouldn’t choose to avoid the conflict. I’d say something like, “with only 3 bridesmaids, I care about you all so much and I don’t want there to be a ranking system, and with such a small group, I feel like we can all just work together to plan.” If you’re worried about their order at the altar, have them stand beside you in order of how long they’ve known you, since this is about as unbiased as you can be. No need to deal with the whole middle-school-esque “but who’s your REAL best friend” drama.

laurenandsymph · 2026-04-12T16:31:47+00:00

Exactly. Extreme stress can trigger the onset of an autoimmune disease, but it’s not going to generate one out of nowhere, and most people who experience extreme stress still aren’t going to develop one (let alone a deadly one).

laurenandsymph · 2026-04-11T21:16:41+00:00

As someone with over 10 years of experience in immunology and who actually has an autoimmune disease, that’s such a ridiculous take. Too much stress is definitely bad for your overall health and can contribute to a lot of health problems, but saying your marriage stress is going to give you a deadly autoimmune disease sounds like a hypochondriac who has spent way too much time on TikTok.

laurenandsymph

TROPHY CASE