When it comes to tattoos, people either love ’em or spend their time systematically trying to aggravate all tattoo-bearing humans about their tattoos. We’ve all heard the “What happens when your skin gets saggy?” and the “What does your mom think about your tattoo?” lines way too many times, and each question provokes an eye roll worth 500 burned calories. Regardless of the reactions you’ve gotten, here are 21 things all women with tattoos know to be true.
1. You have leftover Dial soap and Aveeno lotion sitting in your medicine cabinet from your last tattoo.
2. All of your paychecks go to saving up for the next one, or food.
3. Your friends think you’re some sort of rebel goddess of tattoos and lowkey want to be you.
4. Despite popular belief, being half-naked in front of a male tattoo artist isn’t awkward, since it’s actually the least sexual experience you’ve ever had.
5. The only bad part is having to pretend to be a total badass during the really painful tattoos, so that the guys in the shop don’t think you’re a baby.
6. At some point a complete stranger has grabbed you to get a closer look at your tattoo.
7. The same complete stranger has also labeled you as soon as they look at you.
8. One of your friends has said, “I would never get a tattoo in a place that shows when I wear my wedding dress,” and you’ve thrown up in your mouth.
9. Because of comments like that, you feel a pretentious sense of sisterhood with fellow collegiettes who also have tattoos.
10. You secretly look down on tattoos of butterflies and hearts.
11. Also arrows and infinity symbols.
12. (Except you actually think arrows are cool, but can’t admit it since they’re so mainstream right now.)
13. There is a huge sector of guys that will never find you attractive because of your tattoos.
13. But that’s okay, because you only have to date lovely, pro-tattoo people.
14. Most of your tattoos have a deep, personal meaning. The others are just freaking cool.
15. People are 1,000 times more likely to judge the ones that don’t mean anything.
16. Unless you come from a family where even your grandma has a full sleeve, your parents are probably freaking out about your growing tattoo addiction.
17. You also have a really conservative aunt that repeatedly tells you you’re setting a bad example for your future children.
18. Sometimes all the negative comments get to you, and you wonder if you really are turning into a delinquent.
19. Worrying about your tattoos looking bad when you get pregnant or gain weight is such a thing.
20. In the end you realize it doesn’t matter. The ignorant comments and body-shaming can’t affect you.
21. You and your tattoos skip off into the sunset, and you both live happily ever after.
