It’s bad luck to get someone’s name tattooed… Light colors hurt more… Tattoos bleed a lot… A tattoo needle is just a needle… Tattoos turn blue when they age… Red ink fades fast… Anyone who knows how to draw can get a tattoo… Only sailors, bikers, circuses and toughs get tattoos… Tattoos cost a lot of money… Tattoos are forever…

Many of these urban legends started a long time ago, when there was basically some truth to them. Everything from the types of people who would venture into a tattoo parlor, to the types of skin dyes used, caused the myths to become popular in the first place.

Modern tattooing has much more to do with art form, hygiene, and appeal to people from all walks of life than it does with upholding outdated stereotypes and falsehoods. Let’s take some of these tattoo myths and turn them into factual statements.

Having someone’s name tattooed on your body, while not necessarily bad luck, is a personal choice. And while any relationship can fail, if you already think getting his name tattooed is a guarantee one way or another about the outcome, then you’re doing it for the wrong reasons anyway. Relationships fail for all sorts of reasons, getting someone’s name tattooed isn’t one of them.

Tattoos hurt, and depending on your pain tolerance, some will feel more pain, others less. Light colors are usually done last when the skin is most sensitive, so for most these will be the most painful colors. As for other ink colors, innovations in tattoo inks have come a long way. During the 1950s and 1960s, the pigments in tattoo ink were not as refined as they are today, so bright colors like red or blue would fade under the elements and normal wear. However, that is no longer the case, and all tattoo colors resist fading if properly cared for during healing.

Tattoo needles are grouped in odd number solder groups, 3, 5, 7, etc. While most tattoos bleed minimally during the outlining and for up to 10 minutes after the shading is done, by the time you leave the shop the bleeding will have stopped. Your tattoo will be bandaged for hygiene reasons only.

With modern medical advances in dermatology and skin care, tattoos are no longer a forever commitment. Laser tattoo removal and fading creams can remove a tattoo without leaving a trace.

Stereotypes about tattoos arose at a time when tattoo parlors were rare, unregulated, and often located in seedy areas. Many sailors got tattoos according to myths and legends that tattoos and piercings were thought to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck to the wearer. The prevalence of motorcycle enthusiasts who enjoy tattoos is simply a cultural bias. Today, anyone can have a tattoo and no one would know about it, and conversely, just because someone has a tattoo, it doesn’t mean they’re part of some seedy subculture. The prevalence of tattoos in society and among the most publicly notable figures has also contributed greatly to tattoos taking their place as a dominant form of art and personal expression.

If you think that anyone who can draw can tattoo and that you need to shop around for your tattoo, chances are you’re getting one for the wrong reasons and need to reconsider your decision carefully. There are truly exceptional tattoo artists who have embraced a style that they are highly skilled at, and there are tattoo artists who are just that, tattoo artists.

While most artists come from artistic backgrounds, there are some who simply love art and wanted to make a living doing something they enjoyed. Tattoo artists are ordinary people, like you or me. They have good and bad lives and days just like the rest of us. Examine the work being done, or better yet, find someone who has a tattoo you admire and find out where they got it before you put your own skin under the needle. And remember to choose an artist whose style matches the tattoo you’d like to get.

Finally, if you buy your tattoo at a bargain price, you will get a tattoo at a bargain price. If you’re worried about how much it will cost, it’s probably not a good time to think about a tattoo. While they aren’t too expensive and you can get good quality tattoos for less than you’d expect, it’s still the kind of purchase you only need to make when your wallet isn’t an issue. It’s mostly permanent, and it’s your skin after all.