In the state of California, the law states that people are not allowed to get tattooed until they are 18 years old. For many people who are excited to get their first tattoo, it can be hard to wait until then, but it can make turning 18 even more exciting. Many people who want to get tattoos celebrate this milestone by getting their first ink.
For freshman Julia Bozzo, turning 18 meant she could finally get her first tattoo. “I got it the summer right after I turned 18 because I had pretty much been waiting my whole life to get tatted,” she said.
Some people like to have tattoos with deep meanings behind them, while others just like to have them for the sake of having them. Others enjoy collecting art on their body. However, Bozzo chose to completely design her tattoo herself.
“There isn’t much of a story, I just wanted a pretty floral tattoo and lavender came to mind as a good choice. But it was really important to me that I designed and drew the tattoo myself. As an artist, it just felt a lot more personal to me, and I don’t know, I would feel weird with someone else’s art tattooed on me,” she said.
Getting your first tattoo can be a somewhat nerve-wracking experience. It is important to be comfortable with your artist and make sure the design you are getting is exactly what you want.
“Since it was my first tattoo, I was a little nervous, especially because I went by myself,” Bozzo said. “But my artist was really nice, he was talking to me through the whole tattoo to keep my mind off the pain. It only took about 15 minutes and wasn’t too painful, it just felt like a lot of little scratches. I was really happy with my experience, I’ll definitely be going back to him for my next one.”
“I’d like to get more floral tattoos. I think my next one will be two roses on my right forearm,” she continued.
Of course, everyone has their own preferences when it comes to tattoos. Whether it’s completely their own design or something by their artist, many find tattoos are a wonderful way to express their individuality.