Deciding on the perfect tattoo for yourself can be an incredibly challenging task. If you’re as indecisive as I am, you’ve likely spent months researching inspiration pics and scouring the internet for photos that will help you explain your vision to an artist. There are so many decisions to be made: the subject, the style, the color, the size, the location, the perfect artist for the job, and more. You can easily drive yourself crazy making sure that this permanent piece of artwork doesn’t lead to any regrets. But it’s important to be extremely confident in your tattoo-decisions because you will have to look at your ink for the rest of your life. There’s no need to rush into anything…

On the other hand, when you do have the most fitting piece of ink for a situation you find yourself in, it can feel like the stars have aligned. Somehow, that bumble bee knew exactly where to crawl on you, or maybe that mosquito had a sense of humor when deciding where to bite you. Despite the fact that tattoos are permanent art pieces, they can still undergo changes through bruises, bug bites, pimples, sunburns, etc., and these shifts seem to only make them more exciting. 

All tattoos are special, and for many of the ones featured on this list, the meaning behind them is a mystery to us. But they were all special enough for someone to decide to permanently place them on their bodies, and they became even more cherished after coincidentally matching up perfectly with a specific situation. If you’re wondering how on Earth someone could choose the perfect tattoo for themself though, have no fear. We’ve consulted this article from Byrdie to help readers have absolutely “no ragrets” when it comes to getting some inkwork done. 

The very first tip that writer Jodie Michalak provides for prospective tattoo canvases is to ask yourself why you want body art. "As a tattooer, I find that when people get tattoos for themselves or for their loved ones (family, sometimes friends) they cherish them forever," tattoo artist Jaz Paulino told Byrdie. "A tattoo can be a tribute to a transitioned loved one, a present mother/family member, a long term best friend, or a lifelong partner. When you get something for someone with good intentions it's almost always a good move."

If you’ve decided you definitely want a tattoo but are having a hard time picking the perfect design, the next step should be consulting an artist you trust. Explain the idea behind the tattoo and what you’re envisioning, and they can help create a unique piece of artwork for you. Even if it’s something simple, like a plant or animal, there are a million ways it can be interpreted. An artist can provide a few options of sketches in various styles to help you understand exactly what you’re looking for (and what you would rather not have). At this stage, it will also be important to discuss the place and size of the tattoo. How visible do you want it to be? And how detailed can the artist make their design? These are important factors to consider as well.

Michalak also notes that it’s crucial to make sure your future tattoo makes you happy. Never get a tattoo just to impress or appease someone else. It’s on your body, so you are the most important person to consider when getting it. How will you feel in 5, 10 or 15 years about this tattoo? And if you need inspiration for what you’ll find meaningful forever, look to what you find sentimental. Everyone has a favorite quote, song, plant, season, location, and more. Is there a nickname your family calls you that could be turned into a cute tattoo? If you’re stumped, feel free to reach out to your loved ones as well, as they’ll likely be able to share fond memories and stories that you may not have even considered incorporating in your body art.  

If you really need advice when it comes to picking the perfect, regret-free tattoo for yourself, who would be better to consult than professional tattoo artists themselves? Lucky for us, Chelsea Ritschel at The Independent spoke to several experts in 2019, and they provided some words of wisdom to help people walk out of the studio feeling on top of the world with their fresh ink. One important tip from Luki, who works at Good Times Tattoo in London, is to take your time before scheduling an appointment. “We could suggest thousands and thousands of designs, but ultimately, it needs to be something they will be happy with forever, so it’s not something to be rushed into,” she told The Independent. 

Artists also recommend finding someone who’s an expert in the specific style you want to have placed on your body, whether that’s watercolor, fine line, traditional or old school style, tribal, realism, classic Americana, blackwork, or another type of art. “While most artists are adept at tattooing the basics - flowers, birds, important names - some artists are more skilled than others, especially when it comes to certain techniques such as portraits or geometric work,” Ritschel explains. “Instagram is an excellent outlet to find a specialist artist whose work you like, and most tattoo artists suggest you look at their past work before deciding.”

While the artwork may be the most important part of any tattoo, there are other factors that must be considered as well, such as the placement and size. Would you like everyone to be able to spot your tattoo from a mile away, or would you prefer it to be more discreet and only visible when you choose? Subtle places for getting a tattoo are behind the ears, on the ribs, on the ankle, or the back of the neck. On the other hand, more obvious places that will show off your tattoos are the hands, fingers, arms and chest.  

The pain of getting a tattoo is temporary (although it may not feel like that in the moment), but if discomfort is a factor you’re concerned about, artists have some recommendations for people with low-pain tolerances. Avoid the ribs, elbows, tops of the feet, inner arm area, sternum and kneecaps if you're unsure you'll be able to handle the intensity. But we all want our tattoos to last a long time too, so if you want to make sure you don’t choose a fading-prone location, you might want to skip any finger or mouth tattoos. And never forget to moisturize and use plenty of SPF on your tattoos that see sunlight!  

Are you thinking of planning your next tattoo around a shirt that you currently own or based on the butterflies that tend to say hello when you’re outside gardening? Whether art imitates life or life imitates art, it’s always fun to realize that our tattoos are in the perfect place at just the right time. We hope you’re enjoying these satisfying pics, pandas, and if you’ve got any examples of times your tattoos were perfectly fitting, feel free to share them in the comments below. Then, if you’re interested in checking out another Bored Panda article featuring awesome tattoos that come to life when their canvases move, look no further than right here!