According to the Bethesda Tattoo Company website, those under 18 can only get a tattoo with the consent of a parent or guardian.  Although it is possible to dodge this rule, getting a tattoo unlawfully and without parental permission may be dangerous and may come with severe consequences.

Art teacher Brendan Roddy, who has five tattoos, his favorite being the word “strength” on his wrist, thinks communicating with parents is key.

“If you have to hide it, it can’t be good,” Roddy said.

Choosing a personal and meaningful tattoo is also very important when deciding whether to get one. Junior Emily Lamoreux got her tattoo at 17, in memory of her late grandmother.

“My tattoo says

‘Psalm 23:4,’ and it is the title of a bible verse,” Lamoreux said. “This prayer gave me a new perspective on losing a loved one, and trusting that it will be okay to move on.”

Pain is often a big fear among those considering getting a tattoo.

“It hurts, hands down,” Roddy said. “But if you are worried about the pain, you are not ready to get a tattoo.”

While getting a tattoo may be painful, getting one removed is also painful.

According to Security guard Jeff McGowan  who is currently in the process of getting a tattoo removed,  getting a tattoo removed is “worse than getting it.”

McGowan’s tattoo, “The Root of All Evil $” on his palm, is a reminder that his life should not revolve around money. Although McGowan is removing his tattoo, he does not regret getting it.

“My tattoo was very important to me; it was a virtue,” McGowan said. “It is just that its location is not the most professional.”

According to Jason Anderson, an employee at Tattoo Graphics in Gaithersburg, tattoos “start at $50 but can be as much as $1,000.”

Junior Tim Cheng got his tattoo the day he turned 16.

“It says “It’s the pain that makes us real,’” Cheng said. “It means that a life without pain and hardships would be impossible to achieve, so we should make the best of who we are and what we have.”

Cheng urges high school students to take their time when they are considering getting a tattoo.

“Find a good shop and an artist who knows what they are doing,” Cheng said.