Foot Tattoo?

Hi L. -

I have a tattoo on each of my big toes. I never had any problems with them and they still look very good. I just wanted to let you know - I wasn't "allowed" to wear shoes for a week while it healed. It could be different with the top of the foot - I don't know. Just wanted you to think about the timing :) Good Luck!

I have a foot tattoo! I actually have 3 tattoos, the one on my foot, one on the small of my back, and one on my hip. I have to say the foot tattoo was the LEAST painful. I have a small frog on the top of my right foot. When I got the foot tattoo I worked in a place that allowed me to wear flip-flops, so it was easy to care for. I guess if you have to wear tennis shoes or something like that, it would be a little more difficult. Maybe you could get it done on a Friday and then you wouldn't have to wear real shoes again until Monday.

I hate tattoos. You were given a beautiful body, and obviously if you model, a beautiful face. You don't need extra adornment, especially cows. You should take that same money and put it in a college fund for your children. I honestly can't believe this fad has stayed around this long. My cousin, who is a plastic surgeon, makes a lot of money off of tattoo removal. Think twice before you do this!!

I know this is something you have wanted for a while, but I do hope you'll consider this... I have a tattoo - it is discreet and only shows when I want it to. It is a butterfly - you like cows, I like butterflies - and it is really pretty even. BUT I loath it! I hate it, I really do. I wanted it, I did it thinking I knew what I was doing, made an "educated choice" and all that nonsense and I really can not emphasize to you enough - just don't do it. I think it is wrong for you for three reasons: you've been thinking about it for 2 years but have kept yourself from acting on it; you are a model and this will hurt that no matter where you put it; and you asked on MamaPedia. :)

Oh wait... I just glanced up and caught sight of a very important word, "new". You want a "new" tattoo - not your first. Well, that makes a difference, doesn't it? :) I'm going to leave that part above for anyone searching for posts on tattoos later, because my opinion in general still stands. But now for you, I'll say if you already have one you know what you are getting into then do what you want. :) Because I hate that I ever did it, I would never get another one, but you must be happy with your previous choices so you are likely to be happy with this choice as well.

Good luck to you either way.

My brother is a tattoo artist, so its sort of a family requirement that we all have tattoos. Any tattoo you get will be painful to some degree, but you will have this the rest of your life - get it where you really want it! Especially a smaller tatttoo that will likely take less than an hour - I know the first hour of a tattoo is the easiest for me. If you really want it on your feet, and the only reason you are hesitant is because of the pain, then get it there. Its an hour of discomfort for a lifetime of knowing you got what you wanted (and a lifetime of not thinking "I should have tried it"). As for taking care of them - no different than any other tattoo. Plan a week or two of peeling, keep it out of the sun, follow the directions the artist gives you. Once it heals, there is no difference to any other place on your body. I have a sleeve that goes down to my ankle (and yes, around those bones hurt!)... My brother is covered head to toe - his fingers and toes and skull and neck and feet... He's tattood the inside of someone's lip! Tattoos are forver, your decision should be based on the look and location you REALLY want, the pain and care are very temporary situations. You can also ask the artist if you can take a non-aspirin pain reliever ahead of time, like tylenol (no aspirin or alcohol since they thin your blood, making it bleed more during the tattoo and interfere with healing)...

My daughter's friend has two tatoos on her feet with colors-yes she said they are painful and besides that you cannot wear any shoes on them till they are completely healed.
Ask yourself if this is something you want your children to have before you do this-they will see them and if it is ok for you to have it then they can also-so think about what they might put on their bodies someday.

I agree with doing it when you can wear flip flops (or being barefoot). I also agree that the pain is short lived so if you can handle the hour or two of discomfort, go for it!

I have 2 tattoos and have 2 more that I know I want...just can't afford them right now.

As another poster said though, make sure its something you want because its there forever. My husband told me that when he bought my first one and he said it again when I got the 2nd one. Both of mine are in places that are easily hidden or easily shown (first is on my shoulder blade; second on my calf)

I have a tattoo on each foot, one on my shoulder blade and one on my lower back. My lower back hurt the worst. My feet faded pretty badly though. I have one on the top of my foot and one that covers the whole side of my foot, almost to the sole, curves back towards the heel/ankle and goes a little bit up on top. That one hurt almost as bad as my back, and the whole thing hurt, as opposed to just parts of my back. In one spot it actually is on the skin that is a little different, more like the sole. I took good care of all of them, but the feet just fade. Smaller is better as far as feet go, I think. The shoulder blade didn't hurt at all, and it went fast. I didn't even realize he was done until I told him I needed him to stop so I could sneeze and he said he was already done. That one has probably held up the best also.

I would suggest doing it when it is warm out so you can wear flip flops while it heals.

I just got a new (Hello Kitty) tattoo on my foot about a month ago and it was not to bad pain wise at all. It took about 35 minutes for the whole thing. My tattoo is on the top side of my foot so when I wear flip flops it will be visible. I had minimal issues with it being dry...but thats just feet in general. I say go for it you had 2 kids you can handle a tattoo on your foot !!! Good luck!!

I have a tattoo in both places- shoulder blade and top of foot. I regret them both. I am not against tattoos, but both are highly visible and hard to hide. I suggest another location! And....they both hurt badly and faded quickly!

I have ivy that is on my toes and that hurt a lot but it also faded and lost it's color and had to be redone a year later. I was told by a different tatoo artist that the first one probably shouldn't have tattooed my toes because there is not a lot of pigmentation in them therefore the ink does not hold well. I have friends who have tattoos on their feet and they have held up beautifully so I think you should be okay - but I would just ask the question about fading and the ink not holding just in case! Good luck...it sounds like a cute idea!

Hey there L., I think no matter where you get a tattoo it will hurt for a short time. Mine is on my pelvis and hurt. I, unlike some of the other ladies who posted, don't regret getting mine, just where I got it at. Since having kids it has stretched and isn't as pretty, and needs some new color as well. I myself am thinking of getting another and might get it on my shoulder. If you plan to put them on your foot/feet then wait for the warmer weather so you won't have to wear shoes, you can wear sandals or flip flops. I would take your sandals or flip flops with you, so you can get them wear they will show. I love them on the toes, myself. A friend has one in the shape of a ring on one of her toes and it is really neat looking, looks like a toe ring. She did say it hurt, but only while getting it. But mine hurt too while I was getting it. Hopefully this helps some. Good luck and God Bless.

You have a lot of good advice from people. I have 4 tattoos (kids' names on left shoulder blade, chinese symbol for beautiful on right shoulder, memorial cross for murdered brother on small of back and dolphins jumping through a waterfall that comes out of the navel). Inside the navel is one of the most painful places to get a tattoo. I don't remember the pain but I love the way it looks because it's so unique. I am thinking about getting one on my foot also (I only have them where they can be easily shown or covered up so I'm running out of places!). I wouldn't wait until it's warm to get it. I would cover it with a bandage while you are at work, etc. then uncover it when you are at home in a clean environment. This way nobody will see the bandages, scabbing or peeling since it will be done by the time it's warm enough to wear sandals. If you don't regret other tattoos and you've thought about this then I think you should go for it, just follow the artist's care advice.

I have eight tattoos in several easy to hide places, including one on each foot. I have always wanted something on my foot or toes. The tattoo artist I always go to did not recommend getting it on my toes due to how your skin regenerates/"sheds". He said it would fade and would not look right after awhile. However, he did say the foot would be fine and to take care of it as you would for any other area. So after thinking, I went for it. I have my dogs' paw prints on my left foot. (Yes, their actual prints.) I got the idea as every time it rains, my biggest comes in and steps on my foot, so I always had a muddy paw print right there on top of my foot. I have one right on top, with the next three proceeding up and around my ankle. I'm thankful that I got them, as since I had to put one of my puppies down, I still have a part of her that is always with me. On the other foot, I have a connection of my family tree. I have the zodiac signs of each member of my immediate family intertwined with a vine and an open heart symbol. This was something I wanted to do as to represent the support my family has provided since the birth of my son. (Yes, his sign is also included.)

I have no regrets of any of my tattoos or where I placed them. Get what you want, where you want it, as it is permanent! It will hurt no matter where you get it, but it is not unbearable. As you get closer to the bones or thin skin (like no muscle or fat in the area), it is a lot more tender.

Remember though, you HAVE to take care of it! It continues after the initial two weeks of healing time. Lotion it daily AND ALWAYS use sun block when being outside. This is what causes fading. I've had several of mine for years, and with the exception of my skin tone changing, as I get older, they still look pretty new and vibrant. But that is only because I follow the directions.

Hope this helps!

I have heard that about foot tattoos as well. But hey, if you've had kids, you can tolerate the pain of a foot tattoo, right?! I also want to get a tattoo to represent my two children and have been trying to come up with an idea. I think you have helped me with that. Some kind of animal, and maybe one on each ankle, I'm thinking. Also heard that's pretty painful. But we women are tough! lol. Good luck with yours.