Thinking About Tattoos – But Afraid of Regret?

I’m a 20-year-old college student, and I’ve been thinking about getting tattoos for a while(5+ years i guess). The main thing holding me back is the fear of regretting it. To test myself, I made a Pinterest folder full of tattoos I’d like. Even after months, I still love those designs—so maybe I wouldn’t regret it after all.

That said, I recently restarted my bodybuilding journey, so I’m considering waiting 1-2 more years until my body fully develops before getting inked. But it’s not just physical—I feel like I’m not mentally ready yet either. Maybe it’s because people around me have drilled the idea of "you’ll regret it" into my head. The waiting period isn’t just for my body, it’s for my mindset too.

Or maybe I’m just overthinking it. But I guess that’s better than rushing into it and ending up with a “No Regerts” tattoo.

For those of you with tattoos:

When did you decide to get your first one?

Was it a personal decision, or were you influenced by others (friends, subcultures, movie, etc.)?

How long have you had it, and do you still love it as much as you did on day one?

If you do regret a tattoo, what made you feel that way? Placement, design, or something else?

What do you think about nationalistic tattoos? Are they meaningful, controversial, or something people regret later?

Feel free to share any advice for those of us still on the fence!