For a long time, I have desired to get a tattoo but fear holds me back. At first it was because I was leaving under my parents roof and they wouldn’t hear of it but now that I am out of home, I still haven’t gotten one and I wonder why.

Tattoos are permanent and pricey. They are however fast becoming popular especially among young people.  It was at first a taboo in our society and anyone who had a tattoo would be labelled spoilt but its fast catching up and our society is beginning to accept it.

A tattoo is a puncture wound made deep in your skin that is filled with ink. Tattoos can be done manually where the artist punctures your skin and injects the ink into it or using a hand held electric instrument called a tattoo machine.

People put tattoos for different reasons. For one, it is fashionable.  Some people get them to show their allegiances to their spouses or partners. Tattoos vary from name initials to symbols to animals, snakes, hearts and roses.

When asked whether she would consider getting a tattoo, 19 year old Janet Mutesi confidently answered, "tattoos are hip and very fashionable; I would get one to feel good and to fit in.”

Before one gets a tattoo, there are a few things that must be ensured. For one, you need to make sure you’ve been immunised especially against hepatitis and tetanus. After this is done find a tattoo shop that is clean and an artist is qualified to do it.

Make sure that before the tattoo is put, everything that is to be used is sterilised in your presence. This is important because a tattoo is a wound just like any other wound and stands a risk of infection.

"I would not encourage tattooing because anything that involves injuring the skin raises the risk of bacterial infection and even worse HIV,” said Kalimba Edgar a doctor at King Fiasal hospital. He added that tattoos are not done in hospitals and one would have to go to a tattoo shop to get this done.

"Its not allowed in the hospitals and I don’t know any people that do it but I guess to get one you can find people that do it,” Kalimba added.

Tattoos used to be done manually but there is a tattoo machine that is used today and is easier to use.

Tattooing involves a lot of piecing and you will definitely feel a bit of pain. This pain will vary, depending on the size of the tattoo and how good the artist is.

Once the tattoo is done, try to keep it clean and away from water, until full recovery. Follow your doctor’s instructions to the letter.

In case of any signs of infection for example spreading redness, swelling or drainage of pus, visit you doctor because this could be dangerous.

If the instruments used are not sterilised or there is ink sharing between clients there is high chance of viral infection such as HIV or hepatitis and bacterial skin infections. So it is important that everything be sterilised.

If you follow these procedures you will probably have you tattoo put successfully and will be happy and keep it forever, but some of you might later in life regret this decision and decide you don’t want the tattoo anymore. This is not easy and will be almost as painful as putting it in the first place.

Tattoos unlike before can be removed by laser rays, this is a costly option to surgery but it is faster and less painful. A tattoo depending on the size and the design may not be removed entirely and you may need to visit your doctor more than once to get this done.

This could take some months and if not taken care of may cause scaring. It can also either become darker or lighter than your skin colour.

A tattoo is permanent at least that is what it was designed to be, so it should be given a lot of thought. Make sure it’s really what you want and won’t regret it later in life.

Do your research about where you want to do it and make sure it is safe? Talk to your doctor and make sure your skin can handle a tattoo. And if by now you still want to get it done, go ahead and do it. Otherwise I think I have changed my mind about this tattoo business.

Ends