Same rules apply here. “If you have to think too hard about what to get, it’s probably not the right time either,” says Saigh. But if you’ve already made up your mind to get one, here are some guidelines to follow:

• Your tattoo should be “timeless and sentimental” and really mean something to you, says Saigh. So, probably not “Katy Perry 4 Eva.”

• When you’re doing your research, “think about what your future self would still want years from now,” says Oafenhammer.

• Keep it simple and clean. “Don’t try to cram too many ideas into one tattoo,” says Saigh. In fact, having one big tattoo (as opposed to a bunch of little ones) can end up more satisfying in the long run.