Tattooing is a way to beautify the body, and also offers a permanent way to mark or emphasize certain traits of your personality, history or psychology. Tattoos can be decorations or signs rich in symbolism, and indeed even the first tattoos (which were found on Otzi, the ice man) reportedly had some talismanic value. Today, tattoos can be very spiritual power in your life; it’s up to you to decide. However, if you talk to a tattoo artist (and I’ve talked to many!) you’ll probably find out that there are some myths and superstitions that you ignore at your own risk …

The classic tattooing the name of your beloved? Just don’t do it! You only have to think about famous couples like Blake and Amy, Angelina and Billy-Bob or Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen and their messy break-ups to know it’s a bad idea. A tattoo is forever (laser exists, but keep in mind that it is much more painful and expensive to remove a tattoo than to get one.) And love, well … not so much … Many think that tattooing the name of your partner can be a curse.

Some tattooists directly refuse to do this kind of tattoo, because they know many cases of happy couples that mysteriously broke up after getting a name tattoo in honour of their mate. Many times you are advised not to name anyone who is alive, though it is perfectly acceptable to commemorate a family member or friend who has passed away. Another sore point is a portrait of your current partner. I have seen more than a couple of gorgeous bridal portraits, which were covered with ink to make them into terrifying zombie tattoos after the break-up. If your partner is thinking of honouring you with a tribute tattoo, suggest they do it with some symbol or picture that has to do with you, not with your picture or name.

If you want to finish up with a work of art, not a nasty, sorry blob you’ll regret, book an appointment with one of the great artists in Madrid, and think it over well. Check out the work of the Bara (True Love Tattoo) or El Brujo (Santa Dolores Tattoo) if you like Japanese Style tattoos, or Deno, Beto or Pablo Ash (Tattoo Magic) if old school or new school is more your style, all are artists known worldwide for their incredible work. Rent apartments in Madrid, and get a tattoo of something that will make you happy for a lifetime.