Ideas for Pi Beta Phi tattoos?
 

I want to get a tattoo that has something to do with Pi Phi, but I do NOT want to get letters. Does anyone have any ideas or any tattoos they have for their Greek organizations that might give me ideas? I want this to be very special to me, so it has to be perfect! :) Thanks, friends.:)

Well, as a Teke I'd get an equilateral triangle, skull and bones, or something of that nature. But I doubt you'd be interested in that lol.

Maybe portions of your crest/coat of arms, an angel, arrow, or a design that incoroporates some wine and silver blue in a special way. Also, I don't mean to sound like a parent, but I'd hold off on a tattoo that incorporates Pi Phi until you're out of college (if you aren't already). Greek life is great, but it won't play as prominant a role in your life after you graduate.

I have an elephant tattoo on my forehead but I don't think that will help you for Pi Beta Phi.

You and your sisters know Pi Beta Phi symbols and so forth better than anyone else does. You will also know whether there are policies or protocol against tattoos that have any reference to your sorority. Searching through what you and your sisters know is the best way to make it very special to you and perfect. Good luck. :)

That depends on what "prominant a role in your life" means. Stick around GC for a while. ;)

I'm not a fan of tattoos of any kind. But, GLO tattoos should definitely be based on the GLO's protocol regarding that and the visibility of the tattoo for the rest of your life.

"That depends on what "prominant a role in your life" means. Stick around GC for a while. ;)"

I've lurked for a while, actually. I just mean that on the whole, people's enthusiasm for their GLO usually "dips" after they graduate (though GC posters tend to be an exception to that rule lol)... more than one of my fraters decided to get a TKE tattoo less than six months after initiation and regretted it by the time they were juniors.

Then you will be able to learn the quote feature very quickly.

Across all the councils and conferences, it depends on what "prominent role in your life" means. I don't know what role it plays in the OP's life now and don't know what it will play when she graduates.

that's legit

I've got a few friends like his (almost all guys, but one girl) that regret their Greek tattoos now. Many of us (like me) end up putting school/family/career first and it might still be a "prominent" part of life, but it isn't as important as it was in college when there was no career or family, and school was the only other concern. They've said they fear that people won't take them as seriously because to many that aren't Greek, it seems like a college-age activity, and not something adults participate in. I also have a couple of friends that decided to wait until they graduated to get a organization related tattoo. They figured if they still badly wanted it by then, it was a good choice for them. Only one (a guy) ended up getting the tattoo, and though it was much smaller than he originally planned it to be, he loves it.

Off track, but when did tattoos get so trendy? I've got friends that go get a tattoo when they're bored. I can understand a piercing when bored, it comes out. But a tattoo to cure a moment of boredom?

Exactly.

Think it over. Think. Then think again.

FWIW, DermaBlend is NOT that great at covering scars or marks.

my friend and i are planning on getting twin stars on the inside of our feet for theta. subtle, a place not usually seen on dressy/serious occasions, and something that only a greek/other theta will understand the meaning of without it being explained. i don't know if pi phi has a symbol like the twin stars (less well-known/distinctive) but that's what i'd go for

All I can think of is won't that hurt like a SOB? Oww oww oww.

This is pretty much how I feel about all tattoos.

I'm not a tattoo person, but if I were forced to get one, I'd get one in the shape of my badge with the four-point crown in the middle.

It's good for scars. You have to soften it up and not be shy when applying it.

In answer to alumiyum's question as to when tats got so trendy, it was 10+ years ago at least. Probably more like 15. You know, the height of the "grunge" era when flannel shirts were in Vogue.

Yep, the first of many of my friends to go tattoos was in 1996.

I will never, ever, ever. It will never look as good as the day it's applied. I had several sisters get kites and star tattoo that are easily covered by clothing, and even now, 10 years or so later, they wish they hadn't, because even though there's significance, they look horrible.

I don't think it ever looks good on the day that it is applied.

People in their late teens and 20s tend to get tattoos and the smart ones think about how it will look when they are in their 30s and beyond. As far as American culture, tattoo artists and tattoo'd lifestyles aside, I cringe when I see people with tattoos all over their bodies and/or in places they can't hide even if they tried.

Only a couple of my friends have tattoos (as far as I know) and they all have them in places where you won't know unless they tell you.

haha well i already have one on my wrist, which is usually said to be equally painful if not more so, so i think i'll be okay. but yeah, it's one of the worst places. i just think tattoos are best if they can be covered (i can wear a watch over my wrist one); even if i love it and it's super significant, there will always be times and places where they are inappropriate. one thing i would recommend to anyone thinking about tattoos: get a black (or whatever color you want it to be) gel pen and draw the tattoo where you want it. do this often (i did it every day for a year) so you can get used to seeing your tattoo. see if it's something you can get used to/like, or if maybe you eventually get sick of it. see what people say when they notice it. can you deal with their reactions? make alterations to where/what it is to find what you like best. as people have mentioned, tattoos are a big decision. i love mine and will never regret it, but i gave mine years of thought and a year-long practice run. also, notice the reactions on this board: if your tattoo is very visible, you will be dealing with them frequently. does it bother you that some people will inevitably think your tattoo is a poor decision/ugly/whatever? people who don't think of these things are usually the ones that regret getting tattoos. finally, and i can't stress this enough, do lots of research when choosing a tattoo parlor. horror stories abound about the consequences of getting tattoos in unsanitary, unprofessional conditions. many professional parlors that follow strict health codes exist, you just have to find them!

anyways, spiel over. good luck with whatever you decide!

I will try your suggestion; I had a hard time getting a good match for my skin shade, and I thought it looked kinda chalky or like wood. Might be operator error. Thanks for the feedback.

Yeah, I personally wouldn't say never to a small tattoo, I just seriously doubt I'm ever going to get one, and if I do it will be in a place that isn't going to stretch and sag as much as others. I will never understand getting one on a whim, especially in a hard to hide area. I have a harder time thinking of people 18-my age that don't have at least one than those that do.

I went on spring break one year with a bunch of guys and two other girls. I remember the majority of the group decided, after lunch, they wanted tattoos. The guy I was dating (thankfully) decided to hang at the bar with me and wait. They came back with flash from the wall of the place, all in visible places. It confused me.

Good advice. :)

Oh and be sure you put the setting powder on top of it. Not regular powder.

So every single day, after you showered, you took the time to draw a tattoo on yourself? That's dedication.

I got 2 tattoos while I was in the military, long before I ever knew I'd be joining AXiD. I got 1 on each of my 2 deployments. I love them both, and wish I could get more. However, I cant think of anywhere else I'd feel comfortable getting one and being able to get it covered up, so the chances of that happening are slim.

Yes, I bought that too - and it did make a difference! thanks again, I'll keep practicing.

yeah, every morning i would draw it, it's just a word (coincidentally a greek one, actually) so it was pretty easy... i figure, if i can't be bothered to invest 5 minutes everyday to be sure of my decision, then i probably shouldn't get it. i think it really helps when you're not sure of size, placing, colors...i've already made some changes to the original design of the twin stars i'm testing out right now, and i've only been drawing them for two days so far. it's also helpful for feedback (for example, someone pointed out that when the stars are too little and too fat, they look like snake bites). i suppose a test-run would be harder the bigger/more elaborate your tattoo, but i think it's worth the bother unless you want something that really lies beyond your own artistic skill.

and remember that one day, you will be old and your skin will be saggy and that bitchin' battleship you got tattooed on your chest will have sunk!

I have seen plenty of sunken ships, so to speak, on the arms of WWll and Korean War veterans. And this is why I don't want a tattoo!

I just want to say that your signature makes my head hurt.

One degree from each school, lol.

But, I mean, it's not even a different division in the SEC.

Huh. I didn't even realize that but I just asked my husband and he said they're all in the western division!

TSM

I must share my tattoo experience so that others may benefit from my foolishness.

As a 21 year old college junior I got a tattoo of a sun on the top of my foot. Pretty small, figured it would be easy to cover up, loved it. Cost me $75.

Fast forward 13 years...medical professional, loves shoes, about to get married, still have now pretty ugly and totally meaningless tattoo on foot. Cost me $1000 (yes, that is ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS) to get it removed (laser).

Wisdom is expensive.

Some girls from my chapter have gotten lines of our creed. I really like this because there are some parts of our creed that are really meaningful to us, or that we just really like :). Im not familiar with the pi phi creed but if there is a part that you really like or think is meaningful to you then that could be something good!

I don't have a tattoo, even though I've given thought to what I'd want for years now. I knew I wanted to wait until I was an alumna before getting a Phi Mu tattoo, though, and I also maintain that I don't want to get my letters, despite my alumna status. There are still several ideas floating around in my head, but nothing totally solid yet, and I still don't even know where my tattoo would be located.

Idea #1: a quatrefoil (our badge shape, of course) with a cycloid (coincidentally ASA's badge shape; I'd use it because I'm a Steelers fan) inside it. Two passions, one tattoo.
Idea #2: a quatrefoil with three stars inside.
#3: Three stars.
#4: A hand holding a heart.
#5: A hand holding a heart, with three stars seeming to shine out from the heart. (This is the most likely option at this point.)
#6: The words "Love, Honor, Truth" in cursive.

...all of mine are taken from symbols of my Fraternity (or from our creed, as in #6), but they don't include the letters at all. Perhaps for Pi Phi you could choose just an arrow? Maybe a diamond (the basic shape of your coat-of-arms, of course), or a diamond with an arrow in it? Also, do a Google search and see if you find anything inspirational there from other Pi Phis. I would personally avoid getting a carnation (unless you found a VERY good line drawing of one that your artist could copy), because they often don't turn out clearly, or if you just say "carnation" to a tattoo artist, you may wind up with a rose or a chrysanthemum. ;)

I would not get a tattoo.....but seems to me that a small arrow would be appropriate for a Pi Beta Phi.

I'd have to first council against it. Then I'd say a small burgundy arrow on the ankle would be minimally obtrusive. I've never been a fan of words for tattoos. Too specific and invites too much discussion. And I'd definitely spend some time considering what your fraternity president would say if she saw it. Big ole Pi Phi tramp stamp would probably not go over too well; something small, not too specific and in a discreet location would probably not offend her.

And although I think they're awful, I have accepted that they are a permanent part of the culture now. But really, couldn't you just get a Pandora bracelet with Pi Phi charms? Then when you HATE your sisters and you're ready to quit, you can remove the charms, and when you've gotten over it, you can put the charms back on again.