Are you considering getting a tattoo? Maybe you've already got a few, but you're thinking about taking the plunge and getting one in a more visible location - like your face or body. Tattoos can be a powerful way to express yourself.
For some people, tattoos can be a real head-turner or a head-scratcher. It's all about finding the right balance between "ink-spiration" and "regret-tat-tion. Let's explore the pros and cons of tattoos.
Fashions and Trends Do Not Last Forever
In this article, we'll dive into both sides of the debate and provide the information you need to decide whether getting inked is right for you.
From tips for choosing the perfect design to fascinating facts about the history of tattooing, we've got you covered.
And if you're not ready for something permanent, we'll also explore some homemade and temporary tattoo options. So, let's get started and discover the art of tattoos with the benefits (pros).
The Pros of Having a Tattoo
For Beauty and Style
Tattoos have been a popular form of body art for centuries, and their popularity shows no sign of slowing down. They are an excellent way to express your personality and individuality through art and words. Tattoos in the right places can make you look cool and stylish. However, be aware that people may judge you based on your ink.
- Tattoos can be great conversation starters with strangers. Depending on the design, they can spark interest, admiration, or even shock, making for an easy icebreaker to start a conversation.
- For some people, tattoos can be a turn-on or a turn-off. Some women only date guys with tattoos, while others can't stand them. It's all a matter of personal preference and taste.
- Tattoos can hide scars and blemishes. If you have track marks from drug use or self-harm scars, tattoos can conceal them and give you a fresh start. Additionally, tattoos can transform stretch marks, wrinkles, and birthmarks into works of art with a cleverly placed design (as shown in the image below).
- Cosmetic tattooing is becoming increasingly popular. Lip tattoos can reshape or change the colour of your lips, while eyebrow tattoos are a semi-permanent beauty treatment. Even eyeliner tattoos are an option that can save you time and effort on your makeup routine. Microblading, a semi-permanent technique for enhancing the appearance of the eyebrows, is another option.
- A tattoo can replace the need to apply eyeliner. This is very popular among men (guy-liner) as well as women. Eyeliner tattoos will last between 12 and 18 months.
- Tattoos can also correct medical problems. For example, post-mastectomy nipple and areola tattooing can enhance your beauty and confidence after surgery.
Scalp micropigmentation (SMP) is a non-surgical tattoo technique that utilises tiny dots of ink to create the illusion of a more dense and youthful hairline. This innovative technique can be an effective solution for those with thinning or receding hair, providing a natural-looking boost to their confidence.
- With a tattoo, you can have a Marilyn Monroe beauty spot (mole/mark) on your face or anywhere else you desire. Historically, beauty marks were considered fashionable, and women used makeup to create artificial ones. In some cultures, beauty marks were associated with good luck or believed to enhance a person's beauty. Even today, they are still considered desirable.
For Identification
- In the worst-case scenario, tattoos can help identify your body parts in case of death or dismemberment. While it's not a pleasant thought, tattoos can be a helpful tool for forensic experts to piece together your remains and provide closure for your loved ones.
For Health
- A survey of tattooed college students found that tattoos increased their self-esteem and confidence. If you're looking for a way to feel more empowered and in control of your body, a tattoo might be just the thing.
- If you have a tattoo of personal information about you, such as your blood type or allergies, it could be lifesaving in a medical emergency. While not fool proof or guaranteed to be helpful, a tattoo in the right location can be a valuable asset.
- Based on a study by University of Alabama researchers, tattoos might actually boost your immune system. The pain and stress from getting multiple tattoos can make your immune system tougher, possibly helping you fend off things like the common cold.
The Cons of Having a Tattoo
Pain
- If you don't like injections, you won't like tattoos. And even you don't mind injections, having a tattoo on some areas of the body can be extremely painful. Tattoo "machines" can have a single needle and up to 20 plus needles, some are used for shading large areas and outlining, and others for creating precise lines. The more needles used, the quicker the tattoo, and the less uncomfortable the feeling. Bottom-line, everyone feels pain differently in different parts of their body. The good news? Tattooists now have special creams that numb the area, but they're not helpful for everyone because we all feel pain differently, so discuss pain management options with your tattooist.
- Top tip for toughening sensitive skin in preparation for tattooing is to do what martial artists do to harden and condition their bones. Rather than repeatedly beating your fists, forearms, and shins with pieces of wood or body-slamming into cement or rocks, use a nail brush or scrubbing brush every day to gently scrub the areas to be tattooed (with care) for a couple of weeks before the inking event to naturally toughen up that area of skin.
- I've had my fair share of inexperienced nurses who could not inject a needle into my vein to administer fluids or extract blood. I felt the pain, but I would never have seen the black-and-blue bruising on my arm if I had a tattoo.
Never get a tattoo under the influence of alcohol, drugs, a dare, bet, or under the influence of love, because like alcohol and drugs, your love for someone can also be a temporary high!
Medical/Criminal Complications
- Does an MRI machine affect tattoos? Physicist Moriel N. Aiver, said, "If you have them and need an MRI scan, be sure to tell your doctor and the MRI technologists, so they can evaluate the risk versus the benefit. If your tattoo's ink does not have any iron in it, then it should be pretty safe."
- Getting tattooed can pose a risk for people taking blood-thinning medications, also known as anticoagulants. These medications can affect the blood's ability to clot, and result in excessive bleeding during the tattooing process and potentially lead to complications. Consult a healthcare provider and disclose any medications or medical conditions before getting a tattoo.
- If you're covered in tattoos and suspected of driving while over the limit, you may not be able to use the "I don't like needles" excuse to avoid a blood test.
- Tattoos may hinder medical professionals or law enforcement in quickly and accurately diagnosing or investigating an assault or injury to help prove or disprove an allegation of assault or being manhandled because the tattoos could obscure any bruising on the body.
- If you have tattoos and have been in an accident or assaulted, medical professionals may take longer to accurately diagnose and treat your injuries due to the tattoos potentially obscuring bruises, cuts, or other evidence of injury. Basically; it's easier to find Wally (Waldo) on a 'blank' canvas!
- While having tattoos in the area of the body where surgery will be performed can make it more challenging for a surgeon to mark the area accurately, most professional surgeons will still be able to work around a tattoo. ....Dr Sobel, a cosmetic surgeon, said, "Marking my patients allows me to describe their procedure visually as well as ensure a great result" (as shown in the image below).
Health
- As with any surgical procedure, there are always risks with being tattooed. The degree of risk depends on the size of the tattooed area, the tattooist's level of experience, and the ink which is used.
- Tattoos could raise the risk of a fatal cancer by 20%, according to a shocking study. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden found that people with tattoos had a 21 percent higher risk of lymphoma compared to those without. This is the first time tattoos have been linked to this deadly blood cancer
- Having tattoos before body-building will do two things, make your smaller tattoos larger, and distort the ones you already have, especially if they are the faces of loved ones!
- Beware of having a tattoo if you're severely overweight or underweight (especially in fleshy areas) because there is a possibility that your tattoo will become distorted if you gain or lose weight, which will not look good if you have a tattoo of someone's face!
- Ink safety: some inks contain pigments used in printers and car paints. The FDA has not approved certain pigments for injection into the skin for cosmetic purposes. The FDA has alerted consumers, tattoo artists, and retailers of the potential dangers.
- A study found that 0.6-7% of adults who had a tattoo experienced infectious complications. The most common problems are an allergic reaction to tattoo pigments (the different metal elements used in ink colours). As well as bad reactions that can happen immediately after being tattooed, or many years later.
- Tattoos of faces and other designs will get distorted with severe weight loss or weight gain, which can happen to anyone in life due to food consumption (obesity), complications from taking medications or other medical problems.
- Tattoos can cause infections and other complications, including allergic reactions. This can occur years after having a tattoo. More health risks involved, published by the FDA.
- Melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers are one of the most common cancers in the world. These types of cancers will develop in the upper layers of the skin. Not easy to detect when your body is covered in tattoos. However, they can be curable if detected and treated early. But not if cancer happens to be growing/appearing undetected under a tattoo you may have!
- Tattoos make it hard to see and monitor any new rashes, skin imperfections or problems that may appear after being tattooed. So even one tattoo in the wrong place could be potentially deadly! Dr Robert Shmerling, the faculty editor at Harvard Health Publications, says, "tattoo inks also make it difficult to evaluate and monitor moles".
Social Reasons
- Tattoo acceptance varies by country, region, and organisation. Some people may still view tattoos as unprofessional and may not be willing to hire or work with individuals who have visible tattoos, especially on their hands, neck, or face. However, In recent years, It's not uncommon to see police officers, doctors, and nurses with visible tattoos, particularly in western societies. Also, heavily tattooed people are wanted for films or music videos. Remember, what may acceptable now may not be in the future, and vice versa.
- In some countries, having tattoos could lead to legal consequences, such as being fined or deported. British plasterer Jordan Howman was barred from entering Dubai at immigration due to his face tattoos, despite arriving for a family holiday, so be sure to research laws and cultural norms before travelling.
- People are more inclined to distance themselves from people who have tattoos on their hands, neck, and especially face. For some people, It's not the placement of the tattoos, but rather the subject which would determine how fearful they would be. Not ideal if you're a socially outgoing person who likes to mingle with the crowd.
- Some tattoo designs, shapes and symbols may communicate messages that some people find offensive, which could affect social interactions. When choosing a tattoo, consider the potential implications of the design and its meaning. For example, the swastika design used to symbolise well-being and longevity. However, it's now associated with antisemitism, Nazism, and white supremacism.
Permanence
- Have you ever changed your mind about something, whether it be your taste in food or your opinion on a political issue? Because humans are prone to evolving, growing, and changing our preferences over time. We might change the design of our duvet covers, the colour of the walls in our home, or become tired of our screensaver. However, what happens when you choose to have artwork permanently etched onto your skin? Removing a tattoo by surgical excision or laser treatment can be expensive, painful, and may leave behind an unsightly or discoloured scar. For these reasons, it might make sense to cover the old tattoo with a new, more attractive tattoo.
Identification
- Tattoos make a police officer's job much easier because many criminals have been identified and caught by their tattoos.
- Rehabilitated prisoners, who thought it was cool to have homemade prison tattoos while inside, now regret them. Some, try to keep them covered. Others have covered them up with professional tattoos.
Ageing
- As we age, our skin becomes thinner, softer, and less elastic, and make getting tattooed more challenging and cause tattoos to distort or sag over time.
- Tattooing people's faces (portraits) on your body means the tattoo will age and distort as your body changes over time, so careful consideration of the tattoo's placement and potential implications is crucial. Even slight body changes can significantly alter the image, so caution is necessary.
Cleanliness
- The tattoo ink can create a barrier on the skin's surface, making it harder to notice the build up of dirt or stains.
Miscellaneous
- Contrary to popular belief, anyone with tattoos or other physical alterations can donate their body to medical science.
- It is not advisable for pregnant or breastfeeding women to get a tattoo, as there are potential complications.
- Depending on where you live, you may have to wait a few months before donating blood after getting a tattoo.
- After getting a tattoo, you should avoid swimming, soaking the tattoo, sweating, using a sauna, or weight training for at least five weeks to allow the tattoo to heal.
- Avoid direct sunlight and wear tight-fitting clothing in the tattooed area to prevent damage to the healing skin.
- When abroad, be cautious with language barriers when asking for a tattoo with a name, words or a Chinese symbol because you don't want anything offensive or wrongly spelled or designed.
- Good aftercare is crucial for tattoo healing. It involves regularly cleaning the tattooed area, keeping it moisturised, and avoiding any activities or substances that may harm the skin.
How to Care for Your Tattoos
It is important to care for your tattoos properly in order to keep them looking their best and to prevent them from becoming infected.
- Avoid activities that can fade or damage your tattoos, such as swimming in chlorine, using exfoliating products, or exposing them to the sun.
- Protect your tattoos from the sun by wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
- Drink plenty of water and eat a healthy diet to keep your skin healthy and hydrated.
- Get regular touch-ups from a professional tattoo artist to keep your tattoos looking their best.
By following these simple tips, you can help your tattoos last for many years to come.
Getting Tattooed: Homemade, Professional, and Everything in Between
All you need is the correct ink and needle to perform a (stick and poke) DIY home-made tattoo. However, this can be seriously dangerous and put your health at risk of skin infection.
Some tattooists work from home and are usually cheaper than those who work in a shop, but they may not be as safe, properly trained or licensed, and they may not use sterile equipment. This could put you at risk of infection
If you are considering getting a tattoo, it is important to do your research and choose a reputable tattoo artist who is licensed and insured. This will help to ensure that you receive a safe and professional tattoo.
Why Not Try a 'Temporary Painless' Tattoo! Zero Pain, Zero Regrets
- Draw or paint your own design using a felt-tip (Sharpie) pen or body paint, but make sure they're non-toxic to avoid any allergic reactions.
- Henna dyes are a great way to see what it looks like to have a tattoo. Henna tattoos will last a few days to several weeks.
- Tattoo stickers can be used to 'test the waters' before you decide on a permanent tattoo.
- Sleeve tattoos are a collection of smaller tattoos that covers part or all of a person's arm. You can buy either a sleeve transfer or a nylon elastic arm stocking.
- Tattoo transfers are another option (as shown in the image below).
If You Decide the Pros Outweigh the Cons
What design do you want? Where do you want it? How big or small? What colours will it be? Will its position on your body affect your job prospects in the future? Will clothing cover be able to cover them up if and when they need to be? Because although tattoos are becoming more and more popular and acceptable, there will always be a part of society that will not agree and find them totally unacceptable.
Find a good tattooist. It is worth investing that extra cash in a professional and experienced tattooist. You don't want to end up with an infection or HIV, or a tattoo on your arm which reads, "No Regrets".
Interesting Tattoo Facts
- The oldest discovery of a tattooed person dates back to 3370 and 3100 BC, which was on a natural mummy of a man they named, 'Otzi the iceman'. He was discovered under the glacier Alps on the border between Austria and Italy.
- Smart tattoos, aka (epidermal electronic systems) are a new way to wear technology that adds function to your skin. From medical monitors to smartphone interfaces. They can monitor and treat health issues in real time. Send signals to devices via touch, and allow users to interact with the world around them. Including tattoo inks that change colour as the body temperature changes.
- In America, tattooed women were so rare and unusual they were regularly displayed as circus freaks.
- The skin is pierced up to 3000 times per minute by a tattoo machine, and the first tattoo machine was inspired by Thomas Edison’s electric pen.
- Black is the easiest colour to remove during a tattoo removal laser procedure, unlike lighter colours like green and yellow.
- A woman in the Netherlands has received a tattoo remotely by a robotic artist over 300 miles away with 5G cellular technology.
- You have to be very unlucky to be struck by lightning, but if you're lucky enough to survive, you could end up with a free, instant 'tattoo-like marking' called a Lichtenberg figure. This marking was named after the German physicist who discovered the 'tree-like shaped patterns' that can result from the electrical discharge (as shown in the image below).
Continued: Interesting Tattoo Facts
- The most popular tattoo designs are stars, dragons, hearts, stars, skulls, flowers, and tribal designs.
- Glow-in-the-dark tattoos are tattoos that can be seen under ultraviolet light!
- A study revealed that people with tattoos are slightly more sexually active and more adventurous.
- Thousands of people around the world were inspired to have a tattoo of a bee, to raise funds for the victims of the bombing at the Manchester Arena during an Ariana Grande concert. A bee tattoo is a symbol of loyalty, wisdom, strength, and being industrious.
- Gregory Paul McLaren, aka Lucky Diamond Rich, is in the Guinness Book of Records for being the most tattooed person in history. (Video below).
Final thought (quote) from the American country music singer-songwriter Earl Dibbles Jr; "Sometimes, the nicest people you meet are covered in tattoos, and sometimes, the most judgemental people you see go to church on Sunday".
Have you now changed your mind about getting a tattoo?
- 25% Yes. I will not be getting tattooed.
- 55% No. I will still be getting tattooed.
- 20% Still undecided.
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