Think before you ink!

Tattoos are a creative way to showcase your individuality - without having to say a word; it is a fashion statement for many people. Here is a complete guide to get inked

Once upon a time tattoos were delegated to the territory of counter culture. Now, they have become new age faux pas of the fashion world. Having a tattoo is like making a statement about one’s artistic manifestation or a memory.

From clavicle to clavicle, ‘sleeves’ covering an entire forearm to ‘chest pieces’, there isn’t anything that’s off-limits anymore. Ink art seems to have just about everyone thinking. Be it the initials, a number that denotes a significant date in an individual's life, or any particular motif tattoos – all are raging sensations around the globe.

However, there are always two sides of a coin - so being the case with getting a tattoo. Here are a few guidelines to help you weigh the decision of geting inked.

It is an expression of creativity and artistic vision
Tattoos are a part of one’s personality, they represent the inherent traits of the wearer - an obvious one being that the person is an artistic individual, and that they love expressing their emotions through this medium. It is something for the wearer to hold onto, and works as an artistic extension of the self. Many view tattoos as a way to express individuality or show solidarity with another person, group or idea. Others see them merely as a way to beautify themselves, using their bodies as a blank canvas.

Tattoos are forever
Every tattoo has a story to tell - an unforgettable experience or a special someone who is the reason the wearer gets inked. A lot of people get tattoos to pay a tribute to their loved ones and cherish that memory forever. An important event, mark of a new beginning, or a nostalgia trip can be comprehended through a tattoo. Making a fashion faux pas for the night is one thing, being condemned to a very permanent reminder of it is quite another. If you get tattoos for the right reasons, by the right artists, and with the care they need, then you get to wear an incredible and meaningful piece of artwork for the rest of your life. The nice thing about a getting inked is that the painful part happens only once and you’re good to go for a lifetime. A tattoo stays forever.

Your body is susceptible to various infections and germs
The skin is the largest organ getting a tattoo breaches the skin which opens the door for various complications like allergic reactions. Not only does it hurt to be struck with needles over and over for an extended time—it’s risky too. Getting a tattoo can put you at risk for contracting a variety of illnesses and bacterial infection.

Some people are allergic to dyes and it can cause an itchy rash – even years after the tattoo. Pigments from the dyes migrate to a person’s lymph nodes. The lymph nodes are very important and work like filters to help destroy germs and fight infection. Check the cleanliness, hygiene and safety of the tattoo parlour carefully. Make sure the parlour and the artists are certified and use clean tools and inks.

Your tattoo ages with you, so it hurts more to remove it
Bodies wrinkle and sag as we get older, which means the tattoos will do the same. However, tattoos that were done over 50 years ago were made with different pigments which eventually resulted in the fading, bleeding, and turning blue of the tattoo- which is where people got the impression that tattoo looks bad as you age. So, unless you had your tattoos done half a century ago, your tattoos will actually look the same minus the fact that they will need some touching up over the years.

However, if you get bored with the tattoo, it is a painful business to get the needling done. Cover-ups and removals are troublesome and can be fairly expensive and painful experience.

By: Farheen Islam
The writer is a Fashion Curator at ROPOSO.