Is it me or is everyone these days getting tattoos?
They were most commonly found on sailors, soldiers, and convicts. But now, thanks to the influence of footballers, singers and actors, tattoos have become a “trend” amongst the youth.
According to The Guardian, one fifth of British adults are now “inked”.
Local Islington resident, Alex Garlitos, 21, Student said: “I currently have seven tattoos, with a quarter sleeve and one more on the chest to come within the next month.”
Tattoos are legal for people to get once they are 18 years old. They are a permanent picture or text drawn onto the skin using a needle inserting special ink into the skin layers, which change the colour of the skin pigment.
They can be placed on any part of the human body ranging from a full arm, to the bum, to a person’s tongue. They can be seen as an art or a graffiti on the human body.
People get tattoos for various reasons whether it be for a memory or to represent who they are.
Alex said: “The sleeve (that I have) in progress represents my whole family; it has my surname and will include spiritual imagery to represent my family as a strong unit. These days I know a lot of people from broken/breaking families, so I have always appreciated how lucky I am to know that I have come from a solid upbringing with parents who are still married and love each other – so what better way to celebrate than inking it on my skin for life?
“I have the Seven Sins written in latin down my arm again to represent my upbringing. I may not always be the most holy person in the room, but those values are things that we all fail everyday. I have them tatted to remind me how I should be behaving!
My other tattoos are little sayings that mean a lot to me. I know they are quite cliché, but they have come from past experiences such as love and relationships.”
Another young person to have a tattoo is 19 year old, waitress/bartender Elenie Sagun who has three tattoos.
Elenie said: “I think of tattoos as art and I think it’s really beautiful to have them if it’s the right design.”
However, there is a cause for concern amongst people who have tattoos as there is a chance that it could jeopardise a person’s career.
“Nowadays we live in a society that’s constantly changing and people’s views on tattoos are always changing,” said Elenie.
Alex also has a similar view, as he believes they are a “form of individualisation”
“As for years down the line when I’m 50 with bad saggy skin, well everyone else my age will be suffering from the same thing too so I really don’t find that an issue when people are like ‘it will be terrible when you get old’. A 50 year old isn’t exactly going to be showing off their body as often as a 20 year old!”
In recent entertainment “ tattoo scandals” pictures emerged at the end of last year (2011) of a Drake fan tattooing the words ‘DRAKE’ onto her forehead – influenced by Drake’s lyrics in ‘Free Spirit’ – ” Tat my name on you girls so I know its real, Tat my f**kin name on you so I know its real.”