It used to be that the only people – almost exclusively men – seen with tattoos were those who had been either sailors or soldiers.
Now they are common – soccer and rugby players sport them, celebrities showcase them and more and more people now choose to have them done, some choosing hideaway places, others with them in visible positions on their bodies.
So why do people choose to get tattoos done?
“To stand out or fit in, to enhance attractiveness, to follow fashion trend, to demonstrate power or resistance to pain and even death, and to mark life stage transition or recovery from an event or trauma,” says Cork psychologist, Sally O’Reilly. However, tattooing is not new, she says.
“We’ve been tattooing ourselves since the dawn of time. The ice man’s body was tattooed, and that was over 5,000 years ago. We’ve cultures all over the world who, traditionally, have striking tattoos on their faces, necks, arms, bodies. We seem to have many reasons for liking tattoos down through the ages – and these reasons still apply today.”
The latter ‘heavier’ reasons, ie to demonstrate power or resistance to pain, even death, and to mark life stage transition, or recovery from an event or trauma, are the reasons Sally, as a psychologist, is most interested in.
“These are the ones I see as having more meaning in the current context of my own practice and our society where more and more we talk about mental health,” she says.
While for some young people, perhaps males in particular, the tattoo is a show of resilience and physical strength and may even represent a form of self-harm in that the ritual is painful, in her experience there is more to it than that.
“It is layered. For many it’s the ultimate exercise in control. To permanently decorate one’s own body is a statement of defiance, celebration and durability,” she says.
Healing power of tattoos
The clue to which reason is the main motivator for any person is often in the image they choose to have tattooed on their skin, she says.
“It is to literally to mark down the moment, extend the present, defy the raging process and ultimately, maybe, defy death itself.”
She sees many people choosing tattoos after experiencing significant loss. “It can be a meaningful and often very beautiful homage to the lost person or thing or way of life,” she says. “It symbolises their not forgetting, and the willingness to always be reminded, a symbol of enduring love.”
But could this be a sign that the person isn’t letting go?“It could be interpreted in this way by some, as a maladaptive response to grief but while I understand that (perspective) it’s not how I see it. I see it as part of a process – for many, a therapeutic part – the ultimate act of art therapy, if you will.”
Another positive healing function related to tattoos, particularly among teens and those in their early 20s, she believes, is that tattoos effectively cover up self-harm scars.
“We all know that self-harm is on the rise. There are many scarred bodies out there. And as they recover and emerge, many choose to decorate and cover up rather than simply cover with clothing or have the scars exposed.
“In this way the tattoo serves several functions – it conceals the scar, it allows for a symbol to take its place, one that has meaning for the person, a meaning that usually refers to the pain that drove the self-harm in the first place.
“It serves as a reminder, and a nudge to choose a different behaviour – a harm-free one.”
Tattoos and therapy
In her experience, many young people choose tattoos when they are nearing the end of therapy.
“I have no issue with this – quite the contrary, I’m a great fan of human ritual.”
The other function the scar-covering tattoo has is that it allows for questioning, she says.
“The wearer knows that people will ask about tattoos, naturally. The wearer then has a choice about how much of the story to tell.
“It’s another way of having a new and comforting sense of power and control, this time over who to share this information with. Having something hidden in plain sight can be a comfort and a private smile to oneself. It’s a statement to oneself, and a conversation with oneself – and for the wearer, this might be a new, novel and comforting thing.” CL
Choosing a professional tattoo artist
Dolores Murray, owner of the Wildcat Tattoo studio in Jervis Street, Dublin, is concerned about the unregulated growth in tattoo studios in Ireland, however.
“There were only four in Dublin when I started 20 years ago but now there are over 200. Across the whole country there are 1,000.”
There are no regulations and a lot of inexperienced – very inexperienced – people are opening tattoo shops
Attitudes to tattoos have changed a lot and now even small towns and villages have tattoo and body art parlours, she says.
Celebrities like David Beckham and Angeline Jolie have made tattooing popular, she says, but the opening of too many shops is threatening the industry.
“There are no regulations and a lot of inexperienced – very inexperienced – people are opening tattoo shops,” she says.
“They are operating out of unsuitable premises, people who have barely learned how to tattoo opening their own shop without having served a proper apprenticeship.”
While there are very low official figures for complaints and infections related to tattooing this is because most people are too embarrassed to report it, she says.
The Government should follow France, the Netherlands and Denmark’s example by bringing in statutory regulations specifically for the industry
“They would just go to their GP for antibiotics, for the less serious infections, or just complain to the studio,” she says, “but hepatitis infections are a risk.”
Dolores has now set up the Association of Body Modification Artists in Ireland (ABMAI) to campaign for better standards.
There aren’t very many members yet though.
“The Government should follow France, the Netherlands and Denmark’s example by bringing in statutory regulations specifically for the industry,” she says.
“EU-wide guidelines are expected soon and the Irish guidelines could be based on these. The regulations will govern hygiene, premises regulation, apprenticeships and the age of consent for clients.”
The consent issue concerns her greatly and she knows of teenagers as young as fourteen getting tattoos.
“That shouldn’t be happening. The age issue (18 years) should be set in stone,” she says.
Brian Duffy of Wildcat Tattoo Studio in Jervis Street has been a tattooist for eight years. Trained in art and design he did a year’s training to become a tattoo artist.
“All my friends had tattoos so it was something that interested me.”
The first tattoo he did for a customer was a small Chinese symbol. “I had the training so I was confident doing it,” he says
The biggest tattoo he has ever done covered a person’s full back, had a lot of detail and took several sittings.
Anyone can buy tattoo equipment off the street or online, that’s how bad it is, and they don’t have to have training to buy it
“Images vary a lot but the most popular tattoo is small,” he says. “It’s usually just script – a name or a quotation.”
Why is tattooing so popular, does he think? “It’s just the way culture goes, it’s not a big deal anymore to get a tattoo. People who never wanted tattoos before are starting to realise it’s not a big deal.”
Brian’s Advice
“Do your research,” he says. “Look at different artists’ portfolios and visit the studio to see if you like the place and see if it’s clean.
Personal recommendations are good but go for professional tattooists. You’re better off avoiding getting tattoos from friends of friends unless they are properly trained.”
He also believes regulation is badly needed because tattooing is such a booming business now.
“Anyone can buy tattoo equipment off the street or online, that’s how bad it is, and they don’t have to have training to buy it.”
The Association of Body Modification Artists of Ireland is trying to bring in voluntary membership and regulation.
“We’re trying to solve the problems before they happen by regulating it ourselves,” he says. “If you go to a reputable studio you’re pretty much guaranteed that everything is going to be sterile. You want to avoid infections. Scabbing is normal and swelling happens a little bit depending on how big the tattoo is but you would have to go to a GP if it gets infected.”
The dye is injected only 1mm or less under the skin, he says, and healing times depend on the size of the tattoo.
“If you’re doing a portrait tattoo you’ll be working the skin a lot more, damaging the skin to get shade and contrast. The more work you do the longer it takes to heal which is generally two to three weeks.”
Tattoo facts and information
British Sociological Association found that no matter how intelligent and articulate a job applicant is, if they have a visible tattoo, would-be employers would think twice about taking them on in case they would damage their corporate image. In a paper about perceptions of body art, Dr Andrew Timming of St Andrew’s University School of Management set out findings from interviews with employers. The big concern was how customers might perceive employees with visible tattoos.
However, prison officers saw having a tattoo as an advantage – ‘an in’ with prisoners.The Irish Rugby Team have been asked to cover up their tattoos when in Japan for the World Cup. This is as a mark of respect for Japanese culture. Team members will be asked to cover themselves with a special ‘rashie’ vest when in a gym or pool in Japan as tattoos are linked there with crime mobs like the Yakuza. The only data related to tattoos in Ireland is in a The Lancet review that showed that about 36% of people under 40 have at least one tattoo with many having them done between the ages of 16 and 20. A Danish study where researchers bought bottles of tattoo ink over the internet found that six of the 58 bottles were contaminated. Tattoos may cause some burning sensation when having MRIs if iron-based, metallic inks have been used in the tattoo. Tell your doctor that you have a tattoo before having an MRI.The more flesh you have on an area the less discomfort you will feel when being tattooed e.g. upper arms or buttocks are less uncomfortable than shins, spine or armpits with many people saying that the outline is the most uncomfortable part of a tattoo
Kieran DoonaKieran Doona, a farmer from Glencar in Kerry has one tattoo and got it done about three years ago at a tattoo convention in the Gleneagle Hotel.
The tattoo that he chose runs from the top of his shoulder down his arm is of praying hands with rosary beads and clouds around them.
“My grandfather had died and I wanted to get something to remind me of him and I thought it was a good way of doing that. In the future I might get his name put on as well.”
The tattoo took three and a half hours and the top of the shoulder area where cloud shading was done was quite sore, he says.
“A few times I had to say take a break but that was it.”
Kieran looked at the work of the artists there and chose a tattooist based on what he had seen him do on others.
Kieran had some familiarity with tattoos, liking a tattoo of an eagle that an uncle had on his hand, but he was a bit shocked when two of his aunts, in their 50s, got small tattoos, he says.
“I couldn’t believe it but attitudes are changing a lot to tattoos, even among country people and older people. You’d see them a lot now.”
A few GAA friends have tattoos also but not that many.
“You’d probably see more in players in Tralee or Killarney.”
Karen McCabeKaren McCabe from Leitrim is a pedigree and suckler farmer and loves tattoos. She has had lots of them done over the past nine years, from a simple family crest motto “conquer or die” written in Latin on her wrist to pink flowers on her shoulders, a woman with a sword on her inner leg and a horse head on one thigh.
The tattoos are a real conversation starter when she is out and wearing shorts or skirt, she says.
“One time a girl said ‘Oh, I love your patterned tights’. I said ‘they’re not tights’!”
She got her first tattoo two days after she was 18, she says. “I got the cross/tribal design on my back first. The Chinese flowers one has UV ink that glows in the dark – that probably wasn’t a good idea on the health side as they can be a bit dangerous if the ink gets into your bloodstream.”
She chose the powerful woman with a sword image on her leg because she liked the idea of a woman standing up for herself. She hardly notices them anymore.
“I like them and if someone is going to judge me on what’s on my skin that’s their problem, not mine.”
The most painful one was on her kneecap and the horse tattoo did swell a good bit but all healed perfectly, she says.
Karen says that it is more uncommon to find someone who doesn’t have a tattoo than someone who does, especially among younger people.
“The stigma around having them disappeared around the 2000s and they started becoming fashionable. Maybe it was that celebrities had them and that there were more regulations too so bad tattoos weren’t seen as often. It was much safer. I always just liked them. Maybe the boom helped as well and the increasing number of good tattooists.”
(Source: Association of Body
Modification Artists in Ireland)
www.sallyoreilly.com
It used to be that the only people – almost exclusively men – seen with tattoos were those who had been either sailors or soldiers.
Now they are common – soccer and rugby players sport them, celebrities showcase them and more and more people now choose to have them done, some choosing hideaway places, others with them in visible positions on their bodies.
So why do people choose to get tattoos done?
“To stand out or fit in, to enhance attractiveness, to follow fashion trend, to demonstrate power or resistance to pain and even death, and to mark life stage transition or recovery from an event or trauma,” says Cork psychologist, Sally O’Reilly. However, tattooing is not new, she says.
“We’ve been tattooing ourselves since the dawn of time. The ice man’s body was tattooed, and that was over 5,000 years ago. We’ve cultures all over the world who, traditionally, have striking tattoos on their faces, necks, arms, bodies. We seem to have many reasons for liking tattoos down through the ages – and these reasons still apply today.”
The latter ‘heavier’ reasons, ie to demonstrate power or resistance to pain, even death, and to mark life stage transition, or recovery from an event or trauma, are the reasons Sally, as a psychologist, is most interested in.
“These are the ones I see as having more meaning in the current context of my own practice and our society where more and more we talk about mental health,” she says.
While for some young people, perhaps males in particular, the tattoo is a show of resilience and physical strength and may even represent a form of self-harm in that the ritual is painful, in her experience there is more to it than that.
“It is layered. For many it’s the ultimate exercise in control. To permanently decorate one’s own body is a statement of defiance, celebration and durability,” she says.
Healing power of tattoos
The clue to which reason is the main motivator for any person is often in the image they choose to have tattooed on their skin, she says.
“It is to literally to mark down the moment, extend the present, defy the raging process and ultimately, maybe, defy death itself.”
She sees many people choosing tattoos after experiencing significant loss. “It can be a meaningful and often very beautiful homage to the lost person or thing or way of life,” she says. “It symbolises their not forgetting, and the willingness to always be reminded, a symbol of enduring love.”
But could this be a sign that the person isn’t letting go?“It could be interpreted in this way by some, as a maladaptive response to grief but while I understand that (perspective) it’s not how I see it. I see it as part of a process – for many, a therapeutic part – the ultimate act of art therapy, if you will.”
Another positive healing function related to tattoos, particularly among teens and those in their early 20s, she believes, is that tattoos effectively cover up self-harm scars.
“We all know that self-harm is on the rise. There are many scarred bodies out there. And as they recover and emerge, many choose to decorate and cover up rather than simply cover with clothing or have the scars exposed.
“In this way the tattoo serves several functions – it conceals the scar, it allows for a symbol to take its place, one that has meaning for the person, a meaning that usually refers to the pain that drove the self-harm in the first place.
“It serves as a reminder, and a nudge to choose a different behaviour – a harm-free one.”
Tattoos and therapy
In her experience, many young people choose tattoos when they are nearing the end of therapy.
“I have no issue with this – quite the contrary, I’m a great fan of human ritual.”
The other function the scar-covering tattoo has is that it allows for questioning, she says.
“The wearer knows that people will ask about tattoos, naturally. The wearer then has a choice about how much of the story to tell.
“It’s another way of having a new and comforting sense of power and control, this time over who to share this information with. Having something hidden in plain sight can be a comfort and a private smile to oneself. It’s a statement to oneself, and a conversation with oneself – and for the wearer, this might be a new, novel and comforting thing.” CL
Choosing a professional tattoo artist
Dolores Murray, owner of the Wildcat Tattoo studio in Jervis Street, Dublin, is concerned about the unregulated growth in tattoo studios in Ireland, however.
“There were only four in Dublin when I started 20 years ago but now there are over 200. Across the whole country there are 1,000.”
There are no regulations and a lot of inexperienced – very inexperienced – people are opening tattoo shops
Attitudes to tattoos have changed a lot and now even small towns and villages have tattoo and body art parlours, she says.
Celebrities like David Beckham and Angeline Jolie have made tattooing popular, she says, but the opening of too many shops is threatening the industry.
“There are no regulations and a lot of inexperienced – very inexperienced – people are opening tattoo shops,” she says.
“They are operating out of unsuitable premises, people who have barely learned how to tattoo opening their own shop without having served a proper apprenticeship.”
While there are very low official figures for complaints and infections related to tattooing this is because most people are too embarrassed to report it, she says.
The Government should follow France, the Netherlands and Denmark’s example by bringing in statutory regulations specifically for the industry
“They would just go to their GP for antibiotics, for the less serious infections, or just complain to the studio,” she says, “but hepatitis infections are a risk.”
Dolores has now set up the Association of Body Modification Artists in Ireland (ABMAI) to campaign for better standards.
There aren’t very many members yet though.
“The Government should follow France, the Netherlands and Denmark’s example by bringing in statutory regulations specifically for the industry,” she says.
“EU-wide guidelines are expected soon and the Irish guidelines could be based on these. The regulations will govern hygiene, premises regulation, apprenticeships and the age of consent for clients.”
The consent issue concerns her greatly and she knows of teenagers as young as fourteen getting tattoos.
“That shouldn’t be happening. The age issue (18 years) should be set in stone,” she says.
Brian Duffy of Wildcat Tattoo Studio in Jervis Street has been a tattooist for eight years. Trained in art and design he did a year’s training to become a tattoo artist.
“All my friends had tattoos so it was something that interested me.”
The first tattoo he did for a customer was a small Chinese symbol. “I had the training so I was confident doing it,” he says
The biggest tattoo he has ever done covered a person’s full back, had a lot of detail and took several sittings.
Anyone can buy tattoo equipment off the street or online, that’s how bad it is, and they don’t have to have training to buy it
“Images vary a lot but the most popular tattoo is small,” he says. “It’s usually just script – a name or a quotation.”
Why is tattooing so popular, does he think? “It’s just the way culture goes, it’s not a big deal anymore to get a tattoo. People who never wanted tattoos before are starting to realise it’s not a big deal.”
Brian’s Advice
“Do your research,” he says. “Look at different artists’ portfolios and visit the studio to see if you like the place and see if it’s clean.
Personal recommendations are good but go for professional tattooists. You’re better off avoiding getting tattoos from friends of friends unless they are properly trained.”
He also believes regulation is badly needed because tattooing is such a booming business now.
“Anyone can buy tattoo equipment off the street or online, that’s how bad it is, and they don’t have to have training to buy it.”
The Association of Body Modification Artists of Ireland is trying to bring in voluntary membership and regulation.
“We’re trying to solve the problems before they happen by regulating it ourselves,” he says. “If you go to a reputable studio you’re pretty much guaranteed that everything is going to be sterile. You want to avoid infections. Scabbing is normal and swelling happens a little bit depending on how big the tattoo is but you would have to go to a GP if it gets infected.”
The dye is injected only 1mm or less under the skin, he says, and healing times depend on the size of the tattoo.
“If you’re doing a portrait tattoo you’ll be working the skin a lot more, damaging the skin to get shade and contrast. The more work you do the longer it takes to heal which is generally two to three weeks.”
Tattoo facts and information
British Sociological Association found that no matter how intelligent and articulate a job applicant is, if they have a visible tattoo, would-be employers would think twice about taking them on in case they would damage their corporate image. In a paper about perceptions of body art, Dr Andrew Timming of St Andrew’s University School of Management set out findings from interviews with employers. The big concern was how customers might perceive employees with visible tattoos.
However, prison officers saw having a tattoo as an advantage – ‘an in’ with prisoners.The Irish Rugby Team have been asked to cover up their tattoos when in Japan for the World Cup. This is as a mark of respect for Japanese culture. Team members will be asked to cover themselves with a special ‘rashie’ vest when in a gym or pool in Japan as tattoos are linked there with crime mobs like the Yakuza. The only data related to tattoos in Ireland is in a The Lancet review that showed that about 36% of people under 40 have at least one tattoo with many having them done between the ages of 16 and 20. A Danish study where researchers bought bottles of tattoo ink over the internet found that six of the 58 bottles were contaminated. Tattoos may cause some burning sensation when having MRIs if iron-based, metallic inks have been used in the tattoo. Tell your doctor that you have a tattoo before having an MRI.The more flesh you have on an area the less discomfort you will feel when being tattooed e.g. upper arms or buttocks are less uncomfortable than shins, spine or armpits with many people saying that the outline is the most uncomfortable part of a tattoo
Kieran DoonaKieran Doona, a farmer from Glencar in Kerry has one tattoo and got it done about three years ago at a tattoo convention in the Gleneagle Hotel.
The tattoo that he chose runs from the top of his shoulder down his arm is of praying hands with rosary beads and clouds around them.
“My grandfather had died and I wanted to get something to remind me of him and I thought it was a good way of doing that. In the future I might get his name put on as well.”
The tattoo took three and a half hours and the top of the shoulder area where cloud shading was done was quite sore, he says.
“A few times I had to say take a break but that was it.”
Kieran looked at the work of the artists there and chose a tattooist based on what he had seen him do on others.
Kieran had some familiarity with tattoos, liking a tattoo of an eagle that an uncle had on his hand, but he was a bit shocked when two of his aunts, in their 50s, got small tattoos, he says.
“I couldn’t believe it but attitudes are changing a lot to tattoos, even among country people and older people. You’d see them a lot now.”
A few GAA friends have tattoos also but not that many.
“You’d probably see more in players in Tralee or Killarney.”
Karen McCabeKaren McCabe from Leitrim is a pedigree and suckler farmer and loves tattoos. She has had lots of them done over the past nine years, from a simple family crest motto “conquer or die” written in Latin on her wrist to pink flowers on her shoulders, a woman with a sword on her inner leg and a horse head on one thigh.
The tattoos are a real conversation starter when she is out and wearing shorts or skirt, she says.
“One time a girl said ‘Oh, I love your patterned tights’. I said ‘they’re not tights’!”
She got her first tattoo two days after she was 18, she says. “I got the cross/tribal design on my back first. The Chinese flowers one has UV ink that glows in the dark – that probably wasn’t a good idea on the health side as they can be a bit dangerous if the ink gets into your bloodstream.”
She chose the powerful woman with a sword image on her leg because she liked the idea of a woman standing up for herself. She hardly notices them anymore.
“I like them and if someone is going to judge me on what’s on my skin that’s their problem, not mine.”
The most painful one was on her kneecap and the horse tattoo did swell a good bit but all healed perfectly, she says.
Karen says that it is more uncommon to find someone who doesn’t have a tattoo than someone who does, especially among younger people.
“The stigma around having them disappeared around the 2000s and they started becoming fashionable. Maybe it was that celebrities had them and that there were more regulations too so bad tattoos weren’t seen as often. It was much safer. I always just liked them. Maybe the boom helped as well and the increasing number of good tattooists.”
(Source: Association of Body
Modification Artists in Ireland)
www.sallyoreilly.com
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