As time marches on, people are looking for better ways to express themselves without the myriad body piercings and tattoos covering their entire bodies. Tattoo parlors themselves will probably weather the storm. Unfortunately, it will most likely be to a lesser extent—especially for the less popular tattoo shops. 

Today’s individuals are looking for more simpler and less permanent ways to express life’s journey and their personal revolt against the system. Many individuals (male and female) no longer desire the phycological or physical cost associated with altering their bodies for a life-time. 

No longer will individuals express their intellectual intensity for “love and understanding” by becoming a walking Rembrandt or a modern-day Pablo Picasso. Plus, tattoos and piercings are Ungodly [for those who still believe in biblical principals. Fashion is one thing but your soul is in a whole different category.] 

It’s not only me that’s fascinated with people who tattoo themselves. During my investigative research, I found that a number of psychologist and others who study human behavior have attempted to understand what motivates so many of today’s individuals — young and old, male and female to undergoing tattoos. 

Is this phenomenon a desperate attempt to stick one’s fingers in the eye of standardize religion? Having the belief that God and the bible are illusions and a means of controlling of the masses, therefore representing a sort of silent protest? Maybe this is another one of fashion’s fad’s: the broadly shared enthusiasm for a trending new thing, normally short-lived, having no real bases for its existence other than what the crowd is doing at the moment. 

Many people trying to understand this new wave of self-expression have concluded that people who get tattoos are “possibly” looking for attention, and wanting to fit in with the popular crowd. Or, is it possibly due to the vast collection of followers feeling desperately lost, and disconnected from people and society — having now the need to feel independent and free from society and its’ rules and regulations? 

Or could it be as one person told me during a conversation of why he thought it was a good idea to tattoo his entire body, including the white’s of his eyes? He told me he did so to become a “winner” and exceedingly more confident in his self. Coupled with his extreme body art, he installed a host of body piercings such as: nose, ear, face, hands, tongue, and toe rings, as well as a large plug in his left ear lobe for a greater effect… you go figure.

The young man didn’t want me to mention his name for personal reasons, which I respect. I did not really believe the first name he gave me was valid anyway. Consequently, for the purpose of this article, I’ll call him Person X.  I asked person X in a more in depth interview, why so many tattoos and other accessories? He responded by telling me, “Tattoos gives me more confidence, builds my self-esteem, as well as brings me many more high-grade chicks” (sec). 

Person X continued by telling me when he was in high school, people bullied him and made fun of his small frame and his peculiar look. After getting tattooed, he received more respect from peers and strangers, and he (X) believed it was all attributed to the rugged and manly tattoos which spoke for him. A number of people I spoke with had similar sentiments. 

The vast number of individuals I approached indicated that they got caught-up in the moment, and wished they never got a tattoo, or at least so many of them. (According to www.advdermatology.com —78% percent of individuals regret at least one of their tattoos, and 19 percent of participants with two tattoos regret both. 

They also said, “Advance planning and a lot of thought prior to getting tattoos is the key to one not suffering from tattoo regret.”) For the most part, the majority of people I spoke with said that they become very tired of their tattoos overtime and want them gone. I was told by a resounding number of people that tattoos become a problem in their relationship or marriage, due to the tattoo(s) becoming unattractive, too repetitious, as well as ugly — being too much for the eyes overtime. I myself find “some” tattoos to be well placed, and a bit attractive as well as sexy [in moderation]. However, I would never get one myself. I’m a kinda-old-school person. 

Some of the feminist I spoke to said tattoos appeals to their inner-self and was more about empowerment, capturing their real-self as well as taking control of their surroundings; their body, and their spirituality. 

Conversely, “some” psychologist believe there is a link between tattoos and mental illness, while others say people with tattoos present a psychiatric disorder such as: anti-social personality that leads to alcohol and drug abuse, and possibly borderline personality disorders which have been previously associated with mass piercings and tattoos. 

I personally believe the bold and daring tattoos and body piercing individuals underneath are extremely violent people. The outward labeling of tattoos helps to calm their inner aggression for fear of being easily identified by their creative body art when deciding to commit a crime against another individual(s), property, or humanity. 

In fact, this is exactly the case with many prison inmates serving long jail sentences who undergo prison tattoos as sighted by numerous penal psychologist. These makeshift prison tattoos can damage inmates’ skin, cause serious permanent scarring as well as present life threating issues from harmful chemicals. Chemicals derived from using a ball point pen’s ink and dirty make-shift needles. In effect, one can contract HIV, or Hepatitis (B) or (C) as a result of not cleaning needles after each usage, which is the case many times.    

Furthermore, I feel many “overly tattooed” participants do suffer significantly from low self-esteem, anti-social behavior, and loneliness. Whereas a small group enjoy a vibrant social life due to their having an extraverted personality. (This group of tattooed individuals have been sighted as positive high-risk takers, unlike those in the penal system and others with nefarious intentions.) 

Fortunately, from a number of people I spoke with pertaining to tattoos, many felt that the trend is slowing and people are now re-capturing their personal space along with their magnificent unmarked bodies. And for the record, [I personally don’t believe that tattoos signify individual(s) having a lack of intelligence, but I do believe they become problematic overtime for the wearer and associates who find themselves having to constantly see them].

Moreover, I don’t believe tattoos undermine a person’s position in society (unless societal norms change in a direction away from tattoos) as everyone has the right to do what they want with their body without any negative reflection on their work or personal lives. It is one’s entitlement under the law of free expression. 

However, my concern with tattoos is that some individuals are getting body art due to intimidation, coercion, and being isolated from the crowd — due to their personal decision to refrain from following the body art trend — a trend that is permanent in nature. Which is a real problem that can lead an individual to many issues later in life, as a result of being bullied in to the world of tattoos.