“So you didn't believe your Mom
when she said you'd regret getting that tattoo - the
multicolored, fire-breathing dragon that starts at the small
of your back, reaches up to your shoulder blades and wraps
its orange flames around your biceps. Now, a mere seven
years later, you have a shot at a terrific job in banking,
still one of the more conservative businesses around, and
you are concerned that your symbol of youthful
self-expression could create problems in your new career.”
Body art has always appealed to the rebel crowd. It
became more mainstream as more celebrities started wearing
it. Tattooing was taking on an increasingly larger, more
visible role as tattooed rock, sports and movie stars, even
elite super models began to proudly display their body art.
By the year 2001, the demand for body art had morphed into a
virtual frenzy. To this day, it still remains one of the
most-searched items on the Internet. Some estimate that more
than 10 million Americans have at least one tattoo, and
there are about 4,000 tattoo studios now in business in the
United States. It will not then come as a surprise to some
that the new craze for tattoos of the Russians, for example,
is to have images of President Vladimir Putin tattooed onto
their bodies. The President's name or face make people feel
safe and confident.
Is that frenzy subsiding?
According to statistics, one busy physician who specializes
in tattoo removal – he has removed tattoos from some of the
most famous tattoo artists -- estimates that about 50
percent of those who get tattoos later regret them.
People of all ages want to rid themselves of something that,
for a variety of reasons, they no longer want on their
bodies. (Falling out of love and wanting a no-longer-special
person's name removed is the most popular reason cited,
experts say!)
Moreover less people have recourse to putting onto their
bodies pictures of whatever animals there are or the
omnipresent nowadays hieroglyphs, which can be spotted in
all shapes and sizes.
The steady trend shows sign of slowing down. Even famous
celebrities start to turn aside from tattoos: Paris Hilton
says tattoos are “unoriginal”. Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob
both had to have tattoos removed that they had gotten to
signify their “unending love”. Christina Aguilera has
removed all but a couple of her body piercings. Since
celebrities are pretty much the reason body mods became so
popular, could this really be an indication that body art is
on its way “out”?
If body art is dwindling in popularity, don’t expect it to
just go away.
When the trend followers wash away, what will remain will be
a community of strong and loyal people that will see body
art through its evolution at every stage, even when it’s no
longer “in”. Those that treat it as such are the ones who
end up regretting it later. Body art is intended to be
permanent and if you really want it removed, you’re looking
at a lot of money and a lot of pain in order to do it. It is
just not intended to be fashionable or trendy.
How could tattoos simply die out when there are new, healthy
forms popping up – a recent invention of a group of
Wellington school girls aims at reducing skin cancer. It
represents a stick on tattoo, called the Tat2riffic which
turns purple when it is exposed to ultra violet light. It is
though translucent when those rays are blocked.
A a result you can get yourself tattooed for various reasons
– one is to keep healthy. The other comprise just an
admiration of body art as an art form and a limitless
imagination.
Theodora Borissova is a relationship manager in BB Media Ltd
- a communication agency which helps companies to create
successful corporate, brand and marketing strategies. BB
Media operates in the field of marketing communications with
years of experience in graphic and web design. The company
has developed successful marketing campaigns for Bulgarian
Real Estate and Best Bulgarian Properties
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