Tattoos have come a long way from the old bad boy image. Now a tattoo is often seen as a fashion statement, a form of art, a memory or personal meaning, or simply something that someone thinks looks great. Tattoos are becoming more common among both expats and locals, especially with the younger people. Attitudes still vary however, depending on age, culture, family background and workplace.
Among both locals and expats, tattoos are generally more accepted than before, particularly among artisans, artists, musicians, fitness types and younger professionals. A dragon, a bauhinia flower, Chinese characters or the name of a loved one can feel personal and stylish. But of course not everyone is impressed by inked skin.
Some parent still express their dread of an adult child coming home with a tattoo. To them, a tattoo may seem unsightly, unprofessional or connected with the wrong crowd. Some may even feel a tattoo makes a person look less respectable, particularly if it is large, badly done or very prominent. This may sound harsh and it is not always fair but it is a judgement many tattooed people still face. Part of this comes from old perceptions of tattoos being associated with negative connotations and a sign of rebellion. Fortunately, this stereotype is fading, but it has not yet completely disappeared. In traditional Chinese thinking, the body was also seen as something inherited from one’s parents and not something to be marked casually.
Of course, people get tattoos for all sorts of reasons. Some have profound meanings: a date, a name, a tribute to a spouse, a child, a parent or a pet or a lost friend. Some mark survival, confidence, travel, or a new chapter. Many are simply decorative.
Then there are the impulsive tattoos. The ones that seemed like a good idea at the time ; at midnight, or on holiday, or with friends egging each other on. Impulse tattoos can happen to anyone, even among older folks with the “now or never approach” who claim that they have always wanted one but had never taken the plunge.
Now, some people will love their tattoos forever but others will regret them almost immediately. Names are especially risky. A boyfriend’s, girlfriend’s, husband’s or wife’s name can feel romantic at the time, but if the relationship ends, the tattoo becomes a very awkward reminder. Inking is not easy to remove. Foreign-language tattoos deserve extra caution too. Chinese characters, Japanese kanji, Sanskrit or Arabic phrases may look really cool but they are often misspelled, or mistranslated. A word for example, that should mean “strength” might mean something clumsy, meaningless or even rude. Fonts and size can also be wrong, or culturally strange. Once the mistake is on your skin, fixing it is difficult. Tattoos are intended to be permanent. So, before getting a tattoo in a language you do not fully understand, it would be best to consult with at least one native speaker. It may be unwise also to rely only on online translation .
Tattoos that are always visible such as on the face and neck Face and neck tattoos need consideration and thought of the highest level. Obviously a small tattoo on the shoulder, or on the ankle can be hidden when needed. A face or neck tattoo cannot. It is always visible whether it be at interviews, family dinners, weddings, first dates and more. Some people love the attention and on celebrities or musicians it can look edgy and glamorous but for ordinary life, especially in conservative workplaces, it can be limiting.
They are also among the tattoos people are most likely to regret. It might have been daring at 22 but at 42 and older it may feel dated and embarrassing. As skin ages, tattoos can fade, blur, sag or stretch and this will change the look. The neck moves a lot, and the face gets constant sun exposure, so these areas may age faster. Fine lines, or small lettering and trendy symbols can look messy on the skin over time. A badly done face or neck tattoo is impossible to hide and can make someone look less attractive and less polished.
Health and hygiene is another huge consideration for individuals who are looking at tattoos. Possible problems include infection, allergic reaction, scarring, keloids, swelling and poor healing. Aftercare needs to be followed strictly and sometimes under professional medical supervision.
For some, there will be regrets- so what happens if you don’t want it anymore. Laser removal may help, but there is no magic process to make the tattoo disappear. It typically takes many sessions, costs a lot of money and can be painful. Some tattoos may disappear almost completely but others can leave a shadow, scarring or patches of changed skin colour.
Among celebrities, David Beckham is probably one of the most famous for having many tattoos, so much so that he is practically a walking art gallery. Should he ever decide to have them all removed he would need to set aside a lot of time, find a very brave laser technician and be prepared for much discomfort and pain.
Tattoos can be attractive meaningful and cool. They can also be regrettable, badly spelled, poorly placed and hated by your family and friends. In Hong Kong, they are more accepted than ever, but they can still carry social meaning. The key is not to rush into it and especially don’t do it under pressure.
For readers in Hong Kong, a couple of established tattoo studios which havebeen previously mentioned in Hong Kong lifestyle guides are Mirror Tattoo by John Ip in Central. Tel: 91307828 and Zink Tattoo on Kowloon side. Tel: 29868810.
Note:This article and the tattoo artist and stud mentioned above are provided for general information only and are not recommendations, endorsements or guarantees. Readers should seek their own full advice and information from reputable, qualified professionals.
Tattoos have come a long way from the old bad boy image. Now a tattoo is often seen as a fashion statement, a form of art, a memory or personal meaning, or simply something that someone thinks looks great. Tattoos are becoming more common among both expats and locals, especially with the younger people. Attitudes still vary however, depending on age, culture, family background and workplace.
Among both locals and expats, tattoos are generally more accepted than before, particularly among artisans, artists, musicians, fitness types and younger professionals. A dragon, a bauhinia flower, Chinese characters or the name of a loved one can feel personal and stylish. But of course not everyone is impressed by inked skin.
Some parent still express their dread of an adult child coming home with a tattoo. To them, a tattoo may seem unsightly, unprofessional or connected with the wrong crowd. Some may even feel a tattoo makes a person look less respectable, particularly if it is large, badly done or very prominent. This may sound harsh and it is not always fair but it is a judgement many tattooed people still face. Part of this comes from old perceptions of tattoos being associated with negative connotations and a sign of rebellion. Fortunately, this stereotype is fading, but it has not yet completely disappeared. In traditional Chinese thinking, the body was also seen as something inherited from one’s parents and not something to be marked casually.
Of course, people get tattoos for all sorts of reasons. Some have profound meanings: a date, a name, a tribute to a spouse, a child, a parent or a pet or a lost friend. Some mark survival, confidence, travel, or a new chapter. Many are simply decorative.
Then there are the impulsive tattoos. The ones that seemed like a good idea at the time ; at midnight, or on holiday, or with friends egging each other on. Impulse tattoos can happen to anyone, even among older folks with the “now or never approach” who claim that they have always wanted one but had never taken the plunge.
Now, some people will love their tattoos forever but others will regret them almost immediately. Names are especially risky. A boyfriend’s, girlfriend’s, husband’s or wife’s name can feel romantic at the time, but if the relationship ends, the tattoo becomes a very awkward reminder. Inking is not easy to remove. Foreign-language tattoos deserve extra caution too. Chinese characters, Japanese kanji, Sanskrit or Arabic phrases may look really cool but they are often misspelled, or mistranslated. A word for example, that should mean “strength” might mean something clumsy, meaningless or even rude. Fonts and size can also be wrong, or culturally strange. Once the mistake is on your skin, fixing it is difficult. Tattoos are intended to be permanent. So, before getting a tattoo in a language you do not fully understand, it would be best to consult with at least one native speaker. It may be unwise also to rely only on online translation .
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Tattoos that are always visible such as on the face and neck Face and neck tattoos need consideration and thought of the highest level. Obviously a small tattoo on the shoulder, or on the ankle can be hidden when needed. A face or neck tattoo cannot. It is always visible whether it be at interviews, family dinners, weddings, first dates and more. Some people love the attention and on celebrities or musicians it can look edgy and glamorous but for ordinary life, especially in conservative workplaces, it can be limiting.
They are also among the tattoos people are most likely to regret. It might have been daring at 22 but at 42 and older it may feel dated and embarrassing. As skin ages, tattoos can fade, blur, sag or stretch and this will change the look. The neck moves a lot, and the face gets constant sun exposure, so these areas may age faster. Fine lines, or small lettering and trendy symbols can look messy on the skin over time. A badly done face or neck tattoo is impossible to hide and can make someone look less attractive and less polished.
Health and hygiene is another huge consideration for individuals who are looking at tattoos. Possible problems include infection, allergic reaction, scarring, keloids, swelling and poor healing. Aftercare needs to be followed strictly and sometimes under professional medical supervision.
For some, there will be regrets- so what happens if you don’t want it anymore. Laser removal may help, but there is no magic process to make the tattoo disappear. It typically takes many sessions, costs a lot of money and can be painful. Some tattoos may disappear almost completely but others can leave a shadow, scarring or patches of changed skin colour.
Among celebrities, David Beckham is probably one of the most famous for having many tattoos, so much so that he is practically a walking art gallery. Should he ever decide to have them all removed he would need to set aside a lot of time, find a very brave laser technician and be prepared for much discomfort and pain.
Tattoos can be attractive meaningful and cool. They can also be regrettable, badly spelled, poorly placed and hated by your family and friends. In Hong Kong, they are more accepted than ever, but they can still carry social meaning. The key is not to rush into it and especially don’t do it under pressure.
For readers in Hong Kong, a couple of established tattoo studios which havebeen previously mentioned in Hong Kong lifestyle guides are Mirror Tattoo by John Ip in Central. Tel: 91307828 and Zink Tattoo on Kowloon side. Tel: 29868810.
Note:This article and the tattoo artist and stud mentioned above are provided for general information only and are not recommendations, endorsements or guarantees. Readers should seek their own full advice and information from reputable, qualified professionals.
