The sleeve by dominic.cassidy01

THE

SLEEVE

Vol. 1 April 2018 Â£4.00

featuring... Irezumi Tattoos in Japan Lads Holiday Tattoos Top Ten Glasgow Parlours A Timeline of Tattoos Through The Years And Much More

CONTENTS

A Quick Note From The Editor, Morgane Colinet

2. The Intellectual Property of Tattoos

ART has always been subjective. That’s just a fact. What one person sees as a beautiful piece of art could make another person looking at the same thing scratch their head wondering what the hell they’re looking at. Art is subjective because who knows what even is considered art nowadays. Is that mixtape that your friend made in his basement and swears will make him famous one day art? Is the tree that’s fallen over just outside your garage door because of how much wind there’s been lately art? Is the drawing that your four year old cousin made using drool and dirt art? Here at The Sleeve we’re here to tell you one thing for certain: Tattoos are art.

3. Irezumi in Japan 7. Size Doesn’t Matter 8. The Art of Henna 9. Self Styled 10. What Was I Thinking / Vegan Ink 11. No Regrets 13. Cathartic vs. Pain 15. Tattoo Timeline 19. Dream Brows 20. Aftercare 21. Top 10 Tattoo Parlours in Glasgow 23. Stick ‘N’ Poke 24. What Were You Thinking? 25. Identity in Ink

Tattoos have become a popular way to showcase a person’s personality and roots. We launched this magazine to explore various types of tattoos and help you, our reader, understand more about getting them done and the different options available to you. Whether you’re just starting to think about getting your first tattoo done or you’ve been in the ink business for ages, The Sleeve aims to educate its readers on what exactly the world of tattooing is made up of. Through the exploration of diverse aspects of tattooing, we want you to be as knowledgeable on tattoos as your artist (hopefully) is. This magazine covers everything from temporary tattoos like henna, to tattoos around the world such as in Japanese culture, to semi-permanent cosmetic tattoos. We also take a look at caring for fresh tattoos and what happens if you make the decision to cover up or laser off an old tattoo. The Sleeve has kept its design nice and simple so there’s no distractions from the information you want to know about. Tattooing is an art and having one done makes you the canvas. Educate yourself and turn that canvas into the most original thing there is: you.

THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF TATTOOS BY ERIN KEARNS

HAVE you ever taken a minute to wonder if the tattoo on your body actually belongs to you? Probably not. But with tattoo art as popular as it's ever been, it begs the question: who owns the intellectual property of your tattoo design? According to UK Solicitor at Lawdit Solicitors, Michael Coyle, tattoo designs are likely to be classified as ‘artistic work’ and therefore are protected under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988. Basically, the skill and creativity that has gone into the design of the image does mean the said image will be copyrighted. Whilst the law is not specific when it comes to the use of ink on someone’s skin, the broad scope of Section 4 in the Act means that it is very possible tattoos are included. Whereas it’s unlikely that these laws will come to affect the average tattoo lover, when it comes to celebrity, exposing their ink as a part of their branding could land them in some legal trouble. Tattooing a star can be a massive break for a tattoo artist's career, offering a valuable opportunity to display their art and skill as well as expanding their portfolio. But, there are certain tattoos so closely associated with specific celebrities that it becomes unlikely that imitators or advertisers will even consider the Intellectual Property rights of the tattoo’s designer. In previous years, omissions like that will have been ignored in the traditionally alternative, outsider world of tattoos, however, today with more celebrities with tattoos than without, the infringement is much more likely to concern the artist and lead to legal action. In 2011, the artist who designed Mike Tyson’s infamous face tattoo, S. Victor Whitmill, filed a high-profile lawsuit against Warner Brother Studios, the production company behind the movie ‘The Hangover – Part II’. He wished to halt the release of the film after they replicated Tyson’s face tattoo onto one of the characters arguing that his design was one of the “most distinctive tattoos in the nation”. He also stated in his complaint that himself and Tyson agreed at the time that Whitmill would own the artwork, therefore the copyright. Warner Brothers had made no attempt to contact Whitmill

to either ask for permission or offer credit claiming that the company had permitted unauthorised exploitation of the original tattoo and therefore constituted copyright infringement.

the meaning behind it. Wallace, however, argued against these claims stating that he was the one that had came up with the initial design and has amended Reed’s original sketches.

In the end, the $30 million lawsuit was settled out with court, however the Federal District Court in St. Louis commented, that had Mr. Whitmill continued with the lawsuit there was a “strong likelihood of prevailing in the merits of copyright infringement.”

In the United Kingdom, there has been a lot smaller of a debate, however it was once called into question, when tattoo artist Sketch, from popular TV show, Tattoo Fixers, was accused of stealing artwork from smaller, lesser known tattoo artists. Numerous designers accused the TV star, including Sneaky Mitch and Emily Rose. This wasn’t the first, or latest lawsuit in the The accusations were never responded United States regarding the intellectual to and were never taken to court. Whilst property of a tattoo but it was the one that copyright laws do exist in Britain, the cost sparked up real conversation regarding for a tattoo designer to claim an infringethe legality of your ink. Another question ment is unaffordable to regular tattoo artthat arises is does the person the tattoo is ists that have a smaller reach and therefore inked on, as the canvas, have any involve- leads to very little being done regarding ment when it comes to the copyright of any copyright laws. their design? After all, the tattoo would not exist if it had not been for the person's Essentially, as an average tattoo lover, it is desire to wear that tattoo in the first place. unlikely that your ink will get you into any legal trouble. However, with the reliance In 2005, one of the first lawsuits surof social media and the need to share the rounding Intellectual Property and tattoo artwork we have on our bodies this may artists was Nike vs Mathew Reed. Reed change in the future, with anything having filed a complaint against Nike following the ability to go viral at any moment. an advertisement they had made with Currently, by law, the designer of a tattoo pro basketball player Rasheed Wallace. is the one who owns it and is therefore enThe ad showed Wallace explaining the titled to any royalties their design is used. design of his arm tattoo and the meaning Laws may change and with the increasing behind it. Not only did Reed file a lawsuit love for tattoos amongst the public the against Nike and their advertising agency, line between imitation and infringement but against Wallace also. Reed stated that possibly will become even more blurry. Wallace portrayed himself to be the exclusive owner of the tattoo as he described

IREZUMI IN JAPAN BY SUSIE PATERSON

IN Japan the art of tattooing is complicated and historical. Generally, it is still not something that many people have or want, and in some regions it retains a dubious association with Japan’s underworld. Body art is still considered by many in Japan as a private thing. Even those with very small tattoos often face prejudice, such as being denied entry to public baths where walls commonly have signs stating ‘No Tattoos Allowed’. Tomoko Ito, a freelance business translator who lives in Osaka said: “As you

may know, body painting has long been connected with the criminal world in Japan, and even nowadays young people who have a little fashion tattoo on their wrist may choose to erase it later when they look for a job or are getting married.” Just to give me an idea of public opinion, Tomoko told me that she recently read a story in a national paper about a local authority asking their civil servant employees if they had tattoos. They refused to answer but received a

disciplinary fine anyway, and lost a month’s pay. Believing this to be unfair the employees took their case to court, but they lost and their appeal was also dismissed. This is very different to the international view of Japanese tattoo art, commonly referred to as irezumi by Westerners. It is recognised as being loved abroad, but hated at home. This tricky relationship dates back over 150 years to when Japan ceased being a closed country and opened its

ports to become a trading nation. The foreign love affair of this fine body art began with sailors visiting the major ports where they saw rickshaw pullers, messengers and other manual labourers with elaborate dragons, carp and birds covering their bodies. In realising what was possible, they wanted it. Until 1867 Japan was awash with tattoos. Each symbol had (and still has) a significant meaning, and there were rules and traditions relating to where the creature tattoos were positioned on the body. In different provnces specific styles of tattoo were adopted according to the region or city. Hokkaido women had facial tattoos to protect them from evil spirits, while in Okinawa women tattooed their hands as a mark of beauty and wealth. Edo, now the modern day Tokyo, was where the full body tattoo was first seen and initially was popular among messengers, rickshaw pullers, gamblers and firefighters. Working daily in treacherous jobs they covered themselves with Gods, guardians, heroes and demons to deflect danger and ward off bad luck. This popularity began to decline in the mid-1850’s with the arrival of international trading ships to

Japan. For more than 200 years the country had been closed to all outsiders because the authorities were wary of tales of imposed colonisation that had taken place elsewhere. Desperate to avoid such a fate, but realising the importance of trade, the new Meiji government wanted to make its people appear modern to outsiders, and in line with Western cultures it encouraged people to cover up in Western clothes. When talking about the history of the culture in Japan, Reo Takahashi at the Bunshin Tattoo Museum in Yokohama told me: “Attempting to appear refined and stylish, the government banned samurai top knots and in 1872 outlawed tattooing believing it would be seen as ‘barbaric’. “Ironically, the opposite happened and irezumi was seen as being a highly desirable and attractive aspect of Japanese culture.” In the second half of the nineteenth-century foreign sailors flooded Japan’s ports and despite the ban, the Meiji government begrudgingly allowed Japanese tattooists to set up shops in the areas around the ports in Kobe, Edo, Osaka and Nagoya. It is believed that the highly skilled tattooists inked three-quarters of all visitors to Japan.

Some of the pressure to persuade the Meiji government to reconsider their ban came from European aristocrats. In 1869 Queen Victoria’s second son, Prince Alfred was the first European prince to visit Japan. A naval man all his life, he was received in Tokyo by the teenage Emperor Meiji, and he is believed to have been the first of several members of British royalty to get a tattoo in Japan. Twelve years later Prince George - the future King George V - had a blue and red dragon his arm in Tokyo, and another in Kyoto. As Japan became more accessible to trade and more people visited, the popularity of body art spread and more European royalty followed in Prince Alfred’s footsteps. Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria - whose assassination sparked WW1- and Nicholas II who was Russia’s last Tzar and was executed in the 1917 Bolshevik revolution, are also said to have been tattooed while visiting. During WW2 once again a prohibition was put in place, this time to deter young Japanese men from getting irezumi in order to avoid military conscription. Japanese society still had an uneasy relationship with people with tattoos, and mostly they were thought of as non-conformists and troublemakers and certainly not suitable for military service. After Japan’s surrender in 1945 many American G.I.s arrived with simple tattoos they had inked in the States. These were dismissively called ‘sushi’ by the Japanese because of their linear simplicity and random body positions. When Americans saw the Japanese body tattoos, they realised what could be achieved with bamboo (tebori) and ink. This method is still practised today, although, for the sake of speed, some tattoo masters will use a tattoo gun if necessary. It was here that the West’s intrigue with Japanese body art was re-born. Now with international travel and the internet, we find celebrated Japanese tattoo masters in demand at tattoo conventions all around the world. Inking irezumi is a skill that takes many years of apprenticeship to acquire, and Japanese tattooists continue to influence foreign counterparts in modern design styles. At such times when the government had outlawed tattooing at home, it is said that it is the West’s fascination with the intricacy and beauty of the Japanese style that has kept the art alive. In Japan, men and women get irezumi for a variety of reasons and it’s always a big commitment. Sometimes it’s for religious reasons, or to protect themselves - or just because they believe it looks good. Using the traditional tebori bamboo stick method, they take a long time to have done often upwards of 20 hours for a moderately simple design. They are very expensive and painful. Showing them off safely is probably limited to the trendier districts of a big city, or at a special gathering where other tattooed people will be attending. These occasions are few and far between. In Japan, covering up your tattoo not only saves the wearer from discrimination but is seen as a courtesy to others. When I asked Tomoko Ito if she would approach some local tattooist masters on my behalf, she said: “There continues to be so much controversy here, I have to say that this is a very delicate issue. I admit that I am very reluctant to get in touch with tattoo professionals who may be connected with the underworld.”

mehndi

size doesn't matter NO matter what size, a tattoo is a tattoo. Some go for a design containing a personal meaning, serving as a constant reminder of an important life event. More regularly, however, it is a trend of people going for something quirky and fun. It’s the reasoning behind it that will resonate with that person for the rest of their life. A permanent imprint that will forever remind them of their happiness, their battles, their bravery. Something fun such as a love heart representing someone in your life, to a star that belongs to someone no longer with us; tattoos are a reminder that things are not lost. They can be found, pinpointed on your skin, forever there. A growing number of people are opting for small, intimate tattoos rather than something larger. Having something subtler with a wider meaning on their body is something that is becoming ever more popular. I met with Sonja Woytena, 22, from Düsseldorf, Germany, in a coffee shop in Glasgow. She spoke to me about her small tattoos and what they mean to her: “I got my tattoos together with my best friend because we’ve been childhood friends and we both are into the same kind of tattoo designs.” She smiled, her hands cupped around a warm steaming coffee: “We drew one of the tattoos ourselves as well. Other than that, the main reason I got them is because I think tattoos are a nice way to accessorise your body.” “I’ve got a little arrow on my ankle and a tiny heart on the left side of my breast…” Sonja trails off, thinking about whether to get another tattoo.

“I have been thinking of getting more small tattoos, but I couldn't decide on what to get next. I want it to mean something before I get it tattooed on my body. If I come across something that I really like in the future, I most probably

by brodie gettins

by fiona mackie

would get it done.”

One of the biggest movements in the tattoo world is the popular Semicolon Project. A non–profit mental health organisation, launched in 2013, supports people who struggle with depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts. Amy Bleuel, founder of The Semicolon Project, battled with depression herself, the loss of her father to suicide, and her own suicide at the age of 31 in 2017. Now, over 1 million people across the globe sport the punctuation. Eli Wilde, from London, is an 18 year old who has struggled with depression for the past three years after coming out as bisexual and sadly losing some of his friends in the process. He explained why he decided to have a semicolon tattooed on his wrist: “I got my tattoo as a reminder to myself to let things pass, or con-

tinue to pass, rather than making an abrupt ending to something. It was my first one and I wanted to make sure it was something meaningful to me. It means a lot to me. It’s on my wrist so it catches my eye a lot and has helped on many occasions.”

He grows quiet, thinking carefully before he speaks again: “I think it’s an apt representation of mental illness in that it’s helpful for me and others, though I know different images help others more. It’s hopeful and encouraging, I think that’s important.” According to the Mental Health Foundation, 50 per cent of mental health problems are known by age 14, and 75 per cent known by age 24. This then poses the question, does having the semicolon tattoo bring people together?

“It does bring me closer to others suffering with mental illness,” says Eli. “Knowing there’s some of us who share the same tattoo increases my sense of belonging. It’s something else to bond over and share experiences about.” Sonja also agrees that the semicolon tattoo is a good representation of mental illness: “I think it might be a good way for people suffering from mental illness to connect with others going through the same.” She sits back in her chair and quietly says: “It might help to make them feel less lonely because it becomes visible that others are going through a similar struggle.” The semicolon is a good idea to showcase that they are not afraid to stand up and talk about their struggles and how strong they are. This symbol is an identifier. One that gets people talking and gets people connecting. The Semicolon Project is more relevant today than ever. The tattoo has become a mark of hope among many with depression, addiction, self harm, and suicidal thoughts. A hope that one day things will get better and there is always someone to talk to. “A semicolon is used when an author could’ve chosen to end their sentence, but chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life.” - Project Semicolon. The average price of a smaller tattoo is around £30 to £100 in the UK depending on the size and detail you want included. Some may find this more expensive than they were expecting, but it factors in the cost of the ink used, the time, and the perfectionism the tattoo artist favours. The end result will surely be one of which you can be proud of. If you need someone to talk to, there are sources available. Call the Samaritans on 116 123 or Papyrus on 0800 068 41 41.

HENNA tattoos are embedded within Asian culture. Dating all the way back to the 15th century, henna plays a popular role in traditional celebrations. The most popular one being weddings, where the brides’ arms, hands and feet will be painted with beautiful swirling patterns. Although each Asian culture has its own traditional and meaningful reasons as to why it’s worn at weddings, women nowadays simply wear it as a fashion and beauty statement. Henna tattoos originate from the henna plant that is grown in areas with warm climates, such as Africa, Australia and Southern Asia. A pigment that is contained within its leaves combined with proteins causes staining so strong, it can dye hair, skin and nails. It is believed that henna, also known as Mehndi, was first used as a cooling agent by people living in deserts, as it draws heat away from the inside of the body. Over the years, it was realised henna could be used creatively, and so different cultural traditions and rituals developed. Some of these include decorating women’s hands at childbirth, to signify blessings and good luck. The most common however is during Asian weddings. The traditional reasons for wearing henna at weddings differ in each country and religion. One of the most common beliefs is the darker the henna tattoo and the longer lasting, the happier and loved the wife is. However, award-winning henna artist Maria Khan says that wearing henna is really just part of dressing up: “Back in the day it was just to put some colour on to your hands and beautify yourself.” “It’s just an ornament. In the contemporary world it has become a fashion statement. Now, it’s just like getting your makeup or nails done,” she explains. Before an Asian wedding, a ceremony will usually be held at the bride’s house, where she will be decorated in henna. This is called a Mehndi ceremony and is the equivalent of a hen party. According to tradition, Mehndi is one of the sixteen embellishments of the bride, and without it her beauty is incomplete. However, Maria says that a bride can still be a bride without having henna: “If you look at it in a traditional way, it might be

viewed as she’s not complete as a bride. But it’s all down to individual choice and beliefs.” “Nowadays, the traditional bride doesn’t really get it done because it signifies something, those beliefs aren’t really there anymore. The main reason is it’s a fashion jewel.” Maria reveals that there are also many other reasons for wearing henna. As a Muslim woman, she explains that real tattoos are prohibited in Islam, and so henna is the perfect substitute. Maria says: “Muslims are restricted from getting real tattoos because it’s real ink. We have to pray and certain body parts need to be washed, so the ink on your body would signify that it isn’t clean. Whereas henna is herbal, it’s not real dye – it used to be used as a healer for wounds.” “Another reason why we are not allowed real tattoos is because you’re self-harming in order to get it applied. In Islam anything that harms yourself or others is not permissible most of the time,” she continues. And weddings are also not the only cele-

bration where henna tattoos have become a fashion statement. With festivals such as Eid, Diwali and Vesak, these are other opportunities for Asian women to show off their stunning designs. Although the target market for henna tattoos is Asian women, Maria – who specialises in bridal henna – says that her clientele is diverse and that henna has become mixed in with other cultures. With the likes of themed parties, such as Bollywood, this is just one of the opportunities for non-Asian women to have henna applied. “A lot of people also like getting henna done while they’re on holiday, or before they go on holiday so they can show it off. Even people who are not Muslim and still can’t get a real tattoo done, they’ll get a henna tattoo instead,” Maria explained. Whether or not Asian brides get henna tattoos for traditional purposes, it is clear that one of the main reasons is because it’s a fashion and beauty statement, as well as a trend. Just like in the western contemporary world, where a traditional bride would wear a white dress, not because it represents purity, but simply because it too is a fashion

self styled by morgane colinet

CHOOSING what tattoo design to go for is not always a simple task. As something that will be inked in your skin forever, many people going to get tattooed, especially for the first time, feel this is a tough and key decision to make.

by brodie gettins

TATTOO artists across the country are introducing some changes in their parlours to make the tattooing process more suitable for all types of customers and their needs.

In order to make the most of a tattoo design and have it be entirely yours, more and more people nowadays are opting to create their own tattoo designs. This allows for complete originality and uniqueness, something a lot of customers are keen on due to the popularity of common tattoos now. Elle Wagstaffe, a 21 year old student, has been designing tattoos since she was 15 years old. “I’ve been doodling tattoo ideas since I was around 15 years old but never designed my first proper one until I was 17. It consisted of triangles and flowers, because they’re my favorite things. This was my first tattoo which was quite big for a first time,” she shares. Although her interest in tattoos started at a young age, she waited until her 18th birthday to get her first one. Kerri White, also a student, enjoyed designing tattoos so much that on her 18th birthday, she got two of her own designs tattooed. “I designed my first two tattoos for my 18th birthday and I was instantly addicted. My friend in a shop did them so I asked if she had any more space. This led to me getting four more of my own designs in the next two days, so six tattoos in three days! I was 18 when I got my first and now I’m 20 and I have 19, that’s a bit crazy,” she says as she realizes just how many tattoos she actually has. Although both Elle and Kerri have shared their designs and even created original pieces for family members and friends, neither has felt comfortable charging a fee yet. Kerri says: “Three friends and two family members all have designs by me. I didn’t charge, but I would love to be in a position where I could charge.” Designing your own tattoos sounds like the perfect plan when you can’t seem to find any designs that you like. However, it is important to be mindful of the reality of the design and whether it can be tattooed exactly the way you envision. Tattoo artists are usually more than happy to take on original pieces brought in by the customer, but it is paramount to listen to their advice and take what they say into account. Elle says: “They’re happy to do the designs I’ve done but sometimes they add a little work of their own such as dotwork.

vegan ink

But, it’s mostly vegans who will be particularly thrilled by the changes.

This also creates a better relationship with the artist as they are always looking for new ideas for when they create their own drawings.” Kerri has had similar experiences when bringing in her designs: “Some artists have modified a little bit saying maybe some detail is too much for a little space or things like that, but it’s mostly been about size, no one has ever upfront said no.” Creating your own piece and actually tattooing are two very different jobs and many people who design their own, or other people’s, tattoos are not actually tattoo artists. Elle hopes to one day be on the other side of the needle: “Once I finish my studies at university I would like to save up some money and get a tattoo gun and do my drawings on skin rather than on paper.” Kerri agrees that this is also a dream of hers: “I would die to be a tattoo artist, but some apprenticeships can be so expensive. I want to build a portfolio while finishing uni and possibly start a tattoo business.” Tattoos drawn up for your own imagination can make for a really unique piece that no one else has. This does not mean however that all tattoos on your body, if you choose to get more than one, should always be your own. Elle says that even though she wouldn’t mind getting someone else’s design tattooed, she does have a theme she sticks with: “My tattoos need to be bold and artistic but unique. All my tattoos have blue in them somewhere because it’s my favourite color and I want to keep it going.” While Kerri does not necessarily have a recurring theme in each of her tattoos, she also thinks getting a design that is not hers is completely fine and even enjoys it: “I have lots of writing tattoos that aren’t my designs as they are in different languages and I told the artist just to go for it!” Many websites such as https://www.createmytattoo.com/ and https://customtattoodesign.ca/ allow for anyone to submit their own tattoo designs and receive payment if someone decides to tattoo it. They also give customers a chance to request a specific tattoo, which anyone can then draw up and submit.

It probably isn’t something many people would have second thoughts about when considering a vegan lifestyle, but tattoos have never really been suitable for vegans. From the black pigment in ink which was once animal bone char, to the coloured pigments which were crushed bugs. Even transfer paper which is used for stencils can contain animal by-products. However, well-renowned vegan tattoo artist, Anrijs Straume, explains that the tattoo-industry is open minded and no longer supports A tattoo by Anrijs Straume cruelty: “Most quality inks should be vegan friendly nowadays. It's a lot safer and cleaner to use synthetic, alternative pigments, than use also may not state whether or not a animal by-products inside ink,” product has come from an animal or an alternative. Anrijs, who is based in Liverpool, only produces vegan tattoos. He When asked why people should feels passionately about vegan make sure their tattoos are vegan tattoos, claiming if he didn’t try to friendly, Anrijs concludes: use vegan friendly products then “If you care about animals you he would be going out of his way shouldn't be eating them OR using to find stock specifically containtheir parts in your tattoos. Many ing animal by-products. Another people nowadays don't support fur reason for this, is that there’s zero in clothing, and chose not to wear difference in tattoo quality. In fact, animal fur. the best quality inks tend to be vegan friendly. Some of these include; “Same as to support or not to supEternal Ink, Fusion Ink, Silverback port make-up brands who tests on Ink, Skincandy Ink, World Famous animals. If anything I would say it's Tattoo Ink and Dermaglo Ink. safer to not rub animal products in open wounds, as you get from Aftercare products should be taken tattoos,” he added. into consideration as well, as ointments and soaps can often contain lanolin or beeswax. Some packages

like a fine wine by brandone cook RECEIVING a tattoo in older years can be an enlightening experience, much different from that of inking a tattoo as a vibrant youth. Tattoos have become so popular and accepted that it’s now usual for older clients to go under the needle. The reasons for getting a tattoo in later years can be as interesting as the skin it’s being inked on. Karen Hamilton and her husband Martin underwent a gruelling three-hour session on their back. The pair has been married 40 years and chose their ruby anniversary to be celebrated with a needle in their skin. The matching tattoos depict two large ruby diamonds, each on their lower backs. Karen said: “It’s just different, isn’t it? Martin and I have always seen ourselves as adventurous and we thought it would be a unique way to show this time of our lives. “We’ve been married forty years for God’s sake! We need to still surprise ourselves or we’ll go mad!” The fairly large tattoos are the couple’s first, but the pain didn’t put them off. Both believe the inking will only age with grace and they ‘take back’ comments they made to their own children about getting inked: “Our kids have small covered tattoos, and we used to say ‘what will that look like when you’re older?’ “We take that back now. The fact of the matter is it looks great providing it means something to you and it’s designed well. Worrying about what it will look like will only ruin your satisfaction with the results. Skin ages anyway, your looks will inevitably go down too, sadly. But, you may as well go down with some artwork on it,” Karen added. A skin may not be a fine Da Vinci blank canvas, but it’s a personal canvas which can only be worn by one person. Skin can tell a story which the owner may not be able to tell in old age. Worry less of what it will look like, focus more on what you really want. If it’s something that has meaning then it will only flourish with age.

no regrets

For example, one of our friends got my name and my other friend's name down both his arms. Both were spelt wrong. I think he came home with about five tattoos that year,” he continued. The group all nodded in agreement.

by brandon cook

THE summertime lads and girls holiday has been a staple diet of young school leavers for the past two decades. It’s a tradition which oversees rowdy collections of school friends travel abroad in search of a booze-fuelled feeling of freedom and a sun-kissed mountain of STDs. With all responsibilities swept aside for a week or so, the free-teens first holiday quickly unravels into utter chaos, haliarity and regrettable instances. Eager party animals travelling to the popular Spanish town of Magaluf, can fuel their excitement by reading the Magaluf 's information website: “Nearly everybody travelling to Magaluf on holiday will be tempted by a tattoo or a piercing, some of you will have thought about it before your airplane lands others will start thinking of it after 9 Jagerbombs!” Magaluf boasts a staggering 24 tattoo parlours, many of which are open until sunrise. The clientele mostly consisting of very drunk young people, usually British, aspiring to a regrettable souvenir. Waking up in the morning with a sore head, a gritty throat and a small inking is standard procedure in Magaluf. But, just how far have people taken it? And, how do they feel about it now?

I spoke to Kerr Wightman, Stephen Aird and Jack Petrie, a group of friends from the beautiful Scottish seaside town of Largs, North Ayrshire. They met in school and have used Magaluf as their summer blow out destination for the past three years. Each coming back with at least one tattoo after a heavy night on the strip. Their first trip abroad together was in 2015, each of them fresh faced 17 and 18-year-olds. Now, all in their early twenties, I wanted to know what they got done and just how it impacts their lives now. “In our first year abroad, we went with a large group,” said Kerr. He continued: “Most of us knew that we would end up with a tattoo. But, I don’t think we

expected to be going for another two years and adding to them. It’s really stupid, obviously, but it is really funny looking at them.” Kerr continued: “We all have different tattoos, I have one on my arse that says 'WANBAW.' It’s a reference to one of our other friends who we used to say had one testicle. The funny thing about mine, though, is that my friend wrote it, it’s in his handwriting. How we were allowed to do that, I’ll never know.” Jack quickly butted in: “My tattoo is on my arse too, but thankfully it’s in good handwriting.” The group laughed, and Jack continued: “During that holiday, a few of us decided to shave all our hair off. So, for the sec-

ond half of the holiday, we were bald. I decided to mark this moment by getting a tattoo that said ‘cba bald.’ ‘Cba,’ being an acronym for ‘can't be arsed.’ Basically, it means 'I can’t be arsed being bald.'" It appeared that the most popular positioning of a regrettable holiday tattoo was on the backside. Thankfully, Stephen was on hand to spite those thoughts. Lifting up the back of his shirt, the young man revealed a tattoo on his lower back, often labelled as a ‘tramp stamp.’ The tattoo was very badly inked, and anything but straight. Brandishing the slogan: “House time is anytime and anytime is house.” Stephen smiled: “I don’t even like house music.”

“I was in on of the big nightclubs on the strip when a ‘belter’ of a song came on. Well, I thought it was a belter, it was actually not that great.” Stephen continued: “I ran out the club, straight across the road and got it inked on my back, no second thoughts. I was 17 at the time. When I arrived home, my mum fucking killed me.” The group all laughed, they appeared to accept their youthful stupidity. But, just how do they feel about it now? “I honestly don’t care about it, I find it quite funny still,” said Kerr. “I think we could all have got worse tattoos done. Some of our other friends who were on holiday with us the past three years got some shocking ones done.

Stephen smiled again and said: “There are some awkward moments though.” The group laughed as Jack began explaining: “Yeah it can be awkward sometimes when you’re getting intimate with someone and they see it. But as long as they have a sense of humour then you can just explain it, I’ve never lost a girl over it, yet.” He continued: “I wish that I didn’t have it of course, but it’s done now and it’s literally behind me. I can’t see it, and when I do it reminds me of how funny that holiday was. I can’t really complain.” Tattoo parlours in party towns like Magaluf have licenses that allow the tattooing of intoxicated individuals and opening hours in excess of 12am. Many believe the blame lies with the shops benefiting from the misjudgement on young people. But, as long as people continue to believe late night ink in their drunken state is a good thing, then very little will change. “Of course regulating it will help,” Stephen says. “Creating strict laws will help to ease the problem, in Britain drunken tattooing is rare. It's something you will only find in unlicensed premises. But, party isles make their

money from tourists. And, as long as there are idiots like us that think it’s funny to basically hand them money for poor inkings, then nothing will change,” he continues. Understandably, it’s not just a battle between morals and the law. It’s a battle between stupidity and money. Tattoo artistry is a business and a livelihood, to restrict that for moral reasons is a moral question within itself. The best advice I can provide, if you are thinking of getting a tattoo, then make sure it is something you genuinely want. And, most importantly, be certain that you are happy with the design before you start, and to make sure you’re in the right frame of mind to oversee the inking being done. Don’t drunkenly shave your head and get a tattoo to commemorate it. Please, never let your friend tattoo you, drunk or sober. And, by God, never get “house time is anytime and anytime is house” tattoo'd on your body unless you actually enjoy that genre of music.

cathartic v.s. pain by fiona mackie

WHEN you hear the word ‘tattoo’, what is your first thought? Cool? Arty? Or painful? For generations people have adorned their bodies with designs, but what about getting the tattoo yourself? How can some people sit hour after hour and remain relaxed while others bite back tears after sitting for five minutes? I met up with Rebecca Gilmour, 20, a primary education student at Glasgow University, for a chat about why she got her three tattoos: “I got my first tattoo just because I wanted to know what it was like. My other tattoos were to match the first tattoo that I already have as well as going with things I like. I have a mandala themed tattoo on the side of my leg, the Disney castle on the front, and a mandala themed flower and red

bow running down the back of my thigh.”

“I think the fact that the pain is a subtle one is a big part of it. Like you can sit and think about stuff while it’s happening. It doesn’t consume you so while you’re having the tattoo done it allows you to think about things that maybe cause you distress and the pain of the tattoo allows me to think while releasing some stress as well,” he answers.

Rebecca’s smile slides as she remembers how long each tattoo lasted: “My first tattoo took an hour and a half. My second tattoo took two hours. My third tattoo was four and a half hours. I had to have two different sessions for that tattoo.” Her hand strays to her thigh, where the Disney castle peeks out from her denim skirt. Rebecca explains that she had an idea that the tattoo would be painful, however she was not expecting it to be so agonizing: “I was crying and felt to sick and eventually had to ask the tattoo artist to stop and take a break to catch my breath. When it was over, I felt so shaky and had to go to bed. I vowed that was my first and last tattoo.”

She pauses slightly: “But… the more I thought about it, the more I really wanted a Disney princess castle that I had designed myself. When I went to get it, I didn’t feel a thing. That spurred me on to go and get my third tattoo. It was the worst pain ever! It was okay to begin with but closer to the end it was so unbearable that I had to end my first session early and come back for another session.” It is not uncommon for people to find the process of getting a tattoo painful. A needle is being pushed into the skin over and over from 80 to 150 times a second, the dye forming the tattoo being injected into skin cells sends pain receptors to the brain. For long periods of time, this can become very uncomfortable. “I sat through the pain because I knew it was going to be a beautiful piece of art on my body and it would be worth it because it will look amazing in the end.

spritzing sound of ink being injected into skin buzzing in my ears, I have to ask, how is the pain?

“I had ways to distract myself. I just spoke to my tattoo artist about random things. That

last one I spoke to about why I’m scared of sheep and horses which made me not feel a thing on the hardest part. But it was honestly worth the pain. I’m actually planning my next one!” While Rebecca acknowledges the pain a tattoo comes with, others use tattoos as a way of releasing stress. Darren Kyle, 19, finds the method of receiving a tattoo to be cathartic. He invited me to go with him while he was getting his tattoo printed in Chamaeleon in Paisley. As the stencil is placed on Darren’s arm, he tells me: “I’m getting the logo of my favourite band with the quote ‘seize the day’ which is one of their songs. I’m getting the tattoo because one of the things me and my mum share is the love of music and seize the day is the advice I always gave to her when she was going through a rough patch so it always reminds me to make the most of everything.” Watching the needle trace the stencil and the continual

Darren is having his left forearm tattooed, a place considered less painful to be inked for the first time. The worst parts are known to be the face, chest, backs of the legs, and feet. “The size of my tattoo is quite substantial. Particularly for my first one and a lot of the intricate lines go across arteries which does cause a lot of discomfort,” Darren shares. The tattoo takes just over an hour to complete, which, considering its size, was surprisingly quick after watching the process from start to finish. The artist finishes the last of the shading before wiping a cloth Darren’s arm and going over it one last time. Darren looks down at his new ink and grins: “I’m definitely getting another tattoo soon. It’s just about finding the right design. The pain doesn’t put me off at all.” Similar to acupuncture, the involvement of a needle being used to release tension is a common one nowadays. It has even been linked to helping relieve migraines. While some suffer the pain and others use it to alleviate their stress levels, the final design will be imprinted forever, no doubt ending in a smile.

tattoo timeline

PEACE and love. Hippie culture. While tattoos were still associated with crime, body art was expressed through body paints, henna and glitter. Peace signs and flowers were obvious choices. Renowned tattoo artists emerged onto the scene around this time. Men like Don Ed Hardy, whose designs feature Japanese aesthetics such as tigers and dragons.

BY brodie gettins

WHEN tattoos were most popular among soldiers and sailors. Numbers were often branded on people for identification. Many also showed patriotic support by having their countries flag or symbols imprinted on them, like the American Bald Eagle. Pin-up girl tattoos also became popular, as well as the iconic Rosie the Riveter and classic Sailor Jerry designs.

1960s

1940s

DECADES where tattoos were frowned upon and only seen on criminals, sailors or circus performers. Those who were brave enough to go under the needle during these periods would most likely have anchors, crosses or army badges inked.

1900s - 1920s

THE idea that those with tattoos were ‘circus freaks’ or criminals faded. During the Great Depression, some people actually covered their bodies in tattoos, in hope of attaining circus work. In other words, the great desperation.

1930s

THE rock and roll movement. Bikers and gangs. Once again, tattoos were frowned upon and the association with criminals and gangs was reinforced. It was common for rebels of this time to get ‘love’ and ‘hate’ stamped across their knuckles.

1950s

cont.

WITH hippie vibes still continuing, a new style was blossoming – punk. Along with a variety of piercings, British punks may have sported an English bull-dog across their biceps. While punks or motorcyclist gangs in America might’ve opted for flames, the classic ‘Mom’ written in a heart, names of lovers or Ed Hardy designs.

1970s

1980s- Tribal and block black tattoos became a trend towards the late eighties, usually drawn over both men and women’s biceps and chests. Celtic knots became increasingly popular too, along with colourful cartoonish art.

1980s

1990s- The punk scene flourished once more. Most women were showing off their feminine tattoos. Female celebrities would flaunt their lower back art – known to some people as the ‘tramp-stamp’-whether it be butterflies, hearts or tribal designs. Pamela Anderson popularised the barbed wire tattoo around the arm, as did members of the Spice Girls.

The 2010's- Tattoos are more rife and popular than ever. The body art has become completely accepted by society as a practice of self-expression. Many have used the art form like a paintbrush, their body as a blank canvas. Others have ink for more obscure reasons, such as covering up body parts which they did not feel comfortable with. Reality TV shows have popularised tattoos further, displaying many wellknown faces with ink. Walking down a high street in Britain in the 2010's can be like walking through an art gallery. So many people have sleeve tattoos, for all different reasons.

2010s

1990s

2000s- A new millennium. Where tattoos are considered a form of art rather than a symbol of crime. From early designs such as stars trailing down spines, bracelets tattooed around ankles and quotes -to mandalas, feathers and uniquely themed sleeves. A time where tattoos from all the previous years are reoccurring, classic trends.

2000s

dream brows

aftercare

by ludovica muttini

If you’re struggling to make your eyebrows look their best and you have already tried all the products on the market, then microblading might be the right solution for you. A newer and semi-permanent version of eyebrow tattoos. Whether you like them arched and feathered or straight and bold, eyebrows are arguably one of the most important facial features. This new technique promises to give you the brow look you always wanted.

YOU did it. The tattoo you were dreaming about is finally on your skin. Now, all you have to do is take care of it. Whether it’s tiny or large, colourful or minimal, it is very important that you know how to look after your tattoo in order to avoid any skin infections. To gather more information, I talked to Italian tattoo artist Diego Salvadori who has been working in the industry for over a decade in his own studio, Diego Tattoos. Diego provided us with some useful tips to protect your new, valuable ink.

1) experience with me: “I was scared at the beginning because I didn’t know what to expect as I never even got a tattoo in my life. Looking back now I would say that it is not a pleasant feeling, but it didn’t hurt either, plus when you see the incredible results, believe me, you will forget about the pain.”

These tattoos take five to seven days to heal from the outside and you have to make sure that you keep it dry. That equates to a If you are thinking on getting it done, zero sweaty workout policy and no washit is good for you to know that miing your brows with water. In general, it is cro-blading takes time. The first apsuggested not to use any products on your pointment lasts up to two hours in every brows, apart from ointments like Vaseline, salon and it is also suggested not to take so that the pigment marks don’t scab too aspirins or use retinol one week before early. Gillian, who has been performing the treatment as they might increase the micro-blading for the past three years, tells chances of bleeding. us that after four weeks from the first appointment there will be a follow-up session Gillian explained: “Whenever I have to check the eyebrows, making sure the an appointment I don’t like to rush client is happy with the result. anything or anyone, I start by asking the client what it is that she wants to achieve and afterwards I begin outlining her brows to show her how they would eventually look after micro-blading.” When asked about pain, Gillian says that pain is relative: “Some of my clients are very relaxed and it looks like they don’t feel anything, meanwhile others are totally in pain.” To gain a wider perspective and to not scare you off too much, I also talked to Antonella Alboni, a former micro-blading client. She shared her micro-blading

Avoid sunlight:

Avoid exposing your tattoo directly to sunlight before it is completely healed. Tattoos, especially coloured ones might fade in the sun. Therefore, it is strongly suggested not to being exposed unless necessary. Always make sure to apply a high SPF cream.

Be patient with healing times:

Sooner or later, your tattoo is going to heal, you just have to be patient and give it time. Every artist has his/her own aftercare suggestions on what is best It often depends on the size of your tattoos and on how you skin to healing your tattoo. Listen carefully to the advice your artist reacts to the ink. However, it usually takes from two to three gives you. Sometimes they might also provide a leaflet with care weeks for smaller designs, to a couple of months for more cominstruction for you to bring home. Therefore, leave your bandage plex and larger tattoos. Do not forget to keep following the care or wrap on until told by your tattoo artist, they will know when instructions given to you by your artists for as long as you tattoo is best to take it off. requires it.

So what exactly is micro-blading?

“Hair strokes are designed one by one and even though the ink doesn’t go as deep as a regular tattoo, it is a tattoo because pigment is implemented into the epidermis.”

Listen to your tattoo artist’s advice:

I talked to eyebrow expert Gillian Montgomerie of Allure Spa in Ayr to discover everything there is to know about this treatment.

“Micro-blading is a semi-permanent eyebrow tattoo embedded into the top layer of the skin. This technique creates natural and realistic hair strokes using a super-fine and manual handled tool that looks like a pen,” she explains.

by ludovica muttini

Micro-blading can last from one to three years. Gillian explains: “Depending on your skin type, it is recommended to have a topup every 12 months. Some people may need to have it sooner depending on their skin.” In fact, people with oily skin will experience that their natural skin will peel off causing the pigments to fade. Micro-blading is an investment. The first treatment can cost you between £250 to £500 and it includes the first appointment, with a second touch-up one month later. Prices can vary depending on where you get it done. But, Gillian suggests being careful if you are offered a much cheaper price. Micro-blading is quite expensive however it produces great results and it also lasts a while. Yearly touch-ups are usually between £100 and £150.

Wash your tattoo after removing your bandage:

After removing your bandage, make sure to wash your tattoo with warm water. Use delicate and fragrance-free soap to wash away any excess of blood or plasma. Then dry it gently dabbing on it, it’s important that you do not rub.

Apply a thin layer of moisturiser:

After cleaning your tattoo, ensure the area is completely dry before applying a small amount of unscented moisturiser like nappy rash cream. Usually your artist will recommend one to purchase. After this step, you can either decide to wrap you tattoo again or leave it open to air.

Ask the studio for touch ups:

No one wants to have a bad reputation and bad tattoos lead to that, so if you noticed that your tattoo is losing ink, don’t be shy and go back to the studio for touch ups. They should retouch it for free. The majority of tattoo artists prefer their customers being happy with their design and to show it off to family and friends.

9) Don’t be lazy. Repeat these steps for as long as needed to obtain a perfect looking tattoo!

3) Repeat steps two and three at least twice a day until you tattoo is fully healed: Keeping the hygiene of you tattoo is one of the most important steps. Make sure to clean and moisturise your tattoo at least twice a day or as suggested by your artist.

Do not pick, scratch or peel it:

It’s totally normal if your tattoo starts to scabs a little however, do not start picking, scratching or peeling it! Doing so could result in a skin infection or your tattoo could be permanently damaged, especially if it is coloured.

Avoid water:

Keep your tattoo dry and avoid soaking it in water for a long time. Showers are generally fine, but definitely avoid long baths. Moreover, be careful with what you are wearing. Make sure your clothes are not rubbing your tattoo.

top 10 tattoo parlours in glasgow by erin kearns

Glasgow has long been known as city home to some of the most beautiful art and when it comes to tattoos, it is no different. These are some of our favourite tattoo parlours in the city: IREZUMI

Irezumi tattoo studios was opened by Stephen Wrigley, son of legendary tattoo artist Terry Wrigley of Terry’s Tattoo Studio. Learning his craft in his father’s shop, Stephen ventured out to his own studio. They offer custom tattoos in all styles of work, including Japanese, traditional, portraits and cover up work. Conveniently it’s located in the West End, the heart of Glasgow.

OTHERWORLD

Otherworld is one of the newest tattoo parlours in Glasgow but has already established itself as a favourite in the city. Gillian Turner is the head artist, who is championed as one of the best tattoo artists in Glasgow. She specialises in colour burst and animal, nature tattoos so if that’s your vibe get yourself to the Douglas Street studio.

TATTOO COLLECTIVE

Tattoo collective opens its door to a variety of resident artists and guest tattoo artists from all over the world. Different to a small studio, the Bath Street Collective is a warehouse with six resident artists. With such a large group of professionals passing through these doors you’re guaranteed to find something you’ll love.

TERRY’S TATTOO PARLOUR

Terry’s Tattoo Studio is a fixture in Glasgow and has been inking its residents for over 40 years. Running as a family business since the beginning, it has continued to do so as it is now run by Terry’s two granddaughters. Terry moved to Glasgow in 1964 after fully establishing himself as a talented artist throughout the United Kingdom. He built up a loyal clientele that remains an integral part to their business today. In 1983, Terry’s Studio moved to its current location in 23 Chisolm Street, Glasgow where it continues to be one of Glasgow’s top studios.

LUCKY CAT STUDIO

Lucky Cat has been a Glaswegian favourite since it opened its doors in 2010. It was opened by Kevin Younger, personal tattoo artist of Biffy Clyro. As a result, loyal fans of the Scottish band have been going to Younger at this studio for years. Lucky Cat specialises in traditional and Japanese tattoos and has two young artists work alongside Younger in the studio. It’s located on 296-298 Great Western Road.

CUSTOM INC.

This tattoo parlour offers something a little different to their customers. They live up to their name by working solely on a custom basis designing every tattoo individually for each customer. Their view is that ‘tattoo art is still one of the most individual forms of self-expression’ and should be taken seriously. Warning, they refuse to do any designs of any existing logos, political statements, football badges or copies of celebrity tattoos. Custom Inc. is located in 2114-216 Kent Road, Glasgow.

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL TATTOO

Firstly, established in 2006 in Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh, they have expanded majorly throughout the main cities including Glasgow, Dundee, Newcastle, London, Musselburgh and Southampton as well as a further six studios running in Poland. They cater to every design including realistic, Japanese and illustrative work. They claim to push boundaries and are planning to further expand in the future. As a company, they are multi award winning, with many of them being awarded to the Glasgow shop located in the Gallowgate’s.

LAND AHOY PARLOUR

This beloved parlour was established in 2006 and is located in Sauchiehall street. Their studio is full of character and offers piercings as well as laser removal. It’s home to some of the best tattoo artists in the city and welcomes anyone to walk through their doors on 188 Sauchiehall Street with thousands of designs to choose from or custom work.

KAYA STUDIOS Kaya is home to one of Glasgow’s most respected tattoo artists Paul Hamilton. Known for its top customer service and willingness to create any design it’s a favourite in the city. The studio is located on Dumbarton Road and also run an online store that sells tattoo inspired apparel and accessories.

OTZI STUDIOS

This tattoo studio was only established in 2012 but has already built up a loyal customer base. It’s a custom studio based in the heart of the city centre. It has resident’s artists but also plays host to multiple guest artists from around the world that are able to cover any style of tattoo.

what were you thinking?

stick 'n' poke

by susie paterson

by morgane colinet

GETTING a tattoo done in a studio by a professional artist is the most hygienic way of getting one done however it can cost quite a fortune, especially for bigger pieces. Tattoo enthusiasts have found a way to get tattooed without the added cost, do-it-yourself stick and poke tattoos. The concept is simple, take a needle, fire it up in order to disinfect it, dip it in ink and repeatedly dig into your skin to create your tattoo. Sophie McNicol is a student who has had a stick and poke tattoo done on her by a friend: “I was skint, drunk, and

CHANGING your mind about keeping a tattoo is more common that you think. With growing tattoo numbers within the UK, removal techniques are likely to be something that will be in big demand thirty years from now.

it seemed like a great idea at the time. My friend Blair did it for me with a sewing needle, Indian ink and some vodka.”

It’s estimated that one in five people in the UK have a tattoo and 84% of those are 25 to 39 years old. When asked why, their reckoning is that it’s a stamp of individuality, but at the same time it identifies them as being part of a larger peer group. What ‘trends’ as the most popular tattoos of the day are still often lead by celebrities and sports icons - think Amy Winehouse and David Beckham back in the naughties, and now Justin Bieber and Cheryl Cole, today. They can be a symbol of love or hate, devotion or faith, and the more you have and the bigger they are, the better.

Sophie has never had a tattoo professionally done and enjoyed her stick and poke experience: “There was no noisy tattoo gun and the thought of sitting in a tattoo artist’s chair for hours made me feel quite anxious so this was a good alternative to still get a tattoo done. I also feel stick and poke tattoos are much more personal and mine didn’t hurt at all.” Erryn Miller is also a self-described stick and poke tattoo enthusiast:

“I chose stick and pokes mainly for the aesthetic of them although the fact it was a cheap alternative to a real tattoo was also a factor. I would first practice on my ex-boyfriend and then I started doing some on myself. I have three 'regular' tattoos, and honestly when tattooing myself I didn't even feel it. It was just a small feeling of the skin popping, as the needle went in and out. I think the aesthetic of these tattoos is better suited to simple line design with no fancy colour or shading. They also tend to fade a bit quicker than regular tattoos.”

Erryn, contrarily to Sophie does have some professionally done tattoos: “My professionally done tattoos were a lot more painful, and my skin swelled up to the point where I couldn't continue with the tattoo session. Despite that, the quality of theses tattoos is much, much higher than that of a stick and poke tattoo.” She agrees with Sophie that stick and pokes do have certain advantages: “The benefits are the

certain design of these tattoos, as they're usually quite shitty and personal often done spontaneously, or in shaky handwriting. I think there's a deeper meaning with stick and pokes, and usually a close bond between the tattooist and the person being tattooed.” Although neither of the girls are aware of the legalities of theses types of tattoos, neither would stop getting them done and they don’t regret their current stick and pokes. Sophie says: “Sometimes I think it was a stupid idea but it’s part of me now, I don’t think I want it covered up.” Erryn agrees: “I don't regret either of my stick and pokes as they're both very personal to me.” It is important to maintain a certain level of hygiene when doing these stick and poke tattoos. Tattoo everywhere have started embracing these form of tattoos and multiple tattoo artists are now trained specifically in inking professional stick and poke tattoos.

In young people sometimes a first tattoo is often a rebellion against parents and authority, showing an indelible statement as proof you are now a grown-up and capable of making your own decisions. Most people don’t stop at one, and an eclectic collection of twenty five and upwards is becoming quite common. But making quality decisions at twenty five is never a given, and you may grow to hate the bleeding broken heart that you shared with your ex two partners back, or the pink and green Anime laughing cat on your calf. Imagining how your tattoos are going to look on your 60 year body is not something you are likely to have spent much time on. Not everyone starts out with a canvas like David Beckham, and the pull of gravity tends to have its cruel way with all skin sooner or later. Reasons for having a tattoo are personal, as is having it removed. There are probably more reasons for having one removed than there are for having one done, but it’s not always what you might expect. In 2016, St Andrews University surveyed 200 employers looking for bar and waiting staff, and discovered that visible tattoos affected their first impressions, particularly when seen on women. This view depended a lot on the age and type of clientele they would be serving, and in a few cases where the venue was a particularly trendy bar, for example, an appropriately trendy tattoo would be seen as a bonus. Dr Trimming of St Andrews University who ran the survey said: “Visibly tattooed job applicants can present as attractive candidates in the labour market because they can help to positively convey an organisation's image or brand, especially in pop culture industries such as fashion retail.” His survey seemed to come down to who the public ‘trust’. Tattoos depicting nudity or gang membership were seen as being the least trustworthy people, whereas ones of Christianity or flowers were seen to be most acceptable. Tattoo removal is now done with laser, and as with all things in the ‘beauty industry’ the quality of the laser used will affect the success of the result. It will on average take between three and five sessions, and the cost will depend on the size of the area to be covered. Another popular way is to have the existing tattoo covered by a larger, denser tattoo, but this isn’t always what is wanted, and sometimes it’s just not possible. The best advice is to think about what you want very carefully before jumping on the bandwagon. While some little symbols done on a beach in Thailand in your gap year might be happy inking to live with, a tattooed photo of your grandad’s Rottweiler, or Edward and Tubbs from the League of Gentlemen may lead you to question what you were thinking twenty years from now.

identity in ink by dominic v. cassidy

TATTOOS are growing in popularity at an ever-escalating rate, with some polls and statistics putting it between 20% and 35% of adults being tattooed, with 70% as having more than one. With Glasgow being the U.K’s third most tattooed city – in which 40% of people with tattoos have between 11 and 15 of them. But what is it that our tattoos can mean to us? With the resurgence of flash designs after custom work completely took over, many people get tattoos purely on an aesthetic basis, however it is very rare that people with visible tattoos escape being poked and prodded on the meaning of their ink. I talked to Emma Hughes, a student from Glasgow, who has 13 tattoos from different artists based all over the U.K. We chatted about what it was like for her, as a young woman, to have people point out and inquire after things on her body, why she got her tattoos, and what they mean to her. “I mean, it’s a conversation starter - people seem to find me a lot more interesting and regard me as ‘cooler’ and ‘edgier’, I guess. But on the same hand it’s kind of patronising sometimes ‘cause people somehow still think I am a ‘manic pixie dream girl type’ for having tattoos,” she went on to talk about how she feels when people lay hands on her, to get a better look at her tattoos: “It doesn’t happen as much as the other thing, which is when people judge your tattoos, like they have a right to determine their tastes upon you, but yeah it can sometimes be a bit displeasing when they do it - if that makes sense? It’s like, they don’t really get to decide whether their opinions match up with my personal expression, y’know?”

I then went on to ask her about her tattoos themselves, if they were mostly flash or custom work, and why she got them: “The first few ones I got were custom work, based off of ideas I had about important things in my life, but as I started getting more and more tattoos, I did start to really get into artists’ flash work and artists themselves, so yeah I do have quite a lot of flash as well as custom work now.” Flash was previously, in years gone by, the way that most tattoos were done - with tattoo artists having pre-drawn designs that were stencilled onto multiple people, quickly, and for a fixed price. Custom work however, is when someone asks the artist to, usually, design and create a piece of work. They are often more expensive this way, as the price accounts for the time spent working on the piece, and the originality aspect of the tattoo. On why Emma got her tattoos, she had this to say: “The first one I got was dedicated to the indecisiveness that has funnily enough got me in some bad and good situations in life, I also have a really beautiful one for steps toward overcoming mental health issues. As well as ones for my favourite video game, my childhood dog, plants that were a big part of where I grew up - so yeah there’s a bit of everything on me! I was always fascinated by them [tattoos], I’d sit and watch Miami Ink or something with my mum, so they were always really something that I wanted, and when I realised the pain wasn’t much of an issue, I’m now dead-set on being covered in them.”

Mental health issues are easily, and nowadays regularly, communicated through movements like the semi-colon project - to raise awareness for suicide - to tattoos used to cover up self harm scars. I asked Emma if her decisions to get tattoos was impacted by mental health: “I wouldn’t say it was impacted by my mental health, I wouldn’t say that they correlate entirely, but there are definitely links to be made between them, for sure.” However, Emma went on to stress how personal that experience of ink was to her: “That’s my personal view of my own experience, I’m sure it’s not the same for everyone else.” It’s with this that it should be remembered that tattoos are a form of self-expression, and that a hundred different people might have a hundred different views on them, and what they mean to people. Finally, Emma went on to try and summarise what her tattoos really mean to her: “Tattoos, for me, are a way of expressing things that I have picked up through my life, and well, some of them are just fucking cool to be honest.” I then asked her just one last thing – “Do you plan on getting more?” “A hell of a lot more, yeah man.”

With tattoos, they tend to become a large part of the owner’s identity, it’s something that is kind of unavoidable. I asked Emma how her ink impacts on her identity, and how she goes about her day: “Well I’ve always had, like, identity issues, and it’s not like tattoos are a remedy to that, but having one done and having a sense of permanency on my skin does help ground me in a way.”

the

sleeve vol. 1