My Tattoos

Ink

Before we get started…January most definitely isn’t the month for photographing your hard-to-reach tattoos outdoors, so do ignore my rather chilly chicken skin!

This took a while, didn’t it?! I realised last week when I posted a look featuring a fake tattoo that I hadn’t even taken the time to show you my real tattoos properly. I think part of it was that I was a little worried – when you get a tattoo it’s on your skin for life, and a mean comment about them becomes akin to somebody saying they don’t like your nose, or how tall you are – they are part of me now.

But after all of your comments telling me you think I should get the flowers inked on permanently, it eased my fear a little. It’s not that I’ve been hiding them, I just barely wear anything that shows them off!

Glasses & a Wishbone

So, let’s start with tattoo number one. You’ve probably seen my glasses tattoo before. I had them inked in 2013 by Rebecca Vincent at The Circle, who created them out of dots and tiny lines. I didn’t want them to look too harsh and black, so dotwork was the ideal solution. I realise I haven’t taken a great close-up for this post, but take a look at them when they were super fresh and you’ll see what I mean!

Tattoo number two comes in the form of two Victorian-style hands pulling on a wishbone. This one was done last summer on complete impulse – I don’t like to think about things for too long. Whilst popping in to visit Sue Jeiven, a tattoo artist from New York doing a guest spot over at Sang Bleu (Miguel’s studio of choice) I got the itch and asked her if she had any availability – and like that, I booked myself in for later in the week. She modified a tattoo from her selection of flash, a design based on a vintage Valentine’s Day card illustration, and I got it inked above my elbow. I like to think the dainty female hand (complete with ruffled collar!) represents myself – if you look close enough you’ll realise I’m totally going to win the wishbone ; )

Getting a Tattoo

I thought I’d throw in a bit of advice whilst I’m here! Before getting my first tattoo, I didn’t quite understand the process. I assumed that you’d email an artist back and forth for weeks, allowing them to tweak the design to make it perfect so you knew exactly what you’d be wearing on your skin for the rest of your life. In my experience (I’ve been with Miguel for a few of his sessions too), this isn’t the way it goes at all. You’ll let the artist know what you want beforehand, and then they might do sketches, or just come up with something when you arrive. This scared me to begin with, but then realised it suited my impulsive nature and meant that I didn’t have any time to fret – it’s a very exciting process.

As for the “why?”…simply because I like tattoos, and if you’re the same, don’t let anybody tell you otherwise. There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting a design because you love the artist’s work – in the same way you might invest in a painting, for example. Both of mine have meaning to me, but that isn’t to say I wouldn’t get another one just because. If you love tattoos but don’t know where to start, I’ve put some of my favourite artists in the links below!

Will I get more? Maybe. Watch this space! Although I promise I’ll tell you about them next time… x

Rebecca Vincent | Sue Jeiven | Hannah Snowdon | Armelle Stb | MXM | Susanne König

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