Why People Choose to Get Tattoos?

As an Asian Woman with ink, I turn heads everywhere I go and I have grown accustomed to the usual questions that accompanies – the whys, how, when and what. I am not supporting people to go ahead and be reckless and ink their entire body with ‘tramp stamps’, I am merely providing an insight on why we are inked, and why we wear them proudly.

1. Memories

It is more than preserving something for eternity; it is much more than just a stupid picture of a pet or a family member. For many, it is about closure, it is about closing/healing a gap left by the demise of a beloved. It is about continuing with life, feeling as though their loved ones had never left their side.

1. Art

Art exists in various forms, some take to the streets to display their liberal take on politics and society in the form of rebellious graffiti. Others paint abstract paintings and display them in an exhibition that fetches a handsome price. But art itself is a form of expression – to express feelings, characters or even a single thought on a canvas and to me (and to many others, I hope), our body is the best instrument. We will ink which ever body part we like, in as many (or few) colors as we like because this canvas is ours and we really do not care if you are able to appreciate our art or otherwise.

1. Love/Passion

This basically summarizes why people with ink, have ink. It could be a rash decision to tattoo a Mickey Mouse on your back, which you may end up regretting when you are about to put on your wedding gown, it could be a boyfriend/girlfriend’s name, it could be a love quote, a tribal design with no touching story behind it, it could be a portrait of your parents, a tattoo of your grandmother’s specs, it could be a signature, a song lyric, a single word in another language which signifies strength, faith, courage or love. It could be anything at all. The bottom line is, we went through the design, the pain to have it inked on us, and if that isn’t love, or passion at one point or another, I don’t know what that is. So do not judge us because you do not or cannot understand our reasons. Having ink doesn’t mean we do not eat healthy, that we do not work out or that we do not respect our body. We do not judge you for being narrow minded, do not judge us for being openly expressive.

If you see photos in my profile, you will see I tattoed my husband's name near my heart to express my love to him 💑

-Haley Aerith