Marking Your Territory

In this day and age of self-expression and individuality, many of what we use embodies who we are. Our clothes, shoes, ideas we espouse, even the words we speak. The most unique of these is getting a tattoo. A custom-made, marking your territory, purest statement of who you are. We rarely have any power over how we look. Even with cosmetic surgery being available, being who we wish to be is not readily feasible.

That is the case with body art. It becomes a representation of who we want to be seen. One way of announcing our difference from the herd. Permanently marking your territory. Your own body, for all to see.  

It is gradual but there is a positive move towards acceptance of people with tattoos. It is becoming mainstream. It is being recognised as an expression of one’s individuality. But there are still jobs and some employers who would rather their employees have their tattoos on parts of the body that could be covered up. For those people who are shifting careers that drastically need to cover their body art, tattoo removal can be an option. 

Sometimes people might have outgrown a tattoo they used to love. An ex’s name, picture, a band, a group that holds no relevance to their lives anymore. Or memories that are attached to that tattoo they no longer want to remember. Or maybe they just want a different one on that same space. This is when tattoo removal or a cover up can work to their advantage. 

Some tattoos are part of a process of loving their body again. Self-harm scars, caesarian sections, even deep scars from accidents that they do not want to be reminded of.