Our beauty blogger Catherine McCurry takes a look at tattoos…
TATTOOS – they have always split opinions across ages, sexes and classes. While some say they are a work of art or a symbolic gesture, others believe it’s a permanent stamp that will later be regretted.
Many people often stereotype those with tattoos to the rebellious and mischievous kind.
While they can often attract controversy in a professional world, an increasing number of companies are becoming more acceptable of body ink and those are aren’t are seen as out of touch.
Recently, a 26-year-old trainee teacher was sent home on her first day from a strict Catholic school because she had visible tattoos.
It was alleged that staff at the school “took exception” to Charlotte Tumlity’s body art and was asked to go home and only return with plasters and bandages covering up the ink.
She then went on to say that she received a lot of support since the incident but got negative feedback from the “older generation”.
So as well as it splitting opinion professionally, it doesn’t always prove popular with a few generations above Ms Tumlity.
It’s not the first time an incident like this has happened in a place of work and it certainly won’t be the last. Tattoos are a personal preference and it doesn’t effect their ability or standard of work, it’s simple a visual and appearance matter.
But tattoos can be used in a variety of different ways, it’s not just an expression of art or a quote but has been used to cover scars.
A mum-of-two who had a double mastectomy hid her scars with a bikini shaped tattoo. The 31-year-old came up with the design to mask the scars after she went through surgery after she tested positive for a cancer gene.
She said she wanted it to look more like a picture than a tattoo, which I think she achieved.
Getting a tattoo is something most people have thought about, whether it’s a small star or symbol to represent an important person or event in your life or huge shapes and sleeves which cover your body. But there’s very few people who actually go through with it.
These ideas normally emerge during our late teens or early 20s and there are quite a few people I know who have regretted their tattoo.
The celebrity fad has sparked a tattoo trend, from sports stars like David Beckham to actress Angelina Jolie and Rihanna as well as many boy band members.
I don’t have any tattoos and while I did consider getting one many years ago, I didn’t go through with it as I didn’t find one that held enough meaning to me and I’m thankful I didn’t.
However, there is a new trend emerging with temporary tattoos. A number of celebrities have been enhancing their outfits with metallic black and gold prints. They come in a number of different shapes and sizes and help accentuate jewellery.
