The Hidden Appeal of Tattoos: A Personal Journey

I love tattoos! They fascinate me, especially the big ones or complete sleeves. When I see someone with such a piece of art, it’s hard not to be drawn to their story. In contrast, I seldom appreciate the small ones or a chaotic arrangement of smaller pieces.

My Tattoo Collection

Technically, I do have twelve tattoos. However, when they are small and understated, they are all right. The issue arises when they are ostentatiously visible; in such cases, the body where they are located often looks as though it hadn't seen a shower in months.

I personally don’t advocate getting tattoos on myself, but I also don’t oppose others making this choice. This is simply their decision to make.

My fascination with tattoos began when I was very young. As a young girl, they captivated me, and I even desired a tattoo until I learned that women couldn't be tattooed, based on what I saw as a 10-year-old. However, by my mid-teens, I had witnessed a couple of women with tattoos and expressed my desire to my parents. They forbade me from getting one, but I remained enthralled by them and was determined to get a tattoo one day.

A Journey of Rebellion and Self-Discovery

At around 18 in the summer or autumn of 1973, I felt rebellious and decided to get a tattoo. However, the shop was closed. In my early 20s, I traveled to Croydon with my then boyfriend to get tattooed, yet we couldn't find the studio. I eventually gave up on the idea, but the allure of tattoos persisted.

For a period, I had a heavily tattooed boyfriend who didn't want me to get one. In the early 2000s, my old boyfriend from the 1970s and I got back together, and we explored temporary tattoo designs together. We found one that both of us liked, and without informing him, I booked an appointment for my first tattoo as a fiftieth birthday gift to myself and to him. It was a lower back tattoo.

A Personal Revelation

On the day of the tattoo, I felt a mix of elation and shame and embarrassment that I was now marked with ink. I wished I could have watched the design evolve. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it so much that I decided to get tattoos every year for my birthday. I eventually got two more, but realized that I didn't desire a mass of disconnected ink on my body. I marked my inner thigh with a Playboy bunny, a nod to my early career as a model, and placed a small red heart just by my pubic mound. All three were well hidden.

The Evolution of My Tattoo Journey

By the time I got an ankh on the back of my shoulder a couple of years ago, several of my friends had already gotten tattoos, and I felt confident enough to get one that couldn't be easily hidden. I still hold a deep appreciation for tattoos. My partner, Roger, also has a couple, as does my son. My younger sister only recently confessed about her dragon tattoo on her thigh, which she got in her late 40s. Like me, she had been too embarrassed to show her tattoo when tattoos were stigmatized during our youth.

In conclusion, while tattoos can be visible, they also hold a deep personal significance that can be both hidden and celebrated. My journey is a testament to the changing perceptions of tattoos, from a rebellious act to a form of self-expression that can be embraced with confidence.