Rebel, trendsetter or artist?

Tattoos and piercings are no longer just for risk takers and criminals and are becoming part of the way young adults express themselves.

Getting a tattoo or a piercing has had different meanings over time. According to Anne E. Laumann’s Dermatologic Complications with Body Art, the practice of tattooing dates back to early civilization as rituals and signs of social status.

Tattooing was at one point used to identify criminals and slaves. Laumann also writes piercings can be associated with depression. In a study at Millikin University, students with tattoos and piercings showed the stereotype associated with body modifications is not applicable to modern day students.

“It’s become more common,” said Shaun Blythe, a piercer at Advanced Tattoo and Piercing.

Blythe has been doing piercings for the last 18 years and said the trendiness of piercings goes up and down depending on the piercing because styles change.

Blythe said he has seen more variety over time in tattoos and the trend for piercings is the nipples and the daith – a piercing through the innermost fold in the ear cartilage. He said he sees a range of people usually between 16 and 22 and about 80 per cent are female.

Piercings are a less permanent way to express one’s self although according to Blythe, it will leave a scar regardless of what you get.

Some also get tattoos as a reminder of people, places and events. Chris Seguin, a faculty of education graduate from the University of Windsor, said his tattoo reminds him of good times and all the good friends he has made.

“It reminds me of an important part of my life when I really felt like I was good at something and felt respected. It’s a time I was really happy,” said Seguin about the large and colorful Greek letters representing his fraternity on his arm.

If getting inked, pierced, or even just dyeing your hair fun colours is the way you want to express yourself, Blythe has this advice: “There are zero stupid ideas.”