When it comes down to it, how much do you really know about your tattoo? Whether your skin art was done on impulse or something you considered for a long time, you may be surprised to learn how little you know about tattoos in general. Tattoos are a widely-practiced form of body art, practiced for thousands of years across many of the world’s cultures – and with that long of a history, there’s bound to be at least a few interesting facts tucked away.
Here are 10 facts about tattoos that are probably news to you:
1. Tattoo pigment bases are usually a mystery mix of ingredients. Because pigment manufacturers aren’t required to disclose their ingredients list or conduct any sort of clinical trials, you can never be quite sure what’s in your colors of choice. It’s not unheard of for varying colors in include elements such as rust, mercury, ash, sulphur, and other metals.
2. The top two most popular tattoo images are hearts and angels. Odds are, you know someone with one of these tattoos – or, maybe you have a few yourself!
3. Although more U.S. women than men have tattoos, women are also more likely to get their tattoos removed. It’s unclear if there’s any correlation between these statistics, but women are leading the country when it comes to both adding and removing tattoos.
4. Today, laser removal is the most effective option for tattoo removal. Thankfully, the days of painful, ineffective methods are past, and laser treatments have made it possible to resolve any tattoo regrets you may have.
5. In a 2012 survey, more than 60 percent of HR managers stated that tattoos could have a negative effect on a job applicant’s chances. Surprisingly, this number went up from the previous year’s survey.
6. Tattoos hold varying significance across the world. Although there is some negative perception in the United States surrounding tattoos, other countries and cultures perceive them much differently. For example, the Maori people of New Zealand view tattoos as a highly sacred rite of passage, while Native American warriors used tattoos to celebrate battle victories.
7. Vegans may want to avoid tattoos, because most ink contains animal products. Vegan-friendly tattoos are rare, because most varieties of tattoo ink contain the charred bone and fat of animals.
8. Many people are allergic to colored tattoo ink. Black and white are typically the easiest for people with sensitive skin to tolerate, while red is the most problematic. Generally, allergies stem from the various metals used in tattoo ink, such as mercury sulfide, iron oxide, and cadmium sulfide.
9. Almost 25 percent of people regret their tattoos. The most commonly-regretted tattoo is the name of a former partner or other person. As it turns out, you might want to think twice before getting that special someone’s name permanently inked!
10. Americans spend $1,650,500,000 per year on tattoos. Considering that about one-quarter of tattooed Americans regret their ink, that’s quite the chunk of cash for unwanted tattoos.
Learn More about Your Tattoo at Ink Doubt
Thinking about having your tattoo removed or redone? The professionals at Ink Doubt can offer you an easy, effective way to eliminate unwanted tattoos or prepare for a tattoo redo using advanced laser treatments. Whether you just want more information about your options or are ready to finally tackle the tattoo removal you’ve been putting off forever, the Ink Doubt team is here to answer all your questions.
Contact Ink Doubt today to schedule your free consultation and let us help you resolve all your tattoo troubles!