According to The New York Times, 23% of American adults have at least one tattoo. Every day, more and more collegiettes decide to express their personal style by getting, or not getting, a tattoo.
Tattoos, which used to be a stigma of a nonconformist, are becoming more mainstream, allowing people to express their personal style not just with clothes and makeup, but also with their own skin.
Thinking of inking? You are not alone. Tara, a microbiology junior, said she has plans for a tattoo in the future, but has not decided exactly what she wants to get. “I’m not sure yet, when I know, I’ll get it,” she said. Alissa, a psychology junior, has more concrete plans for her future tattoo. “I plan to get a tattoo to commemorate my mom,” she said.
(Photo courtesy of morguefile.com)
Tattoos can be used as an accessory to help accentuate a person’s own personal style. Kim, a business freshman, said that her scorpion tattoo showed her rebellious personality and helped her define herself. “It’s something that’s important to you,” Alissa said. “If it’s important enough, then you can get it permanently on your body.”
Despite the growing popularity of tattoos, many college students opt not to get any for various reasons. Karla, a graduate, said, “I think it’s just a preference. I can’t get any because of my work, but if I could, I would.” Journalism and Russian sophomore Joy said that she does not plan on getting any tattoos because she does not want to deal with the pain.
No matter if you have one, want one, or never plan to get one, let your body reflect your own personal style. If tattoos are not for you, be proud of your ink-free skin. If you have one or plan to get one, use them to complement yourself and your personality. No matter if you are inked or not, you can show your uniqueness through your body and lifestyle choices, and allow your personality to dictate your style.