TROLLS TARGET TATTOO TREND
FOR some people tattoos are a form of expression. It could be an intricate piece of art or a symbol of something important or personal to them. There are lots of reasons why people have tattoos – but even in 2021 there is still some stigma to a tattoo.
Tattooing is a type of artform with a deep-rooted history – it’s a modern, evolving and often very personal form of expression.
In an age where we’re constantly encouraging people to be kind it’s important to remember there is always a person behind the tattoo, and often there is a lot of hidden meaning behind specific designs.
Josh Downes, 26, experienced abuse for having tattoos after Wales on Sunday’s sister publications told the story about his barbershop in Pontypridd.
In April, the business owner talked openly about his barbershop, The Lost Boys Club, which is more than just your average barbers. It also supports local men in the area by helping them to open up about mental health, as well as offering them essential access to counselling. The barbershop hasn’t only developed a good reputation for cutting hair, but has also gained respect for the dedicated work it does in getting more young men to talk about all sorts of issues.
But after Josh opened up about his own mental health, and the ethos behind the business, he was sent a copy of the article in our sister title the Pontypridd and Llantrisant Observer to the shop.
It was covered in handwritten abuse. Despite all the hard work he’s done, most of the comments were about his tattoos.
The abusive writer “gruesome” and said “look like skin disease”.
They wrote: “I’d have to wear dark glasses so I can’t see you in the mirror. Tattoos look like skin disease. Neck tattoos look gruesome. They would scare people especially kids. Big mistake. Stupid.”
Josh said: “All I can say is it’s madness as you see so many people with tattoos now. It’s crazy really as it was the first time anything like this had happened to me. I get looks when I go shopping to Tesco, but that’s because people called Josh his tattoos look closer.”
Josh said he knows not a lot of people think like that and he said he’s lucky he doesn’t take the comments personally.
But it was still a huge shock. Due to the nature of the comments the team had to report it to the police.
The barber had his first tattoo when he was 18, and has continued to get inked over the years, but the only reason he has tattoos is because he wants them.
“I have tattoos for myself,” he said. “My face tattoo – that’s actually my son’s date of birth. A lot of them are meaningful and a lot of them are just because I like them and I like tattoos.”
Josh said over the past few weeks he has spoken to a lot of his customers about the issue, and it’s some of his older clients who have been more disgusted by the language used. People have been shocked to see the staff being ridiculed for simply having tattoos.
South Wales Police have confirmed an investigation is under way after a complaint was made by the proprietor of The Lost Boys Barber shop in Pontypridd after he had received an anonymous letter in the post. A spokesman for the force said the incident occurred in April and an investigation is ongoing.
On the same high street in Pontypridd town centre you’ll find a tattoo artist who is also trying to make a big difference through her work.
As a Miss Wales contestant Emily Norris said she understands people might be surprised by her job.
Emily, 26, she said this often leads to stereotyping her in a different way but she’s determined to make the point that it’s OK to have an alternative look.
She h a s worked a t Podges Ta t t o o Parlour for around two-and-ahalf years. After completing her training, she’s now fully qualified and absolutely loves what she does. Even though she’s immensely passionate about her work she said she knows she doesn’t look like your stereotypical tattoo artist.
She has a few tattoos, but doesn’t have areas of her body covered.
A few years ago she was crowned Miss Rhondda Cynon Taf after competing in Miss Wales, and she’s set to compete in the Welsh beauty contest again later this year.
Emily is a talented tattooist but, she said, what’s interesting for her is even though she works in the industry she often gets comments like “you don’t look like a tattoo artist” because her tattoos are minimal.
“I get told I don’t look like a tattoo artist – it’s stereotyped the same – it’s the same label,” she said.
When asked how having tattoos can impact on modelling, she said: “If you are tattooed you are labelled as an alternative model. It’s a grey area. If you have one you can get away with it and cover it.
“I have done quite a lot of wedding dress modelling and they normally don’t like tattoos for that.
“The last time I competed I wasn’t actually a tattooist. I have never been told it’s not desirable.
“By doing Miss Wales I am hoping to be a role model figure for girls who may be a little different to show that appearance is a minor part of being able to make a difference.
“A very good friend once said to me ‘to challenge the status quo, you have to turn up’ so I can’t wait to represent those of us who may not fit the mould.”
Emily said some brands realise that a lot more people have tattoos nowadays, so some don’t mind them being on show to try to convey the image of a more modern day, realistic woman but generally a lot of couture shoots ask for models without.
The young tattoo artist has a few tattoos, including one on her shin and another on her wrist. Emily said she loves her tattoos, and she loves what she does, but she wouldn’t cover her body in them – simply because she doesn’t want to.
Emily is also training to be able to carry out 3D nipple tattooing. She’s training to be able to help women who have had to undergo a mastectomy to use tattooing as a way to help them reconstruct the nipple area of the breast. She said this process helps a lot of women to regain confidence after undergoing such a lifechanging procedure.
Emily said: “People who have lost their breasts or the nipple, we’ll be able to reconstruct the nipple through the art of tattooing.
“They feel like they get to reclaim their femininity and independence again, and if I feel I can make a difference like that then that’s great.”