Blood, sweat, tears… ink?
Last week, I walked into a shop playing dad rock on three different televisions, ate every single blue raspberry candy from the receptionist dish, and laid down to get the final touches upon my previous tattoo. After two hours of the needle to my thin elbow skin, I got up, paid my artist all my college-job-money, and headed home. As I listened to my car playlist and felt the itch of the plastic bandage on my arm, I waited for the pain to dull and I wondered– what is truly behind the satisfaction of getting a tattoo or piercing? Why do we accessorize ourselves in this way? Is it a celebration of art, or just an excuse to ‘feel’ the temporary pain of piercing or tattoo needles?
To answer these questions, I took a look at a bit of tattoo history, asked a few of my tatted friends about their experience, and shared my own tattoo testimony.
Historically, tattoos and other body modifications have been used as symbols of status, individuality, and personal beliefs. The earliest tattoos can be traced back to the Egyptians, who utilized bronze needles to poke dark soot into the skin as pigment- ouch! Read more about ancient Egyptian tattooing here. These tattoos were often in simple patterns of lines or diamonds, or in some more elaborate cases, showcasing the likeness of gods or deities. In Native American history, tattoos were a symbol of one’s accomplishments, especially chin tattoos to remember life milestones. Read more about Inupiat– the Native tribe of Alaska– and their tattooing practices here. Across many cultures, tattoos have held significance in different ways.
In early America, the first instances of American traditional tattoos emerged in the early 20th century, popular among sailors who believed that symbols of anchors and merfolk would protect them at sea. These tattoos were done with singular needles and scarce ink, making for a style marked by bold, minimal colors and thick black outlines. Tattoos in American culture became symbols of rebellion, and some may say they still are, but tattoo as an art form has become much more respected and revered in most communities. As specific styles emerged and the tattoo world opened to new, wackier ideas– such as new school pineapples with an all-seeing eye– the idea of stylizing one’s own skin as an art canvas has become more widespread in the 21st century. The media began to portray tattoos as an art form, such as many celebrities showcasing their tattoos on the red carpet, and even media built directly around the practice of tattooing. Take Ink Master, a series from 2012 still running today (same age as Loco Mag!), blending the art of tattooing with the chaos of a timer and the pressures of reality tv (with its own spinoff featuring fierce female competitors turned angel judges). In 2025, there are multitudes of people who have tattoos from minimalist pinterest designs, to back pieces covering every inch. Tattoos have become a normalized lifestyle choice, as more and more folks bring their body art to careers, religions, and social spheres.
So- why do we get tattoos?
I bothered three of my tatted friends– my sister with her two fineline pieces, my friend with two fully shaded pieces, and another friend with patchwork of all kinds– and asked them about their motivations and experiences under the ink and needle.
When asked about their motivations behind getting tattoos, all three answered with similar heartfelt stories. “The way we portray ourselves through art is very meaningful,” said my sister, who sports her birth flower and a piece that incorporates her love for the Jersey shore. My second friend, whose pieces include a death’s head moth and bundle of cleansing herbs, says that, “having parents with tattoos influenced me, and having a matching one with my dad means a lot. [The herb bundle] represents protection and spirituality, which is comforting in the face of a tumultuous relationship with religion”. The third treats tattoos like a stamp of devotion, that, “I like to represent things I love on myself”. Of everyone I spoke to, and most folks I know, tattoos represent personal expression and tribute to important aspects of the person’s life.
But we’re here for the namesake- the Comfortable Pain of it all. So, how did the experience feel for these people? Was it nail-biting pain, or an odd sense of comfort? For my second friend, it all had to do with the artist. “My first tattoo experience was weird because I didn’t get to pick the artist. For the second one, I chose the artist, and she made the experience much more comfortable”. For my third friend, the overall care during the tattoo is essential, as they recounted being offered breaks, snacks, drinks, and the like. My sister, whose tattooing experience I witnessed firsthand, says that, “I mean, getting a needle into your body is obviously not the best feeling, but once your body adjusts I think it feels almost comforting”– and she has always had a fear of needles! I suppose the dedication to the art overcomes the fear of the needle.
None of my friends were deterred by the pain– all three said they have plans for more tattoos in the future, representing more important things to them.
As for my own experience, as I was sitting in the chair listening to dad rock with my elbow bent at a strange angle, I felt a mix of nerves, pain, and gratification. My tattoo experience was fulfilling because it was the completion of a prior tattoo I hadn’t had the money or the concrete design for yet. I had gotten the original tattoo a year prior, on a weekday in February that I had made the appointment for only a day before. I had not had a chance to meet the artist, discuss my plans, or even see the inside of the studio. The tattoo was successful, but it was not what I had final plans for. After spending the time to plan ahead and find an artist that suited me– the same as my sister’s two tattoos– I was able to bring it all to fruition. Even I didn’t know what my finished piece would look like, but after I sent an email with some rough sketches and overall ideas, Adam Silfies of Revelation Tattoo was able to craft me a piece I’m very happy with. The new ink incorporates my pre-existing rune and flowers into a feminine, artsy piece spanning my inner arm. I am very happy with it!
Like my friends’ experiences, my parents and extended family all had tattoos throughout my youth, and I come from a family of artists so it was no surprise that we all decorated ourselves how we saw fit. My mother has a sleeve of flowers and my father a shoulder piece from his youth. My tattoo was also a symbol of devotion to an aspect of my life– the rune and dragon pay homage to my favorite fiction series growing up, and the flowers surrounding it symbolize growth intertwined with the things we love and see pieces of ourselves in. The experience of being under the needle itself was harrowing, I cannot lie– but again, my artist was comforting and I was able to sit for the hour and half it took to finish the ink.
Extremely satisfied with the completion of my tattoo, I am able to share this article with you all and remind you that sometimes, the pain can be worth it to find comfort in expressing yourself.
Featured image by Haylie Jarnutowski.
