Tattoo Artists are GateKeeping Hand Tattoos ??

[@RichardMarkleWOW]

I think everyone misunderstands. Neck and hand tattoos used to be called “job killers” due to the negative perception around them. Gatekeeping, or informing your customers? People who are only lightly tattooed getting face, neck or hand tattoos should be lightly informed that there could be impacts beyond their tattoos. I just think that’s being a responsible tattooer.

[@CrawlingPanther]

They usually are informed. What's happening is a lot of people, especially on social media, have become used to getting whatever they want instantly. You're free to get that first tattoo on your neck or face but you aren't entitled to every tattooer in the world doing it. You're also not going to be free from judgment. Why does it have to be on your hand or face?

[@necrosiss2170]

We used to call em “job stoppers” in the 90s lol

[@BabyJesus66]

​@@CrawlingPanthergen z thinks everyone has the right to not be judged and will cancel anyone who does 😂

[@sallycinnamon5370]

It won’t stop you from getting all jobs. Especially most of the jobs that the predominantly young people are going for…but as they advance in their careers it absolutely can cause repercussions. There are A LOT of boomers still making promotion decisions in most industries. Until you experience how your world reacts to your less visible tattoos…maybe don’t make the decision to get a fully visible tattoo.

[@funnygaming2672]

@@CrawlingPanther because it more personal my first tat was on my neck in the memory of my father ...i see it every day when i look myself in the mirror and that what i wanted i dont have to hide that tattoo im proud of it !

[@daisywrabbit]

I find it hard to believe no one agreed with the opinion that people shouldn’t rush to get their hands or necks tattooed.

[@savannahelouisa]

I genuinely believe it's not about earning these placements, it's more that these tattoo artists understand that a lot of these young people will probably regret them, and with them being so visible, it will be more stressful to constantly look at. I started my sleeve in my early 20s, and I'm now planning to get half of it redone and covered. I can hide my arm though, face, hands, not so much.

[@SOCyak]

People be acting like it’s 12 year olds coming in trying to get a neck tattoo. If it’s someone of age then give them what they’re paying for.

[@d3adm3mori3s9]

@@SOCyak 18 is still young, if I got the tattoos I wanted when I was 18 I would most likely regret them

[@aeromedical6776]

@@SOCyak- the tattoo artist has every right to refuse the work as well. You don’t get to go into a tattoo shop and demand a piece of work be done where they want it, just because they have the cash. Personally, if I were an artist, I would never agree to tattoo anywhere above the chest or on the hands.

[@anniec6211]

I agree I feel like it comes out of a caring place like "i know what you will have to go through". I think the tattoo artists should educate but understand that it is still the person's choice at the end of the day.

[@OrnamentalPlague]

With a mentality like that, I'd say whatever age you are isn't ready to make a decision like that. And that's coming from someone who went in for a hand tattoo as my second so I am not against the idea. But this is just a silly mentality. If you can't be worried about the comfort of the tattoo artist working on your body, you aren't mature enough to make unquestioned decisions.

[@dragonfire160]

Workplace discrimination is definitely still a thing and someone getting a hand/face tattoo has to be aware that this can be an issue and that people may behave differently towards them. And I also think most people who don't have any tattoos yet are not aware how big of a change and (for lack of a better word) destabilizing getting a new tattoo can be. I got a flashy, colorful half-sleeve on my arm a few months ago and for a few days I was wildly swinging back and forth between loving and hating it, just from the shock of suddenly having a new tattoo there. I imagine it could be even worse for tattoos that you can't hide. If I was a tattoo artist I sure as hell would not give someone a hand/face tattoo as one of their first few tattoos because I don't want to be the one responsible when there are consequences that the client didn't anticipate because of a lack of experience

[@emeraldbonsai]

It depends on each person my right arm is now about 50% covered in Color tattoos and ever since I’ve got them I’ve loved them no swinging back and fourth at all and for me they have been greatly stabilizing as when ever I have panic attacks I look at them and they help calm me down

[@sydney6548]

this is so valid! i have a few visible, smaller tattoos, and i love them, but i finally started working on my full sleeve and it was incredibly jarring to have a very visible, huge tattoo on my forearm. there's an absolute adjustment period, and if your first tattoo is incredibly visible/near impossible to cover-up, i definitely can see people having major regret/anxiety/depression about it

[@tcaprecap1448]

This is my experience EVERY TIME I get a new tattoo...it's the same cycle of loving it, then hating it, then convincing myself it's healing badly, then hating it, then ultimately loving it again before I forget it's even there and go get the next one.

[@maiainthemaze]

I’m a hairstylist, and in the beginning of my career I would do what clients wanted-no questions asked. But a couple clients were not happy, and even though I gave them exactly what they wanted and it was their decision-in the end they blamed me because I was the one that did the service. I completely agree with tattoo artists that don’t tattoo hands and neck, because if the client changes their mind about the placement and can’t get a job, there’s a chance they’re going to blame the artist who was just doing what they were told. Also, just cause you work in customer service doesn’t mean clients can treat you however they want just cause they pay you for a service✌️

[@jennifermarus4196]

Exactly, especially on that last part.

[@sylverscale]

I don't think it's so much the problem of them saying "don't get a job stopper tattoo or you may regret it" but more the slight to stark condescension. Of course you can't force anyone to work on you, be it tattoo or haircut. And I would want someone to make sure I know what I'll be getting. What I don't want to hear is "you don't deserve it" or "you have to earn it". That's a very weird way of handling this situation.

[@unietoons7074]

The term customers always right hasn't been true pretty much ever. 😂

[@sallycinnamon5370]

Just look at how many regret videos softly blame the artist. It’s pretty common.

[@blueboots141]

@sylverscale earning it just means going through the process a few times so that you are skilled enough to do it right. In games, we have to earn higher levels by gaining xp, so we'll be leveled up enough (earned the right) to fight the big boss battles. Sending a newb into a boss battle without xp is setting them up to fail.

[@hayleerose9776]

I just want to mentioned that tattoos have a learning curve to them, such as healing and finding the right tattooist. Not everyone, but a lot of people dont love their first tattoos because of this. So tattooing "prime real estate" first would be high risk for tattoo disappointment or something going wrong.

[@homixideactivist]

Im getting palm tatt for my first

[@hayleerose9776]

@@homixideactivist I hope everything goes well and you love your new tattoo! 😊

[@dorianleakey]

I had a straightforward tattoo, so didnt think the tattooist could mess it up, they did a bit, as its old now you cant see the mistake anymore, i never regretted the tattoo itself, i regret getting it done in a hurry, on a whim, i still wanted it, but i just had time and was outside the shop, so walked in. I had heard good things about one guy in the shop, but someone else did it.

[@abby4643]

honestly healing a hand tattoo is kind of difficult lol. I have several tattoos and I could imagine if someone got one as their first, it would be pretty difficult because it’s not the typical healing process

[@jasonbeatty831]

I got my first hand tattoo at 46, after years of not having been tattooed. Luckily, I’m old and no one questions me about it, but I do see the artists point. I wouldn’t feel comfortable taking part in ruining someone else’s life that way. Times may be changing, but they are changing slowly. Tattoo acceptance is still not 100%.

[@felix-ve8jk]

Why did you choose your hand to be first after 46 years of no tattoos? Im genuinely curious why thats the chosen spot, and what did you get?

[@jasonbeatty831]

@@felix-ve8jk I got a wolfs head, done American traditional. I know it’s probably cliche, but it’s for a pretty personal reason. As for why after years of not getting tattooed, mostly because I came into some money after an accident, and had kinda forgotten how much they hurt!😂

[@KismetSarken]

I feel ya. I'm 53 & have done both hands in the last 3 years. I have others, but they are scattered all over. I also got the back of my neck circling around to behind & on both ears. I avoided tattoos for years for jobs. I'm old enough now I don't care. This all started in 1984 when I pierced my nose. Basically my feelings are if you make the decision to get the tattoo, you have to live with the consequences, if there are any.

[@supersexysadie]

Kids assume tattoos are more acceptable because they see their favorite streamers, influencers, musicians, etc. having tattoos and still getting rich. But the reality is that a lot of “normal” jobs still won’t want tattooed employees, particularly office jobs.

[@jasonbeatty831]

@@supersexysadie yes. I’ve lived my life working dead end jobs as a working class schlub. I’m made my choices to never “climb” the ladder, I hate corporate culture, but younger folks think that their tattoos shouldn’t matter, and they are right, but they aren’t the ones in charge yet.

[@TheAcidFairy1998]

As someone young who has their hands / fingers tattooed I 100% stand by tattoo artists who are cautious or even reject hand tattoos on young people with minimal tattoos. From my experience, I got my fingers / hands done when I was 18, because I was naive and impulsive. My tattoo artist did not want to do them on me so I ended up going to someone who would and they turned out terrible. I was barely tattooed as well at the same (maybe had 1 or 2). I went back to her and she told me so. Yes they never stopped me from getting a job because the field I work in is not customer facing but they were embarassing to have until my tattoo artist fixed them for me. I give my full trust to her now and she always makes the right decisions for me when it comes to tattoos. If she says no, I know she is saying that for a very good reason. I find tattoo artists who are more cautious of their customers needs and wants are way more reputable than the ones who will say yes to everything. Yes, the world is becoming more acceptable of tattoos, but no matter how old you are and what job you are in, you should always have a good think about the tattoos you want and the placement. Some designs arent even viable on certain parts of the body, especially the hands and also you have to be so careful in the healing process as you use your hands constantly. Just be cautious and know if you tattoo artists says no, they generally have a good reason behind it.

[@claireellentattoo]

I’m a tattoo artist with most of both arms completed, as well as a leg sleeve. Considering I was already quite tattooed and the likelihood I don’t need to worry about workplace discrimination, I got my hand and fingers done, and although I love the tattoos and they’re very well done, it was a while before my brain got used to such a change. I’d never experienced this with a tattoo before. You have to consider and make sure you’re okay with always looking visibly tattooed, people will point it out, you can’t really hide it and you will see it all the time. You also have to be okay with the fact you might get treated differently (which I obviously don’t agree with but it’s the reality) and if you haven’t already experienced the numerous stages of getting tattooed in a more traditional sense (starting with less visible spots and working your way from arms and legs to chest, hands, throat, face) then you may not be used to living as a tattooed person. If I get an inquiry for a hand tattoo, I treat each one case by case, but I always make sure to ask questions. It’s not about being judgmental, but looking out for them before they make an impulsive permanent cosmetic alteration to their body. I am all for people doing what they want and tattoos are definitely becoming so much more accepted but I will also make sure they understand the implications behind their decision and reserve the right to refuse if it borders on unethical to me. Just my take, people don’t need to agree. Love your videos btw! 😊

[@dylangreyluxe]

this, my 4th tattoo was a flower on my hand, and being raised in poverty and struggling to escape it, I did it quickly because it's a dream tattoo of mine, and with my lifespan being 35 if I'm lucky, I figured why not. I'm glad I've never had issues with jobs despite being in a VERY conservative state, and no one has ever mentioned it. I'm definitely an outlier, and I constantly explain that to people that I talk to about my tattoos.

[@wondrouslyperish]

Agreed, well said 👌

[@demijones9612]

As a nail artist people never understand how much more you look at your hands than your own face in a mirror daily.

[@RichardMarkleWOW]

This is EXACTLY what I would expect a responsible tattooer to say. Glad to hear that there are still standards out there! Keep it up!

[@inkedmomblu1510]

Yes!! I’m pretty covered…both arms, both legs, full back, both ribs, both feet, palm, fingers… but when I got my hand tattoo I realized that people judged me even more. I don’t really care but for most people that can be very uncomfortable and shocking. I’ve always thought you should get the hidden places inked before you get the visible places. It helps you understand how the world sees and treats you.

[@laurenhitchings4046]

I think having other tattoos is important before hand/face/neck because while tattoo discrimination has gone down, you DO still get a lot of added attention, get treated differently, and asked a lot of questions for having visible tattoos, and there are situations where having them still feels out of place or uncomfortable. People who don't have tattoos yet need to at least have a sense of what that's like before committing to tattoos they can never cover. Also I've been seeing a lot of people talk about how gen z has big "boomer" energy. Like, no, actually the customer is not always right, Karen. Listen to the people who are experts and have years of experience in an industry and try to learn something from what they're telling you. Also, tattoos are a service, but service people are still people and they don't have to do whatever you say just because you're throwing cash around.

[@fsociety161]

DOOMER energy. Nihilistic

[@liznutt]

I feel like this is less "you shouldn't get a hand tattoo as your first tattoo" and more "I don't want to be the person who gives you your first tattoo on your hand." Which make so much sense! It's the tattoo artist's work, they don't want t create something that will be regretted, and where possible they will try to mitigate that possibility. I was doing a stick and poke on myself (I am not a tattoo artist) and my friend wanted me to give her her first ever tattoo on her hand. I refused, and she ended up doing it on herself. And she loves it, and still has it 15 years later! I think that is a fantastic outcome, and I would have been so sad if I had done the tattoo and she hated it. My opposition was not to her having the tattoo, but to me being the one who did it.

[@BeeJae78]

I took my daughter for her first tattoo a couple of months ago. She asked for it 2 years ago and I told her if she still wanted it at 18 I would get it for her as a birthday present. She wanted a snake that wrapped around her ankle. She spent minths finding the exact style she wanted and it ended off being a combination of two different styles and her decision stayed firm for over 18 months. People almost scared her out of it because they were stressing her out about placement. Everyone was telling her get something small first and see if you can handle it. The ankle shin and foot are too painful for a first tattoo. Even as she was getting it done other artists were coming to check out the work and pulling this face 😯😱when they realised it was her first tattoo. She ended off getting it a month before formal so it would be healed in time and we even got a dress that would showcase her tattoo. I get why they were concerned (her artist had a few ppl her age pass out a few weeks earlier with first tattoos) but at the end of the day it’s HER body. This was HER dream tattoo that is going to be a part of her forever. She doesn’t even know if she’ll ever want another tattoo, she just really wanted this one and is totally in love with it now. The point I’m trying to make is I know some artists think they’re giving good advice but it’s not always feasible to get a tattoo somewhere else first. A tattoo is supposed to be forever so if you want a specific tattoo in a specific place it’s your body and your tattoo. YOU have to live with it no one else. Everyone is impressed by my daughters tattoo it’s a really beautiful decent sized piece and she’s so quiet and shy no one expects her to have it. I’m glad she had to wait but I’m even more glad that she didn’t listen to strangers who don’t know her trying to deter her from the body art she wanted.

[@abby4643]

you seem like a great parent. my mom took a similar approach and waited until I was 18 so that I had to be the one to sign off for it because she didn’t want to be responsible for anything I would regret. I’m so grateful that she paid for it and my parents just understand now that I love being tatted; I feel like myself the more tattoos I get and they’re finally coming around to that. Your parents just want the best for you, truly.

[@LookAtMeLinda]

I only have hand tattoos and honestly, I appreciate the artists’ caution- it demonstrates care and professionalism IMO. It takes a lot of skill to do, so I accept that not every artist will agree to do it and that it’s gonna be a minimum of $150 to get ANYTHING done on my hands

[@skrittle555]

what do you do for work if you don't mind me asking?

[@LookAtMeLinda]

Fair question. I’m a writer and producer so v much not a corporate bb. Also I should say only 1 of the 3 is on the top of my finger - other two are inner - and all three could be covered w rings if necessary

[@MarriedUnlikeYou]

I paid $80 for my hand tats

[@MarriedUnlikeYou]

@@skrittle555I’m a housewife since 18 and I got hand tats they cover a big chunk of my hands I know you didn’t ask me but I responded as well in case you want to know what other kinds of jobs folk got with hand tats

[@tcaprecap1448]

The skin on your hands is different than any other area of the body, more difficult to tattoo, and also sees the most use, which can complicate the healing process. It takes a decent tattoo artist to tattoo hands well, and if they're a decent artist then they're going to be professional as well, which means they won't tattoo your hands/neck/face recklessly.

[@sailor15galaxy10]

I think tattoo artist are being ethical and responsible with their apprehension. Tattoos in such visible places would lead to people being judged and discriminated against in a way that someone who isn’t heavily tattooed already would be ready for. Of course Gen Z is right to want what we want, but also I think the wisdom of older generations shouldn’t least be considered. A lot of it is just them looking out for us younger people and trying to keep us from making decisions that could mess up our lives. Imagine if tattoo artists also felt the same about couple or name tattoos. I feel like people would be just as mad at artists for “gatekeeping” their craft. Tattoo regret is a real thing and I think it’s hard for younger people to sometimes understand that decision can last longer than you like them

[@yxngmargielaa46]

Tattoo won’t ruin your life what a crazy statement. If your still breathing and healthy your life isn’t ruined. And obviously someone with a office job isn’t going to get a visible tattoo. Most artists will ask for proof of trade if you want hands or neck.

[@itsdangeroustogoalone-takeme]

What makes the most sense to me, that I’ve heard from artists, is making sure clients can take care of a new tattoo. Having essentially open wounds on such a mobile area like hands and neck, they want to make sure someone knows how to care for it. If you have other tattoos that look well healed, they’re more comfortable with areas that are harder to heal. I don’t care one way or another, I had a hand tattoo as one of my first over a decade ago, just putting this out there.

[@jamielamer2696]

I know someone who got a hand tattoo as their first. They ignored all the tattooer’s aftercare instructions & went to the beach the day after. It healed terribly, obviously 😅 Now it’s a huge black blob on their finger.

[@abby4643]

i am currently trying to heal a hand tattoo. not easy to avoid moving it entirely, but I guess you just gotta do the best you can and keep it moisturized 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@mophead7759]

lmaoo my first tattoo was a giant foot piece (yeah i really said go bold or go home) and it was done PHENOMENALLY!! i truly love it (it’s probably my favorite tattoo i have) that being said i’m so happy i started in super low visibility areas bc it gives me room to grow the tattoo style i want

[@jessiewhite7783]

Timeout. The irony here is that this goes both ways? The people crying that someone won’t tattoo their hands also have to respect the artist beliefs and principles and the fact that an artist has the literal right to refuse any customer for any reason. Respect goes both ways people. Find a different artist and stop complaining on social media for attention.

[@sylverscale]

It's more that some of these artists say "you don't deserve/must first earn your placement" and not "I won't do it because I don't want you to hate it/have a negative influence on your life" (as examples). Sure, any artist can deny tattooing you. And they should if they don't feel comfortable for some reason.

[@steveb1155]

@@sylverscale I don't think those are two different arguments in any way other than how they're worded, personally.

[@CrawlingPanther]

@@sylverscale and some of these clients are very entitled and go online and leave poor reviews, do TikTok videos, etc. Again, it goes both ways.

[@jeannettemarie7676]

That's what dude said in his interview towards the end if you didn't time out & kept watching

[@j_me]

@@steveb1155 nah there's a difference between saying "you don't deserve it bc tradition etc" and a genuine concern for someones' livelihood potentially being affected

[@jameswarden5312]

One of my first tattoos I got at 18 was a finger tattoo. The artist explained that it would fade more easily but no one in the shop had a problem with the placement. I'm glad no one tried to talk me out of it- it's one of my favorite tattoos still. It was the only visible tattoo of mine for a while, and I love looking at it. I see both sides, and luckily it hasn't been a problem with jobs or anything. I'm glad society is changing

[@QuesoDipp]

A finger tattoo (I'm guessing on the side of the finger?) isn't quite the same as getting your entire hand blasted.

[@marcrics]

I mean in any job you can refuse service. If you arent comfortable tattooing someones hands and have a certain outlook thats totally fine. The whole "do what i pay you to do" from the same generation making countless "i regret my tats they dont match my aesthetic" tiktoks is ridiculous at its best. No ones saying you cant get hand tattoos, theyre just saying they dont want to do them. Wouldnt ask a traditional artist to do colour realism if they arent comfortable with it 🤷

[@nbucwa6621]

I'd go further and say the whole "just do your job" rhetoric from the same generation that is obssessed with "Karens" and "entitled customers" and mocking them is kind of ridiculous.

[@xelith6157]

​@@nbucwa6621 I know it's shocking but gen Z is not a monolith.

[@genesislove2318]

There is a huge liability for the artist no matter what when tattooing people in these more sensitive/harder to heal spots, especially when a lot of these people are young & not fully able to even conceptualize how long their lifespans are. The industry has became oversaturated with social media trends & the concept of tattoo permanency isn't taking reality with a lot of these people who are coming in and asking for these life-changing pieces. Even if you dont look at it like a job killer, I usually tell people not to get these spots first so they can work their way up to that pain since they're more intense to sit through & someone with no tattoos not being able to sit through a piece like that would impact the quality of work. Most people get tattoos with no understanding of their own bodies, how they heal, or what their threshold is. They're just trying to participate in character customization

[@blueboots141]

Not mentioned is - learning to heal tattoos. Turned out I'm allergic to certain colours. SO GLAD I found that out through a ROUGH heal in a non-obvious spot instead of where everyone can see it! Imagine having a botched heal on your hand/neck/face... taking weeks longer to heal and looking shitty during & after. Learning HOW to heal is important too. It can take a few tattoos to learn what YOUR body needs to heal a tattoo well. Mine needs a slightly different process, so my first couple tattoos turned out bad. Since learning the changes my body needs, my tattoos heal perfectly and we've touched up the first ones with the new process. I can't imagine how awful that discovery process would have been on the hands/face!!!

[@blueboots141]

Aha, "Miserable", that's the word for what that would be like.

[@kellylyons1038]

Good point. Tattooing is not the same as drawing or painting a design on the body. It is a painful deposition of ink into your skin. Not everyone can tolerate it, or heal properly, or handle the psychological impact of your skin suddenly looking very different. Why test this out on your hand/face/neck??

[@nataliepaad1869]

Exactly this!!!! Healing a tattoo is a learning process. Why would one want to learn and risk making mistakes with a really visible placement?!

[@IAmPlaysWithSquirrel]

Excellent point, I hadn’t considered that.

[@shelbyflach]

My boss found out she was allergic to one of her tattoo's pigments, and has had some very serious health complications relating to it, including multiple cyst removals throughout the years. She can't remove the tattoo because then the pigment particles would disperse throughout her whole body versus just a localized area. It's so awful, and I'm sure it's such a relief that this can be a relatively personal trouble for her, instead of a serious medical screw up on her hand or worse, face.

[@SimmSumm]

This is why I rely on those temporary tattoo companies. I can ipload somethimg I’m thinking about and have it on me for like a week. I thought I wanted something, put it on me and decided I didn’t like it. It really helps to make a decision on where or what you want.

[@kateabez]

The silly part about especially these Inked videos going so viral is those artists don’t do ANYTHING they don’t want to do. You want a full color tattoo? No. You want something in their exact style that isn’t a subject matter they want to do? No. Like, chill guys. There are plenty of artists who will do your dainty finger tattoos. It’s not that serious.

[@felix-ve8jk]

To people who tattoo for a living it absolutely is that serious. Its not serious to people like you and that's the problem.

[@kateabez]

@@felix-ve8jk you must be fun at parties. Lol

[@anna.owo.]

You can't force anyone to create art they don't want to but to not want to tattoo someone because they are mot cool enough is stupid.

[@sylverscale]

No, it's because they come across as condescending. That's the problem.

[@cr33p3rhd6]

I think its more about appearing on a show like that than the beliefs they hold. Its totally fine to not want to do a certain type of tattoo, but appearing on a show like that is kinda like speaking for tattoo-artists as a whole, by plattforming that way you make it seem like more than just one artists preferences in tattooing

[@Wyztereo]

I had no idea. My second tattoo was on my hand, and the artist was so excited to do it. He said if I was ever interested in getting one on my head (I have a side shave) to reach out to him. Looking back now, I appreciate how lucky I was to have an artist enthusiastic about tattooing on visible spots. It was a flash tattoo, too. And luckily, it’s one of favorites.

[@The3Kings]

I can definitely understand an artist not wanting to having someone’s future weighing on their conscience. Sometimes it’s a generation’s responsibility to protect the next one from themselves

[@maia2828]

ok boomer

[@The3Kings]

@@maia2828 grow up kid

[@tattoodude8946]

@@maia2828 Yeah.... that is a perfect display of immaturity that we are talking about...

[@maia2828]

@@tattoodude8946 old tattoo artists are preventing younger ppl from regretting tattoos.. by coercing them into first getting tattoos they DON’T want?? for example, i cannot wear jewelry on my hands. i’ve thought of getting subtle decorative hand tattoos for this reason. no way in hell am gonna be pressured into tattooing somewhere else first. i literally do not want and have never wanted any other tattoos. so yeah i absolutely despise ‘tattoo culture’ and consider it both outdated and borderline coercive. thankfully the gen z tattoo artists are mostly normal and not like this. edit: also afaik im older than the woman running this channel.

[@yxngmargielaa46]

Well most people who go for hands and neck have a skilled trade and don’t have to rely on a boss. Obviously no office worker or uni student will go in and do their hands.

[@kaylaarmitage525]

I feel like people are so used to getting whatever they want, where they want, when they want. And they want it NOW. All because they’re paying money. People who say “I’m paying you so do what I want” is the most Karen/the customer is always right energy ever. Part of our jobs as artists is to have integrity and care about people and take care of them when they are vulnerable - which means we won’t be taking advantage of their ignorance or lack of care about their future self. Not all tattooers are willing to compromise their personal morals or integrity for a fad. Because that’s what it is: a fad - a trend - and it will fade away over time just like every other trend and be replaced by something else. But that’s just my hot take on it.

[@cassidybrewer]

I was tattooed moderately for about 7 years before I went to my hands and fingers, with one of those previous pieces being a full sleeve to my wrist. I was always told growing up to wait until you were in a field you KNEW wouldn’t care, and I’m a hairdresser, so I just waited until I was established at a great salon before I did the highly visible stuff. Now over a decade later, I’m happy with my decision, but I can definitely see both sides. I think a big thing to point out is that just because a client wants something, that doesn’t mean I’m obligated to do it. Same thing for tattoo artists. They’re allowed to turn people down if they want to, and that client will just go elsewhere.

[@sydney6548]

i did this in teaching too lol. waited until i had multiple years under my belt and tenure before getting more visible ones. workplace discrimination still exists and there IS still stigma, regardless of whether or not people want to believe it

[@FleepacShakur]

I could watch and listen to Celle ALL day and be happy. ❤❤

[@perfectionafied2667]

I have multiple large tattoos, but none that can't be hidden without a long sleeve shirt. No hands, neck, or face. I know it's a personal decision but I can see the side of the artists on this one.

[@finding_fae]

I am fairly heavily tattooed and work in a bank - this is becoming more common now, but I started getting tattooed while the artist opinion was quite heavily skewed towards "no face, no hands, no neck without other tattoos" - I was turned away from job interviews as soon as they saw me as a younger adult, the artists weren't wrong about the risk to work opportunities, and I didn't even have "job stoppers". I think it's interesting to see the difference in attitudes as time goes on, I'm curious to see how that shift in opinion continues.

[@sallycinnamon5370]

I think the problem isn’t just getting that first job anymore. A LOT of companies will hire a tattooed person into an entry level position nowadays. But the people that used to do that sort of hiring and wouldn’t even consider you? A lot of them have moved up in the companies and now it causes a glass ceiling for some people….which is even harder to spot than the discrimination that you faced…and you don’t even realize that it is going to affect you until 5-10 years into your career. It just a fact of life that the people hiring and promoting you are usually from a generation above. Being edgy usually doesn’t work for them. LOL. Gen Z’s will be able to have face a neck tattoos because Gen Z corporate will have Gen Z attitudes.

[@tanpopo1989]

I know a girl who is self-employed and works in a tattoo friendly industry and yet she has actual "the job-killer tattoos". A big part of her job is about showing off her body in attractive and elegant way. She wanted to "spice up" her appearance a little bit with 'tasteful feminine' tattoos and now she has two big, bold, badly done and overall ugly AF tattoos on both of her arms. They are like powerful headlights in the total dark - now it's the only thing you can see when you look at her. In the last couple of years I've heard quite a few similar stories about people having "job stoppers" tattoos in tattoo friendly workplaces/industries. It's extremely ugly/badly done tattoos and tattoos with inappropriate images/meanings.

[@noctoi]

Things have changed a LOT with the rise of online interviews, discrimination laws and working from home.

[@mmmfun77]

I’m so confused. I literally thought you could go and get ANY tattoo wherever you wanted. What happened my body my choice ? This vid was VERY interesting. Thank you❤

[@_aimeexo_596]

I see both sides of the argument personally. I hate the whole “you have to earn your tattoos” that some artists seem to think I don’t understand it. However I get artists being hesitant to tattoo these areas of the body on someone who doesn’t have a lot of other visible tattoos especially if it is someone’s first time and I think it is 100% reasonable to refuse service if you don’t feel comfortable. I am currently working on an arm sleeve and would love to extend my wrist tattoo up to the side of my hand but my artist won’t do hand tattoos unless you are covered in tattoos (like both arms, legs, torso, etc) which I know I won’t be. Am I disappointed, yes but once I’ve finished my sleeve if that is something I still really want to do I can go to another artist. As much as I understand disagreeing with an artist I also don’t agree with getting aggressive at artists simply because you are paying, that’s not fair either. Especially for something as simple as they don’t do hand tattoos for first tattoos because of a lot of other artists do.

[@malibusky8701]

The level of effort that went into this video is top tier.

[@Ninjakill1000]

I think we’re just at this crossing point where some “job stoppers” are getting acceptable. But I do share about the same sentiment as celle. Openly visible tattoos are a bit of a jump for people aren’t ready or who they think are ready. When I got my hands done with BIG pieces it was jarring for 6 months. It’s definitely something to give a lot of thought to since you’re gonna see it everyday.

[@dierkrieger]

I have a sleeve and am getting the other arm done. I also have tattoos on my chest and back and when I mentioned a hand tattoo on both hands my artist was happy.

[@biodorkus]

I think it's responsible for an artist to make sure the client understands the possible consequences of what they're asking for, but I also totally get how that can sound patronizing and judgemental even when it's well-intentioned. Definitely would make a difference to me if they're getting cute little ornamentals that aren't going to last long vs a huge piece that covers the back of their hand. But I like your point about how if an artist doesn't want to give you that tattoo, the solution isn't "shut up and take my money"; it's finding another artist who fits your vibe. ✌️

[@blackqweenmars]

Fr like just because it’s your job to do something doesn’t mean that you should just go with the customer is always right attitude. Like for example if you’re a person who fixes peoples roofs, and the customer wants you to fix their roof with something that would mess it up, you shouldn’t just go ahead with anything whether it’s legal or not whether it’s policy or not etc just because a customer asks for it like customers aren’t always right and sometimes just gonna have to tell your customer. No, we can’t do that. Like you can get in trouble if you miss a customer of even if they asked for it

[@NotPMHarper]

Honestly, I really respect professionals who push back for the sake of the client. People like tattoo artists, hairstylists, graphic designers, tailors, and wedding planners; all of these people could make a quick buck/easier money by just agreeing to whatever whacky thing you want. But the good ones have the experience to know what is best plus the decency to tell you when what you think you want is bad and I think you'd be silly not to at least take their advice into consideration.

[@AllieOnline]

I personally think anyone’s first tattoo should be in a location that’s not on show 24/7 because even as a moderately tattooed person I get overwhelmed when all of a sudden I have a new tattoo that I need to get used to and I can only imagine if I got a tattoo on my hand as my first tattoo how I would feel shocked by it at first. I also think it’s worth mentioning that once you get tattoos you likely want more and you begin looking at your “blank” skin as space you just want to fill and I don’t think I’d be able to handle having a super blank arm and then just a floating tattoo down on my hand. It would be like a glove and just look awkward. Same goes for a neck or throat tattoo without other tattoos on your arms/chest. Although I could see getting a very minimalistic design on your throat/neck as one of your first tattoos and having it look more okay than a hand tattoo but I still wouldn’t do it for a first tattoo.

[@mikekares-b8q]

Getting any tattoo requires some thought, Thanks for the insight Celle

[@ArtByJUSTSAM]

As a Gen Xer I understand. I started my tattoo journey in the mid 90’s and had multiple jobs force me to cover up my ink. I LOVE how fearless the younger generations are and totally support personal autonomy. Do what makes you happy. Life is way too short to do otherwise. Plus, cover up make up is a thing.

[@Czermet666]

Yeah I had a genX friend who got into tattooing himself but he wasn't very good at drawing, he tattooed a bunch of easy new-school shit all over his hands and he looked kinda stupid. If you're gonna get it done, at least put some money down to get it done well.

[@ArtByJUSTSAM]

@@Czermet666 that, I completely agree with.

[@blackqweenmars]

Do what makes you happy but also be responsible and keep in mind that just because something makes you happy doesn’t mean that it’s a good decision. Making a choice that makes you happy right now might end up with you being upset in the future or getting in trouble.

[@ArtByJUSTSAM]

@@blackqweenmars you always run the risk of not liking something in the future. That just kind of goes with being a person. You inevitably change as you grow up. I don’t regret any work I had done as a teenager but I also didn’t get anything offensive or problematic. I still stand by my statement, though. It’s your body and your mistakes to make. Plus, we live in the age of tattoo removal. Nothing is really permanent anymore.

[@blackqweenmars]

@@ArtByJUSTSAM agreed but stay home anytime you make a serious decision you got a think I’m not gonna be happy with this in the long term and not just is this going to make me happy right now. There’s a difference between doing things to make yourself happy and just being impulsive or being a nuisance.

[@gabrielle9412]

I’m gonna get my first tattoo soon and I’ve LOVED watching your videos and hearing everyone’s perspective.

[@emmettvictor]

An aspect of this that I haven’t seen talked about as much is pain. Like I would imagine it would be challenging for the tattoo artist if you’ve never sat for a tattoo before and are now asking for one of the more painful spots. Not to much that lack of experience would also likely lead to a more poorly healed tat. Ultimately I don’t care how someone goes about getting tattooed or the choices that artists make with their art, but I think what I mentioned is relevant

[@vectorwolf]

I've got lots of ink by now and I've still run into the 'dear god what possessed me to get a tattoo THERE' thing during the process. I have no regrets now that it's all over but man, regrets were had in that chair for sure. I can absolutely imagine someone starting to get a hand piece and noping out in the middle....

[@RealRealms0ne]

Too many people end up regretting their first tattoos, specially does done out if impulse. So I can see why an artist might say no to a face, neck or hand tattoo as your first tattoo. If someone has a half sleeve and goes in for a full sleeve, a tattoo artist isn't going to question you because he sees you've already committed.

[@tofuwiener]

i really like how you share various points of view and you don't shame any of them for being "wrong" or "stupid," and even when you do disagree you see where people might be coming from. much respect

[@livelonglaa]

I loveee tattoos and there’s no better feeling than having a shared vision and mutual respect with an artist… 🙏🏾

[@Tjnovakart]

I can understand why people in more urban/modern areas would be confused by tattoo artists having this policy, but as someone who lives in rural Pennsylvania, there are still a LOT of customer facing jobs where you can’t have visible tattoos here, unless they’re super small. Almost no one where I live has a large number of tattoos, so it’s still seen as strange or “trashy” by many.

[@kirklandramsay3935]

The rural environments are weird. Some rural areas you see people with hand and neck tattoos all the time. In others you can’t see any visible tattoos at all

[@RichardMarkleWOW]

I have hand tattoos, but I think its just a recognition that people go through phases. Responsible tattooers don’t want to help you ruin your life if you’re just infatuated or going through something. If you want a giant FTW on your forehead, someone will do it. But i dont think most respectable artists would. Unless you’ve been living with your tattoos for years, you have no idea how it’s going to affect your life. Like, many people don’t appreciate how often you look at your hands, how a throat tattoo can change the shape of your face, or face tattoos will instantly have people judging. If you don’t love them, you will be constantly reminded how unhappy you are with them

[@blackqweenmars]

Fr or swastikas like ask most tattooist to give you a swastika, and they would say no a tattoo artist tattooed a swastika on someone and people find out that they’re the one who did that tattoo there’s probably gonna be people coming for that artist

[@RichardMarkleWOW]

I don’t know any artist that would do hate symbols. That’s kitchen magician shit

[@tsuchan]

Depends whether they're "hate" dashboard swastikas doesn't it.

[@cephalopodluvr]

your videos are always so thorough and thought provoking! you're my fav tattoo youtuber

[@lunaloveless7234]

I work for a major insurance company in Canada and they proudly and happily hire people with face tattoos. I agree I don't understand why they'd want to keep it stigmatized. A lot of societies are moving towards not caring.

[@RachelDaSilva]

May I ask which insurance company?? That’s great!

[@j_me]

Do you live near/in a major city though? I think one really important thing we need to keep in mind is that social media/big cities don't reflect most places in North America, even if we feel like it does. And for me personally, I don't want to limit the amount of places that I could work at in this economy

[@hairypeak4282]

canada is living years ahead in the future. such an educated country

[@sallycinnamon5370]

Oh you will probably lay get entry level jobs…but wait until you try to advance in the company. You vs some fresh-faced person? The boomer on the hiring board is picking the other person every time. It’s not that you are unemployable.

[@katesperinck1401]

@@sallycinnamon5370 this 100%

[@mjgsuperincredible382]

That's a polite and smart, respectable artist!

[@rebecculousrk]

I’m 53 now. My first tattoo was a homemade one on an upper arm, in 1983. I couldn’t afford a ‘real’ tattoo until I was 30. I have one sleeve, a full chest, one leg, plus a bunch on forearm, back and shoulder…I personally love how acceptable tattoos are now because I, and all my friends, got a LOT of societal repercussions for having them at all. At the same time, that was the whole reason we wanted them! I understand the feelings of the old school folks because I have some similar reactions to things that once felt exclusively part of one group, becoming very mainstream. Times change. In general I think acceptance is a good thing…even if it does mean accepting inexperienced young people into “our” spaces. As to Gen feeling Doomed. I have to agree. I grew up during the Cold War, we thought nuclear holocaust was likely; environmental crisis loomed large, that must be 100 times worse for kids today, with acidifying oceans and melting ice caps. Tattoo placement doesn’t seem very important in the face of planetary die-offs.

[@jamielamer2696]

When it comes to Anthony, I think it is really important to consider that he is a Black man & tattooer who has talked about the discrimination he experienced in the industry. He is coming from a lens of experience colored by racism &, from his perspective, a person who can get highly visible tattoos probably comes from a realm of extreme privilege. I live in a country where visible tattoos DO seriously hinder your job options & alter how you are treated. It’s associated with criminals & poverty, although opinions are changing. I immigrated to care for a family member &, if I had really visible tattoos, it would change my life considerably here. You never know where life is gonna take you so practicing caution isn’t always overrated. I still do plan to get hand & palm tattoos later in life. I look forward to it, but I am looking forward to all the experience & tattoos between now & then, too!

[@LilttleTeaCup]

I find it comforting to know there is a video from you every Sunday. Your videos are so calming and relaxing to watch.

[@taylorslemp7949]

her voice is so sweet! i love listening to her talk lol

[@capt25252525]

I got my first tattoo as soon as I turned 18, about 25 years ago. I got a tribal dragon on my leg. I did regret it a fews years after getting it because as you age your taste changes. My current artist touched it up recently after finishing another tattoo on my leg. I'm glad I never had it covered up because it's a part of my history.

[@sallycinnamon5370]

Almost everyone’s attitudes change from the time they got their first tattoos. Even my heavily tattooed friends…a lot of them don’t love their first tattoo.

[@pissapocalypse]

I love my fist tattoo but I wish it was in a different place on my body lol

[@vonrein4812]

LOVE your hair. I would watch a hair tutorial video and do the same. Even the color lol

[@mork5218]

I feel like the size (or maybe more to the point visual boldness) of tattoos in these spots contributes a lot to their impact. A lot of the girls in this video got small or dainty hand tattoos that wouldn't be any more eye-catching than wearing jewelry (I know a handful of people with similar ones IRL). I can't imagine any real stigma for things like that, but big and bold hand tats can still be fairly jarring these days. That all having been said do what you want; life's too short to be worrying about these things!

[@dees3179]

It does depend on your industry though. I work in an industry where it doesn’t matter. People have all kinds of interesting body mod’s from all over the world and everyone just either ignores it or asks interested questions as long as you can still fit your PPE over the top. But other jobs I’ve worked it would have been considered inappropriate. Things are getting better but some sectors are slower to change. Maybe wait till you are running the company for the face tattoo! 😎

[@annabowden3087]

I understand both sides of this argument. As a client based industry you need to meet your clients needs. but in the other hand I’ve also seen people start with figure tattoo placements or throat and sorely underestimated the pain and left before finishing the piece. There is a lot of factors that are involved with that kind of decision. Honestly i don’t think less of artist making some sort of boundaries with hand and finger tattoos. Someone will be able to do it that artist just isn’t right for your vision.

[@scottthomas4779]

My tattoo artist is pretty old school. We have become great friends over the last 20 years and when I came to him to do my hand he had to think about it before agreeing to. Seeing as how I already had a sleeve and many other tattoos and he knew that what I wanted meant a lot to me he knew that I wasnt making a rash decision. I actually appreciated him taking my future into consideration and just sort of checking with me to make sure that I truly did want it. I think younger people shoukd always at least listen when an older person is giving advice.

[@KoumoriKoumori]

It always depend on the country of course. I live in Japan, my hands are heavily tattooed. My work allow me to wear and do whatever I want with my body, but I would probably not be hired for any other job just because of that. So I understand both side. It's important to understand the consequence.

[@sparkybish]

As an older person who doesn’t have tattoos, I have never really thought much about hand tattoos. They don’t seem wild to me. I do notice face and front of neck tattoos more, because it seems like a wild commitment to art on the body. I don’t know why see hands and the face so differently. I’ve thought about getting a tattoo for 29 years and I still can’t commit to any one idea enough to put it on my body, so kudos to the less indecisive out there!

[@waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa9739]

Yeah same, for some reason I view hand tattoos as being among the most 'basic" placements. Especially the more feminine flowery/mandala designs. People with the most common jobs get these as henna tattoos all the time and don't get judged for it, I don't get why society is so opposed to them being just actual tattoos instead.

[@sighthoundlady15]

My brother was a tattoo artist, absolutely would not do hand, neck or face tattoos. He wasn’t overly concerned with “customer service” and told young people wanting those tattoos that they were idiots, lol. But yeah, if this was your standard and you wanted to communicate to someone the potential pit falls of such a tattoo, it’d probably be good to do better explaining how it’s a radical change to your body that may effect you emotionally and mentally in ways you might have a really hard time predicting ahead of time since you’ve not had the tattoo experience before. I am very happy and relieved to hear that most tattoo artists still uphold these standards.

[@linzxgalaxy]

I’m very heavily tattooed & I see this from both sides. It is the artist’s right to refuse to tattoo something they aren’t comfortable with. I personally am glad that I waited to get my hands & neck done simply bc my style now is SO different from what it was back then. I have tattoos from when I was 18/19 that I don’t love, not bc they’re bad but just bc they don’t reflect my personal aesthetic now. I’m so glad I waited till my late 20’s to get my hands & neck done bc at least my most visible tattoos are ones I truly love that reflect the person i grew into. But also now tattoos are way more normalized & there are way more jobs that are ok with tattoos (at least where I live.) so I also think it’s ok if an artist tattoos hands or neck tattoos on someone who is 18+ & of sound mind. After all, adults can consent to doing whatever they want with their body - & I think in 2023 (where I live in the US at least), the ethical issue of giving “job stoppers” to ppl w little or no tattoos just doesn’t hold as much weight anymore. I think in the past the ethical argument against this did make a lot more sense. Now I just don’t see these tattoos as having the ability to impact jobs or life as much as they did years back. So yeah, I def see this from both sides (& respect an artist’s right to refuse service for this reason), but I do lean towards the idea that this thinking is a bit outdated.

[@blackqweenmars]

So if you’re a doctor and your patient asks you to cut off their arm but it’s perfectly healthy or they ask you to give them a drug that they don’t need, does that mean that you should do it for them just because they asked for it and they’re an adult? No. Some requests are illegal or ridiculous to fulfill.

[@gd.523]

I have no tattoos and I have no plans whatsoever on getting any. However, I love hearing your soothing voice.

[@yusalcido2600]

I’m young, and I agree with the tattoo artists that want people to think twice before getting a hand or face tattoo. The hard part of dealing with this is not what society "thinks" or that you can get rejected from a job, the hard part is dealing with legal or medical issues. Doctors WILL dismiss you, and don't take your opinion seriously, government officials WILL dismiss you and threat you badly if they don't like you. And before you start mentioning suing them for "discrimination" please have in mind that this is not possible or a thing in some countries AT ALL. Your health and legal issues sometimes will depend on officials, secretaries and doctors that will judge you on how you look and might deny services if they want to.

[@autieglow]

I work in a gov office where the vast majority of people who work around me have tattoos. Never been an issue.

[@snusmumricken]

i got my first tattoo on my 16th birthday. And while I still love it 8 years later, I NEVER reccomend getting tattoos so young

[@morgann5993]

As a person with no tattoos, I genuinely believe something small on my hand would be more comfortable as I’ve always always drawn and painted on my hand and I just love having art in those areas. As for being a “job stopper” If they are turned off by a tattoo, it’s probably not the place for me anyway and the tattoo would be a nice filter. Also makeup to cover tattoos for a job exist and I think that’s purposely overlooked by these tattoo artists

[@darkplasmo7921]

As someone that has worked in the business world and professional settings, if you want to work high level, DON'T GET VISIBLE TATTOOS in regular jobs it might be a problem, but in serious industry it 100% is. if you have long hair as a guy it might be a problem depending on the situation once, a financial company I have relations with told a woman she should get rid of a heart tattoo she got on her hand they had Asian clients, and they have a very different perspective on tattoos, I would have done the same small things can have an impact on if you get a client or not, so you cover all your bases you well NEVER work at a bank with hand or face tattoos if you aren't an influencer or celebrity it is still not accepted, do not be deceived by the false perception of acceptance

[@aduckofsomesort]

@@darkplasmo7921 and I think you missed their point completely. They straight up said that they probably would not want to work in a place that would have a problem with such tattoos. And that’s it. A lot of people do not want to work in settings where they can’t even have any kind of expression, like you said such as a man having long hair. Fuck that shit honestly.

[@liber7773]

@@darkplasmo7921I agree.

[@shanegormally7296]

Amazing how 8 months later there are so many many tattoo regret video are popping up

[@trinity9792]

I had a talk about this w my friend and she brought up the point that in the western world tattoos aren't "earned" but bought unless it's a part of a culture and group affiliation. I have to agree that my friend that "earning" a tattoo is a weird notion if it's not culturally significantly

[@katesperinck1401]

Tattoo culture is half the reason it's frowned upon by artists, that's the whole point Anthony was making. It's gen Z that have introduced the attitude that tattoos are purely transactional.

[@trinity9792]

@@katesperinck1401 I don't think I understand the first part of the argument

[@katesperinck1401]

@@trinity9792 your friend made the argument that in the western world tattoo's aren't earned unless it's part of a culture or group affiliation. Anthony in this video is saying the reason he doesn't tattoo hands, is because it's disrespecting the culture of tattooing. Saying there isn't group affiliation norms and traditions in the west around tattoos is incorrect.

[@trinity9792]

@@katesperinck1401 okay I completely understand the argument now

[@AlexandriaV]

My first tattoo was on my hands 22 years ago, it was a design my grandma used to draw on me as a kid. I got it a few months after I turned 18 & never had any issues with people because I 100% refused to apologize for it & if they started to press it I could say "Well my grandmother approves & she's the only person I live for"

[@jennifermarus4196]

I think if you look at some of your recent video topics such as “Tattoo regret”, and “Tattoos aren’t cool anymore??!” It is absolutely acceptable and good client relations to make sure that this is something that the person wants. Especially if they are young and/or it’s their first tattoo. Refusal is also perfectly acceptable for the very reasons Anthony stated. It’s not that there is judgment happening, many of these people have been discriminated against and yeah, culture is changing right now, but it could swing back the other way and you could potentially loose out on a lot of opportunities that you might not even be aware of that you want right now. Honestly, I find the demands of I pay you so give me what I want tantamount to a temper tantrum, and I feel that people in the service industry should be able to say no. I also believe that people are free to make their own choices with their bodies, but just be more understanding and have more respect for the trailblazers of the tattoo culture just because you can’t empathize with why they are the way they are.✌️

[@GiftSparks]

✌️I don’t have any tattoos. When I started to watch the video, I actually felt that folks should be able to get them wherever they wanted. But after hearing the rationales of the artists, I agree with their reluctance to have a hand tattoo be the first one. They are being ethical and no one can fault them for that.

[@Hnysndpi1]

IMO the biggest risk about getting your first tattoo on your neck, face or hand is that it can be extremely painful placements. If you can't sit through the session and it's in a highly visible area of your body, it's not going to look great. At least when you have other tattoos in an easy area like the arm or back, you can get an idea of what the pain is going to feel like.

[@iangarnerlerose]

I believe there are two ways to approach this. One, artists are refusing to do these “visible” tattoos as a first tattoo on someone because they believe they are looking out for the clients best interest. The artist knows first hand how this can still cause problems for the client down the road and because of the clients inexperience they really are unable to comprehend the full repercussions this could have on their life. Two, artists are refusing to do these tattoos because they don’t believe the client has earned the right to bear them yet. Previously tattoos had a significance as a right of passage. You would only expect to see see a hand, neck, face, etc tattoo on only very heavily tattooed individuals. With this in mind, I commend artists who refuse based on the first circumstance. However, I also believe in the clients complete right of autonomy when it comes to decisions about their own body. So while I appreciate the artist concern, I feel like Artists need only make sure clients are aware of the possible repercussions of this decision and ultimately the choice should be the clients. Artist who refuse based on the second circumstance are simply gate keeping. This is definitely an “old school” regressive approach. In this case I would simply suggest finding another artist who is not so close minded and wrapped up in their own ego.

[@Xiporah]

I'm surprised the KVD flash event did placements other than arms and legs! Like you said, every flash event I've been to or saw advertised always said arms and legs only.

[@choubleubh]

We did other places at my shop too. We just charged more ;)

[@MrStupidpuppy]

My first tattoo was a simple bracelet, I then got a "job stopper" in the form of a tribal Phoenix on the back of my hand, sitting on the bracelet, and a heart triquetra on the back of my forearm... I don't see the problem with it, I have plans to get more, but wanted to do a known more painful area first... Not only that but my wife is always telling me to be careful, and having that Phoenix on the back of my driving hand is a constant reminder... For context, I'm 43, and a CDL driver... My bracelet is 1 year old today...

[@k_pufflz]

I think the face/neck questioning is very smart for a tattoo artist to have with their client especially a young client coming in for a first tattoo. It’s a very big decision to make that people do need to sit and think over before jumping in the chair As for hand tattoos I think a couple questions is also smart. A nursing major in college may be around a bunch of people getting hand tats and not think about the fact that once they join that career path they’ll be washing their hands 10billion times a day which can harm the tattoo in the long run and may change their decision on the design they wanna go for And all in all you go to the professionals for advice and if you don’t like what they say then that’s fine you can do whatever tf you want. Not everyone has to agree with you, not everyone will agree with you, and not everything online is a personal attack against you. If you want a face tat as your first tattoo you are ripe for the picking of tattoo artists that will do it for you and odds are the ones interviewed on inked magazine weren’t gonna be your artist anyway

[@ashcraft555]

I can understand artists choosing not to do pieces in very visible areas for first tattoos, if for no other reason than making sure the clients know how their body reacts to it and has been able to go through the healing process. Kind of like patch testing with other products.

[@sutairs]

Everything gets gatekeeped these days 😂

[@celle_tattoo]

Trueee! Lol

[@TheLoserface45]

I’m like a PRIME Zillennial and I’ve always sided more with the artists. Not just that hand, neck and face tattoos are “job stoppers” but again, it’s a BIG decision. You gotta be SURE that you want a tattoo in such a visible spot so a light interrogation is fine. And having several other tattoos makes the tattooer feel more comfortable putting this permanent thing on a STRANGER’s body. ✌🏼

[@simply_a_shrub]

Dude the part about gen z's attitude towards life is so real for me. Growing up being told you probably won't make it to thirty is wild and not an experience I'd wish on anyone

[@simply_a_shrub]

Teachers mostly lol. There was a lot of focus on climate change, death, and numerous other ways humans have screwed up the world across all of my courses. I sincerely hope it was an isolated thing with my schools tho

[@blackqweenmars]

People be saying oh I can do whatever I want it’s my body until they do something that they regret or they get themselves into trouble and then now they’re wishing that someone had stopped them. It’s always the people who justify themselves by saying that they can do whatever they want to end up regretting stuff the most. Can doesn’t mean should. What makes you happy in the moment might make you upset or get you into trouble in the next moment, so always act responsibly, and use whatever freedom you have responsibly. Everything you do has consequences whether it’s from the law, natural consequences, from other people, or even from your own conscience.

[@lotusspice1474]

5:29 this exactly. I committed to getting my chest done at 18, I love it for what it is but I have a better idea being almost 30 vs my teenage self. Having tattoos in places that folks can hide with clothes helps I feel. Face, hands and throat should REALLY be thought out

[@ginafuller1654]

I feel very fortunate that my first tattoo artist took me seriously when I told them I wanted a neck tattoo. They had the talk with me and told me to put a fake tattoo on my neck for two weeks to see how it felt to have it and the attention it would bring. I did it and returned two weeks later very appreciative that they were very thoughtful and made sure that I was certain. It’s a small memorial tattoo for my mom and I have zero regrets. Almost 20 years later and I just got my second tattoo and am planning for my next one!

[@saira._.elizabeth]

I think being denied a tattoo like the ones mentioned is much less to do with waiting for you to prove how tough you are before they will do it and more to do with your age, tattoo experience (sitting times , cost 💲 and pain levels) and maturity. These particular tattoo placements are incredibly visible and in a lot of circumstances assumed to have negative connotation. The last thing a professional tattoo artist wants to do is give a tattoo that could negatively affect that client’s future by giving a tattoo to someone who at this stage in their life are clearly not ready to take all the baggage that can sometimes come with those particular placements.

[@katesperinck1401]

Agree with all your points but people are clients, not canvas's. It was creepy and weird when Ink Master did it and it still is

[@saira._.elizabeth]

@@katesperinck1401 Yeah as soon as I read it loud I felt yuck 🤮

[@saira._.elizabeth]

@@katesperinck1401 I’ve edited the comment, thank you for feedback 🙏☺️

[@PaulD-g5Y]

Plain and simple! It literally looks kind of dumb when hands, face, and neck are tattooed before any other visible tattoos!

[@ArinyaXoriGMVs]

I know someone who did this lol

[@Voidbitz64]

Person in their 20s here and I have a small hand tattoo, around 5cm wide. I love it to death but I could never imagine getting it as my first tattoo, especially if it was a bigger one aswell. It takes a lot of thought and consideration into those types. I don’t see myself personally getting another hand one for a good few years, there’s so much more to work with arms or more visible areas. The artists have a great point when warning clients! Great video as always ❤

[@nickymo]

been listening to your videos all day since you came up in my recommended at work this morning. Obsessed with your chest tattoo it suits you perfectly, it looks so cool. Not just saying that bc I've parasocially fallen in love with you fr

[@Outshined93]

i like the idea of a tattoo artist trying to prevent people(especially people under 25) from making a big mistake. i would respect and value their experience and opinion

[@tsuchan]

This magic age thing again. One person at 30 can be less mature and no less about what they want than another person at 13.

[@Outshined93]

@@tsuchan it’s not magic it’s science and it’s not about maturity it’s about brain function. your frontal lobe doesn’t fully develop until around age 25. judgement and impulse control are functions of the frontal lobe

[@tsuchan]

@@Outshined93 I say again, one person at 30 can be less mature and know less about what they want than another person at 13. Specifically in terms of tattoos, I had both my arms tattooed when I was 13 years old. I knew what I wanted, I defined and explained what I wanted, i contrived to get them, and in the subsequent 43 years I haven't regretted them for a single second. Meanwhile there are many 30 year olds who regret their tattoo before they leave the tattoo shop, or who are waiting for them to properly heal to start laser removal. You can talk about frontal cerebral cortices all day. What I have told you is fact. I would have been thoroughly pissed off to been deprived of my tattoos until I had reached some imaginary age where lots of people anyway still regret the tattoos they get.

[@Outshined93]

@@tsuchan what you’ve said is anecdotal. just your experience as one person. just like i could say there are people who were tattooed at 13 who did regret it and people who were 30 who didn’t. it doesn’t mean anything. your personal experience doesn’t change the fact that people under 25 don’t have fully developed brains and lack the same judgement and impulse control has people with fully developed frontal lobes. that’s why car insurance is so expensive for people under 25. they get in accidents at a much higher rate than people over 25 because of poor judgement and lack of impulse control, ie making bad decisions. i’m glad you don’t regret your tattoos but that doesn’t mean people under 25 shouldn’t take advice from seasoned tattoo artists. again age 25 is not magical. it’s when your brain fully develops

[@tsuchan]

@@Outshined93 I am not denying that there's a tendency for younger people to be more impulsive; but you over-simplify it on many levels, and over-simplify the appropriate interventions so much that it's just laughable. First of all the frontal cerebral cortex isn't the only biological factor involved: the limbic system also plays a role in emotional gratification. (And it develops much earlier.) Second, there's not some fixed biological timer that goes 'ping, cooked' on your 25th birthday: there's a huge span... 25 might be an average - you know about standard deviations? Third, biological factors are not the only ones at play, by far: personality traits play an arguably bigger role: an individual's temperament and emotional stability. And life experiences and learning: what they're taught and what responsibility or adversity they've faced in their lives. And social factors of who they mix with, as well as cultural attitudes. Also their health - mental and physical actually: whether they have ADHD or anxiety, whether they get enough sleep and nutrition all impact impulsivity. And I should say how they've trained their brain already in self-discipline, problem solving, planning, and so on are all related to self-control. Imagine what an army would look like if its soldiers couldn't exercise self-control, or had to wait until 18 to enter service!! And over and above all that, I am not willing to wait because your brain hasn't developed. Even if 90% of people were suicidal until 25 years old, I wouldn't accept being caged-up on suicide watch until I was 25... the 90% could all die as far as I'm concerned. So it's like "how dare you" try to limit me and others who can control themselves until the average (or beyond average) feeble person has mastered it. Give everyone a test, if you will... ah, they do, she said, "the talk". And then if half the people still make bad decisions, too sad too bad. You mentioned about young people and driving: like you said, they pay higher insurance premiums, they not prevented from driving until they're 25 years old (maybe for some hire cars only), but this is largely because of the damage they can do to other people and property. Stop trying to control people like you're some kind of god, because they can make bad decisions with or without your protection at any age. Or they can make good decisions if they're so inclined.

[@YochevedDesigns]

20 years ago I got a snake tattoo that wrapped around my wrist. I really wanted the head to come out over the back of my hand. My artist gently guided me to move the head back where it could be under a long sleeve shirt if needed. I was a rebel in those days, and wanted to be edgy. She was a friend though, and older and wiser than me. Over the years I've become more religious, and want to keep my tattoos private. I am so glad I listened to her! Wherever you are Andi, thank you. (Of course this was just my experience. You do you.)

[@jazmine9837]

As a gen z I hate the whole concept of “you won’t be able to find a job” around body mods in general. I’ve been getting face piercings since I was 15. In a year I’d gotten my nostril, vertical labret, septum, and philtrum. Then at 16 got a matching tattoo with my aunt on my forearm. The amount of times someone has told me that I’ll never find a job is unbelievable. But at the end of the day if a job doesn’t want to hire me purely because I’m a pierced/tattooed person I don’t want that job anyway.

[@kendallhills1370]

Literally, the dentist at the front desk has hand, tattoos and tattoos around her ears and on the side of her head so the idea you can’t get a job is just profoundly stupid and the younger generation they want them to work so if they want to hire young people then they’re going to have to accept the younger generation for having piercings and hand, tattoos and stuff. It’s a part of a new generation of people don’t get it then that sucks for them but it’s not gonna stop me from getting a job opportunity that’s retarded, and also most tattoos can get covered up with tattoo foundation. If it’s really serious or piercings can be swapped out for a clear piece of jewellery like it’s not a big deal.

[@birdielein9636]

Hey there- So I'm in my mid 40s, and I think what a lot of these artistists are missing is the - you might really want that hand or face tat at 20/22/25/27 but it's a pretty indelible statement of who you are...at that age. And how you feel at that age isn't wrong, but - not going to lie- you are going to change. Who you are in your 20s isn't who you are going to be at 40. Now, is there a thread of who you are that runs through? Yeah. I was a gothy girl in my 20s, and I'm still a gothy girl in my 40s, but it's not the same. It's evolved. (no, I didn't go from goth to soccer mom or anything like that!) I think if you don't know what you are getting into, getting face/hand tats puts you in a box for the balance of your life. I think a responsible artist wouldn't be responsible if they didn't point that out. Yes. It could limit you going forward from a job perspective, but it's more than that. I don't think it's gatekeeping to say, hey- build up that part of your identity first. You might not like it, especially if you haven't had a tat before. Also, what you pick might really date who you are moving forward. A buddy of mine who got a celtic armband when they were really hot in 1998 looks at it now and is like...well that's really 1998. Does she regret it? Not exactly, but it's not cool anymore and covering that is a pain in the ass when she doesn't want it seen. (It doesn't help that it wasn't done very well either!) So I get that I'm going to get the "you are old and don't understand" comments, but the thing is, I actually do. I grew up when/where having blue nail polish was a job killer, let alone a visible tat. And did I wear blue nail polish? Yup. But when it was important, I could take it off. You decide you don't like a tat on your face and you are going to be wearing a hell of a lot of foundation covering that up.

[@Cozmicform]

My first tattoo was a hand tattoo (not a very smart choice but I planned on getting neck to ankles tattooed anyway) but the tattoo artist knew it was my first tattoo and he decided to tattoo the knuckle instead of the middle of my finger (which I wanted) and he started free-handing there saying he knows best then went on fb immediately after calling me the R word and talking other crap. I wish I wasn’t so shy and ashamed, I would have reported him or something. I’ve gotten more but will never go with friend recommendations without doing my own research first. Edit: I agree with the tattoo artists that it’s not a good idea to get hand/neck tattoos first, but I believe people who have that opinion should at least have the decency to turn someone away and not ruin the customers first experience. I got it with the intention of getting many more tattoos and a reminder to myself after years of abuse that I am free to do what I want, instead I left feeling guilty and ashamed. It took me years to get another one because I was scared I was going to be treated like crap again, luckily, my next 6 experiences were absolutely wonderful and I’ve never met a horrible artist like that again.

[@nbucwa6621]

That sounds awful. I'm so sorry you went through that. What a Grade A asshole.

[@kolibri7712]

one of the dangers of people getting hand tattoos as their first tattoos is that people new to tattoos often don’t know about how to find a good tattoo artist, that it’s frowned upon to copy tattoos, fading, and so on. i know some people do lots of research and educate themselves on loads of stuff before getting tatted, i was one of those people. social media has made it a lot easier. but i have lotssss of friends who have dived into their first tattoo without this knowledge and i made sure to talk to them not to judge or discourage them but to make sure they don’t regret their decision after choosing such a visible location. i support hand neck and face tattoos 100% even if it’s your first tattoo because i support body mods that your heart is passionately drawn to. just gotta make sure people are more aware of all the stuff surrounding tattoos so they can be happy with their new piece 😌

[@nikshaunlewis4883]

✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾this one is interesting bc I feel like it can go just beyond generational issues but also racial and gender lines as well

[@KimberRose16]

That’s what I was thinking. My mother’s people have very few tattoos but some of the women have face and full hand and arm tattoos that mean a lot. I feel like some artists don’t take that into account when forming such a set opinion

[@bellamcfaul8259]

My hand tattoos are my most loved and most complimented tattoos! I got them done at 18- I’m 21 now and I do regret a couple of my other tattoo, but i don’t regret my finger tats at all. That being said, don’t do what I did. Really think and wait before you get your hands done, I probably would’ve gotten a slightly different design if I could do it over again. I also got an infection on one of my fingers and it lead to a swollen and inflamed lymph node in my armpit. It was painful and inconvenient and my stomach got screwed up from antibiotics. Live your life and do whatever makes you the happiest and most authentic version of yourself- but be careful and try to have a long term perspective❤

[@rivkathegreat]

If someone won't hire me because I have tattoos, why would I wanna work at such a superficial place? They only care about how they portray, rather than what they could actually do if they did hire us. Having tattoos does not make you less-than, its doesn't make you less skilled, it doesn't make you stupid or impulsive or unreliable. It makes you a person who happens to have a tattoo. Companies need to start realising this. And yes, Gen Z is fcked. We gotta do everything from scratch, on our own, with zero help from past generations. So fck it, get tatted. Yolo, remember✌

[@Thehonestruth]

It’s not bitterness it’s being a responsible older person. ! You just had a video about tattoo regret. Young people regretting tattoos later in age.

[@Thehonestruth]

What a load of crap

[@yaritzagomez8376]

You explained this so perfectly, I have been wanting a hand tattoo for the longest time and whenever I had brought it up to older family members they immediately said it was a bad idea, but people my age didn’t see it as a problem. I loved the way you explained all this 🫶🏼

[@emblarovardotter]

Honestly tho a tattooartist is an artist, and they are not obligated to do any tattoo they don't want to. Like its their choice if they wanna make a tattoo or not, I don't agree with this entitled attitude of some people. "Shut up and take your money" is a fun meme but that's not how reality work, you don't deserve someone's work/art just cause you have money. That being said, I have quite a few small tattoos and one bigger piece, I don't look very tattooed (yet) and I still forget about my hand tattoo all the time. It was not earthshattering, I don't think about it every day and it's never come up in a job interview etc. My first small tattoo that's easy to hide was a bigger deal for me than the hand tattoo has ever been. Basically: everyone if free to do whatever they want, that includes both tattoo artist who don't wanna tattoo hands and ppl who want their hands tattooed. Live and let live.

[@tsuchan]

Like the fireman isn't obligated to put out the fire in your house if it doesn't please him. Our the trash collector isn't obliged to take your trash. Artists aren't gods.