By: Trinidad Guardian

Sunday October 17,

There was a time when tattooed women were either seen as lacking both class and morals, or were literally sideshow freaks, baring ornately decorated skin in tents for a few coins.These days, even those who don’t sport ink agree there are few things cooler than a woman with a hot tat. WomanWise caught up with Jason Ramlal, owner of Trini Ink in Trincity Mall, to get the skinny on Trini women and tattoos.

The young and reckless

Women are getting tattooed now more than ever, but their reasons vary pretty much along age lines. According to Ramlal, women under 25 are in it for fashion. They select the design and the location based on current trends. Low-rise jeans, exposed midriffs, and barely-there tops have resulted in a wave of tats on shoulders, upper arms, hips, navels and lower backs. Even more daring are those who place their ink on throats, necks, cheeks, hands, feet, and even eyelids.

As for the content, darker is better for the younger set. Twilight-mania has brought a windfall to the tattoo industry, with Goth-girls and vampire-fanciers lining up for the latest in gory designs. Ramlal, a trained counsellor, has also noticed a disturbing trend, that of young people using the physical pain of tattooing as a way of dealing with personal issues, much like others cut themselves to take their minds off their anguish.

Older and wiser

Women over 25, though, bring a whole different flavour—or rather, colour—to the question of tattooing in T&T. Their motivation is less trend-driven and more personal. They get tattoos not for others, but for themselves. As such, their tats are usually in more…shall we say, ‘secluded’ areas, and generally not bared for public consumption.

The tattoos themselves are more sentimental. Older women use them to commemorate happy occasions, such as births, weddings and engagements, or sad ones, such as deaths, separations, break-ups or divorces. Some tats are a symbol of a terrible mistake or error of judgment, a reminder never to be that stupid again.

Naughty, naughty!

Others, usually professional women whose public personae are strait-laced and proper, relish the idea of having a naughty little secret hidden under their business suit. They choose designs that whisper their wild side to the privileged few who see them.

These women, Ramlal reveals, can be a handful in the tattoo parlour. Giddy with the exhilaration of breaking the rules, drunk on the adrenaline rush, they become intensely aroused…and don’t care if the tattoo artist knows it. They bat their lashes, touch, laugh and flirt. The experience of going under the needle is as much of a thrill as the tat itself.

time to rethink your ink?

Any tattoo artist can attest to the steady stream of clients seeking a remedy for post-tattoo remorse. The first reason for second-thinking a tat is location. Ramlal advises against inking hard-to-cover areas like the face, neck and hands, citing the negative effect that’s likely to have on job interview panels.

The second, and more obvious reason for a tattoo to turn from a treasure into a tribulation is a failed relationship. Again, Ramlal cautions against permanently inking a lover’s name on one’s body. With the break-up rate being what it is, the name that brought a smile to a woman’s lips can become a taunt—not to mention a deal-breaker for the next guy who has to endure the sight of another man’s name scrawled across his woman’s body.

The solution is simply to avoid such a misguided declaration of love, or, if the compulsion is too great, to have it done in a light, delicate script that can be easily covered by another design, should the relationship sour. The alternative to a cover-up is a long, expensive, painful course of laser removal treatments, and very few providers in T&T offer that service.

TAT TALK

What women say

But what do these painted ladies have to say about their ink? WomanWise asked a few*, and here’s what they told us:
You show me yours, I’ll show you mineMy bf and I got matching tattoos 11 years ago, before he went abroad to study, as a symbol of love and commitment. We got each other’s initials, with a heart, on our hip. No one knows about it except us. Secretly, I like knowing he has my initials tattooed on his body! Can you imagine the cost and stress of having that removed if we ever spilt up?Melanie, communications officer

A mom’s pride and joy

I always wanted a tattoo, but not one that would be in your face. I have had a little K with flowers around it on my ankle. My daughter’s name is Kayleigh, so it was a tribute to her. Amanda, housewife

Too chicken

I’ve always wanted a tattoo on the small of my back, but I’m afraid of needles. I once got a henna design there, and it was so exciting! Antoinette, university lecturer

A daughter’s love

When my mother died suddenly, my siblings and I each got unique tattoos which will always remind us of what we lost. It helps keep her memory alive, a living testimonial to her. Dominique, office admin
(*names have been changed)