Tattoos are for ex-cons, borderline criminals, youth on drugs, freeloaders, and what have you. Growing up in Tondo built these stereotypes in my head. Until I had my first ink.
Obviously, the woman in the picture above is not me. Wish I have guts to sport that blue hair, though. And warning: this is a longer post than usual.
I was no different to other people who saw tattoos as taboos. Especially on women! Who would take a tattooed lady seriously? How am I supposed to get a decent job? Won't I look tacky and cheap? Embarrassingly, that kind of logic lived in my head for quite a long time.
It all changed after meeting my first office boss who had all these unique black tattoos. She is successful, kind, smart, and an overall achiever. She's immersed in the corporate world for years and has been nailing it. And yet, her tattoos are everywhere. Blouses are not enough to cover them. Not that she was trying to.
'Liberation'
I was around 24 years old when I started becoming curious about tattoos for my own skin.
I think it is a poetic way to put a mark, pun intended, and celebrate one's milestones and self-expression.
Early 2015 I discovered Katz Lorenzana on Instagram. Her works convinced me more that it is possible for women to own dainty, feminine, and intricate watercolor tattoos. I knew then that I want her as my artist but was not yet committed to the style and reasoning behind my initial design.
My flirtation with the thought of having a tattoo took a pause when I became extra busy with wedding preparations. We were saving up for the house, car and the wedding all at the same time, I barely remembered wanting one.
Fast forward to 2017, I managed to get my first tattoo from artist Basilio of Don Antonio Tattoo in Quezon City. Honestly, because Katz' schedule was so hard to catch, I opted to explore other tattoo artists who I think master watercolor style as well. One of my officemates was inked twice at Don Antonio Tattoo and recommended the shop to me.
Introducing the first tattoo: Serenity
The Christian prayer that goes:
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
...reminds me of a lot of things. For one, it reminds me of my childhood homes. Every time we moved from one house to another, we have that posted in our dining area next to The Last Supper. I always read it as a child and never understood the meaning. Until I grew older, more hot-headed, paranoid and control-freak that I totally got what 'serenity' is. My goal for the tattoo is to serve as reminder to not sweat the small stuff. And even if I mess up pretty bad, sulking in a corner won't change a thing. The blue rose, meanwhile, represents my husband, who consistently gives me bouquets of blue roses since college days. It is through him that I also gather more courage and wisdom.
Did it hurt? 4/10
Years of waxing probably trained my pain tolerance to go a notch higher than other wax-free ladies. Not sure if that's the case or the nape area is just a safe zone (husband chose the placement saying it is sexy). Drawing the black lines felt like a cutter sliding through my skin, but it only lasted for more or less 10 minutes. The colors of the petals actually felt like a relaxing nail scratch. Overall, I'd give it a low 4 out of 10, with 10 being the most painful. Brazilian wax is hell and this is not even purgatory. It's just a bad day at work or a terrible commute.
Preps I did for this life-changing event
Weeks prior to my debut as a tattooed person, I dedicated hours and hours in YouTube, following ladies "Qcknd" and Katrin Berndt. They were my best friends throughout this journey and they don't even know me. Lololol! They speak so much sense, always hit the nail on the head, and talk like I know them from way back. They are very relatable AF especially if it's your first time getting a tattoo and don't really know what to expect.
Both channels advised to keep a full stomach, limit your companions to one or none, wear comfortable clothes, avoid painkillers (they will make your blood thinner and the experience bloodier than your artist would've hoped), and bring movies/music/books or any entertainment with you. I did all of the above. I even considered bringing a pillow just in case I need to curl up to take the pain. Surprisingly enough, I did not even twitch or ask for a break. In more or less 15 minutes, my nape was changed forever :P (sorry can't help going for a cheesy line lol!)
Wearing it like a badge
I am absolutely stoked the moment I saw my tattoo all done. It was quite far from my peg in terms of style (thickness of lines, lightness of colors), which made it even more unique. The artist gave me a small sachet of A&D cream to apply during the scabbing (itchy!) phase. The shop owner also provided quite a long list of do's and don'ts for aftercare.
Today, I flaunt it whenever I want, and I have option to cover it easily by adjusting my clothes. I am really proud of what I have not just because of the unique design, but also because of the meaning behind it. And yes, husband was right: it feels sexy and badass too ;)
Ready for another one?
Not just for another one -- maybe another three. Or four more. They say it's addicting once you get under the needle. I am definitely not addicted because it costs good fortune, but I am sure that I will have a couple more in my lifetime. May or may not be very soon. So I guess you need to stick around to find out ;)
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