Covering Yourself Entirely in Tattoo Ink Is a Trend Now
That’s a lot of sitting still. (Photo: Instagram/oddtattooer)
Blackout tattoos, meaning covering large areas of the body with black ink, are on the rise among tattoo aficionados. Not for the pain-sensitive, these tattoos are a little more extensive than a dolphin on the ankle or a dragon on the arm.
Singapore tattoo artist Chester Lee seemingly kick-started the trend going viral with his Instagram photos of the technique, which he has been doing for about five years.
Photo: Instagram/adyfarrians
“I had been suggesting the blackout tattoos for massive cover-ups and slowly letting people see the beauty in black work,” Lee, 29, told People. “It’s an acquired taste.”
An examination of the photos posted on Instagram — not all are Lee’s work — back this up. Many of the all-black designs covering arms and legs appear to be covering up older tattoos. Removing unwanted tattoos via laser can run up to $500 per session (and it’s extremely painful), so for some, this might seem like a more economical option.
Not that getting a full sleeve or other body part totally inked black is without pain. As anyone with a tattoo knows, getting that dark, filled-in look requires several passes with a gun and can take more than one visit with the artist.
Lee, who has his full arm, half of his neck, and a quarter of his face blacked out, along with black-inked eyes (yes, you can tattoo your eyes — but maybe don’t do that), hopes that blackout tattoos will gain popularity. And it does seem to be taking off, with artists in the U.K. showcasing blackout work on their accounts as well.
Related: Kaley Cuoco Reveals the Tattoo She Got During Her Divorce
Photo: Instagram/melkacreative
Tattoos are definitely more culturally acceptable in the U.S. than in decades past, with 23 percent of women and 21 percent of men sporting ink. While the tattoo industry rakes in an annual revenue of $2.3 billion a year, we’re not sure blackout tattoos will see the mainstream acceptance that more low-key art currently has.
Photo: Instagram/brycegarnhamtattoos
Think this style will catch on nationally? “Maybe one day the common crowd will appreciate the beauty in the lines of black work,” Lee told People.
Related: This DIY Tattoo Gun Will Make Tattoos Even More Personal
Photo: Instagram/holly_astral
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