“Forever, But Make It Hurt a Little” – The Funny, Meaningful, and Slightly Regretful History of Tattoos
Some people leave a mark on life… others leave a mark directly on their own skin. Yes, our topic is the tattoo! For some, it’s art; for others, it’s “do people still get those?”; and for some, it’s written proof of an 18-year-old crisis. But whatever it is, a tattoo is one layer of skin – one word – one lifetime.
The person who gets a tattoo knows themselves. It starts with an inner impulse like, “I think I’m living too ordinarily… I should add some flair to my shoulder with a dragon.” Then the phrase is uttered: “It’s nothing, it’s just a small one…” And then it happens.
The moment you sit in a tattoo artist’s chair, you realize there is no turning back. Its permanence is clearer than a “burger menu that cannot be returned once payment is made.” The look in the artist’s eye, holding a needle-like tool—”You dreamed it, now endure it”—is a bonus.
Does It Hurt? (The Most Popular Question)
Let’s continue with one of the most frequently asked questions: Does getting a tattoo hurt? Answer: Yes. But what kind of pain? It’s the same kind of pain as scratching with a nettle, the end of the 14th hour in high heels, or writing your name on the wrong exam paper… In short, “it hurts before you regret it.”
The second most popular tattoo question is: “What should I get?” Some get their lover’s name, some get their date of birth, and some get “carpe diem” (seize the day), but the thing they think about most after getting that tattoo is usually, “Why did I get it in English, though?”
Some tattoos are meaningful—very meaningful! For example, the semicolon tattoo: it means “the sentence hasn’t ended, I am continuing.” For some, it’s like therapy; for others, it makes you think, “It looks a bit like a keyboard shortcut.” Either way, it’s a unique representation for the wearer.
Tattoos in Turkish Culture
So, when did tattooing become popular in our culture? It actually dates back centuries. Nomadic Turkish communities had tattoo symbols (tamga), and animal figures generally carried protective meanings. Even today, tattoos are found in some regions of Anatolia with the belief that “the shape of a scorpion protects against the evil eye.” We had it before Kim Kardashian started promoting tattoos!
Tattoos can also cause small shocks, not just to the person but to their surroundings. The silence you encounter when you say to your mother, “I have something to show you,” and reveal the dragon on your back is more complex than nuclear physics education. Fathers’ reactions are usually simpler: “My daughter, can this be erased?” 😅
Then there are those who get a tattoo but say, “I’m trying not to show it.” They usually get three small stars on their wrist as a solution, and then say, “I wear long sleeves so it’s not seen.” It’s as if the T-shirt is trying to speak more than the tattoo itself!
Recently, tattoo types have increased with technology: minimalist lines, geometric shapes, barcode tattoos… Some even get a Spotify song tattoo that opens with a QR code. Romantic? Yes. Do you need an app to open it if you forget? Also yes.
But the most interesting thing about a tattoo is this: It expresses a person’s most invisible feelings in their most visible place. For some, it’s a farewell to a loss; for others, it’s a celebration of victory. Tattoos are like portable memories. But these memories can be erased with a laser, so you should think carefully…
In conclusion:
Getting a tattoo is a decision, an act of courage, and sometimes an artistic answer to a minor crisis! If you’ve said, “I’m only getting one,” know that this is usually the opening line. More will follow. The arm will be finished, then comes the shoulder, then the foot… But the most beautiful part is this: Tattoos show you as you are. It hurts a little, but it’s one of the most permanent ways to say, “My story is here.”
Now let’s ask: Those with tattoos, raise your hands! The rest of you, keep trying to decide what to get. Permanent indecision is also a tattoo candidate, isn’t it?
Sources:
- Tattoo and Traditional Anatolian Motifs (Anadolu University Publications)
- Global Tattoo Report 2023 (Tattoo Global Trends & Research)
- Turkish Tattoo Artists’ Association – Style and Diversity Report