I have come to realize and accept the saying, "In life, you cannot always get what you want." As much as I love tattoos, I cannot get them due to several reasons, the most important being school. I attend a university where tattoos are frowned upon. Although some people still get them, it becomes a problem during exams, as they have to wear long sleeves to cover their tattoos. Interestingly, my wings are not permanently clipped. I am not completely caged, as I still resort to other alternatives - temporary tattoos. Temporary tattoos last 2-7 days, depending on the type of sticker. Temporary tattoos work like getting what you want and enjoying the bliss, although it would last for a limited time. Not only are they super affordable, they are also nice. Depending on your taste, there are simple and more detailed ones. The last time I got temporary tattoos was a year ago. I got matching tattoos with my friends. As expected, it didn't last for long, but the joy is that we enjoyed it for the time it stayed on.
Images of temporary tattoo stickers I got for my friends and myself.
There are different types of tattoo styles. Over the years, we have seen tattoo artists creating new designs and styles, and even different ones that suit individual tastes and skin color. Tattoos are as old as mankind and they have been passed on from generation to generation. That's where tribal tattoos come in. During the days of our forefathers, tribal tattoos were used for different purposes, including spiritual, cultural, and symbolic meanings. Although Tribal tattoos are rare in my country today, it was very popular decades ago. In some parts, for example, the Ijesha were known to create patterns on their face and bodies to signify beauty, strength, and spiritual power. Why I do not have anything against this style of tattoo, I'm glad to not have been born in those places. When it comes to tattoo styles, my least favorite is the tribal tattoos.
My favorite tattoo style is the Blackwork tattoo style. Although I'm not familiar with the history of this style, I've seen many videos of it on Instagram, courtesy of tattoo artists who share their work on the platform. As the name suggests, Blackwork tattoos involve the use of only black ink. I've tried to imagine having a blackwork tattoo on my hand, and I'm pretty sure it would suit me well (my vivid imagination helps with that, too!). Picture a black rose or the rear view of a black car on your hand. There are many misconceptions about Blackwork tattoos. People assume they're associated with dark or Gothic themes, like skulls and knives. However, black ink can be used to create a wide range of designs, from delicate flowers to simple designs like an acronym of your name.
I also love the realistic tattoo style. It's like looking at a 3D picture on your skin. I'd choose the blackwork style over the realistic style any day.
This is my entry to the INLEO prompt for day 18. The topic is: What is your favorite tattoo style?
Thumbnail generated with MetaAi.
Thanks for reading.