Never before have tattoos been so prevalent and accepted across a wide demographic, than they are at present. Thanks to their rise in popular culture over the past 10 years, tattoos are now considered the norm and in Australia, reaching an all-time high, with an estimated 1 in 5 Aussies having at least one tattoo.
Behind New Zealand, Aussies are the most tattooed nation in the world; followed closely by the USA. Of course, the more people getting inked, the more tattoo regret there is, with the demand for tattoo removal services increasing significantly over the past decade. Of those 1 in 5 Aussies with ink – a staggering 34% regret the decision or are considering getting it removed. As such, the demand for tattoo removal services has seen a massive increase of 440% in the past decade.
Salon suppliers The Global Beauty Group had a chat to one of its clients Tim Jarvis who runs Melbourne tattoo removal studio Lose Your Ink to learn more about the tattoo removal process.
What are the most common reasons people chose to get a tattoo removed?
Tim says it is very common for people to regret tattoos that were gotten in the spur of the moment, or that perhaps were not thoroughly thought out in advance. The lack of preparation, involvement and connection to the tattoo plays a major role when, later down the line, people are reevaluating their tattoos and considering possible removal.
The reasons why people choose to get a tattoo removed are varied as the reasons why people choose to get them in the first place. There are aesthetic reasons, such as bad tattooing, an ageing or damaged tattoo and there are social reasons, such as employment prospects, or pressure from a loved one or a family member. Other regrets include the perceived stigma of having a tattoo and in general, the non-compatibility of a tattoo with a person’s current lifestyle.
“For some, getting a tattoo is a rite of passage and many people turn 18, decide to get a tattoo without putting much thought into the tattoo itself, only to regret the decision years or even, in some cases – several months later” says Tim. It’s more about the idea or notion of getting tattooed as opposed to the actual tattoo itself and these are exactly the type of tattoos that people come to regret and decide to get rid of.
Does tattoo removal really hurt as much as people say it does?
The short answer is no, it does not. Whilst the process is not 100% pain-free, any discomfort can be minimised with the application of topical compound numbing cream applied to the area prior to treatment with a tattoo removal machine.
For those concerned about the cost or pain; current tattoo removal lasers are far less invasive than they used to be and much more effective also. According to Tim, most people are prepared for tattoo removal to hurt far more than it actually does, with most people being pleasantly surprised at a) how little discomfort they experience and b) how quickly the process is over with.
What are the most common styles you see that people choose to get removed?
In terms of styles, Tim sees a wide variety of tattoo designs, from baby names to southern cross tattoos, there’s not much in the way of tattoo designs that Tim hasn’t seen, with the majority (approximately 90%) being black and white or grayscale.
What sort of clientele (age, demographic) make up the bulk of your customers?
Tim say’s that at his south east Melbourne tattoo removal studio, he sees equal male and female ratios, with the bulk of his clientele being aged 18-30. Of this group, 50-60% have one or maybe two tattoos.
Do people always complete the tattoo removal process?
Interestingly, once having made the decision to get a tattoo removed, Tim says that 60-70% of people drop out after having had several sessions and 20% after just the one.
Although it is hard to know why people don’t complete their laser tattoo removal sessions, Tim feels that aside from the pain, the biggest reason is the overall commitment and is a combination of factors, the main ones being: cost, time and amount of sessions required.
Perhaps dissuaded by the length of time or just deciding its not worth the hassle, people lose interest, move on and it becomes no longer a priority remove it and deciding, albeit unconsciously to just keep it after all.
Any tips for people considering getting a tattoo removed?
Tim says “the biggest thing is be prepared to take on the commitment of getting a tattoo removed and be prepared to play the long game. You are after all, removing something that would otherwise be a permanent fixture on your body”.
Having made the choice to remove it, keeping that mindset going and making it a priority to complete the process will ensure your desired outcome. It could take a year or more to remove, with some tattoos being harder to remove than others. It really depends on variables such as the age of the tattoo, along with quality of ink and depth etc.
According to Tim, a lot of people will do 1 or 2 sessions, or perhaps even get to the half way mark (5 sessions) before dropping off, only to revisit the idea several years later, when they get motivated to pick it back up. However, Tim is adamant that the best results come from people who persevere and kept their end goal in sight.
In terms of other things to consider, Tim suggests looking for a location that is somewhat close to where you live or work, as for convenience this makes it a lot easier to follow through.
Want to learn more about laser tattoo removal machines or potentially getting one removed? For those in the Melbourne metro or southeast Melbourne area contact Tim and his team at Lose Your Ink on 0418344458 or 03 9563 4931.
For those outside of Melbourne, call beauty suppliers The Global Beauty Group on 1300 006 607 to find a treatment specialist in your local area.
