BU Tattoos: Is My Tattoo Hell changing how students see body art?

People on ‘My Tattoo Hell’ got their tattoos for many reasons, from rebelling – Melissa with a giant padlock heart across her chest, being in love – Dom had his lover’s name tattooed on his neck only to break up three days later, or in a drunken state – like the father who had the word ‘japs’ tattooed across his eyelid for a joke.

Such people go to extreme lengths to get rid of the tattoos – like spending £3000 on laser surgery which still might leave scars in their place.

So I decided to ask the students of Bournemouth whether their tattoos really worth it.

Shane Voight, studying Environmental Science said, “Well, I have a bee on the side of my knee, and ‘for a laugh’ down the side of my ribs. Just by saying them, you can tell they aren’t serious. The bee for instance is complete banter, got that when I was smashed and it’s relatively small. I can’t see it myself so in my eyes it’s a harmless tattoo and pretty generic for a lads’ holiday.

The bees’ knees

“If anything it resembles a memory of having a great time with the boys.

“The one down my ribs was for a similar reason, I always wanted one down my ribs and didn’t really care what it was, and again I was smashed, I was doing Sambuca shots when getting it done.

“But I don’t regret any, they remind me to not take life too seriously, and I’m having the best time when I’m smashing it with the boys.

“Thinking about when I have a family is a different story.

“The mindset of just not giving a fuck, which I believe in, as in not giving a fuck how many times you get knocked down or disappointed or hurt always keep your head up.

“It sounds ironic but I don’t really like tattoos so I don’t plan to get anymore, but who knows.

“Although if I went on another lads holiday, maybe.

“You just can’t go through life with regrets – it’s all a learning curve.”

Chris Banks, an English student, got a large no. “31” tattooed on his bum cheek.

He said “I got it because I was slightly intoxicated and always regretted not getting one on holiday.

“It doesn’t mean anything. I probably will get more but I’m undecided on location.

“I don’t regret it at all.”

Beth Abel, got her tattoo sober. She said “I got it because I really like the symbol and minimalist tattoos.

“It means endless and constant.

“I’m pretty sure that I will get more as they are quite addictive and I only regret paying £40 for it.”

Infinity Sign

Ella Marsh from AUB had a near miss.

She was drunk at a party and let someone draw an elephant on her arm. She then ordered a tattoo gun for the next day to complete the image, only to wake up and realise that it looked like a lopsided camel.

She said, “Thank God there was no gun there, otherwise I probably would have cried looking at the mess stained on my arm.”

While Bournemouth students aren’t shy of inking themselves, whether it is a meaningful piece of artwork or a drunken idea, they don’t seem to regret their decisions just yet.