I currently reside in Portland Oregon which is a pretty free thinking liberal microcasim in a conservative state. This year I traveled to SF, Oakland, LA, and Seattle so far and what I've noticed is the sheer previlance of hand tattoos on younger people (my people) 20-30s. Having had the opportunity to be tattooed by some of the most respected cats in the game we've talked about this phenomena. The resounding answer I hear from those tattooers is that they will avoid tattooing hands at almost all costs. When I really break it down with them their criteria is always the same, the individual should have heavy coverage, a stable job without any aspersions of making a massive shift in the work force and an understanding of the gravity of a hand tattoos whether they see it that way or not.
I love hand tattoos I love the power they carry and at times I see myself with them one day. I always end the internal conversation asking myself those same questions. Do I have the coverage that would garner the respect of those in the industry I look up to, am I in a financial place where I feel stable enough in my job, is there another career that I might be limited or barred from because of my self expression?
I am in no way suggesting these are rules everyone has to have thinking of getting hand tattoos. I guess I'm hoping to start the conversation on this current influx of hand tattoos, will these young people change the norm in accepting hand tattoos or are they just as limiting as we were raised to believe even in this day and age?