The first time you get a tattoo, it can be an exciting experience. But the adrenaline rush of getting inked will quickly wear off and you’ll likely find yourself with an itching sore that needs to heal. It’s important that your new tattoo heals properly, to make sure it stays looking as sharp and vibrant as the day you got it. The few days after getting your new tattoo can make a big difference in how fresh it stays looking down the line.

That’s why it’s important to take care of your tattoo during the healing process, and that means using a good-quality tattoo aftercare product. There are a lot of different products on the market, with many different ingredients. Read on to learn more about CBD and other natural ingredients that can help your new tattoo heal properly.

CBD and other natural tattoo aftercare ingredients

CBD is a compound found in cannabis plants, but it doesn’t have the same psychoactive effects as THC. That means you won’t get high from using CBD products, but you may still enjoy some of the other benefits of this compound. CBD is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which can be helpful in reducing swelling and discomfort after getting a new tattoo. It also may promote healing and cell growth, which can help your tattoo heal more quickly and efficiently.

Other natural substances that can be used for tattoo aftercare include aloe vera, coconut oil, and tea tree oil. All of these substances have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that can help to speed up the healing process. However, they often are highly concentrated, so it’s important to use them sparingly and as directed by your tattoo artist or dermatologist.

Choosing a product

When it comes to choosing a tattoo aftercare product, it’s important to find one that is non-toxic and paraben-free. You also want to make sure it’s safe to use on open wounds. Always read the label carefully before using any tattoo aftercare product.

The best tattoo aftercare salves will include both an oil and a wax base. This combination will help to lock in moisture while keeping out dirt and bacteria. You can find ready-made tattoo salves at most tattoo shops, online, or most pharmacies.

Homemade tattoo aftercare

Making your own tattoo aftercare salve is a great way to ensure that you’re using a product that is safe and effective for your new ink. Here’s how you can do it.

Start by mixing together equal parts of coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax. Then add in a few drops of CBD, tea tree, or other essential oils of your choice. Gently melt the ingredients together over low heat, stirring frequently. Once everything is melted and well-mixed, remove it from the heat and let it cool.

Again, most of these products can easily be bought online or in-store. Buying bulk CBD isolate to mix into your salve is a good way to get high-quality CBD at a lower cost.

Fresh for life

Using a quality tattoo aftercare product is essential for keeping your new ink looking fresh. CBD and other natural ingredients can help to speed up the healing process and reduce swelling and discomfort. You can also make your own tattoo aftercare salve using simple, all-natural ingredients. Consult with your tattoo artist if you have any questions or concerns.

Grief affects people in different ways and everyone has their own unique way of dealing with it. For some people, they choose to get a tattoo as a way to remember their loved one forever, etching a piece of them onto their skin. Memorial tattoos can act as a coping mechanism and help to take people back to a happier time, as well as being a conversation starter that helps to keep the person’s memory alive.

The history of memorial tattoos

The design behind memorial tattoos are usually inspired by the loved one who has passed, but the concept of a memorial tattoo has been around for centuries. Margo DeMello from The Tattoo Project suggests that memorial tattoos have been around for as long as tattooing itself, believing to have originated from Hawaiian tribes. The tribes would tattoo their tongues to remember community members as the painful procedure would represent the emotional pain of grief while being a permanent reminder of the person. This is the same reason people get memorial tattoos today as it gives a permanent physical representation of the loved one who has passed.

Keeping the person’s memory alive

Many people choose to get memorial tattoos in a visible and obvious place so that they can not only see it themselves as a permanent reminder but also so that other people are likely to ask about the tattoo, allowing the person to share stories about the deceased. People are often worried that other people will forget the deceased, so this helps to keep their memory alive. Others will choose to have a memorial tattoo in a more private space to keep the relationship and intimacy they shared with that person private.

A coping mechanism

Eunice Gorman is a professor at King’s University College who is an expert in grief and bereavement. She explains that while some people manage to get through their grief in more traditional ways, others really struggle and a tattoo can act as a coping mechanism that is unique to the individual. Gorman believes that tattoos act as a coping mechanism as it links people to their loved one and offers something physical that they can see and touch, helping to remember them.

Remembering a better time through art

The image of a loved one passing can be traumatic, such as when it’s due to a decline in health or an accident. Memorial tattoo designs can be chosen to represent a happy memory or representation of that person, helping to distract from bad memories. The artwork can transport people back to a happier time.

Designs like animals that were associated with the loved one, a portrait of them when they were younger and healthy, or a favorite quote of theirs can help people to focus on those happier times. Alternatively, simply having their name, initials or a small symbol can be all someone needs to remember that person.

Memorial tattoos can be small, delicate, and highly private or they can be large and in an obvious place that will trigger conversation. They help people to connect to their deceased loved one and often act as a coping mechanism for dealing with grief in a personal and unique way.

Every year, 45 million Americans go on a diet, many hoping to lose a large amount of weight. For those that succeed, it can mean that their tattoos become distorted, stretched, faded or saggy. Likewise, those that gain weight, intentionally or not, such as bodybuilders, face similar issues when it comes to their tattoos due to how the skin stretches. If weight loss or gain is intentional it’s best to do it slowly and moisturize the skin to improve its elasticity and appearance.

Problematic areas and tattoos

Some body parts are more prone to weight changes as they’re fattier areas, such as the belly, upper arms, hips, and thighs. If you have a tattoo in one of these areas it’s likely that it may distort, move and stretch with the skin when weight is lost or gained. Smaller tattoos, especially in these areas, are more likely to be affected and they’re also more difficult to fix afterwards. Unlike larger tattoos, small tattoos can’t easily be touched up to replace any faded ink or join lines up where stretch marks have separated the ink. Symmetrical and highly detailed, intricate designs are likely to look distorted as they depend on precise linework that can easily change with weight loss or gain.

How to minimize distortion

If you’ve decided to start losing or gaining weight, but you have tattoos in problematic areas, there are some things you can do to reduce how much the tattoo may change. Weight changes should be gradual so that the skin maintains as much elasticity as possible and can stretch and shrink as needed, without overworking it. This can reduce the chance and severity of stretch marks, as well as how much your tattoo will change.

Your skin will benefit from good hydration, so drinking plenty of water will also result in fewer changes to your tattoo. A good moisturizer can also help to keep skin hydrated, as well as reduce irritation and itchiness that can occur with the skin stretching or shrinking. A tattoo-specific moisturizer isn’t necessary, but it can help to care for the ink and they’re often designed to relieve itchiness.

Getting a tattoo ‘fixed’

So, you’ve reached your weight goal and your tattoo is left looking a bit sorry for yourself. Depending on the tattoo and how much it’s been affected, it’s possible to get it rectified to improve its appearance. Large tattoos can often be filled in where stretch marks have separated the ink, but it’s a good idea to wait for the stretch marks to settle. Ideally, a few months at the same weight should give your skin chance to adjust and tattooing over stretch marks will hurt less this way. It also reduces the chance of the new ink distorting if your weight changes again.

Smaller tattoos may become too distorted to fix, but they’ll often fade or become smaller in the process, so they can be easily covered up with a bigger design. Where possible, return to the original tattoo artist. Some artists refuse to work on or go over others’ tattoos, especially if they’re still in business and are nearby, but this is down to artist discretion.

Just because tattoos have the potential to change when you lose or gain weight, it doesn’t mean that they will. Genetics play a part, as well as your overall health, how well you look after your skin and how quickly your body weight changes. Try to avoid getting tattoos on areas prone to fat and wait several months to get tattoos fixed to give the skin time to heal and to stabilize your weight.

The world is getting much smarter, from smart-home technologies like voice-activated lights and climate control to self-driving cars. It’s no surprise the tattoo industry is also considering the implementation of smart tech to improve the overall experience. Smart tattoo inks are currently being developed to create inks that indicate a health issue, such as changing color after too much UV exposure, but a lot of these smart inks would require a different injection technique to the traditional methods. As such, existing tattoo machines are being analyzed to see how they work in comparison to new, smart tattoo machines that are less invasive and more precise.

Needle-less tattooing

The University of Twente, based in the Netherlands, has developed a micro-jet injection technology that doesn’t require any needles at all. It works by using an ultrafast liquid jet that rapidly heats up above boiling point with the help of a laser. As the fluid heats up, it forms a vapor bubble that grows and pushes the liquid out at speeds of up to 100 meters per second, or 360 km per hour. The jet is about as thick as a human hair and can easily penetrate the skin, but it hurts less than a needle and can be compared to a mosquito bite. There’s also less ink waste involved due to how precise the method is, and needles don’t need to be changed and disposed of per person to avoid contamination.

Little development in current tattooing methods

Tattooing dates back thousands of years, starting with a very simple hand-poked method where the ink, often made from soot or charcoal, was pushed into the skin with thorns or a specially-designed tool that is hit by a hammer, often made from bamboo or stone. This moved onto the commonly used method today of an electric machine, which used to be powered by foot, to speed up the process and with commercial inks that are sterile and safer.

Other than this, there hasn’t really been any evolution of the tattooing process until now. Researchers behind the micro-jet have said that, surprisingly, the classic needle application has never been thoroughly researched in the way they have been doing, such as by using high-speed images.

Direct comparison of traditional needle vs. smart machines

The University of Twente recently published a study in the American Journal of Applied Physics comparing a needle with their fluid jet method. They used various commercially available inks as professional tattoo artists would. The micro-jet was found to consume very little energy, does minimal skin damage and the efficiency of the injection is much higher than a needle, as well as a small cross-contamination risk.

Currently, the micro-jet is a single jet, whereas a lot of artists will use multiple needles at once, depending on what they’re trying to achieve, such as shadowing. The volume of ink that the jet can currently deliver is too low and needs to be increased before it can be considered for wider use. These are the next steps that the researchers are working on to achieve needle-less tattooing.

Other applications

As with most technology, the application of the micro-jet fluid and delivery system has applications to other areas that can benefit the skin. Techniques that resemble tattooing are already used for masking scars and treating hair diseases. This new method could be used for these to give a smoother process and is also being considered for vaccinations. The health benefits of using smart inks with a smart tattoo machine are huge, but the biggest problem is making a tattoo serve for both cosmetic and health purposes at the same time.

Combining smart inks with smart tattoo applications could transform the industry, as well as overflowing into other skin care technologies. The research is a little way off still to be able to combine an aesthetically pleasing tattoo that serves a functional health benefit, but it’s only a matter of time.

While face tattoos may be the new normal thanks to artists such as Post Malone, Wiz Khalifa, and Justin Bieber, one rapper is ready to change his look. Bryan Christopher Williams, better known as Birdman, has just turned 50 and is seemingly ready to change his look. The renowned rapper, music producer and fiancé of songbird Toni Braxton, has expressed his desire to rid his face of a number of tattoos to a number of publications and TV shows. Always known to make a bold statement, it seems that the rapper has once again decided to swim upstream.

Does wisdom come with old age?

The Cash Money Records CEO recently appeared on The Wendy Williams Show where he discussed everything from his relationships with Lil Wayne and Juvenile, to his music and, strangely enough, his image. When asked about his decision to take off the tattoos, Birdman replied: “I didn’t want to take the head tattoos off but I wanted to take the facials off. I just felt like me being older, I would like to get it off.” Although the seemingly matured rapper seems eager to get rid of his face ink, he is not completely opposed to keeping it either stating: “If I have to live with it, I will. I just felt like, me being older, I would like to get it off. But if not, it is what it is.”

Face tattoos lead to stereotyping?

When Birdman was featured in Forbes earlier this year, he echoed similar sentiments about getting the ink on his face removed. He told reporters he no longer needs them and that they are stereotyping him. He also said: “It takes away from the business and certain things.” While everyone is allowed a change of heart, the motive behind Birdman’s is being extensively questioned. One can’t help but wonder why the man who once encouraged rapper Mikkey Halsted to get face tattoos, now feels that it is stereotyping him.

It’s going to hurt getting them removed Birdman!

If Birdman indeed has his tattoos removed, he is in for a substantial amount of pain. While getting a face tattoo obviously involves a certain degree of anguish, getting it removed is even worse. Discomfort can last for up to a week – per session. It can also take anywhere between 3 and 10 sessions to remove a tattoo which equates to a fair amount of skin blistering and pain. Sometimes, it isn’t even possible to remove all the ink pigment from the skin which, together with some obvious scarring, can leave you with skin that is far from flawless.

Even if Birdman gets treated by the best tattoo remover in the country chances are that he will be left with scarring, lightened skin pigment, and a lot of remorse over getting inked on his face of all places to start with!

Getting inked is undoubtedly a big deal and one that definitely requires some serious consideration. If you want to make a statement like a hip-hop star, it is probably best to stick to a temporary tattoo unless you want to face excruciating removal sessions later on.

There’s a tattoo artist in Berlin who specializes in what is known as left hand tattooing, also known as ignorant style tattooing. Guik Misanthropie practices his art from Unter der Hand tattoo studio, which translates to ‘on the quiet’, and has gained quite a social media following for his unique style of tattooing. Where most artists and customers strive for a perfect piece of art, Guik finds beauty in imperfect, child-like designs.

What is left handed tattooing?

Left handed tattoos aren’t necessarily done with the left hand but can essentially look like they are. Ultimately, these tattoos are a style that breaks away from convention. Similar to a graffiti style, this type of art is all about rebelling against the standard way of doing things, as opposed to a lack of talent or education. It’s an artistic expression of freedom away from the typical way of tattooing. Some artists, like Misanthropie, go for child-like designs, while other tattoo artists go for a street style of art that is like tattooing graffiti onto someone’s skin.

The inspiration behind the tattoos

Misanthropie gets a lot of his inspiration from client’s childhood memories or other significant events in their lives that they want to immortalize in a tattoo. Customers usually let him have a lot of freedom over the design once they’ve given him the general idea of what they’re after, resulting in a unique piece every time that clients love.

Even celebrities love this tattoo style, with Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson having a simple horseshoe that reads ‘lucky you’, and singer Sia having her arms and hands covered with colorful dogs and lettering in the same style.

Queer Bodmod Compass

Misanthropie is behind Queer Bodmod Compass, an online tool for people to find tattoo artists in a specific area. Artists can volunteer their information and customers can send in their reviews, ratings and search specifically for LGBTQ+ artists that come recommended, so it also helps artists to build up their network. The overall aim is to develop safe spaces for both artists and people wanting tattoos, so reviews are asked to be about how safe the artist and area feels, as well as their work ethics, as opposed to their talent or style of work.

Other tattoo artists following this style of art

Fuzi, the tattoo artist responsible for Scarlett Johansson’s left handed tattoo, is another artist specializing in this style. Not only does his artwork stray from the norms, so does his workplace as he travels to different countries and deliberately picks unconventional, interesting places to tattoo people, such as tunnels and rooftops.

Other tattoo artists have criticized him for his methods, usually because it’s not a sterile, hygienic or safe way to tattoo, but Fuzi believes it’s just another form of art. He also points out that he’s never short of someone waiting for a tattoo from him, as is the case with other artists who tattoo in this style, so he must be doing something right.

Left handed tattooing is a style that is bound to grow in popularity, with some artists believing that tattooing will move more towards a freedom of expression type of art that
embraces all styles, rather than just a few. People certainly like the style as Guik is kept busy at his studio and has a large social media following that praise him on his work.

Brides want to be stunning on their wedding day and there’s certain expectations of what the perfect bride should look like. For most, this usually doesn’t involve visible, large tattoos. While the groom tends to have long sleeves and can cover tattoos if they wish, wedding gowns usually leave skin on show. However, more brides are embracing their tattoos and showing them off, even picking dresses that show off their ink as opposed to hiding it.

Encouragement for cover up tattoos

In the lead up to the big day most brides will be focusing on all the smaller details, many of which will be forever immortalized in their wedding photos. A tattoo that is faded, blurred or no longer has significant meaning is the last thing a bride wants to remember. Cover ups are becoming increasingly common due to this, with a visit to the tattoo studio just as important as going to the hair salon and getting nails done. It seems weddings will prompt brides-to-be to fix existing ink that they’ve been meaning to do anyway, rather than pressuring them to get a tattoo specifically for the wedding.

Remembering that significant someone with a tattoo

Some brides will be missing some very important people at their weddings, such as family or loved ones that have passed. Getting a tattoo to represent them can be a very powerful way to feel connected with them and to have them there. This offers a lot of peace to some brides and often results in a beautiful piece of artwork that they want to intentionally show off, not hide.

Couples Tattoos

Couple tattoos aren’t a new thing but marking a marriage with tattoos is becoming increasingly popular. Couples may get tattoos just before the big day so that the tattoos can heal, or right after to mark their commitment. This gives brides more reason to show off their ink and is making it even more ‘normal’ for them to be seen with visible tattoos. Some couples will even hire a tattoo artist to attend their wedding reception to tattoo them and their guests as a unique way to remember the day.

Traditional wedding henna tattoos

A henna party is a traditional part of many Middle Eastern and North African weddings and is often held the day before the marriage. Henna tattoos, known as mehndi, are applied in intricate designs to the bride’s hands and feet where the color will contrast best as the skin is usually paler here. Some cultures believe that the darker the henna goes the more the groom will love them.

Within the mehndi the groom’s name or initials will be hidden to add significance to the tattoo. On the wedding day the bride will show off their mehndi, particularly on their hands, making henna tattoos a traditional and very acceptable form of tattoos worn by brides.

Whether you decide to go for a new tattoo, cover up old ink or fix an existing piece that’s seen better days, having tattoos on show as a bride is becoming the norm. Henna tattoos have been used in wedding ceremonies for years as part of a tradition that identifies the bride and expresses their love, which permanent tattoos are now being used for too.

Essential oils are packed with different properties, many of which can be beneficial for healing tattoos and keeping them looking their best in the long-term. They’re also a natural product, which is why so many people are drawn to them as they don’t contain harmful substances that could damage your beautiful new piece of body art. Here are some of the best essential oils for tattoos, some of which can fight off bacteria and others can block UV rays that will fade ink.

Helichrysum oil

Helichrysum oil is great for healing tattoos as it has antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal and antiseptic properties, so it will help to fight off bacteria that could lead to an infection. It’s also known to be an anti-inflammatory, which is helpful for new tattoos that tend to cause the skin to swell and become irritated and itchy. Helichrysum is one of the few essential oils to contain diketones, which a 2001 study found to be exceptionally high in helichrysum oil. These diketones stimulate new skin tissue to grow, aiding healing.

Frankincense oil

Frankincense is believed to speed up the tattoo healing process and reduces that chance of infections as it boosts the immune system. It’s also known to combat pain and inflammation, making this another great essential oil for the healing process. However, some people believe that because Frankincense is so good at helping skin that it may actually pull ink out of new tattoos, so it’s recommended to use it with caution. It can still be used once your tattoo has healed to keep ink looking fresh.

Lavender oil

Many people will ask for the skin to be numbed before a tattoo, but a lot of artists are against doing this for various reasons. Lavender oil can be applied to a fresh tattoo so that you benefit from its natural pain relieving and soothing properties. Not only will lavender oil help with physical pain and discomfort, it has a calming effect to relieve anxiety and help you to relax. It also contains SPF, making it a good option for the long-term care of tattoos as the sun is well known for fading tattoo ink.

Myrrh oil

Myrrh oil is another antiseptic essential oil, making it ideal for fresh, healing tattoos. It’s sometimes used to help stop bleeding, so if you’re a ‘bleeder’ when getting a tattoo it can be a good oil for you to use before covering the tattoo in a protective wrap, but be sure that your artist is happy to use it on a fresh tattoo. Myrrh is known to support the skin’s natural ability to heal, replenish and generally care for itself, helping the healing process.

Essential oil products for tattoos

Professional Blends is a new tattoo aftercare product that utilizes the benefits of essential oils. Ingredients are completely natural and they promise to be vegan-friendly too. There are three different products available, one for each stage of the healing and aftercare process. Step one is formulated to help with the initial healing of a tattoo where skin will be inflamed, peeling and itchy. Step two focuses on healing the tattoo in the following three months and step three is a long-term product to keep tattoos looking their best.

Essential oils may work differently for different people and even from one tattoo to the next, depending on placement. Do your research to find what will work best for you, your skin and your tattoo. You should speak to your artist too, as they may be able to advise what has worked well for them or other clients and what won’t mix well with the inks they’re using.

In the 1960s, four bone combs and a bottle of ink were excavated on the island of Tongatapu, the main island of Tonga, and are believed to be part of a tattoo kit that once belonged to an ancient tattoo artist. The discoveries were stored, but a fire in 2003 led people to believe they had been lost forever. Five years later, the combs were found at a different storage facility, completely intact, giving researchers the opportunity to study them, but unfortunately the bottle of ink hasn’t resurfaced. The kit is believed to be the oldest in the world, helping to date body art and give a location of origin, which is what makes it such a special find.

How old are the tools?

Mummified remains have shown that the art of tattooing goes back thousands of years, as well as being spread across many different cultures, but the details about how these tattoos were done has always remained uncertain. The ancient bone tattoo kit has provided researchers with a method of tattoo application, one that was so effective that it’s basically the same as how traditional tattoos are done today. Radiocarbon dating has shown that the combs are around 2,700 years old, which Australian researchers have said makes them the oldest of their kind ever discovered. They believe two of the combs are made from bird bone and the other two are most likely human bone. The dating of the combs pushes back the date of Polynesian tattooing to the beginning of Polynesian cultures, around 2,700 years ago.

A tattooing method that started in Tonga

Despite thousands of years passing, traces of ink have been found on the edges of the combs. The combs are named so because they resemble hair combs as they have grooved edges but were once sharp enough to push pigment into the skin when hit with a mallet. The bone combs could have been capable of doing the complex linear designs that were famous in Oceania. The researchers believe that the method of tattooing most likely started in West Polynesia, where Tonga is located, and spread further afield to other parts of Oceania. Additionally, after the 19th century, Christian missionaries banned tattooing in several parts of the Pacific, which led to many people travelling to other islands to get the tattoos that were significant to their beliefs and traditions.

A remarkable find

The researchers were Michelle Langley from Griffith University and Geoffrey Clark from Australian National University. They commented on how remarkably stable the tools had remained over such a long time, especially as they’d likely been in a fire too. They also noticed that one of the combs was broken but looked like someone had been in the process of repairing it. Their theory behind this is that it had most likely been left behind by mistake or it was too broken to salvage.

These bone combs have given a real insight into the art of tattoos thousands of years ago, showing how the tattoos would be applied. They’ve also helped to show that tattoos originated from Tonga and started around 2,700 years ago, making them a unique and valuable find.

Whang Od is a Filipina tattoo artist who is believed to be 102 years old and has been tattooing since she was 15. She is the last and oldest mambabatok, which means a traditional tattoo artist from Kalinga. Whang Od is part of the Butbut people in Buscalan, who belong to the Kalinga ethnic group. She originally started tattooing headhunters and Butbut warriors who protected the villages and killed enemies but stopped this is 1972 when the government discouraged it. Today, she tattoos mainly tourists as she has become widely known through travelers posting about her on social media.

Choosing a design

Whang Od tattoos using thorns, charcoal, soot and a bamboo hammer, which is a traditional method. Whang Od’s village has a board of designs that tourists can choose from or she can choose the design and placement for you. All are designed by her and have a meaning behind them. Most tattoos will be priced up afterwards, usually costing between 400 and 1000 pesos, which is approximately $10-20, and many people will offer Whang Od some gifts too, such as food and clothing. Her signature design is three dots, which represents herself and her two bloodline successors that she has trained, her grandnieces Grace Palicas and Ilyang Wigan.

Continuing traditions

It’s believed that Whang Od trained her grandnieces, along with some other bloodline members of the village, after falling ill in February 2017 to keep the thousand year old tradition alive. Their culture believes that teaching anyone outside of the bloodline would cause the tattoos to become infected.

Whang Od used to chant and do fortune telling when tattooing, which is part of the mambabatok tradition. She doesn’t chant when tattooing tourists as they’re meant for the beautification of Kalinga women and the celebration of Kalinga men’s victory. Today, the village has at least ten people trained and offering these traditional tattoos to tourists, but Whang Od is still in the highest demand.

Tourism in Buscalan

What started as a few tourists discovering Whang Od and getting a truly unique and special tattoo has led to hundreds of tourists flooding the village every day. This is largely down to blog postings on traveler websites, news stories and television appearances. Whang Od is believed to tattoo 20-30 tourists a day, along with other villagers offering traditional tattoos. She’s described as strong, friendly and nothing like most other people who have hit 100 years old.

It’s important that tourists remember that they’re visiting a remote, small village that wasn’t built for so many visitors. Litter is a big problem caused by tourists, so they’re urged to take any trash away from the area with them to help the village to sustain itself.

Getting to Buscalan

Buscalan is Whang Od’s village, which is a bit of a trek to get to. First, you need to travel to Bontoc, which is fairly easy to get to via an overnight bus from Manila. Next is getting on the daily jeepney, a Filipino minibus, from Dereyk’s Restaurant, where it leaves between 1pm and 2pm, taking passengers to the turning point near Buscalan. Once you’re off the jeepney you need to start hiking. It’s likely some locals will meet you and guide you the rest of the way.

It takes about 1-2 hours, or you can use the zipline, but it’s not often running. The villagers are very welcoming and will let you stay in their home for around $5 but amenities are very basic.

Making an informed choice

Of course, health and safety standards aren’t a priority for Buscalan, so caring for your new tattoo while it’s healing is essential to prevent infection. Whang Od will use the same thorn until it’s blunt, which is usually after several people, so there is a risk of cross contamination. No gloves are worn and nothing will be sterilized.

You need to remember that this is a traditional way of tattooing and will vary greatly to any practices that you’ll find in modern tattoo studios, therefore it’s up to you to make an informed choice about whether the safety concern outweighs getting your own Whang Od tattoo.

Many tourists believe that getting a tattoo by Whang Od is one of the best souvenirs they can take away with them when visiting the area. Although she is the last mambabatok, she has passed on much her of knowledge to other bloodline villagers to keep the art alive and to boost the local economy by welcoming tourists.