Photo: @sofiarichie /Instagram
It all started for JonBoy with Sofia Richie She asked for the word “clarity”, a little below her left ear. “She was just a teenager, breaking into the modeling world,” he recalls. I was like “Are you sure?” “I was asking her if she was sure. She replied, “Yeah, that’s right, but I want it very small in printed letters.” The model looks effortlessly at ease with the delicacy and size of the tattoo, as well as the layout. Instagram was able to take over and set the new trend.
Additionally, internet-famous rappers like Lil Uzi Vert, 21 Savage, and the late Lil Peep offer lots of inspiration for fashion-conscious young people. What could be simpler than JonBoy’s neck tattoo? It’s not like you are going to sit in a big neck piece. You might need to wait for it for as long as fifteen minutes or twenty minutes. It’s possible to cover up with makeup, if needed.
This may seem to be a convincing argument in favor of the trend, however, one must carefully consider the pros and cons of tattooing on the neck and face. The skin is particularly susceptible to sun damage and ageing. Dr. Jessica Weiser, a dermatologist specializing in cancer prevention and anti-aging at the Flatiron district’s swanky New York Dermatology Group, stresses that proper placement is key in tattooing the neck: “The face, neck, and décolletage are some of the most frequently sun exposed and sun damaged skin sites and are also prone to sagging or laxity, and therefore have a high risk of tattoo fading, drooping and changing over time.”
Weiser also notes the placement of a tattoo on the neck is crucial and must be handled by an experienced artist — one like JonBoy, for instance, who is happy to take his time deciding where a tattoo needs to be. While you do not want your tattoos to become blurred if the skin starts to wrinkle, you must also consider how the body will heal, and the amount of movement that the individual is likely to make. For me, it’s also aesthetic — just stepping back and seeing how it looks from a few feet away and making sure it looks like it belongs. It’s 100% accurate, even though I may have to repeat the process 50 times.
Photo: @avieofficial /Instagram
Over the long-term Dr. Weiser advises that patients use sun protective and moisturizing regimens daily. Dr. Weiser advises tattoo artists to immediately follow their aftercare instructions. This is to prevent skin flaking and scabbing. JonBoy states that every artist is different. He uses a transparent non-porous wrap to protect the skin for five days. But they share some things in common. Keep it clean and moisturized. Dr. Weiser advises that you do not tattoo over moles and lesions. This will prevent skin exams.
Of course, a neck tattoo can still fade. It’s simply the skin nature. JonBoy states that it is definitely visible in the skin of an 80-year old man with war tattoos. But at the same, technology and needles have improved and people use really high quality ink. So it all comes down to the application.
Indeed, just about everything about tattooing has changed — even the fact of their permanence. The most well-known procedure Dr. Weiser performs with lasers is removal. Although removing a tattoo from the sensitive skin of the neck can take longer sessions and be more delicate, one thing is sure: Today’s decision to get tattoos is different than ever. You have the freedom to choose.
