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19-Year-Old Wanted To Cover Up Her Self-Harm Scars But All Tattoo Artists Refused To Help. Except One
Ink has allowed an Irish teen to recover from self-harm and here’s her story. Aoife Lovett (19) had been struggling with mental health throughout the years, and even though she got better, the self-harm scars brought back memories she wanted to forget. Aoife wanted to cover up them with tattoos, but all artists she reached out to refused to work with scarred skin. Except for one.
Aoife’s mom came across Ryan Kelly’s project Scars Behind Beauty, an initiative that helps people leave self-harm behind with cover up tattoos. “It’s tough when you’re a couple of years clean from doing it, and every day you’re constantly reminded of what you did,” Aoife told the Independent. “It brings back memories of how you felt then. There’s a lot of shame that comes with it and guilt, especially when you’re around your family.”
Ryan launched his tattoo cover up project in February when another woman contacted him for the same reason Aoife did. “A girl just randomly came in looking for a tattoo to cover up some scars and I got talking to her, and she started telling me her story,” Ryan said. “At the end of that, it didn’t really feel right to charge her. It kind of felt like the self-harm tattoo cover up meant more to her than that.”
“The best tattoo cover-up is putting something beautiful over something ugly,” Aoife praised Ryan’s work. “It gives you a new sense of freedom and you get your confidence back because it’s tough to go into jobs and wear t-shirts with scars because you get looks and you get questions a lot about it.”
Ryan wasn’t quick to judge other tattoo artists. “Understandably to a certain degree because obviously if you want your best piece, it’s going to be better on flat skin. It can take a little bit more time sometimes, but for me, it means a lot more than that because you’re helping someone move on from a difficult time.”
(h/t)
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19-year-old Aoife had been struggling with mental health throughout the years, and even though she got better, the scars brought back memories she wanted to forget
“It’s very hard when you’re a couple of years clean from doing it and every day you’re constantly reminded of what you did. It brings back memories of how you felt then”
Aoife wanted to cover up them with tattoos, but all artists she reached out to refused to work with scarred skin. Except one
After taking a look at Aoife’s scars, Ryan Kelly began covering them up for free
In the end, Ryan was able to put something beautiful over something ugly
“It gives you a new sense of freedom and you get your confidence back”
Ryan launched his project Scars Behind Beauty in February when another woman contacted him for the same reason Aoife did
“A girl just randomly came in looking for a tattoo to cover up some scars and I got talking to her and she started telling me her story”
“At the end of that it didn’t really feel right to charge her. It kind of felt like it meant more to her than that”
Ryan is not the only one dedicated to this great task, Poppy Seger is a tattoo artist from the UK who has helped many people already
Image credits: Poppy
“Tattooing over self harm scarring can be triggering. It can bring tears, memories, flashbacks” says Poppy
Image credits: Poppy
And Whitney Develle has done similar work in Australia
Image credits: Whitney Develle
People were reacting strongly to these artists’ great work
What do you think ?
Poor unfortunate soul 8 years ago
This is an amazing thing for some one to do, especially for free, I congratulate all the people, who made it through this
Long Joan Silver 8 years ago
Shut up, DaisyArnold. Take your spam comments elsewhere. Thank you
Load More Replies...
EleanorMayB 8 years ago
I'm recovering from self-harm, so stories like this makes me hopeful. Once my scars have healed (unfortunately I have raised scarring), I hope to be able to have a tattoo
Cat Meow 8 years ago
I wish I could upvote this more than once. It's such a nice thing of them to do, especially free of charge. Self harm is no joke, and having to look at them each and every day once you're at a better place mentally will always bring memories flooding back. And if you DO end up wearing short sleeves in the summer, there's always people staring or asking unwanted questions. So, THANK YOU to all those tattoo artists out there who don't shy away from tattooing over self harm scars.
Nadia Corinna 8 years ago
I just wish scars weren't described as 'something ugly'. I think that's for every sufferer to decide for themselves. Some people consider them signs that they survived, and they have every right. The last thing self-harmers (myself included) need is more stigma about their scars. So glad Aoife's happier with her body now and the artist is so good to do this for free. Good people <3
Alusair Alustriel 8 years ago
Bravo for the man! I know however why most tattooists won't work with the scarred ink - such skin is quite resistant to ink, so the images can fade or disrupt soonr than expected. But I agree strongly that people who want to cover their scars, should have an opportunity to do that - changing something awful, both mentally and physically into something beautiful you like to look at is a wonderful and needed skill.
Franny Larocque 8 years ago
I have Edward scissor hands hand covering my scars on my wrist, from elbow to hand.
Darlon Shelter 8 years ago
What to say? Even without Sigmund Freud's endorsement, I believe that people who commit suicide, or maim their own bodies, they are going through moments of extreme loneliness, lack of self-esteem, and therefore, deeply depressed, and worse, they have not even found a word of encouragement, love, or any other type of help, within the ambit of their parents or friends. Nowadays, parents should always be attentive to everything that happens in the life of their children, without, however, resort to the practice of an ostensive patrol. There are a number of reasons why suicide, or self-mutilation, are particularly common among young people. For example, dating or marriage broken, poor school performance, feeling herself ugly in front the mirror, lack of new friends, or even lack of a reasonable job. Over these past 30 years, the world has changed, mainly for young people, as the shop windows of the malls are filled with luxury items, a luxury which most of them will never have access to.
Oli Fong 8 years ago
Im sure the artists that said NO to the coverup was because covering scars doesnt always come out well, as scar tissue is tougher than normal skin and they didnt want to give her a permament crappy tattoo. But well done to they guy who took the chance and did a really really good job of it, 2 thumbs up!!!
Ok Ha-Neul 8 years ago
this is so beautiful. i love stories like this. faith in humanity restored
Poor unfortunate soul 8 years ago
This is an amazing thing for some one to do, especially for free, I congratulate all the people, who made it through this
Long Joan Silver 8 years ago
Shut up, DaisyArnold. Take your spam comments elsewhere. Thank you
Load More Replies... EleanorMayB 8 years ago
I'm recovering from self-harm, so stories like this makes me hopeful. Once my scars have healed (unfortunately I have raised scarring), I hope to be able to have a tattoo
Cat Meow 8 years ago
I wish I could upvote this more than once. It's such a nice thing of them to do, especially free of charge. Self harm is no joke, and having to look at them each and every day once you're at a better place mentally will always bring memories flooding back. And if you DO end up wearing short sleeves in the summer, there's always people staring or asking unwanted questions. So, THANK YOU to all those tattoo artists out there who don't shy away from tattooing over self harm scars.
Nadia Corinna 8 years ago
I just wish scars weren't described as 'something ugly'. I think that's for every sufferer to decide for themselves. Some people consider them signs that they survived, and they have every right. The last thing self-harmers (myself included) need is more stigma about their scars. So glad Aoife's happier with her body now and the artist is so good to do this for free. Good people <3
Alusair Alustriel 8 years ago
Bravo for the man! I know however why most tattooists won't work with the scarred ink - such skin is quite resistant to ink, so the images can fade or disrupt soonr than expected. But I agree strongly that people who want to cover their scars, should have an opportunity to do that - changing something awful, both mentally and physically into something beautiful you like to look at is a wonderful and needed skill.
Franny Larocque 8 years ago
I have Edward scissor hands hand covering my scars on my wrist, from elbow to hand.
Darlon Shelter 8 years ago
What to say? Even without Sigmund Freud's endorsement, I believe that people who commit suicide, or maim their own bodies, they are going through moments of extreme loneliness, lack of self-esteem, and therefore, deeply depressed, and worse, they have not even found a word of encouragement, love, or any other type of help, within the ambit of their parents or friends. Nowadays, parents should always be attentive to everything that happens in the life of their children, without, however, resort to the practice of an ostensive patrol. There are a number of reasons why suicide, or self-mutilation, are particularly common among young people. For example, dating or marriage broken, poor school performance, feeling herself ugly in front the mirror, lack of new friends, or even lack of a reasonable job. Over these past 30 years, the world has changed, mainly for young people, as the shop windows of the malls are filled with luxury items, a luxury which most of them will never have access to.
Oli Fong 8 years ago
Im sure the artists that said NO to the coverup was because covering scars doesnt always come out well, as scar tissue is tougher than normal skin and they didnt want to give her a permament crappy tattoo. But well done to they guy who took the chance and did a really really good job of it, 2 thumbs up!!!
Ok Ha-Neul 8 years ago
this is so beautiful. i love stories like this. faith in humanity restored
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