Neelam Nandra

Staff Writer

Trends at Cal High come and go, but one that has been gaining more momentum around school this year is the expression of individualism on the body.

Many students have recently started to get more tattoos and piercings as a way to express themselves.

Juniors Melissa Mosier and Shawnee Traylor are known to do piercings and tattoos for other students.

“I did my first tattoo last summer,” said junior Melissa Mosier. “I was nervous as anything, but it worked out.”

Mosier enjoys this new trend and believes that these tattoos and piercings are forms of artwork.

Although this has been a fairly recent trend, many students have been getting piercings and tattoos for a while. It seems like this year, however, the need for these expressions has been much greater in demand.

“I think it’s just another of those general trends,” junior Shawnee Traylor said.  “Piercing started becoming popular in the Western culture around the late ’80s with belly buttons and noses. Now people just keep getting more creative.”

Traylor, who has 20 piercings herself, has been performing body piercings since she was 13 years old.

“I started doing piercings in eighth grade,” said Traylor. “I’ve done a lot of noses and ears.”

As for tattoos, Mosier believes it’s all about the current style that is what is important to people.

“There are a lot of really bold, bright colored tattoos that I’ve noticed people getting,” said Mosier, “a lot of Asian characters and artwork have been requested too.”

There are also certain styles of tattoos and piercings that many students are drawn to, which makes it easier on artists like Mosier when people know what they want. Many people are interested in getting a certain quote or a meaningful symbol done.

Junior Wyatt Slanec was tattooed by Mosier and was very happy with her work.

“She did a great job, I really like what she did,” said Slanec.

A love of art is necessary for this job, as many tattoos are large, artistic pieces. It seems as though the trend lately is to get larger tattoos, rather than small ones on wrists or ankles.

“ I think if you’re going to get a meaningful tattoo it’s kinda like go big or don’t it at all.” said senior Miho Byrns, who has a large cherry blossom tattoo on the side of her body. “Small tattoos don’t like as clean or detailed as the large ones.”

There are reasons as to why there has been a large increase in the number of tattoos and piercing that have been seen around campus.

“Tattoos are becoming a lot more socially acceptable,” said Mosier. “Even parents seem to be more okay with them nowadays.”

As for tattoos in the work place, Traylor had the same thoughts.

“Tasteful visible tattoos tend to be regarded highly in “trendy” lines of work (trendy retail, cafés, restaurants),” Said Traylor.

Piercings in the wrist and dermals in the hips have also become very popular this year. There are many girls who have this piercing too.

“I’ve always wanted dermals, I just thought they were really cute, and I got them,” said junior Ally Hansen.

To Hansen, tattoos and piercings are both two ways to express ones self.

“Sometimes you just want to get something on your body that will express something forever,” Said Hansen.

Although trends fade in and out, Mosier is sure that tattoos and piercings are here to stay.

“Tattoos and piercings are pieces of artwork that are displayed on the body, I think that they’re a great way to express yourself,” said Mosier.