House of GRIM Blog

Everyone loves to say tattoos are forever. They are — but forever doesn’t mean flawless. As your skin changes, your tattoos change too. That’s not failure, and it’s not something to be ashamed of. It’s just biology, time, and life doing what they do best. Here’s what actually happens to your tattoos as the years go on — and what you can do to keep them looking bold instead of blown-out.

you can’t swim after getting tattooed. Not in pools, hot tubs, lakes, oceans, or bathtubs. A healing tattoo is an open wound. Submerging it means bacteria, chlorine, and regret.

Forget Pinterest. Start with feeling. Everyone wants the “perfect tattoo style.” But chasing the right aesthetic is the fastest way to end up with a tattoo that doesn’t feel like you. At GRIM, we care more about what you want it to mean than what you think it should look like.

People love to act like tattoos are frivolous — vanity, rebellion, or regret waiting to happen. But that’s only said by people who’ve never watched someone cry halfway through a session because they finally felt like their body belonged to them again. Tattoos matter because they’re the most honest form of storytelling humans have left.

Yes, tattoo removal hurts.But probably not in the way you’re imagining — and definitely not for as long as you think. Most people come in bracing themselves for something unbearable. What they usually say afterward is:“Oh. That was… not what I thought it would be.” Here’s what it actually feels like.

We live in the age of content. Every tattoo shop has a ring light, every client takes a post-session selfie, and every tattoo is one upload away from becoming a trend. But tattoos weren’t born for virality. They were born for survival. At GRIM Studios, we think getting tattooed for yourself — not the algorithm — means bringing the sacred back to something the internet made shallow.

Once upon a time, tattoos were for outlaws, sailors, queers, punks, and outsiders. Now? You can get a minimalist micro heart in a white-walled studio between Pilates and brunch. Tattooing went mainstream — and that’s not necessarily bad. But it does mean we need to talk about what rebellion looks like when rebellion gets monetized.

What do tattooers owe people who need ink removed, not added? That question is why we helped build Reth-Ink, a trauma-informed laser tattoo removal program offering free removal for tattoos tied to hate, trafficking, abuse, and violence. This post explains why that matters — and why tattoo studios should be part of the solution.

There’s a tired old myth floating around tattoo culture — that tattoos don’t “take” or “heal” well on darker skin. It’s not just wrong. It’s racist. That myth didn’t come from the skin. It came from the people tattooing it.

You booked the sessions. You powered through the laser. You healed, waited, checked the mirror. And somehow… it’s still there. Not the tattoo exactly, but the shadow of it — a faint outline, a whisper, the ghost of what once was. At Reth-Ink, we call them ink ghosts. They’re what’s left when pigment fades but memory doesn’t — the place where biology and identity refuse to separate cleanly.

For decades, tattoo shops carried a certain reputation: dark rooms, intimidating artists, and a culture where you had to “earn” your place in the chair. That atmosphere kept a lot of people away—especially women, queer folks, and anyone who didn’t fit the “tough guy” stereotype. But the tattoo industry is changing. And thank goodness for that. Why the “Tough Guy” Era is Ending

Tattoo removal is evolving faster than ever, but there’s still no magic wand — yet. What’s changing is the experience: less pain, less downtime, more transparency. So while other clinics chase the next viral gadget, we’ll keep doing what actually works: science-based removal, personalized care, and technology that’s proven, not promised.

you can tattoo over self-harm scars — but how, when, and why you do it matters. At GRIM, we’ve worked with a lot of people reclaiming their skin after self-harm. And we treat that process with the same gravity we’d give to sacred art — because that’s exactly what it is. Tattooing over scars isn’t just technical; it’s emotional.

Your new tattoo isn’t gym-proof — or waterproof. We get it. You’re committed to your routine. You hit the gym, you swim, you sweat — and you just got fresh ink. But here’s the thing: a new tattoo is an open wound, and your body needs time to heal before you put it through extra stress. Here’s the truth about working out, swimming, and sweating after getting tattooed — and how to avoid ruining that brand-new piece you just dropped good money on.

We talk a lot about tattoo removal technology — lasers, wavelengths, pigment chemistry — but not enough about the body that’s doing the healing. Your hormones influence how your skin behaves, how your immune system responds, and even how efficiently your body clears broken-down ink particles after each laser session.

Yeah, tattoos hurt. But they also heal, and then they become part of you.Pain fades. Art stays. And if you’re getting tattooed at GRIM Studios, you’re in safe, gentle, ridiculously capable hands. So breathe. It’s not that bad. And when it’s over, you’ll have something beautiful to show for it — forever.

Can tattoos really be removed completely? The short answer: sometimes.The long answer: it depends on the ink, your skin, your body, and the laser. At Reth-Ink, we use picosecond laser technology — the most advanced system available today — because it gives the highest chance of full clearance with the fewest sessions. But no laser can promise 100% perfection every time.

When people think of tattoo removal, they often assume all colors fade at the same rate. But here’s the truth: not all inks are equally easy to erase. While black and dark blue inks often vanish quickly under a laser, colors like green, yellow, and light blue are notoriously stubborn. So, what makes these shades so resistant? Let’s dig into the science.

Laser tattoo removal works by creating a controlled, microscopic injury under the skin so your immune system can flush out the ink.Which means that right after a session, your body isn’t ready for sweat, stretching, or gym equipment. It’s healing. Here’s what actually happens when you exercise too soon — and when it’s safe to get back to your routine.

It used to be that people flipped through flash sheets in a shop or brought in a rough sketch from a magazine. Now? They’re scrolling TikTok. Social media has become one of the biggest driving forces behind tattoo culture—especially micro-trends that explode overnight. From butterflies and cherries to tiny fine-line hearts, viral tattoos are everywhere. But what happens when your “For You Page” becomes your tattoo inspiration? Let’s break down the rise of TikTok tattoos.