GRIM Studios Blog

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.

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