Sbahle Mpisane tattoo journey: From hater to ink enthusiast
|Published
Fitness bunny Sbahle Mpisane was one of those people who hated tattoos until her car accident in 2018.
The content creator shared with her 2.5 million followers that she hated tattoos until the accident, which left her with several scars.
“I used to be against tattoos and judged people with tattoos for the longest time. I’d even verbally state that they looked dirty because I grew up to see ink art as dirt,” wrote Mpisane.
“After my car accident, I had scars all over my body and they made me feel dirty and I was like #WTF 🙄 My anger was sky high because the scars were basically tattoos that I didn’t ask for.
“To make life easy for myself, I decided to get inked so I could cover my scars bit by bit to clean the dirt. My mum supported my art because she knew that it would give me the peace I needed and boost my dead confidence at the time.”
She added that although she was advised against covering all the scars, especially the one on her arm, she went ahead anyway.
“A friend of mine with one small tattoo advised me recently to not get a sleeve tattoo to cover my arm scar that many individuals kept staring at (out of curiosity).
“I laughed at her and said, ‘We are equal sinners doll face, u murdered one individual and I bombed a household’. (I don’t want to laugh again ngoba izinja ziyafana dogs are the same]) 😅 bible judges me but I had to cover all my scars and I’m happy they are not a view for people to view or question me!!!”
She then opened a discussion for her followers to share their tattoo stories.
Instagram user @wewed869 said she regretted the tattoo she got to cover her skin condition.
“I have one and I regret it every day... when I was in varsity I had skin issues on my thigh ( vitiligo) and I didn't know anything about it.
“I lost my confidence, started to hide when I was bathing, stop going to the beach in swimwear until I met this friend of mine who introduced me to her brother at uMlazi (2010) she said her brother would cover it up and I’d be back on the game.
“But I got the worst tattoo of my life I started hiding the more .. got lazy to even date because of it. I have tried to get the courage to do a cover-up but I'm scared to even show a tattoo person what I have 😭😭😭it has been a miserable life for me... but hey, I love your tattoos you look sexy and cool with them.
“I just wish I could afford something nice. I really love yours and you're pretty with them and I'm so sorry about what you have been through, Sbahle.”
While tattoos have different meanings for everyone, you have to be 100% sure before getting one because they are permanent.