By Kaity Sample and Ale Ibarra Posted March 07, 2017
Body modification has been around for a long time, but today, society has taken it to a completely new level with new technologies. People across the globe are permanently changing their features through various techniques to achieve a more aesthetic or pleasing look that’s in the eye of the beholder.
Permanent makeup is a trend that is on the rise. For generations in the past, both girls and boys have applied makeup to the face and neck area to help glamorize their look or to cover blemishes. With today’s technology, makeup is becoming permanent. Certain cosmetologists and tattoo artists are perfecting the art. You can tattoo your lip liner, eyeliner, and eyebrows to eliminate the usage of everyday makeup and the hassle it brings every morning.
Tattoos are a body modification that have been around for thousands of years. Lately, it’s something that people have placed on their bodies to show some sort of importance to that person. Others can be completely spontaneous and self-expressive. It can be something as small as a zodiac sign on the wrist, or something all over the chest, neck, and face.
Senior Connor Waldie recently got his first tattoo and, like most, it has a special meaning to him.
“It’s a take on chain mail because I’ve got thick skin, I don’t let a lot of stuff bother me, and I wanted a reminder to not let things get to me,” said Waldie.
It is also related to his heritage.
“[It is] Celtic because I’ve got Celtic roots and I wanted to be closer to my roots,” said Waldie.
Artists, musicians, and actors have been flaunting their tattoos shamelessly on the red carpets as well. From up-and-coming R&B singer Kehlani to Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, body art has expanded throughout the years.
Senior Elise Rose has two tattoos that have special meaning to her life. One is a cross with Basque writing on the side of her ribcage, and the other is a quote on the back of her right shoulder blade.
“My tattoos have a special meaning. They are for my brother. I went through excruciating pain to get them, but I would do it again,” said Rose.
Speaking of piercings, lately, they have been getting much more popular. Especially in the younger generations. Nose piercings, belly button, eyebrow, dimple, and back dimples; they all exist. There are different types of piercings that can go anywhere on the body. They are popular because there are many designs, colors, and gems to choose from. Like tattoos, it’s a way of expression.
Implants have come a long way since the typical breast implant. Although still common today, implants have only gotten bigger and better. You can now have buttock, pectoral, bicep, tricep, and calf implants, which have started to become the norm, as well as other cosmetic surgeries. Lip enhancements, the burning of fat cells, nose corrections, hairline treatments, almost everything that could be seen as “not normal” can now be surgically treated. But it doesn’t just stop at that. From eyelash transplants to jawline reduction surgery, our generation is becoming obsessed with perfection.
Hair removal is a big deal to females. Ask any girl out there, when preparing for a special occasion or just a night out, we remove hair from everything. Legs, arms, face, you name it, and it is probably hairless. This may seem like such a minor modification people do to their bodies on a daily basis, but when you really begin to think about it, hair removal is such a drastic change to our bodies.
“I usually shave off most of my hair on a daily basis. I shave everything from my arms to my belly button, to my legs, literally everything. It isn’t something I find unusual until you really start to consider the facts. But my body is so used to it that I wouldn’t stop now,” said Rose.
According to research on fivethirtyeight.com in a survey of 1,677 women ages 16 to 40 years old, only 8.6 percent of women had never shaved anything but their legs. Body hair is on a fast track to extinction in America.
In today’s society, tanning is loved by some and disliked by others. Tanning is favored by some because they still think it’s a good idea to lie in a tanning bed to get that golden-tone, beach-ready look. Tanning beds can be more popular than sun tanning because one can adjust the amount of UV rays the bed emits. Those who dislike tanning know the risks and dangers that tanning, of any kind, can cause. Skin cancers and diseases can be much less preventable if you are exposed to UV rays. According to the American Cancer Society, since 1992, U.S. rates of melanoma have risen 3% a year in women ages 15 to 39. It was also stated that people who use a tanning salon before the age of 35 can increase their risk of melanoma by 75%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
You can also get a spray tan. President Trump isn’t going to keep his secret any longer if he keeps showing up to events looking orange.
Waist training is a fashion trend that makes the waist appear much slimmer. Celebrities such as the Kardashians have also jumped on the trend. Many women use this corset, not only for wearing it under their clothes for a special occasion to boost confidence, but also use it during their exercise routine. The whole point of this waist training trend is to make the body have more of an hourglass figure. Exercising with the corset may seem more effective, but it can also be dangerous. Wearing a corset can restrict breathing and cause serious discomfort, especially if worn while working out.
It seems everyone is doing something to modify their appearance. Look around, and you may be surprised. Even some of your teachers are sporting ink and piercings.
