Knowing Your Colours – Empowering YOU

Knowing your colour season versus understanding WHY you’re a certain season are not necessarily related. 

Knowing -v- understanding

My niece has known from the age of 4 that she’s a Winter.  Last year, she had her colours analysed for her 15^th birthday.  At this point she SAW it for herself and it’s had a profound effect on her understanding of (her) colours, what it MEANS to be a Winter and why certain colours don’t belong in her palette. 

My colouring has changed!

With the House of Colour system we analyse and identify people according to the season their colours fall in (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter).  By using a thorough, systematic process of analysis, based on your natural (genetic) colouring it’s our experience that people, when analysed correctly, stay with the same basic colour range (season); it’s your best/top/2-star colours within your range that may change over time or with tanning.  I find that some of my pastels look good on me in the summer but I need stronger colours in the winter (still from my season) to balance and complement my natural colouring.  Some people think you need to have your colours re-analysed I think you may just need a refresh – a fresh perspective. 

I used to be able to wear anything but now I can’t.

This is related to the fact that a younger or tanned skin tone can be more forgiving – there is more colour and definition in your skin tone to be drained away before you start to look tired.  As we get older, our skin and hair colour move closer together, making them less forgiving when we venture away from our core seasonal palette.  You’ve also got several more years’ experience of seeing images and reflections of yourself to recognise that some work better on you than others.


Thank you for giving me permission to wear something I love, but thought I couldn’t anymore!

Having the confidence to know something suits you and to wear it proudly is one of the biggest gifts we share as Colour Analysts.

Part of the human condition is concern about what people think of us, whether something suits us, makes us look stupid or is in fashion.  My teenage years were spent trying to find what suited me by asking my friends.  The opinions I received were rarely objective, more based on their own preference rather than an objective view of what flattered me.

The challenge of emotional interference. 

Bad experiences

Colours may evoke an emotional (positive or negative) response in us, (school uniform, fashion trends, parental imposition, favourite experience) disabling our ability to see whether they look good on us or not.

One overriding memory is of a client who, on realising she was an Autumn, immediately retorted  ‘I don’t like these colours….. and I  know why I don’t…. the woman who went off with my ex-husband wore these colours’.  By identifying this emotional repellent she was able to separate her colour selection from the emotional trauma of that marriage breakdown and give herself permission to look good.

Objectivity/Subjectivity 

As a consultant, analysing my elder son as a 6 week old baby, having only known him 6 weeks it was easier compared to his younger brother who was over a year old by the time I sat him down with the drapes.  As his mother, analysing a 12 month old was influenced by our year together and what I WANTED him to be rather than what he was!  But what a joy to be able to buy them clothes in colours that suit them and really see them shine as individuals.  More importantly, a sense of who they are through what suits them; enabling them to have freedom to choose and like their own colour choices rather than being influenced by each others’ subjective preferences.   

Practicality

Knowing what colours suit someone I’m choosing for means swapping and exchanging clothes is less hampered by the emotional baggage and possibility of offending someone.  Second hand clothing,  keeping the ‘hand-me-downs’ which work and dyeing, or freely releasing those which don’t, to someone else is a liberating and empowering place to be. 

I know someone who regularly buys presents for people in her own colours (and often styles) thinking, in the absence of knowing their colours, that this is a ‘safe’ colour.  Safe for her as the giver, not necessarily for the receiver if they are a different season/style!

A world without colour is unimaginable - the joy of colour is in surrounding yourself with those which empower you as an individual.  The challenge is in finding a compromise that works for everyone in the home when you are all different seasons!

How Many Hats Do You Wear?

There are periods in life when balls get dropped, some are more visible than others, and the regular readers among you have commented when it gets a bit quiet on the blog front – feel free to feedback any time - your views are always welcome!

 

My excuse is much the same as many - ‘too busy’, although given that some people manage to organise multi-million pound businesses and their families, it must be that my support structures are not sufficient or my organisational habits not up to scratch, as every now and then I drop a ball or two!

When your life is full to the brim, how many hats can you wear at once and who can you bring in to help you with a ‘hat’ which is maybe not your area of expertise?  

 

I’ve been heard to say that I can be 3 things, wife, mother and career woman.  But is that true?  Is it possible to do more than one thing at a time? 

 

The world of technology is clear that there is no such thing as multi-tasking – the concept of multi-tasking is merely an illusion created by the processors working so fast or in parallel that they appear to be able to do more than one thing at a time – a bit like an effective parent! 

But, when the systems get overloaded, the computer crashes!  When I try to take on more than my own capacity, something drops and nothing seems to get done effectively.   Bring in the cavalry – back up required!  This Blog gives some good ideas for reducing the number of hats you may be trying to juggle! Whether this is asking for help from a friend, hiring a PA, a team of staff or even outsourcing to a company, it’s possible, BUT a certain amount of organisation is required to get to that point!

Just as order and structure supports me in work, so it does in my home - everything in its place and a place for everything’ - thus, frustrations mount as the clutter increases with expanding work, school activities, birthday parties and the Christmas influx!  All the ‘places’ are full and ‘things’ start to pile up in the corners. 

Working mostly from home means my space needs to be organised and (subject to the limitations of having young children) relatively tidy; I walk around the ‘clutter’ and TRY to ignore it but notice how distracting it is.  I say ‘try’ because in reality mess has an adverse effect on me; tidiness leaves me feeling relaxed and able to breathe. 

But it’s more than tidiness - at a basic level, the areas of my home need to support ME, i.e. do the right job in the right way.

At House of Colour, we work to identify that your clothes do the right job in the right way, supporting you in your lifestyle.   Enter Rannveig (pronounced Ranvay), of Anna Stone Design, an interior designer who works with ‘space’.  Rannveig listened to what I was trying to achieve and my frustrations with it not seeming to come together.  Trained, professional and objective, her fresh eye, made my space work better for me just as I’ve helped people’s wardrobes work better for them.

My problem was reduced to about a quarter of its original size by reorganising 3 out of 4 of my downstairs rooms - space and energy is apparent!

After an exhausting but enjoyable day spent rearranging sofas, chairs, tables, toy storage and pictures, my home felt completely different.  With only Rannveig’s time as my cost, I was well on the way to solving a problem that had seemed insurmountable because it drained me of energy and I always had too many things to do.   I’m used to being brought in as the ‘cavalry’ but today I’d been the recipient!  

And the best bit?  Nobody noticed!  I’d say that’s because it’s right, it works - just as when someone is wearing the colours and styles which suit and flatter them, people notice the person not the clothes.

There’s no ‘best before’ date on style

The lady wore black……. almost unrelieved black.

An electric blue fairy danced gaily on her hat and a scatter of white polka dots, like a starling’s wing, graced the gauzy silk of her scarf. But, apart from that, she was in black; black hat, wide black belt nipping in a slender waist in a black winter coat, black gloves, black riding boots.

And she looked great!

We bonded over a stray shopping trolley which required escorting ‘home’, when she expressed admiration for my sartorial style (I, needless to say as a Spring, was not in black).

Well, right back atcha, sister!

The curls escaping from her hat may have been silver, the mischievous eyes set in a sea of fine wrinkles but this lady clearly showed that you don’t have to give up on looking spectacular just because a certain birthday has passed.

When I told her how fantastic she looked she giggled unashamedly and told me it was all done on a shoestring. The belt had come from Primark, the scarf from a charity shop, the hat from Claire’s Accessories. The dancing fairy had been made for her by her great grand-daughter. The coat and boots she laughed, well they had been in her wardrobe for ever!

Despite obviously being in her eighties, this lovely lady was subtly but exquisitely made up, with a vibrant raspberry coloured lipstick enhancing her bright blue eyes. Black was so obviously right for her, the neat but slightly dramatic style complementing her naughty personality.

I didn’t get her name but she was an inspiration. I think I want to be just like her when I grow up - only not in black - Chocolate or Geranium Red, maybe……..?

Colour Confidence

Red is a colour long associated with confidence, a colour representing passion, energy and drive.  Melissa from Kettlewell reinforces the good news that we have been sharing with our clients for nearly 30 years.  We all suit red, the key is knowing which are your shades!  Wearing colours which suit you makes you appear more confident; knowing they suit you enables you to feel it; very useful if you need to:

• Present
• Meet new people (in domestic or business life)
• Cover your nerves on a new date
• Demonstrate you have the edge at a job interview
• Perform, especially in competitions
• Pitch for new business
• Walk on the beach in your bikini, swimming costume...or trunks!

As a mother there have been many times when I’ve needed that confidence boost – being pregnant stands out in my mind as a time when I didn’t feel particularly glamorous; interviews, appraisals, sales meetings, public events and first dates … are all up there!   Ignoring for now the impact that wearing the right style, fabrics, patterns and accessories has on how you look and feel; the first thing with colour is to understand a little of the science (cool/warm, soft/clear) which is clearly explained in your colour class.  

Understanding how the science of colour relates to your skin tone enables you to identify your best colours in your wardrobe or the shops and know what suits you so you can confidently keep, buy, pass-on or pass-by. 



The second stage, which you are introduced to in your Colour Confidence Class, is being able to put them together in interesting and creative combinations. Overcoming the fear of creating something garish, cheap or clashing… or indeed helping you achieve that, depending on your intention!  

 

 

I find it fascinating to see the way colours work on different style types (clothing personalities discovered in your Style Class) with the Dramatics and Gamines benefiting from quirky mixes, the Classics, generally more conservative, traditional, understated or toning blends and the Romantics relishing in creating  glamorous combinations while Naturals frequently migrate to 'natural' shades.

The wonderful thing about the seasonal analysis system is that it is simple enough to explain and flexible enough to cover the multitude of unique skin tones; as a result of its simplicity, selecting colours from one season maximises the chance of them working together.  

A useful trick is to use an accessory which incorporates the colours of your outfit; scarves or necklaces are excellent for this.  

Using patterns is another secret weapon.

I love that these crop trousers, genuine 50s designs, are until now unseen prints.  But more than this, very useful if your proportions and personality suggest you need more ‘attention’ on your lower half of your body, than your upper half. 

Kettlewell work really well with the seasonal system, fully embracing its versatility and confidently selecting a broad range of colours which genuinely ensures there’s a choice for you, whatever your colouring.  A real accomplishment for a clothing supplier most of whom, seem to come from an artistic/design perspective more than using science to inform the art.

I can still remember the days when I wouldn’t wear make-up or colour, preferring to stay ‘safe’ (invisible) with neutrals and the ‘natural’ look (no make-up, no effort!).  Knowing what suits me enables me to stay visible AND ‘safe’ by using the colours I know suit me – some I had an idea of but most were a revelation. 

With Mother’s Day coming up, what better present could you give your mother than the gift of colour confidence.  With free P&P on Gift vouchers in March you can give anything from colour analysis through colour confidence to make-up and shopping trips; they will all help her feel special and, if you already know her colours and what suits her, you’ll almost certainly find something you know she’ll love from the extensive Kettlewell range.

The Dress Code Minefield

Everyone now and then there’s a serious side to everything – from a work perspective dress code can be a minefield.

My young son is currently fascinated by the World Wars, so when he wanted to bring home D-Day, My Story, which his teachers felt a little advanced for him, we agreed that we would discuss anything that is new or unclear to him - finishing the book might take a while but we’ve had some amazing conversations. 

One such conversation explored what a minefield is.  Working through this, the 7 year old explanation is relatively simple – an explosive that is generally unseen and triggered by ‘you’ in some way, unintentionally and often with no warning, causing significant damage beyond your control.

Mapping this onto your work wear, the term ‘minefield’ is an interesting metaphor.  The point being that while we are all free to choose what to wear, there are sometimes dress codes or expectations of what is acceptable and appropriate which, if we get it wrong, could at best hinder progress or at worst damage your reputation, unknowingly and almost certainly unintentionally, without warning and seemingly beyond your control.

I’ve met many clients who enjoy the act of rebellion and breaking the rules.   To really enjoy this, you need to break the rules ‘knowingly’, which requires an understanding of what the rules are, why they exist and what they are intended to provide.   In other words, to elicit a desired response from your audience, consciously making a choice about your clothing would be the smart choice! 





Understanding what works for you, (your colouring, shape, budget and lifestyle), dovetailing this with a knowledge of the language of clothes and identifying ways to add or remove authority in your outfit to bring clarity is all provided in your Personal Style Class – it’s a way of ‘minesweeping’ your appearance and personal brand to clear a path for safe progress.

A business relies on its personnel to deliver the ‘brand’; its people need to accurately reflect the product, service, company and market while showing themselves to be individuals.   In a less formal, multi-cultural society, where you’re aiming for freedom of expression whilst reinforcing your brand, it is critical to achieve a dress code that works for everyone, which can be a legal minefield.  With people exercising their right to express themselves more freely at all times, how do employers define clearly what is fair, reasonable and acceptable?  Employers have considerable latitude on what is acceptable but they must ensure that they don’t fall foul of anti-discrimination legislation.

 Next week, we have a guest blog from Kate Russell, (BA Barrister, MA) of Russell HR Consulting, who provides some clear guidance on what to consider in the workplace.

A Colour Revelation

I’ve been working directly with colour for many years and love being surrounded by beautiful things.  Beauty for me is in the delicate and subtle, the harmonious and blending, the segue through the seasons and the balance between natural and manmade. 

 

Spring is on the way, the birds are singing, the daffodils are peaking through, the snowdrops are making an appearance, hellebores are showing up for their long lasting display and I’m planning a trip to the Winter Garden at Anglesey Abbey.

 

Seeing and experiencing something deliberately designed to lift and provide pleasure in what is considered a fallow season is inspiring.

I adopted many of their ideas for my front garden and in those brief moments of arriving or leaving the house, I’m greeted with sights and smells that lift my spirits and gently remind me that I’m alive, all is well and there is life in the winter!

 

Colour has a profound impact on us and yet we’re not always conscious of it nor any better informed on how to use it powerfully.  Colours affect your mood as much as your mood can affect the colour choices you make.  Wearing your right colours will make you appear healthy; clients observing and participating in a colour analysis frequently acknowledge that someone looks more confident!  Younger!  Slimmer! In their right colours.  I know I feel happier when surrounded by my colours, wearing them or viewing them and find it far more appealing to view people also wearing their best colours, regardless of whether I personally like them or not.  And it’s all a trick of the light!  So set about employing these tricks gainfully to support you in pursuit of your goals.   If you apply for our free Colour Guide, researched and compiled from the world of fashion, you'll find this season’s colour trends laid out in the context of your season. Next week Harpreet will be introducing the new trend looks for Spring/Summer 2014.

My first foray into this world of influencing those around me with the colours I wore was totally innocent and over 15 years ago; I wasn’t feeling great but had some important work to do.  I deliberately choose a great colour (on me) with the intention of keeping my head down and avoiding conscientious concerned comments; ‘are you ok [you don’t look it!]?’ what I experienced and hadn’t expected, were positive comments, such as ‘you look well’ resulting in my feeling empowered – a revelation! 

Christmas gifts for all colours, shapes and sizes!

If your loved ones are stuck for Christmas gift ideas try dropping a few subtle (or maybe not so subtle!) hints about the beautiful range of jewellery and scarves available from House of Colour.

I get cold in the winter and love my scarves but I also tend to wear relatively plain tops which I love accessorising to add interest and style.  So it’s very exciting that we’ve discovered some beautiful new products that make great presents.   Rings, bracelets, necklaces and scarves – covering a lot of bases - read on!

I don’t have a lot of red but when I’m wearing an outfit with red in it I often want red accessories and so on. How many times have you created an outfit from your wardrobe and wished that you could tweak your accessories just a little to match/complement/contrast it better? 

Enter MelanO, a Dutch brand of contemporary jewellery offering a wide range of interchangeable coloured stones on either white (cool) or yellow (warm) metal, beautifully designed and engineered to a high standard with a sophisticated finish.  At House of Colour we have chosen to supply the versatile ‘twisted’ range of rings and bangles.

I love them; I can wear a combination of rings and colours to suit my outfit.  Every stone is interchangeable, giving each finished piece a unique character created by the wearer and the opportunity to dress an outfit up or down depending on the event.  The same stones fit the rings and bangles, making this your perfect mix and match range.

The cool jewellery, suitable for Winters and Summers, is offered in high quality stainless steel while the warm pieces, suitable for Autumns and Springs are plated in rose gold.  If you’re lucky enough to be a Blue Spring who wears mixed metals, this is a perfect solution!

Rings are available in a wide range of sizes; bangles come in small, medium or large; stones are either small or large; all stones fit both rings and bangles.  Choose from Cubic Zirconia (sparkly, faceted, flat topped) or semi-precious (domed, smooth stones) mounted in the appropriate metal for your season, creating a wide variety of combinations; all stones can be ordered in either metal or size.  What more could you ask? …

…There’s also a range of side rings, which fit alongside the twisted rings offering even more interchangeable combinations.  Rings can be worn singly, choosing your stone to co-ordinate with a particular outfit, or 2, 3 or 4 deep combining stones and side rings to give texture and scale.   Tailor the combination to suit you because all the elements of your season and style can be reflected through colour, scale, density and texture.   

These are available through some consultants, please contact HQ to find your nearest consultant who carries this range.

On the Web shop we have a new partnership with House of Glass with some amazing and vibrant creations for pendants, earrings and cufflinks for the men!  Again, in a variety of sizes and colours to suit each season.  For specific advice regarding your season and style, contact your consultant. 

But these don’t keep you warm!  Scarves are one of THE essential accessories to any woman’s wardrobe adding colour and interest to your outfits all year round but particularly in the winter.  We have teamed up with an artist who hand paints an exclusive range of striking silk crépe de chine scarves, designed for us and in consultation with us, these are available in four colour ways, one for each season as an annual special edition; something you’ll always treasure:

• Springs will love the splashy Aquamarine, Hyacinth, Corn, Mint or Cream
• Summers enjoy a harmonising blend of Rose, Amethyst and Rose Madder that blends into soft Pink Beige.
• Autumns will adore the rich depth of Kingfisher, Peacock, Lime or Rust. 
• Winters will revel in strong Royal Blue,  Fuchsia, Damson with Silver contrasts.

Gifts can be tricky to get right so knowing your season and pointing your loved ones in the right direction means a colourful, accessorised and stress free Christmas for everyone!

A True Gift

With 2 children under 4, I took advantage of a treat that actually seemed like a good investment.  We all have our own variation on ‘leading a busy life’ and I hadn’t been shopping for anything but maternity clothes, stretchy tops and jeans for 5 years.  I teach this stuff and knew that by embracing a totally different lifestyle it was easy to lose myself! I took the opportunity of a shopping trip with a Fashion Stylist. 

 

As an Image Consultant myself, I was fully aware that hiring someone, an 'expert' to help me make the most of a rare day’s shopping should be an excellent investment,; this is what I had seen my clients experiencing time and again when shopping with me.  Focus and objectivity is the key.  Staying objective when you are losing the will to live in changing rooms is a type of sanity worth paying for.  We all find it difficult to stay objective about ourselves and I’m no certainly no exception. It’s so much easier to be objective when I’m working with a client but I needed to become the client!

Within a few weeks of this shopping trip, the opportunity arose to go shopping with some of my colleagues at House of Colour, all fully trained Image Consultants.  Due to other commitments my available time was only 3 hours not the whole day, so off I went.

 

Both days were fun, both days included a break for lunch and both days resulted in me purchasing some great pieces for my wardrobe and looking outside my normal comfort zone for inspiration.  The real value for either option was making the most of someone else’s expertise to get a job done more efficiently, effectively and enjoyably than I would on my own.

 

Success is generally a subjective measure which in the case of clothing also needs to consider cost per wear for each item.  With my tendency to analysis, I weighed up the two alternatives which revealed the smarter investment was employing a fully trained image consultant. 

Statistical Analysis	Fashion Stylist	HOC Consultant
Investment	£300 + travel	£150 + travel
Time invested (hrs.)	1 day (7 hrs.)	3 hrs.
Items tried	Approx. 60	11
Items purchased	11	6
Items returned	3	0
Items kept	8	6
ROI Ratios
Productivity = items/hr.	1.3	2
Returns	27%	0%
Wasted energy = (Items tried x hrs.)	420	33

The added value came from savings in time and energy and keeping hold of my ability to make clear decisions. This relied on my ‘shopper’ remaining objective and keeping me focused – which became harder as the day progressed.  I could also see that the training of the HOC Consultant ensured they remained objective rather than being influenced by their own styles or preferences.

 

As a result, some of my nearest and dearest are receiving HOC gift vouchers for Christmas this year (let’s hope this doesn’t spoil the surprise!).  As well as being a useful and valuable present, it’s my contribution to a greener Christmas – fewer ‘things’ that they have to find a home for, less mistakes in purchases and the bonus of supporting a fully functional wardrobe that carries fewer unused, often excessive, items (frequently disguised as ‘bargains’)!

Gift vouchers are available for a class, a product or an amount of money (note - wardrobe reviews are sometimes more valuable and almost as much fun as shopping trips!).  You can purchase them from your local consultant or you could take advantage of free Post & Packing on all Gift Vouchers from the House of Colour web shop until the end of December. 
Happy Christmas everyone! J

 

Making the Most of Yourself and Your Business

There is one main (personal) reason for writing this blog - I have always been passionate about helping people to make the most of themselves.  Whether it’s job prospects, securing the home you want for the right price, careers advice, how to get out of a ‘hole’ you might be stuck in – I’ve realised over time that my skill set has developed and is consistently delivered around a central theme of ‘making the most of your assets’.

The internet, an infinite resource, has so many tips and tricks about how to make the most of your assets, whether it’s your body, your health or your business prospects.  You don’t need to hang around long before a plethora of advice and opinions will cross your e-path.  It’s fascinating and very easy to learn bits and pieces that add and enhance your skill set and knowledge base (beware – it’s a time bandit if you don’t keep focused!).  Every now and then, it’s not so much advice as a clear example of why something is possibly more important than previously thought.

‘The Tale of Two Tailors’ is a perfect example of why you need to make the most of yourself, showing yourself and your business in its best light and how the invisible cost could be the tip of the iceberg of not doing so. 

The management guru Tom Peters sums it up nicely in this quote:

‘It’s a brand new world ….Regardless of age, regardless of position, regardless of the business we happen to be in, all of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You’.                                                 

A few years ago, I was involved in a charity event where I took 3 local professionals through a House of Colour business ‘make-over’.  The DJ, The Chief Exec and the DJ were asked to turn up wearing a ‘typical work day outfit’ - their images speak for themselves!

(© stevewilliams_photo@btinternet.com)

This kind of transformation is typical of what you can achieve when you participate in the Business and Personal Brand sessions available at HOC in Business.

It’s clear that making the best of ourselves is beneficial both to our inner confidence as well as promoting confidence IN us from outside sources.  Make the best of yourself, enhance your assets and count the benefits that you receive, you may have more to do with attracting it than you realise!

 

Tattoos – antagonistic, creative or self-expression?

Whatever your opinion of them, tattoos are everywhere.

The history of tattoos is not overly clear, however they’ve been found on corpses dating back thousands of years and all over the world.  One of the oldest dates from the Bronze Age and the tattoos were thought to have been used  for therapeutic reasons – possibly to relieve the effects of arthritis.

Gang Membership



Circus 'Freak' Show Act

Traditional Maori Tattoo

Tattoos are clearly forms of communication, expressing something about you and your beliefs.  Early forms of branding were to identify cattle ownership; the Nazis used letters, numbers and symbols to identify prisoners in the 2^nd World War; Tribal tattoos are used to express rank and title, pagan worship, spiritual powers; Sailors typically used tattoos to show where they’d travelled; Circus tattoos manifested as freak shows;  In prison they were an expression of identity; The ultimate display of commitment to gang membership.

 

 

 

Which leads us to their arrival in modern day, celebrity culture - a once individual expression to set you apart from the crowd has now become mainstream – a competition to have the most unique, outrageous, unusual or personal.  From David Beckham to Cheryl Cole, Angelina Jolie to Harry Styles, many a beautiful body has been permanently altered and I question what psychological motives may be hiding their need to adorn their bodies.

 

 

 

More positive uses can bring psychological benefits because we respond to the images we see in the mirror.  Some people are finding permanent and semi-permanent make-up after illness, e.g. tattooing areola following breast cancer surgery, to be transformative. 

Aside from the cosmetic medical uses, tattoos can be polarising.  Love them or hate them, they evoke an emotional response which is why we categorise them as an ‘antagonistic form of dress’.  If you want to elicit the best response from someone, minimise the visuals you send out which may trigger a negative response and increase those which will cause people to warm to you. 

The purpose of Colour and Style and Personal Branding is for people to notice you, the person.  Anything you wear should serve the purpose of pushing you forward so you are ‘seen’ as who you are.  For many, tattoos support them in their self-expression.  For others it undermines an otherwise positive impression!  Do we notice the person or the tattoo?

Recently, the media reports that while there are many laws regarding hygiene practices, the inks may be toxic, highlighting a disturbing lack of regulation on them, the fact that carcinogenic chemicals in 13 out of 21 commonly used tattoo inks used in Europe is frankly frightening.  One of the best sources of information on all kinds of tattoo inks dates from Germany in June this year as FAQs.

As with any industry, crusaders exist who want to change the regulations and make it safe for people as there also seems to be an alarming rise in self-tattooing in schools and of underage children.   We so often see the beautiful results of this creative artwork, rarely the ugly or hideous side effects.

Ultimately, as with anything we put on our bodies it is our own choice in most cases.  As an Image Consultant it is not my position to judge, merely to alert people to think carefully before choosing something so permanent.  Positioning them so that they can be covered up is a good idea but also consider whether you might still like them when you are in your later years?

Break the rules knowingly and accept all consequences, positive and negative; given how long tattoos have been around, they are here to stay.  Make sure, if you start this journey, that your eyes are wide open.