Love and ink: Getting lover’s name and face tattoos

Stacey-Ann has nine tattoos on her body, one of which she has contemplated covering up but has not been moved to do so as yet. That tattoo is the name of an ex-boyfriend.

The 28-year-old woman also has the name of her three children and her parents on her skin. She got her grandmother's birthday inked on her forehead as a mark of respect after she died. As for her ex-lover, Stacey-Ann said she was madly in love with him, and as a lover of tattoos, it felt natural.

"Mi really did rate mi ex, we never work out, but when I was depressed he was there for me, maybe that's why mi nuh cover it yet," she said of the name of her former lover, which stretches from her neckline to her shoulders.

Dating Ap Tinder recently claimed that 48 per cent of of young singles in England admit they regret their body art as it reminds them of a past relationship.

Kinston-based tattoo artist Romiano Spencer, known as Romie, said using the name of a partner as body art is serious business and should only be done by persons who are in a committed relationship. He, however, conceded that "I can't tell a person not to do it when they've already made up their minds, and normally that is the case".

Romie said there is a consistent line of persons who come to him for the names and initials of their partners. He said that he always seek to satisfy his clients, even though he often strategises for future cover-ups.

"Jamaicans will always be tattooing their partners' names, even when they know that the relationship might not work out. Persons do it for many different reasons, so it will never stop.

"Sometimes I try to do it in a way that just in case they come back, I can actually find something to cover it without it looking like something was there before," Romie said.

In the meantime, the skilled tattoo artist said face tattoos is a growing trend in Jamaica. Considered to be the 'mark of approval', Romie said the trend is being influenced by celebrities such as Cardi B and Justin Bieber, who have got inked on the most visible part of their bodies.

"Some people do the face tattoo for the trend because they see other people or entertainers do it, so they just follow. The younger generation especially, because they are getting influenced by the international entertainers and their lifestyle," he said.

Romie said that before giving someone a face tattoo he poses a series of questions to them. These questions, he said, are intended to help the client determine whether there are work or other implications that could rise from them being inked on the face.

Similarly, Princeromie, proprietor of Dream Ink Tattoos in Kingston, who has seen an increase in request for face tattoos, urges caution due to potential work-related and societal challenges.

"Face tattoos are a preference for some people, but I personally don't recommend it, considering some may have challenges with work or other reasons. However, I do it if the person has fully made up their minds that they want a face tattoo," he said.