You've seen them before, beautiful designs shaved on the scalps of young men.... this is known as a hair tattoo and is the latest trend in hair art. Hair tattoos are cutting, shaving or molding symbols, images or pictures into hair. This new hair cutting method and technique is a type of hair art, and demand for this skill is sweeping across the nation like wild fire.A hair tattoo is generally a style worn by youths ages 18-29, but some kids as young as 10 also desire this style of doo. This trendy and unconventional cut is attracting musicians, x-type athletes, gamers, and artists. There is a definite lifestyle and image associated with this style of hair cut.
When getting a new hair styles someone usually brings in a picture to a salon to duplicate the same cut. With a hair tattoo this practice is no different. Young men and women will bring in drawings, comic books, and logos for the pattern they want cut in their hair. Because of this, a hair tattoo is a type of art, and is drawing the attention of skilled and aspiring hair artists. This has not deterred youngsters from cutting styles into their friends hair, and often times they come out quite stylish and professional looking.
The rising demand for these cuts is turning hair art into a lucrative business. A skilled hair artist cutting unique designs can charge upwards of $1,000 per client. This is at the high end, however, and it is more typical to charge $50 to $100 on top of the cost of a hair cut. Also, there is a growing advertiser demand for human hair billboards. Clever marketers are cutting hair tattoo ads into the scalps of eager young entrepreneurs.
A stylist must be skilled to "carve" the tattoo image in the scalp. Typically, the hair is shaved to about ¼ of an inch above the scalp where it is a ready canvas for the hair artist. A carving blade and trimmers are used to cut the intricate and flowing patterns we associate with a detailed design. Almost any design is possible in skilled hands, but mostly they are flowing lines, asymmetrical patterns, tribal looks, and unique symbols... but almost anything is possible. Unlike traditional hair art designs, color, paint, and dies are not used. Only the canvas of the human head is needed.
The old school "I dare you" type Mohawk has been resurrected into a popular style in hair tattoos. This has spawned a whole new cutting and shaving style that has morphed to a new style of art form and self expression.
