Woman who spent £193,000 (N377m) on tattoos now wants them lasered off

Its been ten years since 30-year-old Amber Luke last saw her face without tattoos. The Brisbane native, known online as Australias most tattooed woman, has spent about 193,500 covering 98 percent of her body with ink since she began getting tattooed at age 16. But now, shes decided to remove 36 tattoos from her face by 2027, a process she says comes from a place of self-acceptance rather than regret. I was 20 when I wanted to hide my face, Amber said. I truly didnt see my natural beauty. I was a broken, lost soul. She explained that her decade-long journey of tattooing her face has coincided with personal growth. Over that period, I have not only grown as a person but adapted to my new ways of life. I have started to truly love myself and appreciate the way I look. And while saying this, I will never regret my face tattoo process. Everything I have endured and have done to myself has been for a damn good reason and the right timing in life, I truly believe that. But its been 10 years since Ive seen my face. I am excited to reunite with her again. Ambers tattoo removal is being done for free by Xanadu Laser Therapies in Springwood, Brisbane, where she serves as an ambassador. She says shes beyond grateful for the sponsorship, especially since laser removal can be costly, ranging from 30 to over 200 per session. The procedure, however, is far from easy. I dont use numbing cream for any of my removals or tattoos in general; therefore the feeling is as intense as it can possibly be, Amber said. The laser zap on the thin skin of the face burns and it also stings mercilessly. Your face is distorted and swollen for up to four days after.  Amber also revealed that her eight facial dermal piercings have complicated the process. I will have to get these cut out of my face surgically before removing the remaining face tattoos at the end of the journey, she explained. The metal from the piercings can heat up during the laser process, burn the skin, and interfere with the tattoo removal. Despite her decision to remove her facial ink, Amber insists she doesnt regret her tattoos and isnt doing this because of public judgment. I feel like society has a veil over its eyes, and its a judgement veil, she said on TikTok. Honestly, people judge what they dont understand. If they take one look at me, its usually a look of disgust. When you walk down the street the stares are ridiculous but you cant take it as a negative. The scrutiny that women face with face tattoos in todays society is ridiculous. But removing all 36 face tattoos isnt due to scrutiny, Ive outgrown those tattoos.  While Amber plans to reunite with her natural face, she isnt stepping away from body art entirely. Shes still adding new tattoos to other parts of her body, including her left hand, which is currently healing from blackout work. As Ive got older, Ive got more resilient and I feel like I can see my beauty finally, thats self-evolution, she said. Im finally learning to love who I am.The post Woman who spent 193,000 (N377m) on tattoos now wants them lasered off appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.