The painful and hidden messages of lip tattoos

How about a tattoo that no one sees? Not even if you went completely nude. Sounds tempting and pretty cool at the same time. A so-called Flunsch tattoo is the perfect kind of hidden tattoo that you only show off when it suits you. Statements, words or small motifs are the ideal motif for a meaningful lip tattoo. It is self-explanatory that a lip tattoo cannot include artistic motifs, shading or other details due to lack of space and the texture and nature of the tattooed area. Many popular designs are simple letterings, such as "Bite", "Fuck it" or "Kiss me".

Risks and side effects

The award for the most beautiful tattoo you will probably not get with a lip tattoo. And there are some simple reasons for that, which even a non-trained tattoo artist could figure out. First of all, there is no way of drawing a motif on the inside of the lips, as any kind of pen would immediately run. Also, the oral mucosa makes the healing process much more difficult and the ink may run or not be accepted by the skin in the first place. For the healing process, tattoo artists recommend to avoid spicy and salty food for the first days as well as to stop smoking for at least two weeks and to rub the area with a special cream several times a day. In addition, alcohol is counterproductive for the healing of tattoos, as it has the property to pull the color out of fresh tattoos. Many people dread having a lip tattoo, especially the pain associated with it, and immediately think of the unpleasant situation of biting your lip. However, tattooed people report that the pain is absolutely bearable, as lips consist entirely of flesh and no bones whatsoever. One thing is for sure: a lip tattoo is not something that lasts forever, as the mucous membranes are very well supplied with blood and renew completely over time. So the perfect place for the name of your next partner.

Celebrity examples

Even in Hollywood, there's no getting around the hype of casual lip tattoos. Kendall Jenner drunkenly got the word "Meow" inked on her lower lip. Noah Cyrus and her boyfriend have the pet name "Deer" as matching tattoos on their lips and Paris Jackson had the name of her favorite metal band "Mötley Crüe" forever immortalized on her face. Kesha addressed the statement of her lip lettering "Suck it" directly to her haters, while with Miley Cyrus and her crying cat emoji motif, you're not exactly sure what it was all about. It's actually a shame that the lip tattoo doesn't last forever. Imagine this: You at 80 in the supermarket at the checkout and are just about to bag your groceries in peace. Behind you, five hectic people are waiting for you to finally pack up your stuff, giving you annoyed looks and already starting to push. You straighten up, turn to the people waiting in line, and pull your bottom lip down with your fingers. Shocked, everyone stares at your exposed lower lip with the words "Fuck off" written on it.