In recent years, tattoos have shifted from a form of deviance to a commonplace form of expression, even finding their place in fashion thanks to models like Cara Delevigne and Rick Genest. They're so accepted, in fact, that we rarely think about the process of getting one in great detail. Now, thanks to the YouTube channel Smarter Every Day, we are getting an up-close look at what really happens when getting inked, and watching human skin get pummeled with ink-filled needles is as creepy/weird/intriguing/awesome as you might have imagined.
Shot with a macro lens, the slowed-down video clearly shows the multiple needles used in tattooing and the incredible speed at which they rhythmically puncture the skin in the process. "Ink is held in between those multiple needle points using capillary action, and when it punctures the skin it drags the ink down into the dermis," explains the series' host, Destin Sandlin.
Check out the video above; the slo-mo action starts around 3:10. Hopefully this doesn't discourage you from getting ink.
