Are Tattoos Like Therapy?
Tattooing and Speaking with Hayley from Alchemy Haircraft
Most people don’t realize it until they’re right there in the chair — but so many of us are touch-starved. We’ll call something “therapy,” but really it’s bodywork, embodiment, and somatic healing. This week on Tattoo Time, filmed at Fine Line Willy, we dive into the tender space where tattooing and emotional connection meet.
Why This Episode Was Special
In this episode I tattooed the amazing hairstylist Haley. She wanted a David Bowie–inspired lightning bolt tattoo, a bold design that fits her symmetrical, philosophical tattoo vibe. As we worked together, the conversation naturally flowed toward one of my favorite topics — why tattoos often feel therapeutic.
Tattooing and Hairstyling: An Unexpected Parallel
While I was tattooing, I asked Haley if her hair clients ever say their appointments feel like therapy. She laughed and said it happens all the time. And of course, I hear the same thing in my own studio.
There’s something intimate about both professions: someone trusting you with their body, their image, their story. It’s not just a service; it’s a ritual. It’s an exchange of energy, creativity, and care.
Touch, Ritual, and Healing
Tattooing isn’t only about the art on the skin. It’s also about:
Touch: safe, consensual, and purposeful contact.
Ritual: the process of preparation, anticipation, and permanence.
Healing: a form of embodiment and a reclaiming of one’s body or identity.
That’s why so many clients say their tattoo appointment feels like therapy. In a world where touch is scarce, a respectful, creative process can feel profoundly healing.
Word Time: The Meaning Beneath the Needle
In my Word Time segment of this episode, I talk about why tattoos have always been more than surface decoration to me. A tattoo marks a moment, a story, or a transformation. It’s about being present — grounding yourself in your body and your life.
For Haley, the Bowie lightning bolt is not just an aesthetic choice. It’s a symbol of boldness, change, and electric self-expression. That’s exactly the kind of energy that makes tattooing feel like a living art form.
As Haley and I talked, the room filled with music, laughter, and that steady hum of the tattoo machine. I loved how our conversation echoed the lightning bolt itself — dynamic, striking, and full of energy.
By the end of the session, she had a fresh new tattoo and I had a renewed sense of why I do this work. Every tattoo is a story, and every story deserves to be told.
Why Tattoos Feel Like Therapy (My Take)
Here’s why I think tattooing can feel so therapeutic:
You’re in a safe, creative space.
You’re witnessed in your transformation.
You’re making a permanent choice in real time.
You’re getting purposeful touch and focused attention.
That combination creates a state of openness where emotions, memories, and breakthroughs happen naturally.
Watch the Full Episode on YouTube
Want to see the Bowie lightning bolt tattoo unfold and hear our full conversation? You can watch this episode of Tattoo Time right here: Tattoos as Therapy: Lightning Bolt Tattoo With Haley.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
If this topic resonates with you, I’d love for you to join the community:
Book a session at Fine Line Willy to explore your own tattoo journey.
Subscribe to my YouTube channel for weekly Tattoo Time episodes.
Follow me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes content and new designs.
xoxo,
Adam
